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Expo amphitheater rankles some Central Point, county officials to hash out concerns over traffic, noise By JILL BRISKEY CENTRAL POINT - Jackson County officials, hoping to move forward with plans for a $3 million outdoor amphitheater, will meet with city officials next week to discuss noise and traffic issues. However, one city councilman said he'll circulate a petition to move the structure to White City if he isn't satisfied with the findings. Last year, the county announced plans to build a 5,900-seat amphitheater at the fairgrounds and hoped to break ground this summer. The project was delayed when city officials expressed concern that the amphitheater would cause problems in Central Point. Jackson County Fair Board President Leigh Johnson said a noise and traffic study requested by city officials cost the board an estimated $20,000. Johnson said he will discuss the findings with Central Point officials during a private meeting - closed to the public - perhaps on Tuesday. Following the meeting, a public hearing will be scheduled, he added. "We'll give them all the information that will be made public," Johnson said. "We take very seriously our neighborship with Central Point." City Councilman Dave Gilmour disagrees, and said the county has not been totally honest nor made an effort to involve city officials in the planning. "It's not an open process at all," said Gilmour. "It's very frustrating." Gilmour said he will circulate a petition in Central Point asking the county to move the amphitheater to the White City Sports Park off Highway 140 if he's not happy with the findings. "I do have petitions in place and I'm ready to go if they don't convince me," he said. "I want to at least give them a chance to talk, but I'm very skeptical." Noise and traffic wouldn't be an issue at the White City site, he added. "That would be the best place for it," he said. "We would like to see them put a water park in it's place (at the fairgrounds)." However, Johnson said the land surrounding the sports park is already leased and the location wouldn't work. He said the fairgrounds is the best location for the project. "We can accommodate heavy traffic as long was we control the signal lights," he said, adding that the placement of the structure and buffers will help reduce noise. A ground-breaking date has not been set, although the county is ready to begin a fund-raising effort to help pay for the project. The fair board and county have contributed approximately $1.5 million - roughly half of the cost, Johnson said. Final approval for the amphitheater will come from a Jackson County land use hearings officer, Johnson said. Reports that the city of Central Point has filed a lawsuit or taken the issue to the state Land Use Board of Appeals are untrue, according to City Administrator Jim Bennett. "As far as I know, there hasn't been any action taken regarding the amphitheater," he added. Gilmour said he plans to discuss the possibility of a petition at today's Central Point City Council meeting. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.