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Pot farm cited for lack of permit By Tony Boom Posted Apr 23, 2018 at 2:01 AM APPLEGATE — Developers of a marijuana operation on North Applegate Road have been cited for failing to obtain a floodplain development permit and have been summoned to appear before a Jackson County hearings officer. "They did not obtain a floodplain development permit for grading they had done," said Ted Zuk, Jackson County Development Services director. "It was grading work along the levee on the river, stockpiling of materials and creating of a new pond." A county hearings officer will consider the case June 12 and make a determination. Violation of the county Land Development Ordinance carries a minimum fine of $500 to $1,000. Ground work occurred on one of four tax lots being developed by 15877 North Applegate Road LLC. Zuk reported there are no other violations for work occurring elsewhere in the development. Permits have been obtained by the company for marijuana-growing structures, electrical and mechanical work and other improvements. Work on the levy has drawn attention of neighbors who are concerned about the extent of development on all four parcels. "That's the thing that everyone located downriver is really watching," said neighbor Michele Brown-Riding, referring to the levee work. "It's pretty amazing. They just planted great big trees all the way around the illegal pond." Neighbors refer to the development as Stargazer Ranch, and a Stargazer Estates vineyard has been shown on the internet at the address. Reached by phone, an individual identified as manager of Stargazer Ranch said he had no comment on the citation. "There's no one here that's going to talk to you about that," said Doug, who declined to give his last name. Zuk said the developers could remedy their misstep. "The hearings officer is the one that decides what the outcome is going to be," he said, adding that if the violation is taken care of prior to the hearing, the citation would be dropped. "It would involve getting the floodplain development permit so that the development wouldn't affect the floodplain," said Zuk. Jackson County's code violation program did research before sending out the citation April 12. The violation is listed to have occurred March 9 on the document, which cites lack of a permit "for removal and addition of fill." It was issued by Alicia Brown of the Code Enforcement section. The summons was sent to the corporation at a Portland address for Corp2000, Inc., a Sacramento firm that serves as a registered agent for companies in Oregon. Corp2000 supplies services such as accepting and forwarding correspondence, documentation and time-sensitive legal documents. The scale of the development on the four tax lots has astonished neighbors in an area zoned for exclusive farm use. "It's pretty aggressive. I guess we are surprised because it doesn't feel like an appropriate EFU, but I guess it's up to the county," said Brown-Riding. Neighbors are also watching to see whether any of the aggregate is hauled off the property, said Brown-Riding. So far it appears to have been used to construct roads on the uphill side of North Applegate Road, she added. A decade ago Jackson County stopped development of a gravel pit at the site by the river when it was under different ownership. A county hearings officer ruled floodplain and traffic studies for the proposal were inadequate. Reach Ashland freelance writer Tony Boom at [email protected] . Most Popular Makerspace coming to Central Point Apr 18 at 11:27 AM Police: Cat killed during fight between couple Apr 19 at 6:36 PM A long view of home Apr 19 at 6:56 PM Ashland magician Harry Anderson went on to TV success Apr 18 at 5:42 PM Medford gun supporters prepare for ballot showdown Apr 21 at 5:04 PM Medford School District proposes 33 new positions Apr 19 at 7:18 AM Woman charged in $7,000 Victoria's Secret underwear theft Apr 20 at 4:58 PM Man sentenced for raping, assaulting wife Apr 20 at 7:14 AM Roller Derby benefits kids battling cancer Apr 20 at 5:32 PM Letters to the Editor, April 21 Apr 21 at 2:01 AM Since You Asked: Abandoned house has been an eyesore for years Apr 18 at 2:01 AM Ashland Co-op expansion could include housing Apr 18 at 10:39 AM © Copyright 2006-2018 Rosebud Media LLC. All rights reserved. Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com ~ P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501