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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 7, 2006 Golf course sliced to 9 holes By Damian Mann Mail Tribune A two-decade struggle to build an $80 million destination resort southeast of Ashland has resurfaced, but the project already faces potential challenges because of changes to the previous proposal. Instead of an 18-hole championship golf course, Dom and Joyce Provost have scaled back to nine holes on their 255-acre property between Interstate 5 and Highway 66. A public hearing on the proposal will be held at 1:30 p.m. on June 14 in the Jackson County Courthouse auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. In the original proposal, filed in 1987, water for the Clear Springs resort would come solely from Neil Creek. But under the new proposal well water also would be used, which neighbors view as a threat to their own water supplies. Provost says the project will use 82,420 gallons of water a day on average for personal use from both the creek and wells. Annual water use for the fairways and other irrigated acres will amount to 270 acre-feet annually, or 88 million gallons from Neil Creek. Bill Nielsen, one of Provost's neighbors, said his major concern is how the project will affect his well. "The impact on others in the neighborhood is not likely to be known until something serious happens," he said. "What is going to be the answer if there is a problem? What is the county going to provide?" While expressing sympathy for Provost's long wait, Nielsen said the project is a "major departure" from earlier plans. Provost said the project was scaled back from 18 holes because the Oregon Department of Transportation condemned 16-acres along Interstate 5 to use as a welcome center and because of wetlands problems. Also, Provost said the new proposal is attempting to answer some of the eight problems cited in a state Land Use Board of Appeals case from 1995. "We're trying to go forward on it," said Provost, who didn't want to elaborate on his plans or respond to issues raised by neighbors. In addition to the golf course, Provost is proposing a 96-room hotel, golf clubhouse, 110 golf villas and other residences. Provost's plan has been bounced back and forth between LUBA and the county during the early 1990s. One of LUBA's concerns then was that the project had been changed from earlier concepts to preliminary design. With further changes proposed for the project in the latest proposal, the county planning staff attempted to answer what could be a new objection if the matter gets appealed to LUBA again. The staff prepared a report that explains the county has "substantial latitude" to consider changes to a project as long as the original proposal is "fundamentally intact." However, the staff report states that any revisions must be "minor in nature." Anticipating another objection, the staff responded to language in the county's Land Development Ordinance that allows a period of up to five years after a destination resort plan is submitted before the application may be revoked. Greg Hathaway, a Portland attorney representing the Provosts, said he believes the changes made to the project aren't substantial enough to warrant filing a new application. The planning staff report points out that because the proposal hadn't been officially revoked by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, it should still be considered valid. Commissioner Dave Gilmour said he would spend this weekend poring over the extensive documentation prepared for this project, and bringing himself up to speed over the past controversy. "It'll be contentious," he said. "It has been all along." He also said the property could be subject to a Measure 37 claim, which could further complicate the matter. One of the main opponents of the Provost plan has been Chris Skrepetos, who declined to comment on the project, although he does intend to raise objections next week before commissioners. Skrepetos has successfully challenged the county on the Provost plan and other land-use matters. Alan DeBoer, who owns land next to Provost, said he trusts that county staff and the commissioners will make the right decision. However, from an economic perspective the Ashland businessman and former mayor didn't understand downsizing the project to a nine-hole golf course. "It certainly changes the whole concept of the thing," he said. "A destination resort needs 18 holes." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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