Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSM051501.- ? CITY OF CENTRAL POINT City Council/Planning Committee Study Session May 15, 2001 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Mayor Walton called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. II. ATTENDEES Mayor: Bill Walton Council Members: David Gilmour, Dick Halley, Kay Harrison, Donna Higginbotham, Dennis Richardson and Bill Stults were present. Planning Commission Members: Chuck Piland, Candy Fish, Paul Lunte, and Wayne Riggs were present. City Administrator Jim Bennett; Public Works Director Bob Pierce; Finance Director Bill Brugger; Police Chief Mike Sweeny; Planning Director Tom Humphrey; and Administrative Secretary Deanna Gregory were also present. III. BUSINESS A. A Review and Discussion of the Regional Problem Solving (RPS) One Valley Project and the Initial Projections of Future Growth Areas for the City of Central Point. City Administrator Jim Bennett explained that this was the first meeting showing the efforts of putting together a presentation focusing on potential growth areas for Central Point. Planning Director Tom Humphrey explained the rules and guidelines involved in expanding an Urban Growth Boundary. He explained that the Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG) has been facilitating an RPS process to assist Rogue Valley jurisdictions in determining appropriate land areas for future growth and the expansion of Urban Growth Boundaries. The RPS process is supported by the State Department of Land conservation and Development (DECD) and the details fo this process and anticipated outcomes. In response to the Council's request and in an effort to provide preliminary information, planning staff has included five maps which depict future growth areas currently under consideration by an RPS Technical Advisory Committee and a Resource Land Review Committee. The maps illustrate new areas in the southwest, northwest, north and northeast of the existing Central Point UGB. One of the goals in the RPS process is to preserve valuable agricultural land. Both committees have been looking at soil conservation maps and discussing the relative value of agricultural properties as part of the Urban Reserve analysis . Periodically the City receives requests from private citizens to consider the inclusion of their property in our expansion plans. Staff has attached a letter of one such request. The property owners raises some pertinent issues with respect to our discussion of viable agricultural lands. Rogue Valley Council of Governments Director Mike Cavallaro stated that several organizations have participated int the Regional Problem Solving tasks. He explained the back ground to Medford's problems when they tried to expand their UGB. Finally several jurisdictions wanted to join in and expand their UGB also. With the combined effort of all the jurisdictions they hope to be able to convince the State to approve the Regional Problem Solving challenges with resource lands and exception lands. Mr. Cavallaro explained the progress they have made so far • Jurisdictions agree to work together • Regional Growth Plan Language in goal 14 rules • Good citizen participation • Proposed the first regional coordinated program of periodic review • RLRC -Preferred Resource lands map • pCIC -Draft buffer areas • pCIC -Draft open space areas • Technical Committee -draft future growth areas He explained all the projected growth target areas for surrounding jurisdictions. Central Point has constraints by farm land on two sides and the City of Medford on several other sides. There was discussion on the I-5 interchange division. Mr. Humphrey explained the areas suggested to be included: • the North area has smaller tax lots and bad farm lands; • the South west section is encouraged so that the city has some hill area's within the jurisdiction, and the land has water problems; • Tolo Road area beyond Erickson Air Crane is low grade farm area and has no constraints by producing farms. • 7 oaks interchange could be very important to the City of Central Point in the near future. • There was discussion regarding expanding to the east side of Table Rock to 62 and North to Elmhurst. • Central Point is in need of commercial and light industrial which the area along hwy 62 would provide. Concerns and suggestions: • Does Central Point want to achieve greater density? • Seven Oaks interchange will become very important to Central Point in the near future. • Who will be responsible for prioritizing afterthe agreement. Eachjurisdictiontyould have to cooperate with each other through the Regional Problem Solving Committee. • Central Point needs to find its specialness and characteristics. • The area east of central point to hwy 62 has potential for the whole region. Planning Commissioner Candy Fish asked why the area on Upton Road are not included in the proposed plan. Mr. Humphrey explained that the state requires the Pear Orchard on Upton Road to have a buffer zone, so the property on Upton is not included in the proposal at this time. Mr. Humphrey explained that Mr. Caster has submitted a request to include his property on Upton Road into the UGB. He family has owned the property for generations and it is not profitable to farm this land any longer. Mr Caster has thought about making a deal with the School District No. 6 to purchase it. This would provide a buffer zone between the orchard and any residential property. There was discussion regarding the city purchasing the Caster Property and selling it to the School District or making it into a park. Conclusion: The Council and Planning Commission would like the RPS to approach the City of Medford regarding the property from Table Rock Road to Hwy 62. They would like to see a way for the Caster Property to be included in the UGB. IV. ADJOURNMENT The Study Session for May 15, 2001 was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.