<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=23z8wT_1AMYdeT300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=23z8wT_1AMYdeT300" width="792" height="486" ><figcaption>The Phoenix Corner housing project was approved in March 2025 for development at the corner of Grove Road and Fern Valley Road, just north of the 200-home Phoenix Hills subdivision. (Google Maps)</figcaption></figure>Meeting held related to approved low-income housing project and proposed fueling station and convenience store; ‘You’ve got a room full of angry citizens’Phoenix Hills residents voiced their displeasure about what they see as a lack of notifications on development projects in their neighborhood at a Mayor’s Town Hall session Wednesday.More than 40 people attend the session at the Phoenix Civic Center where an already-approved 88-unit low-income housing project and a proposed fueling station and convenience store development were the main topics of conversation.“You’ve got a room full of angry citizens who don’t feel they were notified,” said neighborhood resident Mike Buckland.Mayor Al Muelhoefer scheduled the session for neighborhood residents after learning about their concerns. Community Development Director Zac Moody spent most of the time attempting to explain how the development process worked while fielding questions from the audience.The Phoenix Corner housing project was approved in March 2025 for development at the corner of Grove Road and Fern Valley Road, just north of the 200-home Phoenix Hills subdivision. Notifications of that proposal was sent by mail to six owners in the subdivision who fall within notice boundaries Signs about the project were placed at the site.A refueling station that would accommodate big rigs as well as other vehicles is proposed across the street from the housing project. City officials have yet to accept the application because a first submission was not complete. Once it is accepted, comments could be made on the project, which will have a hearing before the city’s Planning Commission that must approve it under city codes.When questioned by email, Moody declined to identify the who made the application, who owns the property, acreage size and other details until the document is deemed complete.Prior to Wednesday’s meetings, Moody indicated that the number of big rigs that could be parked at the facility would be far fewer than the nearby Petro Travel Center on the west end of Fern Valley Road. Muelhoefer’s posting for the meeting described the development as a 7-Eleven with eight fueling dispensers.Phoenix Corner is located in a commercial zone where residential development is usually excluded. But Oregon Senate Bill 8 that passed in 2021 allows it for affordable housing purposes, Moody said. If a project meets city codes, it must be approved, he said.Approval was given for the project on March 13, 2025. No public hearing was required. Any appeal would have needed to be filed by March 27, 2025.“Our hands are kind of tied,” Moody said. The city attempts to make such project comply with regulations of similar residential zones, such as architectural standards, he noted.Developers received a grant of $15.3 million from Oregon Housing Stability Council for the project, which is being handled by Stewardship Development of Eugene. Construction is now underway. The property is owned by Knollcrest Development, LLC of Medford.A notification mailing list provided to the Rogue Valley Times showed that a total of six properties in the Phoenix Hills received notices.Buckland said the notification process should have gone beyond the minimum requirements, but Moody said such an effort by the city could potentially result in a challenge by the developer that might go before the Oregon Land Use Board of AppealsOne attendee said that viewing a sign posted on the property about the project was not an easy process. It was posted among other signs, she said, and required stopping and getting out on a busy road.“What Zac is trying to tell you, this is the law now,” Muelhoefer said after Moody took questions about the approval and notification for the housing units. “If you are unhappy, come to (the city council) with specific requests. I’m talking about the future.”Citizens can sign up for notifications on the city’s website that also has a Facebook channel where meetings can be viewed, said City Council President Susan Chester.Several speakers and Muelhoefer noted that a Facebook group for the Phoenix Hills area has been created.“Don’t worry. It won’t happen twice,” said neighborhood resident Sandy Wine about the lack of information. “We’ve got a Facebook page. We’ve got this.”Buckland and others voiced concerns about the addition of more residents in the area if an evacuation was required for an emergency. A traffic study found existing roads in the area would be able to accommodate additional daily traffic from the housing development, but some residents said impacts of an evacuation should be considered in such studies.Moody countered that this is an issue that emergency planning should deal with rather than being related to infrastructure requirements. He said fires, floods or a Cascadia earthquake event could all be perils.Entrances to Phoenix Corner will be off of Fern Valley Road on the south side and a new road created on the north side, not from Grove Road.One neighbor said he worried about increased crime with development. “I want to live in a safe place. There is going to be a crime influx if the fuel stop gets built,” he said.Another resident said she would like to have a meeting with the city fire chief to discuss how a wildfire situation would be handled in the area. Others voiced concerns that nearby development could impact their property values.Reach Ashland freelance writer Tony Boom at tboomwriter@gmail.com.</div></body>

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Meeting held related to approved low-income housing project and proposed fueling station and convenience store; ‘You’ve got a room full of angry citizens’. Phoenix Hills residents voiced their displeasure about what they see as a lack of notifications on development projects in their neighborhood at a Mayor’s Town Hall session Wednesday.

Phoenix Hills residents unhappy about project notifications

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Meeting held related to approved low-income housing project and proposed fueling station and convenience store; ‘You’ve got a room full of angry citizens’.

Phoenix Hills residents unhappy about project notifications

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