Document text
42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, November 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 16, 2004 Phoenix paves way for Home Depot Council goes against ODOT’s traffic warnings and rezones land for a new store By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune PHOENIX — The City Council took a leap of faith on Monday and approved rezoning of some 19 acres along North Phoenix Road to allow plans for a 103,000-square-foot Home Depot store to move forward. Though state transportation officials stood their ground in urging the council to deny the rezoning, council members opted to welcome the home improvement giant in addition to some 200 living wage jobs and $132,000 in taxes that would come with it. "We have an opportunity here to bring our community a business.. which will pay living wages," Councilman Curt Georgeson said. "It’s very difficult to get anyone to come in to a small town. This is an asset that we cannot afford to pass up." While residents and council members at the most recent council meeting were largely in favor of the project, ODOT had been the lone voice of dissent in recent weeks. Advertisement ODOT officials provided traffic analysis information, contrary to that solicited by developers, stating that the failing interchange could not handle additional traffic. A statement submitted Nov. 8 by ODOT Development Review Planner David Pyles read: "At this time, the city cannot rely on the applicant’s traffic impact analysis to assure compliance with (state transportation planning rules)� Therefore, we recommend the Phoenix City Council deny the applicants proposed rezoning request." Council member Dean Martin said he believed that "ODOT is responsible for the city’s traffic problems" and should correct them and that applicants for the project had been diligent in meeting necessary criteria and time had come to move forward. "I see no reason to delay the project any further. I think its time to lead the city of Phoenix Oregon into the future," Martin said. City Council members reviewed verbal and written testimony submitted by dozens of residents, material that was reviewed by the Planning Commission in September. While meetings over the past two months drew standing-room-only crowds, barely a dozen residents appeared Monday. "This thing drug out for so long, I think everyone said their piece and just figured it would get postponed again," said Phoenix property owner Reeva Miller of the low turnout. Miller was pleased with the rezoning. "I think if they go slow and make the developers pay to fix the roads it can work. It’s a nightmare now but how can it get any better without any tax money?" Mayor Larry Parducci voiced frustration with ODOT. Having attended regional transportation planning meetings for up to five years, Parducci said actions by ODOT regarding the Home Depot project did not represent past discussions regarding improvements at the intersection. "I am appalled at the direction that ODOT has taken in this matter," Parducci said. "There are a lot of things I really want to say but I don’t think this is the right time to say them." ODOT region 3 planning manager Terry Harbour did not say whether ODOT would appeal the council’s decision to the state Land Use Board of Appeals. Harbour said talks between the state and project engineers were continuing. "We have continued to work with engineers, even this past week, and have had some fairly productive meetings," said Harbour. "(Project developer) Bob Roberston said tonight, ‘Let’s keep working on the solution,’ and I think that’s a good sign." A final reading of the rezoning will be presented to City Council members Dec. 6. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities