Plans for an 84-acre commercial-industrial development at the old Medco mill site met with opposition from neighbors during Wednesday's Medford Planning Commission meeting.

The public hearing on the Northgate Centre plan and zone change request was still going on at press time late Wednesday.

Michael Hicks was among the dozens of employees of Timber Products and SierraPines asking commissioners to reject the project because the open air boutiques would not be compatible with the nearby loud and dirty wood products manufacturers.

"Since I've been here we've had several nuisance claims," he said. "It's not a good mesh."

He also thought the project would overburden an already congested street system.

Advertisement

"I'm against this zone change because of the traffic," said Hicks, adding that it's already difficult for Timber Products trucks to reach the lumber company because of traffic.

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.

The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Medford Public Works Department recommend project approval with conditions, such as capping at 18,509 the daily number of vehicle trips associated with the project, along with numerous improvements to adjacent city streets and state highways.

Chuck Smith, Timber Products' vice president of Southern Oregon operations, said in addition to his company receiving 100 trucks daily, other nearby companies, such as Gordon Trucking, add another 300 trucks that would drive through the center of the project. He said it would be more appropriate for an industrial park to be built on the industrial-zoned land.

But developers say they have carefully researched and planned for Northgate so that it will be compatible with the surrounding area.

"We have been very sensitive to our next-door neighbors," said Greg Hathaway, the Portland attorney representing the developers.

Craig Stone, the project's development consultant, said Northgate calls for innovative plans to reduce vehicle trips. He said there will be a trolley route in and around the development as well as a commuter rail system. The project also would underwrite the costs of employees within Northgate to ride the Rogue Valley Transportation District bus.

He said buffers, berms and appropriate planning will prevent Northgate from being affected by nearby mills.

"Is it fear that particulate matter will fall on a shopper?" he asked the commission. "The opportunity for that to happen is really small."

Erik Vos, business analyst for Timber Products, countered that he invited commission members to stand on the proposed site and experience the noise and the dust.

"It's mind-numbing to think that is an appropriate site," he said.

Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail mlanders@mailtribune.com.