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CLEAR Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 10 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 8, 2003 Jacksonville woman survives first stage of permit fee battle By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Diana Bilyeu says she doesn’t mind paying planning fees to build a mini-storage unit — she’d just rather pay $13,000 than $65,000. The Jacksonville resident who wants to build a 235-unit mini-storage business at 2562 Jacksonville Highway won the city battle for lower fees and now will appeal to the county. "Well, I’m very happy," said Bilyeu following the Medford City Council meeting Thursday. "It’s taken nine months to get to this point." Bilyeu, a Rogue Valley resident for 33 years, said she began the permit process on her county property in 2001 to build storage units called Storage by George. Advertisement Soon after, she received tentative approval from the county, for which she paid $13,000 in system development charges (SDCs). But between the time she made an application to the county for all the necessary building permits and their being reviewed and issued, jurisdiction over the neighborhood changed. Bilyeu’s property was annexed into the city along with a total of 180 acres in west Medford last fall, which included the Albertsons Plaza. The change meant she was facing $65,000 in SDCs to the city. The $52,000 difference had largely to do with the county having simpler system development fees, while the city’s fees include storm drains, sewer and water system, a parks fee, and the south Medford interchange surcharge. So the city agreed to let her be under the county’s jurisdiction for her property. "The council handled it quite nicely," said Bilyeu’s attorney, Joe Kellerman, adding that hers was a pretty unusual situation. "We just fell between the cracks." But construction doesn’t begin yet. "Now we get to go to the county commissioners," said Bilyeu. Bilyeu and Kellerman did not know the date of their appeal to the county because they were waiting for Thursday’s results before asking to be on the commissioner’s meeting agenda. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times