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S ERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF C OTTAGE G ROVE , C RESWELL , D ORENA , D RAIN , E LKTON , L ORANE AND Y ONCALLA C ottage G rove WEDNESDAY EDITION | NOVEMBER 24, 2021 | $1.00 S entinel VOL. 132, NO. 47 • Est. 1889 Your Local News Delivered Your Way: In Print. Online. On the Go! Bundle home & auto to save $$. Residents petition for better downtown access By Damien Sherwood dsherwood @cgsentinel.com (541) 942-0555 WEATHER Mostly cloudy with a high of 51 and a low tonight of 38 Full forecast on A5 COLUMNIST Rayme Epperson wants to see some changes downtown and has gathered 106 signa- tures to back her up. Epperson, owner of down- town business Salon Five14, said she has witnessed a significant portion of her mobility-impaired clientele hindered by a lack of acces- sibility. Though she tried to reserve parking in front of her Main Street business for these clientele, she was told by the City of Cottage Grove it was not allowed. So, with dozens of names on an informal petition in hand, Epperson proposed to the city that ADA (Americans with Disability Act) parking be constructed downtown, though she has also said she would settle for anything that improved accessibility for those who are mobility-challenged. “It would be nice to have some kind of concrete ramp or semi-circle to eliminate that giant step up on the curb — not a blockade like in front of the eateries that are supposed to be removed for winter,” she said, referring to the “streeteries” installed in downtown parking spaces this year. However, Epperson said the city’s response to her parking space request has been an un- compromising rejection. Several city staff have told The Sentinel, too, that meet- ing ADA standards for a park- ing space in particular would be difficult or impossible on Main Street simply because of space requirements. “Physically, there’s just no way we could take that one spot and build a space,” said Public Works and Develop- ment Director Faye Stewart, referring to ADA parking. “Just the physical constraints that we have to deal with and the rules around ADA park- ing spaces. I’ve been told it’s impossible to build some- thing there site-specific under the conditions we have today.” One reason for the physi- cal constraints is the slope of Main Street itself, which has a noticeably high crown at its center. Curbs downtown are notoriously high as well, which is both a hindrance for the mobility-impaired and engineers seeking solutions. “But in a rebuild job, it might be something that could be considered,” Stewart added. Several locals have testified to the need for that consider- ation to take place. Resident Fonda Norris said she is “moderately handi- capped,” and uses a walker or wheelchair for safety purpos- es when she is out and about. “I very rarely go to down- town Cottage Grove because of accessibility,” she said. “[There is] not nearly enough handicapped parking and if DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Downtown curbs on Main Street can be prohibitively high for some residents with mobility issues. there is a spot available, it is usually too far from where I need to go, so then I need to use the handicapped corners or try to get up on a curb.” She also said the corners Farmers market makes winter stand Mary Ellen Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales A5 SPORTS & REC themselves are hard to use because they are not aligned properly with the sidewalks. “If I am in a wheelchair See PARKING 3A CG to receive bridge beams By Damien Sherwood dsherwood @cgsentinel.com nut Avenue from another property that is zoned R2. City staff determined that the rezoning of Nordin’s land to RC would be con- sistent with other zoning in the neighborhood. Nordin’s plan involves making residential space for “perhaps 12 or 14 indi- viduals” rather than hous- ing just the land’s single occupant. Using a co-housing model, Nordin proposes encouraging an ownership stake in the property with holders given the ability to sell that stake. The plan also propos- es construction with a net-zero energy approach, After rounding the new year, Cottage Grove is due to collect 11 free bridge beams from the Oregon Department of Transporta- tion (ODOT). “We’re excited by that in multiple ways,” said City Manager Richard Meyers on KNND’s Beeper Show on Monday. The 115-foot-long beams will be used for the city’s up- coming Cleveland Bridge project, though there is still not a date set for the project to begin. “We don’t know when we’re going to be building this,” said Meyers. “It could be next year. It could be three or five or 10 years, but ODOT needs to get these beams that they use for the temporary structures off the property that they’re stored on right now.” The beams were used for the I-5 bridge crossing of the Willamette River be- tween Springfield and Eu- gene. There are reportedly hundreds of these beams ready to be given away. Cottage Grove city engi- neers evaluated the beams and confirmed that they would work perfectly for the city’s planned project. They can also be stored for long periods without corro- sion. “So it’s a huge, huge ad- vantage for us to get these. And they’re free,” said Meyers, estimating that the beams would normally See ZONE 3A See BEAMS 3A Basketball returns for Creswell, CG B1 DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL The South Valley Farmers Market held one of its winter events on Nov. 20 at the Covered Bridge Brewing Group. The next (and last) winter market of the season will be held Dec. 11 at the same location from 11 – 3 p.m. (See A6 for the full story.) • RECORDS Obituaries Official releases A2 • LORANE NEWS A5 • CLASSIFIEDS Listings and public notices B5-B6 follow us for the latest news: /CGSentinel @CGSentinel Planning Commission rejects zone change recommendation to city council By Damien Sherwood dsherwood @cgsentinel.com 541- 942-3325 ph • 541-942-3328 fax P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 In a rare move, the Cot- tage Grove Planning Com- mission last Wednesday (Nov. 10) voted against a city staff recommendation that the commission rec- ommend a zone change re- quest to city council. An application from landowner Don Nordin to rezone land at 1142 Chestnut Ave. from R1 to RC (Residential Com- mercial) prompted public discussion at the planning commission meeting and concerned some in the neighborhood. It was ultimately deter- mined through the discus- sion that Nordin’s housing plans could move forward without the zone change. “I think we would rath- er ensure it comes back so we have community input, especially since it doesn’t preclude him from doing what he says he wants to do,” said Commissioner Darby Valley regarding the decision to vote against the recommendation. Valley also referenced a zone change of the old Harrison Elementary School from R1 to R2 pass- ing through the commis- sion with little resistance in 2019. In that case, the land ended up not being used in the way the commission expected it to, he said. Nordin laid out a unique Hello, neighbor! Matt Bjornn ChFC RICP, Agent Bus: 541-942-2623 www.bjornninsurance.com 1801132 Performing All Phases of Automotive Repair Specializing in Gas & Diesel Engines Most Makes and Models Please stop by and say, “Hi!” I’m looking forward to serving your needs for insurance and financial services. Here to help life go right. CALL ME TODAY. ® State Farm, Bloomington, IL plan for his land for the commission. “In response to a com- munity need for more af- fordable housing and at the direction of HB 2001 from our legislature to ad- dress the need for ‘middle housing’, I am requesting a change from the R1 zon- ing on my property … to RC residential commer- cial to allow for a phased construction of a duplex and cottage cluster with an associated opportuni- ty space, utility shed, and great room,” stated Nordin in his request to the com- mission. The property abuts an- other property across L Street that is already zoned RC and is across Chest- FORD • GM • DODGE 5 41-942-2521 80408 Delight Valley School Road Cottage Grove, OR 97424 www.huddleaut omotive.com