With little fanfare, the Medford Urban Renewal Agency board voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt the Middleford Commons agreement, making it the first entity in a three-way partnership to sign on to downtown's most ambitious redevelopment project in recent history.

"It's going to bring family-wage jobs, probably in the neighborhood of 500," said City Councilman and MURA liaison Skip Knight following the meeting. He said the project also will increase the revenue generated from property taxes in the area as well as improve the aesthetics of downtown.

Three residents came to the meeting but remained silent.

The development agreement with Lithia Motors Inc. is set to be signed by the City Council at 7 tonight in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St., Medford. The agreement is expected to be signed by Lithia soon after, launching the ambitious building project between Central and Riverside avenues and Third and Sixth streets. Lithia's headquarters will provide the anchor for the mixed-use urban redevelopment.

The scope of the project prompted Medford resident Alma Jefferson to voice her concerns to the Mail Tribune Wednesday.

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"I feel that it should be presented to the voters," she said. "It's just a big undertaking and for a number of years it's going to be difficult for people who are traveling that area. Medford's going to be torn up."

Knight anticipates some council discussion on the topic today.

"We probably still have some people who have some questions about this whole thing," he said.

In previous meetings, Councilman John Statler said he would like to see a market study to justify MURA spending $14.1 million in taxpayer money, adding he has not been convinced the community could support such a venture.

Councilman Jim Key has said that he cannot support the project because he thinks the process is being unnecessarily rushed.

Mayor Gary Wheeler has said that he's concerned about running into problems if union wages are not paid in what might be deemed public projects, as has happened with numerous public-private partnerships around the state, including Bella Vita in downtown Medford. Bella Vita is a private housing and retail development that's connected to a publicly funded parking garage. The project is on hold while the Bureau of Labor and Industries determines whether the developer will have to pay union wages.

But Knight said he didn't see any major holdup for Middleford.

"I think the council is pretty much on board if we can get those questions answered," he said, adding that he doesn't see any downside to the project. "There's not many corporations that'll come to you and say we want to come put our corporate headquarters in your downtown. I think it's a feather in the city of Medford's cap."

Jackie Rodgers, MURA acting director, said Wednesday's approval was a big day for MURA.

"A great share of the urban renewal agency's time and energy has been put into getting this far," she said. "Depending on City Council's decision tomorrow (Thursday), we could start looking forward to the next steps in bringing Middleford Commons to fruition."

Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail mlanders@mailtribune.com.