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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 7, 2006 Phoenix interchange debate continues By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune PHOENIX � The City Council chambers’ dilapidated wood floors were, for once, unable to drown out audience members. With 120-plus in attendance and another dozen trailing out the back door, the creaky wood planks were hardly even audible beneath the mechanics, homemakers, office professionals and others who appeared before the Council to voice concern over potential impacts a $40-million rebuild of the Fern Valley Road interchange would have on the city’s downtown core along Highway 99. Two design alternatives,recently narrowed from four, would significantly affect the city’s business district. Of the two options forwarded for environmental assessment, one calls for a new interchange structure over Interstate 5, connecting with a new alignment of North Phoenix Road on the east and Bolz Road on the west, while another creates a connection with North Phoenix Road on the east, aligning with Bolz Road on the west. If built as planned, both alternatives would widen Highway 99 directly over the current site of some 7 residences and 28 businesses including an 18-unit shopping center fronted by two gas stations, Nim’s Scratch & Dent, CarQuest, Phoenix Automotive and Advanced Transmission and other businesses. Advertisement While Oregon Department of Transportation officials stated last week that design alternatives were still in a preliminary phase, significant protest from local business owners, resulting in the hastily formed Phoenix Association of Business and Property owners, resulted in an impromptu citizen forum at Monday night’s Council meeting. Tani Wouters, owner of Advanced Transmission and spokeswoman for the business-owners association, urged the city to "revisit the scope of this project," which she called more of a "south interchange for Medford" than an interchange for Phoenix. Although ODOT and city officials have said design alternatives were not "cast in stone," business owners had been told they would be relocated and compensated, Wouters said. "That does not sound preliminary to me," she said. While ODOT officials recently stated that impacts to Highway 99 were discussed at various project phases, Council member Dean Martin said he was surprised at recently released maps and that "there has to be less impact on Highway 99." Council member Otto Caster said ODOT "never brought anything up about Highway 99." Had impacts to Highway 99 been discussed, developer Peter Walton said he and a partner would not have purchased more than two acres along Bear Creek in recent months for a future mixed-use project. "If they build either of these two alternatives, it would wipe my entire property off the map," Walton said. Karen Way homeowner Don Mitchell said both plans under consideration, not counting a third "no build" option, would site a widened Highway 99 directly over his home of 51 years; one would go through his fireplace, he noted, while the other would plow directly over his dahlia garden. "Surely anybody with a half a wit can figure out some other way to get what they’re after," Mitchell said. Pauly Hinesly, a citizens advisory committee member for 2 years, addressed the council as the meeting neared 9p.m. Hinesly said she didn’t want Phoenix to become "a gateway to Medford" and that all four final design alternatives had issues to be worked out. Mayor Vicki Bear urged business owners to offer input and to attend upcoming meetings. ODOT officials plan an open house to address concerns at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Phoenix High School. The meeting is open to the public but will focus on business owners’ concerns. Another open house is set for the same time and place on March 1. On the Web: www.oregon.gov/odot/hwy/region3/fvi_index.shtml . 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 www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement