MEDFORD, Ore. (Dec. 15, 2025) — Medford’s Planning Commission is set to review a proposed General Land Use Plan amendment later this month that would pave the way for a 32-unit apartment development on long-vacant property along Poplar Drive, according to a city council report released earlier this month.
The request, known as Project Harmony Homes, involves two vacant parcels totaling about 0.65 acres at 1392 Poplar Drive, just north of East McAndrews Road. The property has remained undeveloped for decades, dating back to when the U.S. Forest Service vacated the area and Rogue Credit Union purchased nearby parcels and constructed a branch in the early 2000s.
The proposal will be heard by the Planning Commission on Dec. 17, with commissioners forwarding a recommendation to the Medford City Council, which has final decision-making authority.
City planning staff recommend amending the site’s General Land Use Plan designation from Urban High Density Residential (UH) to Service Commercial (SC). The change is required to support a related zone change from Multi-Family Residential (MFR-20) to Commercial Service/Professional (C-S/P), which would allow higher-density residential development than is currently permitted.
The applicant proposes constructing a 32-unit apartment complex with 39 parking spaces. Under existing zoning and land-use designations, the development would exceed the site’s maximum allowable residential density. Staff noted that the proposed land-use change would remove that maximum density cap while increasing the minimum density threshold.
Roughly 20 years ago, developers explored building an eight-story retirement facility on part of the former U.S. Forest Service campus, but the project stalled after plans shifted toward demolishing the campus rather than redeveloping it, leaving the remaining parcels vacant.
According to the staff report, the site is surrounded by a mix of residential and commercial uses, including apartment complexes to the west and service commercial zoning to the south. No environmental constraints — such as wetlands, riparian corridors or floodplains — have been identified.
City staff concluded that existing public facilities, including water, sewer and storm drainage, are adequate to serve the proposed development. A traffic impact analysis was not required, as the project is not expected to generate sufficient vehicle trips to affect operations on Poplar Drive, which is classified as a major collector street.
The proposed amendment was reviewed against Medford’s Comprehensive Plan and applicable statewide planning goals. Staff cited the city’s Housing Capacity Analysis (2022–2042), which found a surplus of urban high-density residential land, and the Economic Opportunity Analysis adopted earlier this month, which identified a shortage of commercial and employment land.
No public comments were received from neighboring property owners, advisory committees or the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development as of the report’s publication.
Planning staff are recommending approval of the General Land Use Plan amendment, concluding it would allow for more efficient use of infill land while supporting housing availability and employment opportunities within Medford’s urban growth boundary.
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