Plans for an 84-acre, commercial-industrial development at the old Medco mill site could be approved by planning commissioners this week, but city staff members first want to ensure the project doesn't overload the street system.
Developers of the $220 million Northgate Centre have proposed to control the project's traffic by restricting the size of the buildings, but city engineers recommend capping at 18,509 the daily number of vehicle trips associated with the project, said Cory Crebbin, public works director. City engineers also recommend the developers install numerous turn lanes and traffic signals.
The plan calls for a 417,500-square-foot retail center, a 219,300-square-foot office park and an 180,000-square-foot industrial and business park. The project occupies three of the four quadrants in what is commonly known as "the big X," where highways 238, 62 and 99 intersect near the Rogue Valley Mall.
Mike Montero, a consultant for Northgate, said the project's traffic study has shown that it will not overburden the existing road system. Montero, who is also chairman of the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation, said he has no problems with public works' recommendations.
Montero said the project would reduce the number of vehicle trips because Northgate combines retail, office and business space and drivers will visit multiple businesses in one stop.
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John Vial, district manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said the agency was not ready to comment on the project's traffic, which will affect three state highways.
"We are in the process of reviewing the traffic impact study and working with the applicant and the city of Medford public works to fully understand the impacts," he said. "We will have a position on this by the hearing."
Suzanne Myers, Medford's senior planner, said there are three issues before the commission: mitigating the traffic generated by the project; changing the zoning of the majority of the land from industrial to commercial; and building a trolley and trolley route in and around the site.
The developers are planning to include a trolley route within Northgate and to the nearby Rogue Valley Mall. They have requested what amounts to a credit that would allow them to have additional commercial space.
Montero said that if the developers build the trolley and demonstrate that it reduces vehicle trips, then they could add more space. City staff has asked the developer to provide more evidence that the trolley route is certain before granting space credit.
Two wood products manufacturers adjacent to the proposed development have asked the city to reject it. Representatives for Timber Products and SierraPine say open air boutiques and restaurants that are being proposed are not compatible with their existing manufacturing activities.
Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail mlanders@mailtribune.com.
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