Council votes to finalize zoning consultant RFP
City Council · Meeting of September 30, 2026
Medford council votes 4-0 to finalize zoning consultant RFP after design-standards fight. Director of Planning, Development and Sustainability Alicia Hunt presented the draft, prompting a lengthy clash with Vice President Lazaro over whether design "standards" give the mayor-appointed Community Development Board too much say over building appearance; Hunt cited West Medford two-family homes "that look like an eight-unit apartment building" as the reason standards matter. Councilor Callahan calculated the draft's public-process requirements could produce "as many as 50 public meetings over 36 months," prompting the council to let the consultant propose its own meeting schedule instead.
The communications consultant RFP drew five responses, with a review committee including Council President Bears, Councilor Lemming and Community Development Board chair Doug Carr still undecided. The council voted 4-0, with Lemming, Scarpelli and Lazaro absent for the roll call, to let the planning director finalize and issue the RFP.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,172 words
Source: the City Council meeting of September 30, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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