Medford City Council Thursday night made it a lot tougher to build retail gas stations next to residential areas following backlash over a fueling station and convenience store built in east Medford.

“It’s been a long, windy, bumpy road to get to where we have gotten to today,” said Medford resident Gary Sumrak.

The council adopted new regulations that could help prevent the kind of development that occurred at the corner of Springbrook and East McAndrews Road, where a gas station and convenience store are located adjacent to a residential area on two sides.

Councilor Sarah Spansail thanked the residents of the neighborhood for their persistence “even though it is not going to solve the problem in your neighborhood.”

She said this effort will ensure “this problem doesn’t happen to other people.”

The new code language would require a conditional use permit and would require fuel pumps be located a minimum of 100 feet from a residential property line.

Under the previous code, a fuel station was allowed in all areas zoned for commercial or industrial.

The new code allows fuel stations in most commercial areas except “office commercial” or “neighborhood commercial.” Car washes would also not be allowed in office commercial or neighborhood commercial.

If the fuel station would abut a residential area, it would now trigger a requirement that a conditional use permit be required, which could make it more difficult to get a project approved or require additional restrictions.

Other changes in the code adjacent to residential areas would restrict the canopy over the fuel pumps to a maximum of 17 feet and would require more limited lighting.

A buffer area with landscaping would also be required, along with a security clause to protect the landscaping.

The fuel station issue came to the city’s attention in 2019 when residents pointed to shortcomings of the Medford Municipal Code.

Medford resident Bill Mansfield said properties adjacent to the Springbrook and McAndrews gas station probably lost up to $100,000 worth of value.

“I’m going to call it a tragedy for the people who are suffering,” said Mansfield, who is also on the Medford Planning Commission, but he said his views on the issue were his own and not related to the commission.

Councilor Kevin Stine attempted to create an amendment to the code that would ban gas stations if they are next to a residential property.

But six councilors rejected the idea, worrying that it might have unintended consequences.

“I think the CUP (conditional use permit) is a sufficient tool to monitor this,” Councilor Nick Card said.

Rogue Valley Transportation District had concerns about the new ordinance, particularly because the district is in the process of improving its facilities at 3200 Crater Lake Ave., which has a car wash and fueling station.

But city officials assured RVTD that the code changes apply to retail fueling stations.