Medford, Oregon- The City of Medford’s Site Plan and Architectural Commission (SPAC) will hold a public hearing this Friday, Nov. 7, at noon to review the proposed Haya Park development — a large-scale housing development that could add nearly 500 new units to southeast Medford.
The proposed project, located south of Coal Mine Road and east of North Phoenix Road, would feature a total of 26 two- and three-story buildings containing 490 multifamily units, divided into two major phases.
Phase 1A, submitted by property owner Ramzi Fakhoury, includes 13 multifamily buildings on about 12.5 acres. Phase 1B, submitted by property owner John Bottala, includes another 13 multifamily buildings across roughly 12 acres.
City staff say the project remains under review, particularly regarding traffic impacts and related infrastructure improvements, which could lead to changes in the final plan.
If the proposal is approved and no appeals are filed during the city’s two-week appeal period, developers would have two years to begin construction, with the option to request a one-year extension.
The development site falls within Planning Unit MD-5e, an area added to Medford’s Urban Growth Boundary in 2016 and formally acknowledged by the state in 2018 to accommodate future city growth. The site was given a General Land Use Plan (GLUP) designation of Commercial (CM) at that time and was annexed into the city in 2020 under Ordinance 2020-123.
The Urbanization Plan for the 74.6-acre planning unit, adopted by City Council in September 2020, calls for primarily commercial development within the subject area. However, under Medford Land Development Code (MLDC) Section 10.837, residential units are permitted in commercial districts if they meet minimum multifamily density standards.
In 2023, the property was rezoned from SFR-00 (Single-Family Residential Holding Zone) to C-C (Community Commercial), with the Exclusive Agricultural Overlay removed. At that time, a sanitary sewer capacity constraint limited development, but following completion of Sanitary Sewer Project SS23-0032 on Oct. 1, 2025, all restrictions were lifted.
Current Proposal
Under the current initial submission, the applicant is seeking approval for 248 multifamily units — a mix of two-story, 14-unit buildings and three-story, 20-unit buildings — to be built in a single phase.
The master plan also includes three new north-south public streets connecting Coal Mine Road to a future east-west connector, “1st Street”, to the south. Initially, one of those streets (“A Street”) did not connect to Coal Mine Road, but that has since been revised following Fire Department requirements under the Oregon Fire Code, which mandates dual access points for emergency response and evacuation due to nearby vegetative fuels.
Traffic and Design Concerns
One major issue still under consideration is the potential impact on Quarter Lane, a narrow residential street to the north designed for limited traffic. City staff have expressed concerns that drivers from Coal Mine Road or Juanipero Way could use Quarter Lane as a shortcut to enter or exit the new development, creating congestion and safety issues.
Architecturally, developers say the buildings are designed to reflect a modern residential character, with lap and board-and-batten siding, gabled roofs, and articulated facades. Plans call for offset wall surfaces, covered balconies, and consistent visual elements across all structures, including a multipurpose community building.
According to city planning staff, the proposed design meets MLDC requirements under Sections 10.715A–10.719, which aim to ensure that multifamily projects enhance neighborhood character and livability. All proposed structures are under the 150-foot maximum length limit and conform to height and setback standards.
The Nov. 7 SPAC hearing will be open to the public, and written testimony will also be accepted prior to the meeting.
Medford Alert News will continue to monitor this proposal and provide updates as they become available.
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