Climate-Friendly Areas Evaluation Report

Medford Climate Friendly Area Study – Evalua Ɵon of Candidate Loca Ɵons Revised December 2023 20 Candidate B - Evaluation Questions for Consideration Would Climate Friendly Area (CFA) designation be consistent with prior or current planning efforts for this area? Yes, this neighborhood is on the western edge of the city and is a mix of city annexed parcels and land still located within the Urban Growth Boundary. Candidate B represents only land that is annexed and is the employment, retail, and residential hub of the surrounding area. This land is part of a larger designated transit-oriented district (TOD) as identi fied in the City’s Transportation System Plan. Prior planning e fforts to advance the TOD designation were worked on a decade ago but met with opposition when seeking to designate a local circulation plan. The existing zoning pattern provides an opportunity for employment, mixed-use and residential development, transit access and use, and redevelopment potential. Land Area (145 acres calculated to meet 30 pe rcent of existing and needed housing units) This area contains 151 net acres, which is s lightly higher than the calculated number. Land Width (Meets mini mum 750 foot width) The majority of the area meets the 750-foot wi dth requirement. There are isolated instances where irregularly shaped and smaller units of land do not meet this standard. Are there abutting high intensity residential or employment uses that could be included as part of the CFA? Much of the area is zoned for Heavy-Commerci al and Community-Commercial. These zoning designations allow for high density residential and employment uses. Are parks, plazas, or open space area s located within or near the CFA? Oak Grove Elementary and Lewis Park are both just outside the study area boundary. Are public-serving government faci lities located within the CFA? No known government facilities are located within this study area. Are there plans to locate such faci lities in the CFA in the future? It is unknown if any such facilities are proposed within this area. Current status and feasibility of needed upgrades to pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities and services? The higher order streets that bisect the study area include Main Street, which runs east-west and Lozier Lane, which runs nort h-south. Both streets include sidewalks and bicycle facilities. Routes 27 and 30 provid e transit service to the study area. Presence of identi fied hazard areas, and degree to wh ich hazard development requirements could restrict CFA zoning? Little Elk Creek is on the eastern side of the study area and would be subject to review of Special Flood Hazard Area requirements. The majority of the study