Climate-Friendly Areas Evaluation Report

Medford Climate Friendly Area Study – Evalua Ɵon of Candidate Loca Ɵons Revised December 2023 12 Candidate A - Evaluation Questions for Consideration Would Climate Friendly Area (CFA) designation be consistent with prior or current planning efforts for this area? Yes, Medford’s Historic Downtown has all the components that are being sought after in a Climate Friendly Area. The existing zoning an d land use regulations provide for mixed-use and multi-family development at the height and nearly the base densities required by OAR 660-012-0320. Examples of consistency between the intent, administrative rule, and current planning and land use regulation of the pr oposed “Candidate A” include the following:  No required yard setbacks. Historic build ings in Medford’s do wntown and recent development are built to front property lines, supporting pedestrian activity.  No building height li mits. Several development proposals over the last 20 years have assessed the opportunity to construct buil dings over four stories. Although these projects never moved forward, this allowance remains available.  Multimodal facilities. In central downtown , at least, sidewalks are wider than the regulatory minimum required in other pa rts of the City. Street trees line these thoroughfares, enhancing the pe destrian environment. It is im portant to note that these features are the product of intentional investm ents by the City through its Urban Renewal Agency, dating back to the late 1980s. West Main Street, the center of the potential CFA, was recon figured a few months ago to create a 2-way cycle-track, bu ffered from travel lanes by on street parallel parking. Riverside Avenue, which is also stat e highway OR-99, will be recon figured by reducing travel lane width to better manage vehicul ar speeds while providing a designated on- road buffered bike lane. The Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) main transit station hub starts and stops in downtown. RVTD has recently invested in expanding its presence downtown with the acquisition of several properties that will house its administrative functions. Downtown Medford is characterized by a diverse mix of land uses: o ffices for some of the region’s most signi ficant public and private employers; parks, plazas, and public art; small, local retailers, restaurants, and bars; and two large performance venues in addition to several smaller venues that accommodate local theater and live music.  Public parking system. The City owns and op erates a parking system that includes two parking decks.  No minimum o ff-street parking requirements for any development type.