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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 22, 2005 Drawing courtesy Design Studios West of Denver An artist�s rendering shows a proposed design along Bear Creek in downtown Medford, looking from Main Street south past Eighth Street. An elevated boardwalk, terraces and mixed-use residential are proposed. MURA envisions city boardwalk By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Imagine strolling along a meandering boardwalk beside a cascading creek, waving to friends seated at a brew pub patio as they listen to live jazz. This is the Medford Urban Renewal Agency’s vision for the Bear Creek portion of downtown, but it will have major hurdles to clear before its dream can become a reality. MURA representatives will pitch their idea at noon today during a joint study session with the Medford City Council, the Planning Commission, the Site Plan and Architectural Commission, the Historic Commission and the MURA board. The public meeting will be in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St., Medford. MURA paid $62,000 to Design Studios West of Denver for the revitalization design for the 7-mile stretch of Bear Creek in Medford, said Eric Iversen, MURA’s senior planner. The portion between Main and 10th streets, to be considered today, is called the "pilot project" area. Advertisement Iversen said the agency hopes to work with the owners of businesses located between Main and Ninth streets — New Trend Mill Outlet, Valley Pawn & Trading and Bad Ass Coffee — in the redevelopment project. He said no one’s jumped on board yet, but no one has said no. "What we’re trying to do is develop partnerships," said Iversen. Phyllis Nelson, one of the owners of the Main Street Market near the creek, has been in on some of the preliminary conversations about the boardwalk. "Any improvements along the creek that will be beneficial to downtown Medford will be nice," she said. Iversen said building a street-level deck above the Main Street Market’s parking lot could be part of the project, but is only one of many options. Development along the creek would mean new city regulations, said Mark Gallagher, principal planner with the city of Medford. The regulations would encourage creek-oriented redevelopment within the urbanized area. "It’ll be put on the work list of things we need to do ... which might take it a few months," he said. Another hurdle MURA faces is building within the 50-foot-wide protected riparian zone. David Haight, biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, said he’s familiar with the plan and it could be done. "We certainly support the general idea that MURA has to enhance Bear Creek," he said. "It’s not in a very good condition now." He said as long as the project includes improvements to creek banks, ODFW would support it. "If all they do is put a boardwalk in ... it would not be something we’d be in favor of," said Haight. Craig Harper, water resources program manager with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, served on the advisory committee for the project. He said there would have to be safeguards in place during any construction to keep debris and runoff out of the creek, but additional vegetation would help improve stream health for the chinook salmon, otters and osprey who inhabit the stream. "I personally don’t think the boardwalk would add to the detriment of Bear Creek," he said. "It could raise the awareness for people about the potential for Bear Creek." Iversen said adding landscaping, restaurants and music alongside the creek would help diminish the impact of traffic noise from the Interstate 5 viaduct above the boardwalk. Iversen said he’s confident the project will clear all its hurdles given enough time. "It’s one of those things that when the timing is right it’s hard to say no," he said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail MURA envisions city boardwalk ">[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 www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s