Document text
Freeway plan draws growing opposition Three neighborhood groups stand united against new I-5 interchange By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Neighborhood groups with somewhat different interests agree on one thing: they don't like plans for a new south interchange for Interstate 5. The East Side Neighborhood Association, the Citizens for Preservation of Established Neighborhoods and residents opposed to expansion of Orchard Hill Elementary School oppose closing the Barnett interchange and building a new one just to the south. "It is effectively destroying beautiful established neighborhoods to build new neighborhoods," said Peter Noyes of the East Side Neighborhood Association. The Oregon Department of Transportation's proposes abandoning the present Barnett Road interchange to build a new one just to the south, which Noyes says paves the way for a massive housing development near North Phoenix Road. ODOT's $50 million proposal calls for an interchange that would connect with Ellendale or Highland drives. "If its not done, they can't do the development," said Noyes. "They can't develop the southeast until they can get this problem fixed by ODOT." The east side association, which says it has about 1,000 supporters, wants citizens of the area to attend three meetings this week to encourage Medford City Council members to reject the interchange plan. First, they are asking their supporters to turn out for a meeting with Ward 4 council members at 7 p.m. tonight at Roosevelt Elementary School, 112 Lindley St. Then the association will hold its own meeting at 7 p.m. in the Hoover Elementary School cafeteria at 2328 Siskiyou Blvd. Finally, at 7 p.m. Thursday, the east side group plans to attend the Medford City Council meeting at City Hall to voice its views. "What really bothers me is that our city council members are not going to make a stand," said Noyes. "The city council needs to stand up for the residents of Medford." While opposed to the interchange, Noyes isn't opposed to the planned development, which ultimately would put 10,000 new residents on 1,000 acres. His association believes ODOT should abandon the proposed interchange plans in favor of improving the traffic flow at the existing Barnett Road interchange. At the same time, ODOT should develop plans for a new interchange at South Stage Road. Bob Dysart, president of the Citizens for Preservation of Established Neighborhoods, agreed: "Most of us feel fairly strongly that the city would be better served keeping the south Medford interchange and putting a new one at South Stage." Dysart's group has urged the city to adopt an amendment to its long-range plans that would protect established neighborhoods. John Newell, one of about 20 neighbors in the southeast Medford area opposed to the expansion of Orchard Hill Elementary School, said ODOT's proposal is just another plan that will lead to the destruction of his neighborhood. He also encourages the creation of an interchange at South Stage. Newell is part of a group that is against the Phoenix-Talent School District's plans to create a new bus loop at Orchard Hill, four new classrooms and more parking. Newell said the school already violates a conditional use permit that allowed just 100 trips in and out of the school driveway. Currently, Newell said, there are 500 in-and-out trips a day for both buses and cars, and the expansion could push that to 700. "All of a sudden you've destroyed a residential street," he said. "This is how you destroy established neighborhoods." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.