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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 January 4, 2005 Modifications to this intersection at Highway 99 and Valley View Road in Talent are on hold, thanks to an appeal from the owner of the Quick Shop Market who says the $6.4 million project will limit access to his business. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell LUBA stalls Talent intersection plan Project goes back to city for public review By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune TALENT — A local business owner’s efforts to protect his highway access has forced the city to backtrack on a $6.4 million project to revamp the main route through town. Alton Rhodes, owner of Quick Shop Market on the corner of Valley View Road and Highway 99, says his business will lose significant customer access if the project goes through as planned. So he appealed to the state Land Use Board of Appeals — and won. Proposed by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the city of Talent, the project would add left-turn lanes to Valley View Road and create raised medians in the center of Highway 99 to prevent left turns into businesses near the intersection. Rhodes’ customers would no longer be able to turn into his business off the highway but would have to use Valley View Road. His appeal argued that the project was a land-use issue and required a series of public meetings. Advertisement LUBA agreed with Rhodes in September, remanding the project back to the city. Since then, the matter has gone before the Planning Commission and will be heard by the Talent City Council on Wednesday. "We’re doing what we’re told to do, but no more than that," said City Manager Betty Wheeler. Rhodes’ customers have varying opinions about losing access off Highway 99. "I think it’d be a real big shame," said Marie Kimokeo-Goes of Medford, who said she’s stopped in often over the years at Rhodes’ Video Quick store next door. She said it just doesn’t make any sense to put in medians and plantings on a highway and limit the access to businesses. But video customer Jill Munn of Ashland said she’s open to the idea. "If it’s for safety reasons, then yes," she said. "I’m all for that." ODOT and Talent believe the intersection is dangerous and needs modification. ODOT has appealed the LUBA decision. "It’s totally not land-use related," said David Pyles, development review planner with ODOT. "Our appeal’s ongoing ... but this does not affect the Highway 99 project." Wheeler said ODOT is proposing that Rhodes put in access behind the building, on vacant property he already owns. Rhodes on Monday declined comment on the matter. Ron Love, who owns Suntym Pools on the opposite corner, also is worried about losing access to his business off the highway. "I expect to lose 50 percent of my business when this is done," he said. "The people who are running the city of Talent now are anti-business." Wheeler disagreed. "Talent is very pro-business," she said. "It’s just that we can’t sacrifice the safety of our citizens for one or two businesses." She said if the city had been more pro-business in the past, it wouldn’t have allowed the intersection to be designed the way it is. "We’re correcting the sins of the past," she said. Wheeler said Rhodes’ appeal is merely a bump in the road. "To stop the project at this point he would need to get an injunction," she said. Gary Leaming, ODOT project information coordinator, said pending the council’s decision, the project is scheduled to go to bid in February and road work should begin in the spring. The project also includes realigning the intersection of Highway 99 and Colver and Suncrest roads and installing a traffic signal there and at Rapp Road. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 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 Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers