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VETERANS AFFAIRS Homeowners call National Cemetery a 'poor neighbor' over expansion plans Homeowners say they weren't given a chance to weigh in on expansion plans Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 29, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 29, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News EAGLE POINT — Neighbors of the Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery in Eagle Point say a 19-acre expansion project was quietly pushed through, disregarding neighboring property owners and devastating turkey and deer habitat after scores of old oak trees were leveled in recent weeks. While the property owners say they always expected the nearby cemetery would eventually expand — they have no issue with the need for additional burial space and feel the cemetery is a community asset — they heard nothing of the expansion project until hours before heavy machinery began arriving on site. Of some 59 homes in the Hillsborough Estates Subdivision, nearly a dozen will be impacted by a 15-foot retaining wall planned atop a large dirt mound. Neighbors said property values and security concerns would come with a road planned through the expansion. "We found out about it when he (a contractor) came to our door to let us know they would be starting work the next day," said Debbie Domenzain, who, with husband Vince, owns a home nearby. The Domenzains said they are holding out hope for homeowners' voices to be heard and have asked U.S. Rep. Greg Walden's office for help. Vince Domenzain said expansion plans, with the retaining wall and land void of trees, are a stark contrast to the picturesque hillside and old oak trees evident throughout the rest of the 43-acre property. "A big thing that we want to get out there is that the issue is not the expansion. We all love the cemetery. It's a beautiful cemetery and it was a phenomenal area that had an old-growth forest with wild turkeys and deer," he said. "But they took down literally hundreds of oak trees and it now looks like a parking lot. I've worked in the golf course business my entire life and I've seen them shape land and they can do anything they want to. This was a case of blatant disregard of the homeowners." Homeowner Maynard Flohaug said project coordinators were "steam-rolling" the project through. "It's one of the best cemeteries I've ever seen and a lot of us have family up there, including myself, but the main section has beautiful wrought iron fence and nice trees, while the neighborhood here gets a concrete wall and cyclone fence," Flohaug said. "The only thing that could be worse would be if somebody was growing a marijuana farm back there. They're really being a poor neighbor. There's a right way to do things and a wrong way." Bradley Phillips, executive director for the National Cemetery Administration's Pacific District, did not return calls seeking comment. Local cemetery officials said they were directed to refer callers to Phillips. Debbie Domenzain said Tuesday a new project manager has promised a conference call with homeowners this week and had ordered work behind the homes to be stopped until a possible redesign could be considered, but that could not be immediately confirmed. According to early planning documents found on the VA website, the cemetery, opened in 1952 and containing about 20,000 interments, has enough room remaining to accommodate interments until 2030. The expansion will allow for burials through 2077. Andrew Malcolm, communications director for Walden, said the representative is committed to relaying neighbors' concerns to the VA. "Rep. Walden fully expects agencies like the VA to listen to residents about projects like this that would affect them. This happens too often sometimes with agencies, and sometimes it's a matter of making sure the people's concerns and voices are being heard." Domenzain, who said he hoped to see the project slowed and modified to take neighbors' concerns into account, reiterated that the neighbors did not oppose expansion. "My son is an Army MP K9 handler. My dad's a World War II veteran and my mom is buried in a VA cemetery in Arizona," he said. "I have a lot of passion for what they do and to be honored and noticed. But I would think those veterans would be ashamed of what's happening here and just the total disregard for the rights of others." Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 29, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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