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(Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) Neighbors park cars in protest of trucks: City hopes to negotiate solution Residents use their cars as barricades to keep fast trucks from their east Medford neighborhood By Meg Landers Mail Tribune Tired of seeing large, double-load dump trucks rumble through their small, east Medford neighborhood contrary to a city ordinance, a handful of residents fought back Tuesday by fashioning an obstacle course of parked cars. "All the trucks are coming through here, 30 loads a day," said Lynn Anderson, who parked her horse trailer along the street to force the trucks to travel slowly. Anderson lives near Cedar Landing, a large development under excavation that will replace the Cedar Links golf course. A city ordinance prohibiting trucks in the neighborhood of Colonial and Farmington avenues was passed two years ago at the neighbors' request. The city put up signs showing a truck surrounded by a circle with a slash through it. Anderson said the protest ended within a couple of hours when police officers arrived and told residents to move their cars. Neighbor Ed Mills gathered 24 signatures on a petition requesting that the police enforce the ordinance and cite the truck drivers. Mills submitted the petition to City Hall on Monday, but police did not respond, prompting Tuesday's protest, neighbors said. Advertisement Several city staff members met with City Attorney John Huttl Tuesday to interpret the ordinance. "By the sign, those trucks, according to our city attorney, are prohibited from being there," said interim Police Chief Randy Schoen. "At the same time those trucks are performing a service and there's no other access." He said exceptions can be made to regulations, however. "Public works, being the road authority, can grant permission to do certain things," he said. The city decided not to issue citations but try to negotiate a solution between residents and the development's owners, the Jantzer family of Medford, Schoen said. "The city understands there's two sides to it," said Schoen. Co-owner Jason Jantzer said he wants to talk with city staff first before commenting on solutions or alternatives. "I don't have any comment at this time," he said. In December, crews began digging and hauling rock for utility trenches at the Cedar Links Golf Club in preparation for the 118-acre mixed-use development. Cedar Landing will include 541 units of single-family housing, condominiums, residences for people 55 and older and luxury retirement units. There also will be 32 acres of open space and nearly three miles of pedestrian paths. Ken Marek, who worked to establish the no-truck ordinance in his neighborhood, said he hopes the contractor makes a road off Cedar Links Drive through the golf course to reach the site. "It's pretty pristine here," he said. Schoen said in the past, municipal judges have ruled that because a truck was delivering a service and there was no alternative route, it could drive on a weight-limited road. "I think it's worth it to ask the Jantzers if there's an alternative," he said. Anderson said with a project scheduled to take five to seven years to complete, it's important to protect the streets, which have tight corners and no stop signs. "We're looking at years of asphalt trucks, lumber trucks," Anderson said. Cory Crebbin, Medford public works director, said project access is not generally considered when a plan is submitted to the city. He said public works crews have examined the pavement on Colonial and Farmington and determined it is structurally sound for dump trucks. But Crebbin said there probably should be more neighborhood streets that prohibit truck traffic. "Trucks are never good for pavement," he said. The contractor, Gary Cook of Excavation Etc. of Central Point, did not return phone calls by press time. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com