This is the initial report from John Black following the Klamath County Planning Commission meeting held February 25, 2014. There will be more details to come
soon in the Gazette.
---
Tonight the Klamath County Planning
Commission (5 out of 7 present) and the Klamath County Commissioners (2 out of
3 present) held a joint meeting to consider TM's request that a Train Park Zone
be created to allow :
---- a 39 acre Train Park Support area
---- a 129 acre Track Connected Residential Community with 2+ acre lots.
About 60 TM members attended…. some neighbors… and some other interested parties. The crowd spilled out into the hall and was standing room only. The crowd clearly communicated that there was strong public support. THANK YOU to everyone who attended.
Justin Throne and I spoke FOR the proposal.
Speaking AGAINST were 2 neighbors just south of the proposed residential community and 2 neighbors that lived west of Highway 62.
Speaking with no position were Sharon Breen and The Fire Dept.
There was a lot of discussion about DLCD's 13 page letter which had little support. DLCD is the Dept of Land Conservation and Development… the Oregon State agency that oversees land use decisions.
Everyone expressed support for the 39 acre Train Park Support Area…. even DLCD. The only reservations were about the Track Connected Residential Community.
There was a debate about whether the best way to do it was a New Zone or an Overlay of the Forestry Zone that allowed all the same things. There was discussion about whether a zone could grant special privileges to a single property owner. There are other examples of zoning for a single property in Oregon.
Finally a Planning Commissioner moved to disapprove the proposal. That was voted down 3 to 2. Then the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the County Commissioners continue the hearing to March 25, 2014…. to give time to get clarifications of the law and DLCD's position. Then both County Commissioners spoke in favor of the proposal and voted to Table the issue until March 25, 2014.
The majority want to be sure that the proposal is adopted in a form that is likely to withstand any appeal. The next step is a meeting with DLCD to clarify their position.
It will not be necessary for people to travel from out of state to attend the hearing March 25. We have delivered the message that there is Significant Support. I would like people that live in Klamath County to come see the show on March 25. We cannot have an empty room.
We need the Residential Community to attract and retain Long Term Volunteers. We need the freedom to do what we need to do in the Train Park Support Area. Stay tuned as the process continues.
It is Sunny and Warm. Everyone had a great time at the Train Meet.
John
---- a 39 acre Train Park Support area
---- a 129 acre Track Connected Residential Community with 2+ acre lots.
About 60 TM members attended…. some neighbors… and some other interested parties. The crowd spilled out into the hall and was standing room only. The crowd clearly communicated that there was strong public support. THANK YOU to everyone who attended.
Justin Throne and I spoke FOR the proposal.
Speaking AGAINST were 2 neighbors just south of the proposed residential community and 2 neighbors that lived west of Highway 62.
Speaking with no position were Sharon Breen and The Fire Dept.
There was a lot of discussion about DLCD's 13 page letter which had little support. DLCD is the Dept of Land Conservation and Development… the Oregon State agency that oversees land use decisions.
Everyone expressed support for the 39 acre Train Park Support Area…. even DLCD. The only reservations were about the Track Connected Residential Community.
There was a debate about whether the best way to do it was a New Zone or an Overlay of the Forestry Zone that allowed all the same things. There was discussion about whether a zone could grant special privileges to a single property owner. There are other examples of zoning for a single property in Oregon.
Finally a Planning Commissioner moved to disapprove the proposal. That was voted down 3 to 2. Then the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the County Commissioners continue the hearing to March 25, 2014…. to give time to get clarifications of the law and DLCD's position. Then both County Commissioners spoke in favor of the proposal and voted to Table the issue until March 25, 2014.
The majority want to be sure that the proposal is adopted in a form that is likely to withstand any appeal. The next step is a meeting with DLCD to clarify their position.
It will not be necessary for people to travel from out of state to attend the hearing March 25. We have delivered the message that there is Significant Support. I would like people that live in Klamath County to come see the show on March 25. We cannot have an empty room.
We need the Residential Community to attract and retain Long Term Volunteers. We need the freedom to do what we need to do in the Train Park Support Area. Stay tuned as the process continues.
It is Sunny and Warm. Everyone had a great time at the Train Meet.
John
