Central Point residents speak against the increase in traffic

"Traffic on Taylor Road is one of the worst in Central Point," the retired resident told the Planning Commission Tuesday.

Dump trucks whiz by at 80 mph, a speeding car overturned in his driveway and his wife was nearly driven off the road by another driver while trying to turn, he said. The couple live at the intersection of Brad Street and Taylor Road.

White spoke out Tuesday against two subdivisions, Brookfield Estates and Bohnert Estates, both proposed west of the railroad tracks off Taylor Road.

But city planners and public works staff recommended approval of both subdivisions, on the condition that the developers follow recommendations of a future traffic study. The planning department is hiring a consultant to conduct the study, which should be done in six weeks.

The planning commission Tuesday night subsequently approved both subdivisions, also on the same condition.

City planner Tom Humphrey said both developers had agreed to participate in the traffic study, help with costs and abide by its findings.

The problem is that there is only one main intersection, at Haskill and West Pine streets, that acts as an outlet for residents to cross the railroad tracks. The traffic study will, among other things, analyze traffic in that area.

Bohnert Estates covers 12.7 acres north of Taylor Road across the street from Brad Way, with the first phase including 24 residential lots. W.L. Moore Properties is the developer.

Brookfield Estates is a 48-unit subdivision covering 13.3 acres on the south side of Taylor Road and east of Grant Road. Developer Lou Mahar/Pacific Trend plans to start construction on the first phase this year, and on the second phase within another year.

Besides White, other opposition to Brookfield Estates came from neighbors living on Donna Way. City planners and the developer are considering extending Donna Way into and through the new subdivision to improve traffic circulation patterns.

Donna Way now ends in a cul-de-sac just south of the subdivision's property line.

What happens to Donna Way also depends on the traffic study.