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Medford council looks at plan for big annexation Medford City Council will consider at an evening session today annexing more than 100 acres of industrial land into the north part of town. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in council chambers at Medford City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St. The annexation would be one of the largest in years, said Mark Gallagher, a city planner. "We've only had maybe one other of this size in the last five to eight years," Gallagher said. "And that was residential property." The property is the old Medco mill site on the west side of North Pacific Highway, Highway 62 and Court Street and north of West McAndrews Road. The annexation is being brought to the City Council by the owners of the property -- the Medite Corp. -- and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Gallagher said annexing the property into the city is the first step in developing the land because of city services available to the property. "It's the first big step, but it doesn't obligate them to do anything," Gallagher said. Officials at the Medite Corp. could not be reached for comment on their plans. A consultant representing the company also could not be reached. ODOT has clear plans for the property. The agency has proposed to connect highways 62 and 238 with a new route through the acreage -- basically from North Central Avenue to Table Rock Road. John Vial, the area manager for ODOT, said the state wants to start contracting that project out next fall and begin construction possibly in 2000. He said that ODOT has already started "right-of-way" hearings to take the land needed for the road. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA