NORTH BEND — Neighbors lost round one over Bangor School. Now, they plan to press the North Bend City Council to deny turning the former school into a commercial property.

“We’re not done,” said Michael Dean, who spearheaded the Citizens for Orderly & Harmonious Growth effort against the project. “They made a decision on a basis different from many residents in the city.”

Dean said he and others in the coalition will fight the Planning Commission recommendation. It will be up to city councilors to officially rezone the site bordered by Broadway and Madrona.

The opposition did, however, move the commission to add a number of conditions to protect the residential neighborhood surrounding the school, including requiring screening and providing commerical access via Madrona Street to emergency vehicles only.

Bangor LLC had requested that the former school be rezoned from residential and amend the comprehensive plan to allow for a retail, commercial and office development.

Dr. Scot Burgess, a partner in Bangor LLC and orthodontist in Bend, said he grew up in North Bend and still has family living here. He said he decided to buy the property to provide jobs, shopping and other services to the community. He wants to restore the Bangor building.

“He’s not a professional developer. He’s a dentist,” said Crystal Shoji, of Shoji Planning in Coos Bay, who worked on the application.

Nearly 60 people listened quietly to Shoji at the North Bend Planning Commission meeting on Monday night.

In a presentation, Shoji and architect Jay Mills of Crow/Clay Associates showed images of potential designs for the 5.8-acre property, its close proximity to commercial properties on Broadway, and how the school is an eyesore plagued by vandalism.

“I can’t imagine an empty school sitting there for a long time adding any benefit to the community,” Mills said.

Shoji and Mills said the property is inappropriate for a big box store or residential units. In several potential development scenarios, Mills said Bangor LLC may want to include access on Madrona Street, a quiet residential neighborhood.

That upset opponents. They don’t want more traffic on the narrow, pocked street. Residents also worry about decreasing property values, noise and obtrusive lighting.

Neighbor James Fritz came prepared with visuals and argued that more traffic could be harmful to more than property values. He fears his 5-year-old son, who is learning to ride a bike, could be hurt by speeding drivers exiting or entering the center.

“Traffic always takes the path of least resistance,” Fritz said.

Giving a top 10 list of concerns, Fritz said his other concerns are that it would dilute economic development and puts the interests of one property owner above those of 60 established residents.

“We’re counting on you to do the right thing,” Fritz told the commission. “The proposal before you is wrong for the neighborhood and wrong for the city.”

John Mesquita, who argued in favor of the rezone, called the project a “forward thinking investment,” and asked that it be supported because it would bring money to the city in the form of permits and fees.

“We, as a community, need to support business and economic growth,” Mesquita said.

Other residents, who primarily argued against the project, suggested the site be used for low income housing for seniors or be split commercial and residential according to its proximity to those zones.

Bobbie Soton suggested that Bangor be rezoned in five or 10 years from now, when the economy may be improved.

“North Bend has enough trouble trying to support the business we have now,” Soton said. “Right now is not the time to put in more of it.”

Hours into the discussion, the original opponet, Dean began his filibuster. The “ground zero” resident said the rezone will damage the neighborhood’s character and take away from downtown businesses. He suggested Bangor LLC hopes it can flip the property and make a killing.

“We need to protect the interests of the citizens in this town,” Dean said.

Just minutes before midnight, the commission sided with Bangor LLC. Commissioner Diana Schab said she felt for residents but she and Wayne Schrunk believed the rezone creates an opportunity to bring more commercial businesses. The motion  passed unanimously.