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33 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, March 13, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 4, 2005 Council postpones street widening East Medford residents asked for more time to seek compromises in the city’s plan to improve East Jackson Street, Hillcrest Road By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune East Medford neighbors bought some time during Thursday’s City Council meeting in the dispute over widening sections of East Jackson Street and Hillcrest Road. "We’re not opposed to the project," said Mark Chirgwin, who lives at East Jackson Street and Sunrise Avenue. "We want some compromises." The council voted 7-1 to postpone a decision on the East Jackson Street project until April 7 after about 35 neighbors showed up for the public hearing on the project, some in support but most not. Residents complained that they only learned about the project in mid-February. The project would affect East Jackson Street from Berkeley Way to Hillcrest Road and Hillcrest Road from East Jackson to Valley View Drive. The plan would widen the streets from roughly 26 feet to 59 feet, including sidewalks; create a middle turn lane; and add bike lanes, sidewalks, curbs and gutters on both sides of the streets. A traffic light would replace a four-way stop sign at the intersection of East Jackson and Sunrise. Advertisement The project would include removing a house at the corner of Hillcrest and East Jackson to change the sharp turn to a gentle curve. Other than the property acquisition for the curve, and a sliver of land near the traffic signal, all of the city improvements are on city property, said Larry Beskow, city engineer. Beskow said the Public Works Department sent letters to property owners in July 2001 explaining the project. Councilman Bob Strosser said he has talked with many residents, and believes many indeed did not know the details of the project until the notification in February, and they need more time to discuss their concerns with public works staff. Chirgwin said he spoke to 70 residents of the immediate neighborhood, and many would prefer that the center turn lane or one of the sidewalks be eliminated. Many did not want to lose their on-street parking or some of the trees and landscaping, he said. He said he and many neighbors were concerned about increased traffic speeds expected because of the project. City engineers say with 7,500 daily vehicle trips on East Jackson and 8,400 on Sunrise, traffic often backs up at stop signs and when drivers attempt to make left-hand turns into their driveways. The project is on the 17-transportation project list adopted by the City Council in 1996. Discussion on the topic will continue at a Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Monday hosted by Ward 4 councilmen Bob Strosser and Greg Jones. Reach reporter Meg Landersat 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . In other business: The Medford City Council Thursday voted to send a letter to Pacific Retirement Center recommending mediation after several tenants of Crest Imperial Mobile Home Park requested consideration. The low-income, 43-unit mobile home park is scheduled to be closed in December so the Rogue Valley Manor can make room for a commercial development. The council also approved beginning right-of-way acquisition for the continuation of the final piece of Lear Way, from where the street ends now to Commerce Drive. The city has a contract with the Oregon Department of Transportation, which gave $700,000 for the Coker Butte/Lear Way project. The city Thursday authorized $221,371 to acquire property from Lear Way Plaza, LLC. In another matter, the council voted to postpone a decision on the reimbursement of system development charges to developer Steven Swartsley for street improvements around his 8-lot subdivision at South Columbus Avenue and Diamond Street. The city has offered to pay $111,000 and Swartsley says the reimbursement should be $160,000. The council postponed the decision until after the Public Works Department can issue Swartsley an official notice, so that he can appeal the decision, which he indicated he would like to do. 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