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Council axes three Manor appeals By JIM DAVIS The Medford City Council voted unanimously at its noon session Thursday to uphold a plan that would add commercial property, an Alzheimer's unit and medical facilities to the Rogue Valley Manor. In doing so, the council rejected three appeals of the plan -- including one from the Manor itself. Richard Robins, who appealed the plan because the Alzheimer's unit would be placed near his property, said he felt the city gave neighbors short shrift. "I think they have sided with the Manor in building a commercial structure that shouldn't be located next to a single-family residential neighborhood," Robins said. The Manor released a statement after the meeting expressing disappointment with the council's decision and saying restrictions on the plan could force the nonprofit corporation to scale back its plans. At issue was a planned-unit development that would add the Alzheimer's unit to the east side of the Manor and a 22-acre commercial complex with a hotel, conference center, 10-story office building and restaurant near Interstate 5. The original plan came under fire for a couple of reasons. The commercial complex brought fears of increased traffic in south Medford -- especially the already-clogged south Medford interchange. And residents who live around the proposed Alzheimer's unit and medical facilities were worried about problems that might result, such as disoriented Alzheimer's patients in their neighborhood. In September, the Planning Commission approved the plan, but limited the amount of commercial development and placed restrictions on the Alzheimer's unit to answer neighbors' concerns. The commission required all buildings to be single-story, and required the Manor to build the medical facilities, including the Alzheimer's unit, 99 feet away from neighboring properties. The Manor and two neighbors -- Robins and Curtis Weaver -- appealed the commission's decision, and the matter was brought to a public hearing on Thursday afternoon. Council members then voted to uphold the Planning Commission's decision. The council made one change in the restrictions, reducing the setback requirement for the Alzheimer's unit from 99 feet to 50 feet. The Manor had proposed a 20-foot setback with landscaping and an 8-foot acoustical wall. Councilman Curt Bennett praised the commission. "I think they spent a lot of time on this, and struggled to come up with a solution that dealt with a lot of issues," Bennett said. The matter can be appealed beyond the council, first to the state Land Use Board of Appeals and then to the courts. The Manor is a nonprofit "life-care facility" that provides a variety of residences, health care and activities to more than 750 residents. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA