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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1997)
April 1, 1997 I " T r SMOKE SIGNALS I . . ' n" ' 1 l( - Q for growing p J1S Also, he said the amount of travel during weekdays in 1 996 is equal to the amount of travel on the weekends in 1994. This data indicates that vehicles traveling on Highway 18 are beginning to reach extremely high levels. Of course, different parts of the Study Area have different concerns about growth, though traffic on highways 18 and 22 affect everyone. Although Willamina is pri marily concerned about widen ing the highway, Grand Ronde is facing shortages in housing, water, and sewer hookups. The Grand Ronde Community Wa ter system currently uses about 195,000 gallons per day. It is anticipated this will increase to 280,000 bytheyear2015. Un fortunately, the system is cur rently neaicapacity during peak days and will have difficulty accom modating any more growth within the system without improvements. Because of capacity and quality problems, the Rock Creek Hideout Water Company also has no new ' available connections. Sewer hookups are facing similar problems in Grand Ronde. Grand Ronde Sanitary Services is currently very near capacity, with a small number of permits still available for addition to the system. In Wil lamina, improvements are likely to be necessary if population growth continues at the current rate. For the purposes of problem solv ing, members of the three commit tee have developed what they call a Trend Scenario, which outlines ex pected changes and restrictions in the Study Area due to development City of Willamina Grand Ronde Community STUDY AREA and population growth over the next 20 years. Large employers like Spirit Moun tain Casino have already added to an influx in population, but many of the Casino's employees commute from larger cities like Salem, McMinn ville, Lincoln City, and even Port land. But now that the Tribe plans to open a hotel near the Casino, pro spective employees are expected to seek housing closer to their work. "Many people are moving away from Oregon's metropolitan areas," said Mayor Hill. She said people see opportunities that don't exist in the bigger cities, and also want a slower paced, more rural life-style. This is why the Tribe wants to be part of the solution to these poten tial problems. The Trend Scenario is designed to help determine how much develop- " McMinnvilla O it i A r s rm&w x i w Dmrnmrv r i X X I I 1 1 1 I I I 1 I I I KM m ' 1 ment will take place over the next few years. The majority of the lands within the study area are forest and agricultural lands. Commercial lands in Willamina are already com mitted to development, and 55 acres of commercial lands in the rural ar eas of the Study Area are available for development in the future. The Grand Ronde Tribe has 250 acres on Highway 22 where the Ca sino is located. The hotel will be lo cated on the same property. John Mercier, Public Works Divi sion Manager for the Tribe said, "For the purposes of this plan, the Tribe will focus commercial development plans in the CasinoResort area. However, as windows of opportunity open for us, the Tribe will look at them. For example, if the Tribe were to acquire an old industrial site and an economic opportunity arises that would benefit the Tribe and commu nity, the Tribe would take a serious look at developing such an opportu nity. But since such an opportunity is nearly unpredictable, the Casino resort area will be our main focus. The RPS plan will not look at tribal commercial development elsewhere." The overall problem solving plan will be put together this summer, and a draft for final refinement will be submitted to the state in July. The Community Steering Com mittee meets every other Monday,' and is facilitated by Mark Fancy, a planner for Polk County and Barry Hennelly, a planner for the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Govern ments. If you reside within the Study Area and would like to learn more about the changes in your area, you can call (503) 632-9237 for the next meeting date and location.
