Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 19, 2005 Britt bends a bit to help solve master plan Softer approach softens disagreement from neighbors, Jacksonville By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — City officials and Britt Festivals leaders say they have made progress in resolving controversial aspects of Britt’s new master plan. "We hope to have a new conditional use permit in place before summer," said Ron McUne, Britt Festivals’ executive director. "We’ve had some real positive compromises," agreed Paul Wyntergreen, Jacksonville’s city administrator. Both parties agreed in July that changes are needed at the summer concert venue. But the plan that Britt’s land-use planner, Craig Stone, submitted to the Jacksonville Planning Commission met with strong opposition from city staff and residents. Planned restrooms and improved lighting were deemed acceptable for the performance venue. But other aspects of the plan — an 8-foot barbed-wire fence and a proposal to create more parking by condemning the private property of two unwilling sellers — drew fire from homeowners as well as Jacksonville Planning Commission members and Jackson County commissioners. Advertisement During an August planning commission meeting, Stone repeatedly urged the commission to approve the master plan as submitted. He also reiterated Britt’s intent to acquire the two properties so it could build a parking lot, vacate Fir Street and deny access to nonpaying listeners outside fence walls. Providing additional parking is one of the key points of contention among all parties. Wyntergreen said the two sides are coming to an agreement regarding truck traffic. "There is a street stub that extends south of the Britt grounds that has some potential to help with truck traffic," Wyntergreen said. Anne Brooke, a member of the Britt Auxiliary board, owns one of the two properties the master plan sought to condemn. Brooke said no one contacted her regarding her property last summer or during the recent talks. McUne said recent talks have helped clear the air on these controversial issues. "There has been a lot of misunderstanding of our intent and the way the city interpreted that intent," McUne said. "We’ve changed the language and softened our approach." The barbed wire is coming down. It was good to sit down and talk." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s