Document text
Phoenix annexation proposed By WENDY SIPOREN PHOENIX -- Richard Grove is 87 years old. He has diabetes and recently suffered a stroke. He and his wife, Georgina, live in a manufactured home on North Phoenix Road, just up from DSU Peterbilt. Richard says he'd like to move into a retirement home and enjoy his last years with his wife in peace and tranquility. The Groves and two other owners of property along North Phoenix Road want to sell their land to longtime Southern Oregon developer Bob Robertson. They're asking the city to annex their land -- a total of 19.14 acres -- into the city limits. The planning commission will consider the request at 7:30 tonight at City Hall. Robertson, who recently won approval for a Denny's and a Holiday Inn Express at the south Ashland interchange, wants to build a tourist-oriented mixed-use development with one or two hotels, office space and restaurants over the next five to six years. Robertson says once developed, the property will generate considerable income to Phoenix through taxes and economic development. The annexation request comes on the heels of the planning commission's approval of a 121-home subdivision between the Petro Center and Mountain View Estates. The Phoenix Hills subdivision was approved despite the addition of 1,148 vehicle trips daily to the already congested Fern Valley Road corridor. Planning staff argued then that while the project would add to traffic, it also represents a source of funding for future road improvements through a local improvement district and system development charges. The question before the planning commission tonight is: Does this annexation mean too many cars too soon? While the city and the Oregon Department of Transportation begin plans to improve the south side of Fern Valley Road, plans to realign North Phoenix Road and improve the north side of Fern Valley Road are several years off. The planning staff is recommending denial of the annexation for that reason. If the planning commission favors the annexation the staff wants Robertson to submit a detailed plan of his development and a corresponding traffic study. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA