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51 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 7, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us 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 Ashland News 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 May 6, 2005 Proposal to widen East Jackson Street faces delay for hearing By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A decision on plans to widen East Jackson Street was postponed again Thursday after neighbors persuaded the Medford City Council to reopen a public hearing. About a dozen residents came to the council’s noon meeting to express concerns about the redesigned plans to widen East Jackson Street from Berkeley Way to Hillcrest Road. The plans also call for widening Hillcrest Road from East Jackson to Valley View Drive. Initially the plans called for adding a center turn lane and sidewalks and bike lanes on each side, but the neighbors proposed removing the center lane and one of the sidewalks to preserve trees and front yards. The council voted April 8 to modify the project after about 25 residents spoke during a public hearing. At Thursday’s meeting, interim City Attorney John Huttl said the public hearing had been closed and it was inappropriate for the council to hear more remarks before voting on the plan. Advertisement But East Jackson neighbors said they wanted more input because they still had concerns about four-way stops being replaced with traffic signals and circular driveways not being allowed. Resident Mark Chirgwin asked the council what he could do. "Wasn’t our decision to let the citizens work with Public Works?" Councilman Jason Anderson asked. Councilman Bob Strosser said city rules don’t allow for further clarification or public discussion once the public hearing is closed. He suggested reopening the hearing so more testimony could be heard. The rest of the council agreed. Public Works Director Cory Crebbin told the council his department had already planned to work with neighbors. "We had alternatives prepared today," he said, adding that the department is working to try to accommodate concerns and preserve trees. Following the meeting, Crebbin estimated the public hearing would take place in July, after notices are sent to neighbors. He said today’s decision delays the city’s street projects. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s