City Government

06-22-2006 11:59 AM

City Council gives green light to Summerfield Estates subdivision
Urban Area Planning Commission decision is overturned

By TIM BURLESON

GRANTS PASS, OR - Last night the Grants Pass City Council overturned the decision of the Urban Area Planning Commission (UAPC) and approved Summerfield Estates, a 110-lot subdivision in the Redwood Area. Conditions of approval included extension of Elmer Nelson Way to Willow Lane and that no certificates of occupancy would be issued until a traffic signal was operational at the intersection of Dowell Road and Redwood Avenue. That signal is expected to be installed early 2007.

The Summerfield Estates subdivision will consist of 110 lots on 25.05 acres of land. It will be located just west of Willow Lane along the north side of Redwood Highway. The subdivision lots surround wetlands located near the center of the property. The subdivision will consist of three phases. Phase 1 will include 49 lots. Phases 2 and 3 will include 31 and 30 lots respectively. The applicant, Terry Buntin, told the Council that Phase 3 is not planned to be completed until 2010/2011.

The UAPC had previously denied the subdivision citing three intersections in the Redwood Area that had Level Of Service (LOS) traffic movements with F ratings. City code requires a minimum LOS D. The intersections with failing movements are Allen Creek Road at Redwood Avenue, Dowell Road at Redwood Avenue and Hubbard Lane at Redwood Highway.

The motion to overturn the UAPC decision was made by Councilor Tim Cummings and seconded by Councilor Robert Keith. The motion was approved by a 5-1 vote. Councilors Cummings, Keith, Jeff Hyde, DonnaJean Wendle and Brian Thompson voted yes. Councilor Kris Woodburn voted no. Councilor Phil Paquin was absent and Councilor Jack Patterson abstained because he had not attended all previous hearings on the subdivision.

Prior to the vote, Woodburn made an unsuccessful attempt to deny the subdivision by upholding the UAPC decision. "I think it's a safety issue," Woodburn said. The motion died for a lack of second.

Woodburn lobbied other Councilors to uphold the UAPC decision and deny the subdivision. "Someone always has to be last through the gate." Woodburn added that if the subdivision was allowed, "that's like saying we're not going to stop anyone based on traffic."

Mayor Len Holzinger added his thoughts prior to the vote. "Overturning the UAPC [decision] is the wrong thing to do."

Councilor Hyde said that ODOT has no plans to install a signal at the intersection of Hubbard Lane and Redwood Highway at this time, but that a signal could be installed once ODOT traffic level requirements are met. "If we don't have some development [in the Redwood Area] that intersection will never be fixed," Hyde said. Councilor Thompson agreed, saying, "You might as well do the development. If we shut off development, the [ODOT requirements for the signal at Hubbard Lane] will never be met."

Councilor Cummings also discussed widening Redwood Avenue east of Dowell Road. "Shutting down [development] is not going towards getting these things improved," Cummings said.

Holger Sommer, a director with Goal One Coalition, spoke in opposition to the subdivision. Goal One Coalition is an organization that promotes citizen involvement in creating "livable communities." Sommer told the Council that he was disappointed with the vote. "I put you on notice." Sommer said that by approving the subdivision the Council had violated the City's Comprehensive Plan. "You just violated your own rules," Sommer told the Council. Holger said the rules required police and fire protection needs to be met in areas where the City approves development.

Reach reporter Tim Burleson at 761-0195 or tim@grantspassclimate.com

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