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Alder Creek folk don't want gas station By JIM DAVIS Residents of a southwest Medford neighborhood are upset about plans to build a gas station at a new shopping center. The eight-pump station with canopy and kiosk is proposed for the Larson Creek Commercial Center, Barnett and North Phoenix roads. The gas station could bring a smell of gasoline and cause potential problems with gasoline leaks and spills, said Jack Jacobs, a neighbor who lives near the center, and "it's certainly not going to help our property values any," Jacobs said. The issue will come before the city's Site, Plan and Architectural commission today at a noon session in the council chambers of Medford City Hall. Keywest Properties Inc. of Medford, the developers, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Jacobs lives in the Alder Creek subdivision, which consists of newer homes. The closest home would be about 300 feet from the gas station. Jacobs, his wife and a neighbor collected more than 75 signatures on a petition to stop the station after they heard about it in February. Also, more than 30 people have written letters to the city's planning department opposing the station. Other neighbors, Ray Davis and Bill McMahon, said they felt the developers of the center were not being true to their original plans. "We didn't agree on this," Davis said. In 1996, C.A. Galpin got approval to build an Albertson's and three smaller buildings on a 10.7-acre strip of land along North Phoenix Road. There were also some other building sites on the acreage. Medford planner Mark Gallagher said the language of the master plan prohibited "automotive repair shops or automotive servicing except a single-bay car wash in conjunction with a gas station." He said that means the gas station is a permitted use for the site. "I've never seen a case where a permitted use wasn't allowed to happen," Gallagher said. But the city commission can place restrictions on the station to ease community concerns. "Their role is to make sure that what gets built there is compatible," he added. Jacobs said neighbors would be at the commission meeting today to argue for restrictions such as special nozzles to stop the gasoline smell. But he said many neighbors don't even like the grocery store. "This is kind of odd ... this type of neighborhood next to a grocery," Jacobs said, noting that some of the homes cost $200,000 and up. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA