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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend September 12, 2005 New east Medford neighborhood wins approval By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A new east Medford development will extend Berkeley Way across McAndrews Road, but some neighbors worry the change will bring too many cars to their neighborhood. "My main concern is the traffic," said Pat Bailey, who lives on the corner of McAndrews Road and Ramada Avenue. Bailey was among several nearby residents who attended the public-hearing portion of the Medford Planning Commission meeting Thursday during which Berkeley Hills was approved. Located on 29 acres between Spring Street and McAndrews Road, and Keene Way and Springbrook Road, the project plans for 196 houses and townhouses. Berkeley Way currently starts at Woodlawn Drive south of Main Street, heads north, and dead-ends at Spring Street. The extension will run through the development and across McAndrews Road and curve into Ramada Avenue. But Bailey said with the plan to punch Berkeley Way through to McAndrews, it’ll bring the Berkeley Hills residents as well as the traffic from Berkeley Way onto the already busy McAndrews. Advertisement "With all that additional traffic, we are concerned we won’t be able to get out of here," she said. She said the area will need a traffic signal. "If that location warrants it, it’ll get a traffic signal," said Cory Crebbin, public works director. He said city engineers support curving Berkeley Way so it comes into McAndrews across from Ramada, rather than keeping Berkeley on its current course. "Offset intersections, all that does is create safety problems," said Crebbin. Dennis Hoffbuhr, the developer, said the parcels are zoned to take even more traffic, so the plan is within acceptable traffic volumes. Current zoning allows for up to 332 units, said Hoffbuhr. "The proposed project is done at the absolute minimum density possible and still within the city code," he said. "The reason for that is to work within the neighborhood compatibility and keep the traffic numbers down." Hoffbuhr said construction would begin in the spring but he didn’t know what the houses would sell for. "Cost of housing these days, it’s hard to predict, you don’t know," he said. There are some unique features to the development, he said. "Some of the lots have alleys, with a unit on the street and a unit in back," he said, adding the detached house could be used as a guest house or as a rental unit. "One thing we’ve kinda tried to do is try to tie it in more with east Medford, that type of architecture," he said. He said a portion of the area had been platted several years ago, so street construction has already begun on some of the land. The plan also calls for two bicycle/pedestrian paths connecting to the adjacent 10-acre Donahue-Frohnmayer Park. Within the park is WinterSpring Memorial Grove. Donna Taylor, executive director of WinterSpring Center for Living with Loss and Grief, which offers counseling for adults and children in bereavement, said the development is a big change from the pasture it’s replacing. "It used to have horses in it, and the horses always came to our events, which was really nice," she said. "I really think that WinterSpring will welcome the new neighbors. We know the people who live there will have a need for community remembrance." She said she’s hopeful the neighbors can serve as stewards of Donahue-Frohnmayer Park, and help deter vandalism, which has been a problem in the memorial grove. "It will be a big change, but if the city and the parks department and the developers work together it can make for a beautiful neighborhood," she said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail New east Medford neighborhood wins approval ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary Advertisement s