Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 27, 2005 Opponents urge end to Rogue River mine By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — City officials and residents will ask Jackson County to deny a permit that would continue to allow a 40-acre mining operation on a hillside near the town's shopping center, fire station, houses and apartments. City Administrator Mark Reagles said the aggregate mine, recently cited by the county as an unauthorized operation, will have a negative impact on the city and its residents. But, because the mine is just outside the city's urban growth boundary, the city must plead its case before a Jackson County hearings officer. The public hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5, in the old county courthouse. "I'm going to let the hearings officer know we strongly object to this mining operation," said Reagles. Owner Paul Johnson presented his operations application to the county on Sept. 2. Johnson seeks to "verify the lawful non-conforming status of an aggregate operation, in a (woodland resource) zoning district." In the application's supporting documents, Johnson's agent, Daniel O'Connor, states the mine on Tax Lot 102 was in operation starting in the 1960s. Mining, blasting, excavating, crushing and stockpiling have all been legal uses since that time, he writes. The use has continued, O'Connor asserts, through the 1970s, 1990s and more recently. And several other miners have used the aggregate site — including Copeland Sand and Gravel, he said. Advertisement Residents say the mining operations have already hurt their quality of life. The access road to the mine runs adjacent to Gene Van Dorn's North River Road property. Van Dorn opposes the mining operation. In a letter to the county Van Dorn states aerial photos on file with Jackson County demonstrate the mine was not used from 1978 to 1991. However, from 1995 to 2001, the footprint of the property had greatly changed, he said. Van Dorn said Johnson's application states the proposed use will have no greater adverse impact on the surrounding area. Van Dorn said current truck traffic has created dust, noise and damage to the area. "The culvert at the approach to North River Road is already broken from the heavy trucks running over it." Increased use will only exacerbate the problem, Van Dorn said. Mayor Dick Skevington has also penned a letter to the county expressing "extreme opposition" to the proposal based on noise, dust and truck traffic concerns as well as the visual impact. City Planner Laurel Prairie-Kuntz said the matter came to a head after a county code compliance officer cited the owners for operating an unauthorized aggregate mine. Instead of seeking relief through a conditional use permit, the owners applied for a permit as a pre-existing non-conforming use, she said. If Johnson is successful in his permit application, he will be able to use the property at 1960 pre-zoning regulations. Because the mine is not within the city's zoning purview, city officials have little they can do other than join residents in voicing their opposition at the hearing, she said. "The city is not reviewing the mine other than as an affected agency," said Prairie-Kuntz. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Opponents urge end to Rogue River mine ">[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 Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s