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Council agrees to remove barrier on Cherry Street Central Point residents say it's no longer needed By SUSAN JAY CENTRAL POINT -- For those drivers who saw the barricades on Cherry Street and changed their travel habits, get ready to change again. The City Council Thursday approved removing the barricades on the short block of Cherry Street between North Front and North First streets after hearing from area residents and public works director Lee Brennan. Carl Northern, who lives at Cherry and North First streets with his wife, Helara, said the city misunderstood him when he asked that the street be blocked last year. "We wanted the street closed when we had the dust problem," Northern said. Now, with the recent paving and street improvements, there is no need to close the street, he said. "If you would take the barriers out I think all the neighborhood would appreciate it," he said. Drivers have been using Northern's driveway to squeeze around the south end of the barricade. Brennan explained that the Oregon Department of Transportation recommended closing Cherry Street because of the narrow turning radius onto Cherry from North Front Street, which is also Highway 99. ODOT also wants to start limiting access onto the highway, he said. City Administrator Jim Bennett said an ODOT official recently told him that if the city wants the barricades removed the department had no objection. "We can easily pull them out," Brennan told the council, but that raises another problem. The city should not allow parking on both sides of the street, he said, because it's too narrow, at 25 feet, to allow parking and two lanes of traffic. Eloy Sutton, who lives across the street from the Northerns, said he will continue to park on the street when he entertains guests, even if the curb is painted yellow. "Paint the whole street yellow, you're still going to have a problem," Sutton said, because the street is just too narrow, especially when a large truck drives through. The council discussed making the street one-way, yellow striping only the south side or not yellow striping at all. Brennan suggested marking both sides yellow, except for about 30 feet to allow parking for the Suttons. The council approved Brennan's suggestion on a trial basis and will see how traffic travels on the street. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA