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The long, sometimes tortuous road to approval for an 18-acre development in the area of North Phoenix Road and Stanford Avenue called Southeast Village Center now leads directly to the Medford Planning Commission. Committee work followed up by more committee and staff modifications has been collated and packaged for Planning Commission consumption, and the final element of the Southeast Master Plan will be taken up Monday during a noon work session. "It's a special area, and the City Council has wanted it there for a long, long time," said Carl Bartlett, a former planning commissioner. "This part had to be done before the City Council would allow anything to be rezoned." A panel appointed by City Council in 2010, chaired by Bartlett, including city planners, city council members and developers, wrapped up its task in August 2012. Then it was the planning staff's turn. An overarching rationale for creating a commercial region for the Southeast Plan was to allow nearby residents to be able to walk or bicycle to the store rather than have to drive downtown or three or four miles to other commercial centers, said Bianca Petrou, a member of the city planning staff. "In order for the master plan to be approved, we had to change the code, and it took about a year to make the necessary changes," Petrou said. "A planned unit development was required previously, but that was removed." To make the desired outcome a reality, the city had to amend 12 land development codes, ranging from eliminating conditional use permits for farmers' markets to changes in bicycle parking places and how to determine the height of commercial buildings. Among changes since the commercial plan was first broached is directing vehicle traffic to the backside of the development so drivers will enter from Stanford Avenue, which begins on Hillcrest Road and will eventually wind behind Rogue Valley Swim & Tennis Club en route to Barnett Road.  "I don't think the plan has been changed (since 2012), but the code has been changed to allow the plan," Petrou said. "The city preferred to change the code to allow the plan they submitted. There are lots of tedious things that had to be done, but probably the main thing was changing the street emphasis from Barnett Road to Stanford." County records show the bulk of the property where the development is targeted is owned by North Phoenix Enterprises LLC, which state records indicate is part of the Foster Denman law firm's retirement plan. The city has created Michael Park along the North Fork of Larson Creek on the northern edge of the development. From there, cyclists and pedestrians can journey east to Chrissy Park. An additional link is planned that would lead to Prescott Park atop Roxy Ann Peak.   The anchor for the commercial center is a grocery store up to 50,000 square feet, flanked by 5,500 square feet to the west for retail, service or restaurant use.  South of the primary development, across East Barnett Road, is a 2.2-acre parcel occupied by the former Scottish Rites Temple and Masonic Lodge. Rogue Credit Union plans to remodel approximately 1,800 square feet of the 11,200-square-foot Scottish Rites Temple, making the remainder of the building available for community meetings and events. A 4,200-square foot building on the southwest corner of the parcel is also included in the proposal. Previously, no drive-thrus were allowed in the commercial area, but changes were made to allow them for financial institutions and pharmacies.  The master plan proposes a roundabout be constructed where Stanford Avenue will intersect with East Barnett Road. Raul Woerner, a partner of CSA Planning, who worked on the project, said the roundabout will allow the transit station to come into service sooner than would otherwise occur because RVTD will not have to wait for completion of surrounding streets. For insurance reasons, transit vehicles cannot enter private property to maneuver or otherwise turn around. The roundabout will allow the buses to return westward to the transit station within the commercial center core area without leaving the public right-of-way. The Planning Commission will hold a hearing and make its decision on the matter next month. "The Walmart (project) took a lot of time, but this is almost a grassroots type of thing," Petrou said. "We've been working on this since 1993, not necessarily the commercial master plan aspect, but the overall plan."  Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31, and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge.