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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend May 18, 2006 Council could put cap on appeals By Meg Landers Mail Tribune The Medford City Council is expected to put a cap on the cost of land-use and development appeals today — in time for the 5 p.m. deadline for filing an appeal of the Cedar Landings project. The Medford City Council on Wednesday gave a tentative thumbs up to putting a maximum limit, likely $1,000 or less, on appeal fees. The council will vote on the subject following a public hearing scheduled for noon today in the council chambers, City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St., Medford. The council took up the issue after neighbors asked for a reduction in the $3,945 fee they would be assessed for appealing approval of the proposed 118-acre Cedar Landing development. Cedar Landing would be a mixed- use residential and commercial development on the property that currently holds the Cedar Links Golf Club in northeast Medford. Currently, the appeal rate is half the application fee, with a $100 minimum. Planning Director Rob Scott said application fees have risen along with other planning fees in the past three years. Scott said a fee should reasonably cover the cost of processing the appeal and should not be so low as to invite frivolous appeals but not so high as to preclude access to the appeal process. He said a $1,000 cap would cover the staff time involved in appeals, which usually involves planning, legal, city recorder and public works staff. Councilman Jason Anderson said the most important issue is the public having access to the process. "If it's one person filing an appeal, $1,000 is a lot of money," he said. Councilman Skip Knight disagreed. "If your heart's desire is to appeal this, you find a way to get it done," he said. Councilman John Statler suggested considering a waiver for those who couldn't afford the appeal fee. "In my neighborhood it would be hard to come up with 500 bucks, let alone a thousand." The council chose to move ahead with putting a cap on the fee, and to further discuss the amount during today's public hearing. Jim Greathouse, a member of the Northeast Medford Neighborhood Coalition, said following the meeting that he was pleased with the discussion, and that it's important for the city to meet the needs of the taxpayers. "We're already paying in our taxes, underwriting the costs of government," he said. The 75-member neighborhood group says its objections to the Cedar Landings development include its high density, commercial buildings and the public pathways that the homeowners association will pay for. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . The city of Medford faces several pending appeals and complaints, but one has been settled without an official ruling. Several weeks after Wal-Mart appealed a Marriott Hotel project in Medford, the parties agreed to drop the issue. "I think that Wal-Mart and Sycan and the city all just realized that it was in their interest to resolve the issue amicably," said Tim Hovet of Sycan Development Corp. of Springfield, developers for the Marriott project. The Medford City Council is scheduled to approve the final plans for two Marriott hotels and dismiss Wal-Mart's appeal during its noon session today at City Hall. The project consists of two three-story hotels: TownePlace Suites, with 76 rooms, and SpringHill Suites, with 86 rooms, on Center Drive. The 3.68-acre parcel is across Center Drive from a proposed 205,693-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter. Hovet said the appeal did not cause a significant delay. Construction is scheduled to begin in July, with the first building opening in February and the second one opening in March. While the Marriott appeal appears to be resolved, several others are still on the books, including: Wal-Mart Supercenter appeals u The Medford City Council is scheduled on June 1 to consider appeals filed by Citizens for Responsible Development and the South Gateway Center Partners who allege the store should be required to conduct a comprehensive traffic study. The citizens group also alleges the project is not compatible with the neighborhood. Walgreens Drug Store appeal u The City Council is scheduled to consider Thursday evening an appeal filed by the Rogue Valley Transportation District. RVTD alleges the proposed project at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Barnett Road violates setback and parking regulations. The Medford Urban Renewal Agency and Cook Development are ironing out contract language and awaiting word on whether the state will define a downtown condominium and commercial development as a public project, therefore requiring prevailing wage rates for subcontractors. The Bella Vita project in downtown Medford is a six-story retail/office/residential complex designed to wrap around the city's new parking garage. It has been on hold since a complaint was filed in December by the Fair Contracting Foundation. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews