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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2017)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL APRIL 26, 2017 Community leaders work to improve development in CG When current cmay@cgsentinel.com Cottage Grove Councilman Mike Fleck was running for mayor last year, he focused on several issues, including development within the city of Cottage Grove; spe- cifi cally the matter of System Development Charges or SDC fees. It was, and still is, Fleck's contention that the fees, meant to help offset the addition of a new business to a city's streets, water systems and other public services, are too high. "My concern is that they’re just so high that they’re killing development," Fleck said. "But when I started talking to Travis at the chamber to look at that, we expanded our discussion into the whole development process." The result is what Fleck is calling a development focus group. Together with Travis Palmer at the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce, the two will hear from residents and other individuals concerning the obstacles to development within the city. The group will reportedly op- erate as a sub-committee to the By Caitlyn May chamber with Fleck taking on a facilitator role rather than a leadership position. Fleck was careful to note that the new focus groups were in no way crictizing current or for- mer staff at the community de- velopment or planning offi ces but noted the high demand for affordable housing in Cottage Grove. "Especially with such a huge rental shortage, my focus is not low income specifi cally but I do believe by increasing the num- ber of rentals, it certainly will help folks across all income lev- els," he said. "We invited people in the industry or a related fi eld who have experience in Cottage Grove and outside. We want to know what we’re doing right and how we compare to other communities," Palmer said. The initial meeting, according to Fleck, would be held for res- idents to give their input on de- velopment in the city and what factors they think play into the shortage of construction. Subse- quent meetings would focus on a "broader discussion" concern- ing issues in the city code, SDC fees, permit fees and any other factor that currently hinders de- velopment. Newly appointed director of planning and community de- velopment, Faye Stewart would also have a role in the focus groups with Fleck explaining his hiring came at the perfect time. "Initially, before Faye Stew- art, Travis and I were going to do this from the outside and give recommendation from the city," he said. "Any time you have a new person there’s always a great opportunity to do a fresh look at how you do things." The shortage of housing in Cottage Grove has been the cen- ter of discussion for months, if not years, with several solutions popping up. Cottage Village Coalition has teamed with Eugene nonprofi t, SqaureOne Villages to create a 13 tiny home village for low-in- come residents in danger of becoming homeless. Under the terms of their grant, the group must complete construction by the end of 2018. Hayden Homes has also at- tempted to ease the crunch of affordable housing by creating a development of rental cottages currently under construction as well. Cottage Grove woman arrested for same crime, one year later Jessica Bennett, 27, was ar- rested on Saturday, April 22 on seven charges of contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor. According to Lane County Sheriff's Offi ce spokesperson Carrie Carver, "At 10:46 a.m., the sheriff’s offi ce received a re- port of an assault in the Cottage Grove area...The case has been referred to our detectives and is actively being investigated." Bennett was arrested last year for the same crime when she was allegedly discovered to be having sexual relations with her neighbor's son. In July 2016, the teen's father discovered her in his son's bed while the boy got dressed near- by. The report noted used con- dom wrappers were discovered and Bennett told offi cials she had, had sex with the boy sev- eral times. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 10 days in jail and two years of probation. Bennett is expected to be in court again on May 30 after pleading not guilty to the latest charge. LCSO responds to CG suicide The Lane County Sheriff's Offi ce has confi rmed that it re- sponded to a medical call in Cottage Grove on Saturday, April 22 for a deceased juvenile. Cottage Grove authorities confi rmed they responded to the scene on a call of a gunshot wound and secured the premises for the fi re department and sher- iff's offi ce. No further details were re- leased and the Cottage Grove Sentinel does not publish the names of deceased juveniles without prior consent from their families. For the latest in community news, sports, arts and entertainment, check out the new CGSENTINEL.COM Douglas G. Maddess DMD 9A The Cottage Grove Public Library Presents Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit MAY 2017 MAY 1-31, 2017 COTTAGE GROVE PUBLIC LIBRARY Come see the exhibit in the library, then watch the fi lms with us! AND...A FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE SMITHSONIAN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE MUSEUM F FREE Th ursdays in May at 5:30pm RE E Reception Hall at the Cottage Grove Community Center May 4th, 2017 Moonlight (2016) (rated R) A chronicle of the childhood, adolescence and burgeoning adulthood of a young, African-American, gay man growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. May 11th, 2017 Do the Right Th ing (1989) (rated R) On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence. May 18th, 2017 13th (2016) (rated TV-MA) An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation’s history of racial inequality. FAMILY AND GENERAL DENTISTRY Brightening Lives One Smile at a Time May 25th, 2017 Selma (2014) (rated PG-13) A chronicle of Martin Luther King’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. Welcoming New Patients Call for an appointment today! 914 South 4th St. • CG • 541-942-1559 douglasgmaddessdmd.com June 1st, 2017 Th eir Eyes Were Watching God (2005) (NR) A drama set in the 1920s, where free-spirited Janie Crawford’s search for happiness leads her through several diff erent marriages, challenging the morals of her small town. Based on the novel by Zora Neale Hurston. Also Happening at the Cottage Grove Public Library The Sidewalks of Historic Downtown Cottage Grove come alive Friday, April 28 for the first Art Walk of the season. This anticipated event brings together artists, musicians and community to celebrate our talented, artistic and diverse population. New this year: BUSKERS FOR CG ART WALK … APRIL VIOINIST Kira Carver… JAW HARPIST Nico…… SINGER/SONG WRITERS/GUITARISTSB…….Bob and Tanya JAZZ DUO Guitarists Jacob St. Clair and Matthew Staples on Saxaphone The Cottage Grove Art Walk is a free community event held monthly from 6-8pm, the last Friday of the month April-October, rain or shine. Summer Reading Program Summer Chess Club Outdoor Adventure Camps Classic Films • TLAB Behind the Pages • Ukulele Club Teen Library Advisory Board Youth Book Club Partners in History Museum Exhibits Visit http://www.cottagegrove.org/library for more information 700 E Gibbs Ave Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-942-3828