Grants Pass council hears progress update on Washington‑Midland redevelopment plan

City officials and consultants briefed the Grants Pass City Council on progress for the Washington‑Midland Redevelopment Opportunity Plan during a workshop, outlining market analysis, community outreach and three concept alternatives aimed at meeting housing and economic‑growth goals.

Bradley (city staff) opened with background: URRA directed the planning effort in June and the council earlier authorized a contract with First 40 ft to prepare the opportunity plan, a contract “not to exceed $150,000” to fund community forums, a commercial market analysis and a site/infrastructure assessment. Consultant Jason Graph of First 40 ft said the project is roughly two‑thirds complete and described the roughly eight‑acre site in north Grants Pass between Highway 99, Washington Boulevard and Midland Avenue as “a site that has a lot of potential.”

The consultant summarized outreach to date—two in‑person community workshops, 12 stakeholder interviews and an online survey that remains open through July 17—and presented market findings showing demand for affordable and workforce housing, some opportunity for neighborhood‑serving retail, and a continued local strength in health‑care employment. Graph told councilors the city’s long‑range target of about 4,000 new housing units by 2040 contrasts with an average absorption rate near 100 units a year, which informed the firm’s assessment of what product types might be feasible.

Graph presented three illustrative concepts: the Midland Market District (leans toward employment and commercial uses with housing concentrated on a central spine), Franklin Marketplace (a balanced mix of housing and neighborhood retail with a proposed Franklin Boulevard extension to improve internal access), and the Washington‑Midland Common (a housing‑heavy option oriented to Bunnel Street). Illustrative counts shown in the materials included multifamily and townhome mixes (one slide noted, for example, 78 multifamily units in one concept) and parking assumptions of about 1.5 spaces per multifamily unit (two spaces per townhome).

Councilors focused questions on traffic, neighborhood outreach and feasibility. Councilor Victoria said residents had raised speeding concerns on Washington Boulevard; consultants and staff said initial camera counts showed that speeds exceed limits in places and recommended traffic‑calming measures—curb extensions, enhanced crosswalk striping and improved lighting—while committing to perform a traffic‑impact analysis tied to the preferred concept. On outreach, staff said they mailed letters to immediate neighbors, posted site signage, and publicized the survey via social media and the city website and that they could report back on where respondents live.

On housing details, a councilor asked for definitions: the presentation distinguished “affordable” (roughly 60% of median income and below) from “workforce” housing (roughly 80–120% of median income), and the consultant said near‑term financial realities favor rental products, with a planning assumption of roughly 70–75% rental versus 25–30% ownership in many scenarios.

Councilors also probed the URRA’s possible tools to close finance gaps, including infrastructure investment, land pricing and system‑development charge adjustments, and asked the consultants to return with feasibility and risk assessments, including what could be achieved within a five‑year window. Several councilors requested a printed copy of the 30‑page market/infrastructure packet for fuller review before committing to a preferred concept.

Next steps: consultants said they will close the online survey on July 17, continue outreach and return to the council with more detailed feasibility analysis, traffic study results and a recommended approach for phasing and incentives. The workshop closed with staff agreement to provide the requested hard copy packet and to bring back refined analysis in the coming months.