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2-2 ties hold J'ville church issue By MELISSA MARTIN JACKSONVILLE -- Planning Commission members reached an impasse twice Wednesday when voting on an application from Southern Oregon's oldest congregation to construct a new church building in the Pheasant Meadows subdivision. A motion to deny First Presbyterian Church's application to build on 10 acres on Middle Street, and a second which would accept the new church, each finished in 2-2 votes, said Bill Leep, Jacksonville Planning Commission chairman. His is a nonvoting position. The Jacksonville Planning Commission tabled the issue until its Nov. 10 meeting, when member Bob Stevens, who was absent Wednesday, is expected to offer the tie-breaking vote. During Wednesday's votes, Planning Commission members Wade Branscum and Jerry Ferronato voted in favor of the church, while Debbi Sharp and Dan Mollahan voted against it. Commissioner Terry Wilinsky abstained -- in part because his wife testified against the church's application during a Sept. 29 public hearing, and partly because he lives within 200 feet of the church's Middle Street property. "This church is too large for the subdivision," Sharp said. "That's not what the (Pheasant Meadows) community wanted. They wanted a quieter, smaller neighborhood. That's why they have narrow streets and no sidewalks." Craig Stone, the planner representing the church, told the Planning Commission Wednesday that Pheasant Meadows residents knew when they bought their homes that a church was planned for the vacant land on Middle Street. He showed on an overhead projector a copy of covenants that read, "subject to the procurement of a conditional use permit, uses in Phase II may include construction of a church and associated amenities required by a church." "Every person who bought a home in the Pheasant Meadows subdivision was given a copy of these covenants and every person had the opportunity to review them," Stone said."It is crystal clear and on the front page of the covenant that a church could be built in the subdivision." Planning commissioners early in the evening asked church leaders what First Presbyterian would do with its 118-year building on California Street if it built a new church. The Rev. Larry Jung told commissioners that the two-story landmark would be used for weddings, memorial services, staff offices, New Year's Eve services, church retreats and a Sunday night worship service. "We would keep it as a functioning part of the community," said Bruce Woolf, church member and building committee chairman. First Presbyterian Church leaders say the 253-member congregation has outgrown its old building. One-third of church members are under 18 years old and need classroom space for Sunday school. Older members of the congregation need a building with easier access than the historic church, which has 17 stairs to climb at the front entrance and a chairlift to ride up 22 steps at the back entrance. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA