Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 16, 2004 Phoenix approves rezoning By Buffy Pollock Tidings Correspondent PHOENIX - After two months of near four-hour meetings, stacks of traffic data and hours upon hours of public testimony, the Phoenix City Council gave its final thumbs up to rezoning some 19 acres near the Fern Valley interchange. The rezoning will allow plans to construct a 103,000-square-foot Home Depot store to move forward. While the project caused initial public outcry over the failing Fern Valley intersection and lack of funding available for rebuilding, fewer and fewer residents appeared at recent meetings. City council members voiced concern that waiting for the interchange to be rebuilt by the state Department of Transportation could ruin the city's chance for bringing a large retail, jobs and a tax base into the small town. "We have an opportunity here to bring our community a business, which will pay living wages," Councilor Curt Georgeson said. "It's very difficult to get anyone to come in to a small town. This is an asset that we cannot afford to pass up." While the approval to rezone was unanimous among those present, Councilor Hal Burks recused himself moments before deliberation began. State transportation officials stood their ground in urging the council to deny the rezoning, citing traffic analyses solicited by developers being incompatible with one from the state. Councilor Dean Martin said he believed that "ODOT is responsible for the city's traffic problems" and should correct them and that applicants for the project had been diligent in meeting necessary criteria and time had come to move forward. "I see no reason to delay the project any further. I think its time to lead the city of Phoenix, Oregon, into the future," Martin said. Phoenix property owner Andy Jorgensen said he attended every meeting concerning Home Depot since mid-September. "I'm still worried about the traffic and I still think the city needs this store," he said. "Maybe they can figure out a way. I'm like the council. If they build the store, the roads have to be fixed." Medford developer Bob Robertson, who has been attempting to develop the parcel for nearly six years, stood to thank the council for the support to bring business to town. ODOT officials continued lobbying against the plan via written testimony last week but did not disclose whether they would appeal the council's decision to the state Land Use Board of Appeals. A statement submitted Nov. 8 by ODOT Development Review Planner David Pyles read: "At this time, the city cannot rely on the applicant's traffic impact analysis to assure compliance with (state transportation planning rules). ... Therefore, we recommend the Phoenix City Council deny the applicant's proposed rezoning request." ODOT Region 3 Planning Manager Terry Harbour said talks, despite the rezoning approval, were on-going with developers. Brian Cannard, regional Home Depot real estate manager, was pleased with the rezoning despite the lengthy process. "There's always a process you have to go through," Cannard said. "Yeah, this one was a little more complicated than most, but worth the effort. Now we're looking forward to construction and we just want to be a part of this community and help out in any way we can." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams