Document text
Panel: Don't let streets go steeper Current rules should stand, says Medford Planning Commission BY JIM DAVIS The largest new road project in Medford shouldn't be the steepest, Medford planning commissioners said Thursday night. Commissioners voted 7-1 to recommend against allowing arterial streets -- such as the new East McAndrews extension -- to be built steeper than currently allowed. "I think the issue of McAndrews really needs to be looked at hard again," said Commissioner Dennis Nielsen. "Because once it's (the road is) done, it's done." Their vote is only advisory, and the issue now heads to the Medford City Council. At stake is the McAndrews extension -- a 1.8-mile extension from Brookdale Avenue to East McAndrews Road in the Oregon Hills subdivision. It will be the largest new road project in the city in years. One portion is being built by the city, and one portion is being built by Medford development firm W.L. Moore Construction Co. in exchange for land. W.L. Moore wants to build 525 feet of the extension at a 9.5 percent grade. That means the road could rise 9 and a half feet for every 100 horizontal feet. By building steeper, the developer would save $1.35 million. The city staff asked the Planning Commission to delete a section of the city code restricting arterials to be built at an 8 percent grade or less. Medford Public Works Director Cory Crebbin said several pieces of the city's code need to be updated -- such as the degree of grades allowed for streets. But commissioners voiced concerns about allowing such an important street to be built so steep. Planning Commission Chairman Carl Bartlett said he was concerned because the city is supposed to be encouraging alternative forms of travel, such as biking and walking. He said a 9.5 percent grade would make that travel difficult. "You can't ride a bicycle on that," Bartlett said. "You can't put up a sidewalk and be able to walk on it very well." Commissioner Boyd Gibson compared the street to the freeway coming off of Mount Ashland, which has a 6 percent grade. "Six percent is pretty darn steep," he said. Commissioner Norm Nelson wondered why the issue hadn't come before the Planning Commission earlier, after being told that the original agreement between W.L. Moore and the city was made in 1993. "Can somebody tell me in six years why this problem has not surfaced?" Nelson asked. The city and the developer want to begin working on the project this summer. The city is responsible for the road to just past Foothill Road, including an overpass. W.L. Moore Co. is responsible for building 6,500 feet of the roadway. The developer is building the road in exchange for about 200 acres in east Medford, one of the largest stretches of undeveloped residential land in the city. The City Council is expected to take up the issue of street grades next month. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA