One of Medford’s biggest apartment projects in recent memory is facing opposition from its neighbor, Timber Products.

The Medford Site Plan and Architectural Commission conditionally approved the construction of 21 buildings on 14 acres as part of a 372-unit apartment complex called Northgate Village. The project, located east of North Central Avenue and north of East McAndrews Road, is adjacent to Northgate Marketplace, the shopping plaza that contains REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Trader Joe’s and other retailers.

An appeal from Timber Products, which has expressed concern about residents of the proposed apartment complex objecting to its heavy industrial operation, will be heard by Medford City Council Thursday.

Timber Products has argued that high-density housing isn’t allowed in an area zoned “regional commercial.”

Matt Brinkley, Medford planning director, said the city has approved many projects in areas zoned commercial, including the Concord low-income apartments and the Genesis project, both in the downtown.

“The city is being asked to prevent horribly needed housing in the city of Medford so that Timber Products can continue to spew pollutants into the air,” Brinkley said.

One of the last really big apartment complexes, known as Charles Point in south Medford, has more than 500 units and was built more than a decade ago.

After reviewing city documents, Brinkley said he could find no evidence to support Timber Products’ contention that high-density residential isn’t allowed in commercial zones.

“I’ve looked at this again and again and again, and it doesn’t say that,” Brinkley said.

The $70 million project is one of the largest apartment complexes in the history of Medford and will offer one- and two-bedroom units, starting at around $1,200.
 It will include walkup apartments, a pool, a clubhouse, a play and sports area, and garages. The developers of the project have been busy preparing the site for several months, moving large quantities of dirt in anticipation of getting approval from the city.

The original proposal for the site was a project called Alba Village, but it never got off the ground. Instead the property changed hands and eventually became 80,900 square feet of stores such as Petco and Ulta in 2012.

The Creations Northwest development would be built just south of Northgate Marketplace, and is roughly bounded by McAndrews Road, North Central Avenue and Court Street.

Brinkley said housing is an economic issue for the region, and if communities can’t increase the amount of housing, employers such as Timber Products won’t be able to attract employees because they won’t be able to find places to live.

“The question for Timber Products is, if they are so concerned about the pollution issue, maybe we should be concerned about the pollution as well,” Brinkley said.

According to a Dec. 6, 2022, letter from Mike Reeder, attorney for Timber Products, the proposed apartment complex would be located 190 feet from the particle board and hardwood plywood plant area, and 665 feet from the main operations area. Railroad tracks are located between the apartment complex and Timber Products, which employs more than 400 people.

Reeder, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, stated the separation between residential areas and heavy industrial is not an accident but based on zoning and land-use patterns developed in the early days of statewide land-use planning efforts.

Timber Products is located outside the city limits at 25 E. McAndrews Road.

Reeder stated Timber Products “stipulated” in 2006 that residential shouldn’t be allowed in the nearby commercial areas.

The city has countered that City Council at the time did not apply this stipulation into its condition of approval for the development.

Reeder stated, “This statement is an error” and said it is supported by the text of the city ordinance.

According to Reeder’s review of city ordinances, “They did not grant a right to construct residential development.”

If the council affirms the earlier Site Plan and Architectural Commission decision, Timber Products could appeal to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.