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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, March 23, 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 March 19, 2005 Neighbors Tom Kane and Laurel Miller say they�ll reserve judgment on plans to drop an asphalt plant from a proposed aggregate mining operation off Dead Indian Memorial Road until they see it in writing. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Quarry owner drops his plan to produce asphalt By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Neighbors’ objections to a proposed quarry operation on Dead Indian Memorial Road have prompted the property owner to drop plans for a round-the-clock asphalt plant. "It was never Mr. Dauenhauer’s intention to have that kind of facility on his property," said Medford attorney Thomas Armosino of Frohnmayer, Deatherage, Pratt, Jamieson, Clarke & Moore P.C., which represents landowner Joe Dauenhauer. Dauenhauer, whose original proposal for the asphalt plant was put forward by James W. Fowler Co. of Dallas, Ore., still plans aggregate mining and rock-crushing operations at the site. Fowler Co. is no longer involved in the project. Armosino, speaking about the scaled-back plans, said, "We hope it is something that is warmly received by neighbors." Armosino said he will announce the change in plans at a public hearing scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Jackson County Courthouse auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. He will ask the county hearings officer for a postponement until June to address other concerns raised by the Land Use Board of Appeals in a case that began three years ago. "It’s OK. It’s interesting, but it doesn’t make us sleep any better at night," said Tom Kane, a nearby resident, upon hearing the news Friday. Kane said it’s one thing to say there won’t be an asphalt plant, but it’s another to sign a legal document preventing one in the future. Asphalt plant aside, Kane said an aggregate facility is not a good mix in this area of Dead Indian Memorial Road, about five miles northeast of Highway 66. "I’m not sure what a good rock-crushing facility looks like," said Kane. About 100 neighbors have sent letters to the county opposing the asphalt and quarry operation. Armosino said LUBA’s concerns include the project’s legal descriptions, failure to provide proper notice, habitat issues, traffic, water use, noise and visual impact on a scenic area. Neighbors appealed the project to LUBA after Dauenhauer was granted county approval for a 24-hour batch plant and rock-crushing and quarry operations in 2002. An appeal to the Oregon Court of Appeals by Jackson County failed in 2003, forcing the county to open the matter up for public review. Residents, who’ve hired Ashland attorney Chris Hearn to represent them, say fumes, pollution and dust from the plant would cause health risks to the elderly and young and could drift toward Ashland. Neighbors say that under the original proposal, an estimated seven to 10 trucks per hour would roll up and down Dead Indian Memorial Road, competing with tourists, school buses and recreational vehicles. "It’s an accident waiting to happen," said Kane, adding that truck traffic would make it more difficult for emergency vehicles to access an area that has seen four fires in the past three years. Another resident, Laurel Miller, said it’s too early to determine the impact of dropping the asphalt plant. "I need to find out from my attorney how binding that is," she said. "I need more than just a verbal assurance at this stage, and I hope the community feels the same way." She did say that not having the asphalt plant would reduce the fumes, but she still had concerns about traffic, noise and the impact on wildlife habitat from a rock quarry. In the meantime, she said she will have to wait before she can pass judgment on the proposal to drop the asphalt plant. "It needs to be a substantial and everlasting commitment," she said. 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 Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Advertisement s