Fate of former NB School, still undecided

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Story Published: Nov 25, 2009 at 5:37 PM PST

By Erica Rush, KCBY News

NORTH BEND, Ore. -People expecting to hear a decision on the Bangor School Property this week will have to wait, as the North Bend City Council extends the issue until their next scheduled meeting.

Formally approved by the City's Planning Commission, the issue of rezoning the Residential Property surrounding the former Bangor School in North Bend, to a Commercial Zone, now lies in the lap of the City Council.

What has been highly contested by surrounding neighbors, especially those on Madrona St., is the need for and interference of, this suggested retail and office space. But Property Owner, Scott Burgess says he believes it would be better than the current vandalized building that sits there now.

"The Bangor School site was abandoned and vacant for sale and I thought it would be a good opportunity to try to turn something T thought was negative, into something positive," said Burgess

Before this agenda item came to the council, the Planning Commission did approve four conditions that needed to be met, in order to protect the surrounding residential area. But some opponents of the project felt that wasn't enough.

According to neighbor, James Fritz, "(The Planning Commission) tried to provide mitigation for the negative impacts of the Commercial Developments but in the end, they still seem to be only half measures that don't quite go far enough to protect an established residential neighborhood."

Chief neighboring opponent, Michael Dean followed with similar testimony but the Bangor LCC's attorney said his 35-page paper would require more time to go over, for them to make any necessary rebuttal.

Therefore the council agreed to postpone making any final decision, until they receive that information and would proceed at their following Council Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Beginning at 7:30 pm.

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