Document text
47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 16, 2004 Ashland man may appeal golf course decision He says a zoning oversight by Jackson County shouldn’t have been used to allow development By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune An Ashland critic of plans to use public land for the proposed Billings Ranch Golf Course vowed Monday to challenge Jackson County commissioners’ interpretation of a Bear Creek Greenway zoning oversight. Ra Wollenburg, who lives near the proposed course north of Ashland’s city limits, said he’d ask the state Land Use Board of Appeals to review the commissioners’ decision that zoning law, not long-standing intent, must govern use of sensitive public land along the Greenway. "This is all subjective interpretation," said Wollenburg. But Jackson County’s lawyer, Mike Jewett, countered that the matter is not within LUBA’s jurisdiction. "We don’t consider this a land-use decision and that’s that," Jewett told Wollenburg. Advertisement Wollenburg asked commissioners to clarify which document would be used to support their opinion, in part so he could meet LUBA’s 21-day appeals deadline. He wondered whether it would be an Oct. 28 Planning Department memo outlining a zoning oversight or whether it would be the formal interpretation order that was approved Monday. Jewett wouldn’t answer either way. "Our position is that the time frame is irrelevant because it’s not a land-use decision," he said. Wollenburg said he would file an appeal by Thursday, the earliest possible deadline, just in case. A spokeswoman for LUBA said the state board could consider the issue if all local attempts at resolution were exhausted. At issue is the commissioners’ interpretation of an apparent failure to apply Greenway District zoning to public land along the Greenway, including a 6-acre parcel that golf course developers seek to lease. An Oct. 28 staff report to the county Planning Commission showed that a 1988 Greenway District zoning designation was intended to protect environmentally sensitive land — but that it was never actually applied to Jackson County property. A move to designate the land as an "area of special concern" was enacted, but county planner Veronica Smith concluded that environmental protections affecting such areas were merely advisory, not mandated. Instead, the land retained a base zone of EFU, or exclusive farm use, a designation that conditionally permits golf course development, Smith said. Golf course developer Mike Peru, who represents Ashland rancher John Billings and his family, wants to lease about 6 acres of county-owned land along the Greenway to complete a $10 million, 18-hole course. County officials noted Monday that no lease has been approved. Any development would require public hearings as part of a conditional use permit. Wollenburg said he supports the private development of the golf course. "But just not on public land," he said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities