Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 19, 2005 Landowner gets satisfaction Woman, 80, was the first person in Jackson County to file a Measure 37 claim By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune After waiting for almost 50 years, Helen Garner can finally use her property the way she originally intended. "I’m so happy," said the 80-year-old Medford widow. "I’m so satisfied." Garner, who was the first person to file a Measure 37 claim in Jackson County, got unanimous approval from county commissioners Wednesday to subdivide her 134 acres on the southeast flank of Roxy Ann into five-acre lots. When Helen Garner and her husband purchased 240 acres in 1957, they looked at the land as an investment, selling off portions here and there. But that plan ended in 1973, when the property was zoned EFU, exclusive farm use, under new zoning laws. Advertisement Garner was one of a majority of voters last November who approved the measure that gives property owners the right to ask a government agency to either pay for lost property value because of zoning changes or provide a waiver of the offending land-use regulation. So far, 102 claims have been filed with the county since the measure took effect in December. The county has 180 days to make a decision on a claim, approving Garner’s claim just shy of the deadline. During the meeting, Commissioner C.W. Smith said he’s convinced the property was improperly zoned EFU because it couldn’t support agricultural ventures. Commissioner Dave Gilmour said after the meeting that even though Measure 37 claims are approved, that doesn’t mean properties such as Garner’s will meet other health and safety regulations. In Garner’s case, he said, finding water could be a limiting factor. Garner said she understands these potential problems. "I just feel that right now that the stumbling block has been removed from in front of me, and now I have a few stepping stones left to do, one at a time," she said. Garner said she is thankful to commissioners and County Administrator Sue Slack for helping her with the claim. Before she goes any further, she said she will talk to her family, the planning department, a surveyor and others to see what other steps she will have to take. When Garner first filed her claim with the county, she wanted to subdivide her property into 10-acre lots. However, she said she changed her mind after many discussions with her family. Garner, who has one son and three daughters, said she has had several prospective buyers for the properties. Before filing the Measure 37 claim, she had three developers looking at the property, she said. The commissioners also denied two Measure 37 claims Wednesday. They decided that a claim by Jimmy and Roseline Griffith wasn’t valid because their 10.3-acre property on South Stage Road was zoned EFU when they bought it in September 2004. Another claim filed by John Collins was denied because of conflicts with the woodland resource zoning that predated his purchase of the 142-acre parcel near Colestin Road in 1993. 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 www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s