NOVEMBER 18, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3
Planning commission
backs UGB expansion
Approval
would
pave way
for third
bridge
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
The urban growth bound-
ary (UGB) that contains sprawl
in the Salem-Keizer area might
be expanding, but not in a
way that many in Keizer have
pushed for.
The Keizer Planning Com-
mission recommended ap-
proving an expansion of
UGB to accommodate a new
bridge across the Willamette
River, known as the Salem
River Crossing, at its meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Planning
commissioners
forwarded a recommendation
to approve the UGB expansion
with a 6-1 vote. Commissioner
Michael DeBlasi opposed.
If the plan gains approval
from Salem, Keizer, Marion
County and Polk County, the
new bridge would span the
Willamette River at Hickory
and Pine streets in north Sa-
lem. The plans call for the an-
nexation of 32 acres into the
UGB to make way for the
bridge and other connecting
roads on the west side of the
Willamette River.
In discussing the issue at
the Keizer Planning Commis-
sion level, commissioners ad- mate change, accidents and
vocated for a long-term view then costs of loss of revenue
on lands to accommodate the
of growth in the area.
“You’re building a bridge cars,” he said. “Why not look
for infrastructure needed 20 at ways to squeeze all the ef-
years from now,” said Com- fi ciency out of the use of the
missioner Hersch Sangster. land before we decide to ap-
“It’s not so much personal prove the expansion and then
travel or commuters, it’s truck build a bridge?”
He also took issue with a
traffi c.”
The bridge would create Keizer city staff report, which
a pathway for traffi c to travel sugested that the bridge would
across the River with relative improve employment pros-
ease from the Salem-Keizer pects and livability in the local
area.
Parkway.
“That seems like a giant
Commissioners and the
Keizer City Council attended leap,” DeBlasi said.
“The staff comment was
a special meeting last month
that brought together all of intended to convey that a far-
the affected jurisdictions and reaching discussion had taken
place,
more
invited pub-
than editori-
lic comment.
alizing,” said
More than 60
Nate Brown,
people testi-
Keizer’s com-
fi ed during the
munity
de-
public hearing
velopment
portion of the
director, and
meeting.
preparer of the
Commis-
staff report.
sioner Jim Jacks
Commis-
said that while
sioner
Jerry
there was lots
Crane, a local
of testimony
caterer, said he
regarding the
plans for extra
impact of the
— Hersch Sangster
time whenever
bridge
con-
he has to cross
struction, the
the
existing
issue at hand
Marion Street bridge for a job,
was the UGB expansion.
“If we recommend that the which was one factor in his
UGB be expanded tonight, it support of the plan. However,
will probably be 10, 20 or even he said he was most moved
30 years before (a bridge) gets by testimony from a west Sa-
funded. If we don’t do some- lem resident during the special
thing now, it’s going to be 40 meeting last month.
“He told us that his daugh-
or 50 years from now,” Jacks
ter had severe asthma and she
said.
Despite opposing the plan, could die if there was a prob-
DeBlasi said he understood lem at the existing bridge,”
the need for a bridge, but that Crane said.
The commissioners’ recom-
the other costs associated with
mendation will now go to the
it needed to be considered.
“We’re going to allow peo- Keizer City Council, which
ple to drive as much as they will make the fi nal decision
want and externalize the cost regarding the city’s support on
in terms of cost of roads, cli- the matter.
“You’re
building a
bridge for
infrastructure
needed 20
years from
now”
Give your home the
Encore Treatment
W INDOWS & D OORS
[S HOWER D OORS ]
M IRRORS & S KYLIGHTS
C USTOM T ABLE T OPS
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM
1450 Front St - Salem
503958192559
www9encoreglass9co
Encore
Glass
CCB #196078
Deals, deals, deals
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Vendor Braunda Gilchrist talks with customer Linda Bishop at the 5th Annual McNary High
School Holiday Bazaar Saturday, Nov. 12.
obituaries
Submit an obituary through our website at keizertimes.com
or send an email to: editor@keizertimes.com
Neal J. Bigger
December 13, 1939 — November 11, 2016
Neal John Bigger passed
away on Nov. 11 at the age
of 76.
He was born in Helena,
Mont. but spent most of his
early life in Anchorage, Alas-
ka, with his parents William
and Dorothy.
Neal was married, and
raised his family in Salinas,
Cal., moving to Keizer, Ore.
in 1979. He worked as a civil
engineer for 30 years. He
retired from work with the
City of Salem and happily
spent the rest of his years.
Neal was and always will
be, remembered for his de-
votion to family, his gentle-
ness, thoughtful ways, and
joyful laugh. He had many
interests and hobbles, such
as fi shing, bowling, dancing,
and breeding tropical fi sh. An
avid reader, he could always
be found with a book in his
back pocket.
Neal is survived by his lov-
ing wife Roberta, four chil-
dren: Debra
Coder, Sandra
(Thomas II)
Ayers, Brent
(Carla), and
Charlotte
Bigger; one
stepson Guy
N. Bigger
Gourneau;
eight grand-
children; 10 great-grandchil-
dren; and two sisters Sandra
Dodgson and Kathleen Sar-
zotti. He is preceded in death
by his beloved wife of 40
years, Nita.
A celebration of life will be
held at 3 p.m. on Sat, Nov. 19,
2016 at Restlawn Cemetery.
Empty Bowls
on sale at
WAC Sat.-Sun.
Empty Bowls, the an-
nual pottery event to sup-
port hunger relief, will take
place Saturday and Sunday,
Nov. 19 and 20, at Willamette
Art Center. More than 1,200
handcrafted pottery pieces are
on sale to the public, and all
proceeds will go to Marion-
Polk Food Share.
More than 20 local artisans
spend all year preparing the
event. Saturday hours are 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours
are noon until 4 p.m. while
supplies last.
Willamette Art Center is
located on the Oregon State
Fairgrounds through the yel-
low gate off Silverton Road
in Salem. Willamette Art
Center will be accepting
donations of non-perishable
food during and continuing
through their holiday sale on
Dec. 3 and 4.