April 1, 1997 I " T r
SMOKE SIGNALS I . . ' n" ' 1 l( - Q
for
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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-
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X X I I 1 1 1 I I I 1 I I I KM m
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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.