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Lane County Board of Commissioners delay action on TV Butte quarry application; seek further data, reopen public hearing

by George Custer | Jan 29, 2025 | Front Page

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Lane County Board of Commissioners L-R: Commissioners Farr, Tieger, Chair Loveall, Vice-chair Ceniga, commissioner Buch.

By GEORGE CUSTER/Editor/The Herald  —  Tuesday’s afternoon meeting of the Lane County Commissioners went down a procedural rabbit hole that took up a sizable portion of the two-hour session.

Those in attendance, most all from Oakridge, came to show support for the denial of the proposed rock crushing operation application.

No ex parte contact was identified by any of the commissioners and all announced that they could make a fair and impartial decision, irrespective of funds donated to several of the commissioners’ campaigns by Ed King, owner of the proposed quarry site. Over a dozen people from the Oakridge area were in attendance at the hearing, including Oakridge City Administrator James Cleavenger.

Senior Planner Tyler Carsley, Land Management Division, began by briefing the commissioners on the general history of the applications process up to this time. Specifically, Carsley focused on the requirements of Goal 5 of the Department of Land Conservation and Development’s statewide program for land use planning in Oregon.

Herald photo

Senior Planner Taylor Carsley addresses the commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting.

There is a set of 19 Statewide Land Use Planning Goals.

Goal 5 is a broad statewide planning goal that covers more than a dozen resources. The resources range from wildlife habitat to historic places, and gravel mines.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) responded to the applicants plan to minimize the effects on the issue of elk habitat within the targeted area of the proposed quarry operation. ODFW indicated, in their response to the applicant’s plan to mitigate these effects, that the plan was insufficient, and that substantial evidence points to disapproval of the application.

Commissioner Pat Farr stated to the rest of the board that “This boils down to Big Game Plan habitat” and that “the [area] is such a small portion of land compared to the Willamette National Forest”.

Herald photo

East Lane County Commissioner, Heather Buch listens during the discussion over the fate of Oakridge’s TV Butte.

Both Commissioners Ceniga and Loveall echoed Farr’s observation, questioning the size of the area in relation to the adjacent national forest – Loveall alluding to the fact that the Willamette National Forest must be nearly a million acres. These observations were seen as precursor to an assumption by all that there’s plenty of room in the adjacent forest for the elk to easily relocate.

Planner Carsley brought a letter from the applicant’s attorney, Bill Kloos, to the attention of the Board stating procedural objections. The applicant refutes that ODFW is not an expert witness.

Subsequent letters from Oakridge Mayor Bryan Cutchen and attorney Sean Malone of Cascadia Wildlands were submitted outside of the timeframe for submittals, were advised by Carsley to be rejected by the Board.

Commissioner Farr asked if the site identified in the application was in The Willamette Highway/Salt Creek Corridor? He also questioned the local need and impact for the aggregate that would result from the rock crushing operation, indicating that local need would be minimal. The corridor is one of six major areas of outstanding scenic value in Lane County as identified in the lane County Rural Comprehensive Plan.

At this point Commissioner Farr motioned that the record be reopened to direct staff to prepare an ordinance for findings for approval to address an ESEE analysis. The motion passed 3-2 with Commissioners Buch and Tieger voting against.

Local governments are required to develop a program to achieve Goal 5 for all significant resource sites based on an analysis of the economic, social, environmental, and energy (ESEE) consequences that could result from a decision to allow, limit, or prohibit a conflicting use.

This motion was amended, withdrawn, and then motioned again by Farr. Commissioner Buch proclaimed a procedural issue stating that there were conflicting motions on the floor.

With general agreement that a third motion was worded correctly, the vote again was passed 3-2 with Buch and Tieger opposed.

The next sitting of the commissioners to deliberate on the application is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., February 25.

Herald photo

A portion of the Lane County cities’ logos affixed to the front of the dias in the chambers at Harris Hall.

 

 

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George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.

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Written by George Custer

January 29, 2025

Alpine Stream Construction Highway 58 Oakridge Oregon

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