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CLEAR Temp: 67 °F Wind: WNW at 3 mph Thursday, October 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 15, 2003 Housing plan worries some Jacksonville neighbors are worried that a development for seniors will destroy habitat and the creek area By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE —Neighbors of a proposed Pioneer Retirement Community say they’re worried the $10 million project will destroy habitat and encroach on riparian areas. The residents plan to voice their concerns at today’s Planning Commission public hearing, which will begin at 7 p.m. at Jacksonville’s Old City Hall. Danelle Smith of nearby Valley Lane said she has serious concerns about plans to build 60 independent apartments, 30 assisted-living apartments and nearly a dozen cottages near Jackson Creek. The project will be Jacksonville’s first senior housing development. Smith held a meeting with other neighbors at her home Sunday evening. She said all have similar concerns about the 6.5-acre full-service community complex at Fifth and G streets. "Our biggest concern is the loss of habitat. They are going to be taking down trees that are 50 or 60 feet tall and replacing them with non-native species," Smith said. "Additionally, they want to put blacktop within the riparian boundaries. I’m interested in knowing if an environmental impact study has been done on this project." Smith said one of her neighbors believed that old tombstones and human bones had been discovered on the site about a year ago. "We’re wondering if this is an old burial site. I want to know what that will mean. Do they just plan on building over the site?" Smith said. City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen said he can lay at least one of Smith’s concerns to rest. The site is not an old cemetery — at least not a real one. "Back in the ’50s and ’60s, there was a tourist attraction called ‘Pioneer Village’ on this site. They set up fake tombstones and told tourists to go hunt for the grave of Wyatt Earp. None of it contained real remains," he said. The remains of the tourist attraction were still there well into the 1980s. Wyntergreen said an environmental impact study was not required. "Those are federally mandated and this is not a federal project," he said. Wyntergreen said Jacksonville’s current riparian area runs 50 feet back from the top of the bank of Jackson Creek. No structures may be built within the riparian area, but walkways and even roadways are allowed. However, Wyntergreen said the city plans to recommend permeable surfaces on any trails as well as other riparian enhancements. "We plan to utilize native vegetation and bring the stream corridor back to life," Wyntergreen said. Wyntergeen said a project of this size will necessitate the removal of mature trees, but the removal of any tree with a chest-high diameter of 12 inches must be done through an application process and must be replaced. The same species is not required, however. Owner-developer Jeff Chamberlain declined to comment on any of Smith’s specific concerns, but stated he would be at tonight’s meeting and would address them at that time. Chamberlain, who has completed two senior-living communities — Farmington Square and Barnett Woods in Medford — already has received permits and has broken ground on the first stage of the Jacksonville project, a medical clinic. Today’s public meeting will discuss the conditional use permit for the rest of the subdivision and a property line adjustment application. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times