Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Page 12
ODOT, developers view Hwy. 199 revisions
By MICHELLE BINKER
Staff Writer
Access issues and an-
ticipated changes in traffic
density and flow have
made apparent necessary
redevelopment of U.S. 199
(Redwood Hwy.), north
from River Street to Laurel
Road and a little beyond.
Concerned property
owners, developers, and
Oregon Dept. of Transpor-
tation (ODOT) planners
met Thursday, April 29 in
CJ City Hall to discuss
development issues which
will have an effect on N.
Redwood Hwy.
The process was initi-
ated by development of the
new Siskiyou Community
Health Center (SCHC) and
of a Field’s home improve-
ment center north of
SCHC.
The purpose of the
meeting was to get the ball
rolling on a coordinated
plan to provide safe in-
gress and egress for those
properties, as well as fu-
City of CJ booming ...
(Continued from page 1)
members expressed appre-
hension that, should
Osborn’s plans fall
through, the land as zoned
could become home to any
permitted light industrial
activity.
Furthermore, in a letter
addressed to the council,
John Renz, Southern Ore-
gon regional representative
of the Oregon Dept. of
Land Conservation and
Development, stated that
the proposed use is “not
compatible with an Em-
ployment Industrial Zone.”
He added that it is in-
consistent with Title 17 of
Cave Junction municipal
Code, which describes the
general purpose, character-
istics, and permitted uses
in an EG/LI district.
“We believe an as-
sisted-living facility cannot
be interpreted to be a
medical center (the only
permitted use which comes
close),” the Renz letter
stated. “Additionally, an
assisted-living facility
would place residential
uses in the industrial zone,
creating the very conflicts
the district seeks to avoid.”
Jim Frick, of Century
21 Harris and Taylor, re-
minded the council that
development is a gamble,
but encouraged it to ap-
prove the proposal “to en-
hance the vision of medi-
cal facilities in the area.”
He also recommended
that some agreement be
made which would tie de-
velopment of the property
to this specific use.
The council, evidently
placing a great deal of trust
in Osborn’s idea, as indi-
cated by Councilman Tony
Paulson, approved the
zone change.
“You’re on the hot seat
now, Larry,” Councilman
Rita Dyer quipped.
Toward the conclusion
of the meeting, after most
of the audience had gone,
the council hastily agreed
to a verbal addition to an
ordinance already on the
agenda, amending Title 17
of the municipal code. The
change added “medical
facility” to the table of per-
mitted uses in a EG/LI
zone. The ordinance
passed 5-0.
ture development along the
corridor.
Some attending had
been through similar proc-
esses with ODOT before,
only to have the projects
fall off the State Traffic
Improvement Plan (STIP)
priority list.
Ron Hughes, ODOT’s
Region 3 access manager,
said this time, given the
scope of planned develop-
ment, and with significant
monetary input from de-
velopers, the work will
proceed.
“As long as people
agree to cooperate this can
go very smoothly,” said
Dan Dorell, an ODOT traf-
fic engineer.
As the discussion pro-
ceeded, attendees focused
on an aerial photograph of
the area under considera-
tion. Gesturing and point-
ing, excitement began to
build as the possibilities of
this type of pre-emptive,
comprehensive planning
became apparent.
“We need to get input
from everyone (involved),”
said Dan Hughes, whose
commercially zoned prop-
erty fronts Redwood Hwy.
on the west side.
“It’s important that the
property owners bring a
codified plan before
ODOT. It will make
ODOT’s job easier,”
Hughes said.
“I think this has been
quite successful,” said Jim
Frick, of Century 21 Harris
and Taylor.
“This was unique in
that the property owners
and ODOT are attempting
to coordinate their efforts
prior to development plan-
ning.” The effect, he said,
would be beneficial to all
property owners concerned
and the future of the city
at large
“Clearly, a vast major-
ity of the (affected) prop-
erty owners are interested
in taking part in this ef-
fort,” said CJ City Re-
corder Jim Polk.
“It looks like we need
to get the key players to-
gether for another meet-
ing” to address these ac-
cess issues, he said.
Map above depicts the
north area of the city of
Cave Junction which is
undergoing major devel-
opment. There are at
least three subdivisions
slated for the Hanby
Lane area, and possibly
a residential assisted-
living facility. Photo be-
low: Land owners, devel-
opers and ODOT repre-
sentatives in Cave Junc-
tion City Hall examine an
aerial photo of the north
Redwood Hwy. vicinity.
(Photos by
Michelle Binker)
Valley visit
due May 14
by Kucinich
Ohio Congressman
and presidential candidate
Dennis Kucinich will be at
Blue Moon Café in Down-
town Cave Junction be-
tween 11 a.m. and noon
on Friday, May 14.
The café will be serv-
ing a brunch that morning
starting at 10:30.
Kucinich, a Democrat
who vied with Sen. John
Kerry for the party’s nomi-
nation, continues to “give
voice to those issues not
currently being addressed
by the frontrunner.”
“While the question of
who is going to be the
nominee is a foregone con-
clusion,” Kucinich said,
“what we stand for as a
party has yet to be deter-
mined.”
The appearance is
hosted “by a group of folks
who just love him, and
who want to meet and sup-
port him,” said Libby
Goines, who has helped
organize the event.
Heeeeeeee’s Baaaaaaack!
David Anderson Excavating
CCB #159580 Licensed General Contractor
30 years experience
in water, sewer and pipeline construction, brush clearing,
septic installation and utility line trenching
Ready to Dig and Aiming to Please 24 Hours a Day
Septic Systems * Underground Pipeline * Site Preparation
House & Trailer Pads * Driveways * Footings * Ponds * Brush Clearing
Stump Removal * Utility Trenching
LICENSED BONDED AND INSURED
Phone: 1-800-297-0335
Fax:
1-541-597-2889
Cell: 1 (714) 501-9971
Res.: 1 (541) 597-4486