Jackson County Accepts Regional Planning

Jackson County and six cities within its boundaries were once resistant to the idea of state-controlled land use planning. Now, they're taking steps to make tough decisions on where jobs will be created, how cities will grow, and where farmland will be protected over the next 50 years. After 12 years, the Regional Problem Solving plan for Jackson County was approved Thursday by the state Land Conservation and Development Commission. Rogue Valley Council of Governments director Michael Cavallaro was an early proponent of the process. He says it will pay off by attracting businesses, promoting investment in agriculture and saving money on road building by getting rid of uncertainty over how future development will play out.