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31 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 9, 2005 Church under fire yet again By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A community action group plans a new challenge against the Applegate Christian Fellowship on the grounds the church expanded the popular amphitheater without permits after the 1997 flood. Jack Duggan, spokesman for Friends of Forest Creek, said the Ruch church "used the flood as an excuse to bypass regulations." He said the church undertook the expansion after the amphitheater was damaged during the flood. "They expanded it by slightly better than a third and some say a half," he said. Duggan’s group plans to file a code violation complaint with the county sometime next week, but won’t appeal the county hearing officer’s recent approval of the church’s plans to fix Forest Creek by tearing out a children’s amphitheater, removing or replacing three bridges, increasing the width of the floodplain and removing other structures in the 50-foot riparian setback. "It is better to address the most blatant violation, which is the expansion without permits," said Duggan. Advertisement Appealing the hearings officer’s decision to the Land Use Board of Appeals also would be more expensive and only delay further action on the core problem, which is the amphitheater and the traffic it generates, said Duggan. He said church officials could do more to lessen the number of vehicles traveling to Ruch, including car pooling, park-and-rides and using the fleet of buses that is parked at the church. Joe Stroble, facility manager for the 5,000-member church, said Friday he would need more time to determine whether the amphitheater size had increased since 1997. "I don’t recall if it’s changed, or how much it’s changed," he said. "I’d like to look at photos and notes to give a correct answer." But, reflecting on the latest complaint that will be filed against the church, he said, "I think, if I’m not mistaken, that it’s an attempt to govern the size or number of people that can come out here to worship." He said that he wasn’t sure whether the latest complaint could stall repairs scheduled to be made to Forest Creek this summer. "That is a legal question that I’m not sure I know the answer," he said. "I hope it won’t hold it up." Working with the neighbors is important for the church, but Stroble said the fellowship has no control over who comes to worship and by what means. He did say the church would do more to help alleviate traffic congestion this summer by encouraging people to stay longer with free barbecues, music after the service and games and activities for children. Stroble said the church tries to correct problems as quickly as it can, including moving a bus barn that was inadvertently built on a neighboring property. The church also built a bridge partially on a neighbor’s property that will be removed as part of the floodplain renovation plan. "All along we have wanted to do what we needed to do to come into compliance," he said. "It was never us who held up the process." County planner Mike Mattson said he didn’t know whether the amphitheater had, in fact, been expanded after the flood, but added that if it had been, "there’s a possibly it would have required a permit." Mattson, who has been involved with floodplain issues at the church, said any code-violation complaints ultimately would be directed to the planning director or county attorneys. During the floodplain review, he said the county didn’t consider any possible expansions and had received no information that the amphitheater had been expanded. At the time the amphitheater was constructed in the 1980s, Mattson said it is considered a permitted use under the zoning at that time, which was exclusive farm use. However the land was rezoned to rural residential in 1995, and Mattson said he is not sure if that means the church would need a permit for expansion. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, 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 Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Fasa Advertisement s