Document text
New fire station gets planning nod By JIM DAVIS A proposed southeast Medford fire station -- the first new one in the city in more than 20 years -- cleared one of its last hurdles on Thursday night. The Medford Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional-use permit for the station at North Phoenix and Barnett roads near the Scottish Rite Temple. The plans are scheduled to be reviewed by the Site, Plan and Architectural Commission next Friday. Construction on the station could begin as early as June, said Larry Anderson of the Medford Fire Department, who is planning the project. He expects the 13,174-square-foot building could be completed by January or February. It will be the city's fifth station. The total cost, including land, is estimated at $1.75 million. The station is expected to greatly improve response times to fires and medical emergencies for east Medford and backup responses for all of the city, Anderson said. For instance, the current computer-estimated response time to Hillcrest Road and Cherry Lane is more than nine minutes. After the new station opens, Anderson said the response time is expected to drop to less than six minutes. "You want to be able to get oxygen to them within three to six minutes," Anderson said. "The sooner the better." The building plans include three bays, an office, dormitories, kitchen and storage areas. It also includes a multi-purpose room that can be used for training, for community gatherings or for an emergency-response center during disasters, Anderson said. There will also be additional office space for Medford police officers to be used with their community policing plans. The Medford Fire Department won't hire new firefighters to staff the station, because two crews occupy a station adjacent to Bear Creek Park at Siskiyou Boulevard and Highland Drive. One of the crews will move to the new station. This station is the first part of a three-phase project to shorten response times throughout the city. The second phase calls for another station with the same floor plan at Columbus Avenue and Garfield Street on land donated by the Medford School District. The third phase would consolidate the Bear Creek Park, Eighth and Lincoln street stations into one downtown station. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA