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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 22, 2007 Cascade Christian delays Measure 37 claim Jacksonville officials say the school is negotiation with a potential buyer By sanne specht Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Cascade Christian High School officials have postponed their Measure 37 claim against the city because they may have a buyer for their property. School officials filed a $1.85 million claim against the city in November, 2006, but they requested a hearing scheduled for Tuesday be moved to Aug. 21 so they could continue negotiating the sale of the 7.57-acre school property "and resolve the matter amicably," said City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen. "Basically the premise for the delay is that they're negotiating with a potential buyer," said Wyntergreen. Measure 37, approved by Oregon voters in 2004, allows property owners to request compensation for land that lost value as a result of zoning decisions made under Oregon's land-use laws. Government agencies must waive land-use regulations within six months of receiving a valid claim or pay the property owner compensation for lost value. Advertisement Calls to Cascade Christian Superintendent Ray Johnson to discuss the identity of the potential buyer were not immediately returned. Mel and Brooke Ashland of Central Point were negotiating with Cascade last year, and efforts to close the deal are continuing, Brooke Ashland said Wednesday. The Ashlands want to use the old school as the new location for their two businesses — Cutler Investment Group and Ashland Partners, said Brooke Ashland. "If we are the potential buyers, and we probably are, we have no interest in a Measure 37 claim," said Brooke Ashland. Ashland said they also have no interest in turning the historic property into a residential home development. "We have an adaptive-use plan that we think is more in line with the interests of the people of Jacksonville," said Ashland. "We hope to use the property for a lot of community events." The school's gymnasium is perfect for executive retreats and early childhood development classes, she said. Locating a German restaurant in one section of the property is also part of their plan, she said. Wyntergreen said Cascade contacted Jacksonville city attorney Kurt Knudsen last week asking to postpone the hearing, which by law must be held within 180 days of the date a claim was filed unless both sides agree to an extension. City officials agreed Tuesday to postpone the hearing after receiving a written request from Cascade. The city had been prepared to go forward with Tuesday's public hearing involving Cascade, Wyntergreen said. "We would have held hearings and rendered a decision in May," said Wyntergreen. "Now we have until October 1 of this year." If the sale falls through and Cascade chooses to pursue its claim, the city council will review the claim, which requests removal of the zoning restrictions — or $1.85 million in compensation, said Wyntergreen. Johnson, the Cascade Christian superintendent, has alleged Jacksonville's "special protection" zoning limits the school's use its property near the town's historic core and also reduces it market value in the eyes of potential buyers. The property has been on the market for more than a year. Located in the cultural and historic heart of Jacksonville, the property includes six tax lots and 44,642 square feet of aging buildings, including the former Jacksonville High School, which was remodeled to become Cascade Christian High School in 1994. The lots and buildings have been assessed by Jackson County at $1.25 million for tax purposes. Johnson said the property should be returned to its pre-purchase zoning, but city officials say the school was zoned into a "special protection" category, along with several other properties within city limits, to preserve their historic character before Cascade's purchase of the school property. On April 28, 2006, Cascade announced its intent to file a Measure 37 claim against Jacksonville after the city expressed interest in the property. The city refused to meet the $5 million asking price for the school, and made a counter-offer of $3 million, which the school refused. Johnson said Cascade must realize as much profit as possible for its Jacksonville property to fund the construction of its new school in Medford. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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