Rezoning opens door to business growth

The city of Medford cleared the way for additional business and industrial development this week with the rezoning of two parcels on the city’s north side.

On Monday evening members of the planning commission reviewed and gave their approval to the requests and on Tuesday night city council members gave their stamp of approval.

The first request came from Home Conversions to change the zoning of a vacant parcel on River Road from R-3 Multi-Family use to C-1 Commercial use. The approximately half-acre parcel is located on River Drive just north of the entrance to the 8-plex apartment building owned by Home Conversions.

According to city coordinator Joe Harris, the individual who will be purchasing the lot is planning to initially place an enclosed trailer box there for his business storage for equipment and supplies. Future plans include the potential construction of a shop for the planned business.

During the planning commission meeting, council member Peggy Kraschnewski sought assurance that there wouldn’t be refrigerated trucks parked there. Commission member Luke Dixon, whose real estate company is involved with the business dealing on the parcel, said the intent was to just have the one storage trailer there for now and for it to be the individual’s location for their business in the future. The rezoning is needed because you cannot have a parking lot or storage facility in a residentially zoned district. Dixon abstained from voting on the rezoning request because of his company’s involvement in the sale.

There were no community members present during the public hearing portion of the meeting nor any concern reported prior to the meeting.

At the city council meeting, council member Dave Brandner abstained from the vote to approve due to a potential conflict of interest.

In response to a question on the address of the parcel, from council member Christine Weix, Harris explained the request came from the property’s current See PLANNING on page 4 owners who have an office on Second Street and that the actual physical address of the parcel will be the part that is rezoned.

The second rezoning request came from Weather Shield to rezone a .437 acre parcel located just north of the former glass plant on Allman Street. The parcel, which is adjacent to a pond is currently zoned for conservancy and will be changed to light industrial use. According to Christensen, Blitz Innovations is acquiring the former Weather Shield Glass Plant. They are also purchasing a small piece of land primarily to assist in truck access to the northerly part of the plant.

Christensen said he supported the change in zoning and said it will have no impact on the pond or its affiliated drainage structures. There were no citizens present for the public hearing on the proposed change and no comments recorded before the meeting.

“It makes all the sense in the world to approve the change in zoning,” Christensen said.

The zoning change was approved unanimously at the planning commission and at Tuesday’s city council meeting.