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CLEAR Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 10 mph Friday, August 29, 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 August 6, 2003 Phoenix neighbors wary of property transfer By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune PHOENIX — Residents on the town’s west side worry that the county’s transfer of industrial land to the city could ease the way for a subdivision to sprout on an adjacent farm. In 1997 the City Council denied Bill and Shirley Madden’s request to include their 41-acre farm in the city’s urban growth boundary, but the city has designated the farm as a future growth area. Following a public hearing July 9, Jackson County commissioners Sue Kupillas and Jack Walker started the process to transfer the 33-acre industrial site. The transfer will be considered today at a commissioners’ meeting. Conditions placed on the transfer will encourage annexing the Madden property to the city, claims Linda Ellebruch, who lives on Houston Road and belongs to a loosely formed group that monitors area development. Advertisement "There’s strong opposition to taking in farmland by the citizens of the west side," said Ellebruch. The industrial site, known as the Dano Road property, is north of the Madden farm and has limited access over railroad tracks. The Madden property, on Houston Road, might be used for access. Plans to transfer the Dano Road land were first discussed 10 years ago. The site would revert to the county if industrial or commercial development doesn’t take place within 10 years. Commissioner Walker said he’s made an effort to transfer county-owned industrial sites to get them back on the tax rolls. The county acquired the site on a tax foreclosure. In a letter to the City Council, Ellebruch wrote that the action circumvents the regional problem-solving effort now under way to identify future growth areas next to cities. City Administrator Don Walker was the only speaker at the county’s public hearing on the topic. West Phoenix neighbors said they were unaware of the hearing. "I didn’t know we had to watch the county," said Ellebruch. "We’re watching the city and we’re watching (regional problem solving)." Don Walker told commissioners that the city would start the process to bring the Madden property into the urban growth boundary (UGB) in the near future because Phoenix lacks residential land under state guidelines. The city also plans to annex the Dano site, which is already within the UGB, he said. Don Walker said council members indicated interest in the property after Commissioner Walker brought up the transfer a couple months ago. Potential tenants have expressed interest in the site. "The city had a chance to get some assets at a reasonable cost," said Don Walker. "I hadn’t really thought about it as a springboard to Madden." Both Walkers noted that changes to the Madden farm’s status are subject to public hearings and planning approval. Don Walker said access across the railroad tracks would be expensive, but not impossible. Access to the west might also be possible, he said. "It’s not Jackson County’s goal to dictate what Phoenix does," said Jack Walker. "Let them go through the (planning) process to get what they want." "I think we will muster our forces," said John Graves, an orchardist who lives across from the Madden property and opposes a change in the land’s use. "It’s very important to us to save our agricultural land." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, 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