329 Merlin Road, Merlin, OR 97532

Prime 1.54-Acre Commercial Development Site — Merlin, Oregon Flexible Use | Recorded Entitlements | Package Opportunity Available

A truly rare opportunity to acquire a prime, development-ready commercial parcel in the heart of Merlin, Oregon — a strategically located gateway community minutes from Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 199, the principal route from Southern Oregon to the Oregon coast. This 1.54-acre site sits within Josephine County's growing commercial corridor, just 8.9 miles from Grants Pass, the regional commercial, healthcare, and employment hub for southern Oregon. Properties of this size, location, and entitlement status rarely come available in the Merlin commercial core — and when they do, they tend to move quickly.

Why This Property Stands Out

This is not raw land. The current ownership has invested substantial time and capital into preparing the site for development, including procuring a recorded permanent access easement, completing engineered site plans, commissioning a geotechnical design report, and navigating the County entitlement process. The next owner inherits a meaningful head start regardless of which development path they pursue.

Zoning & Use Flexibility

Zoned Community Commercial (CC), the property accommodates an exceptionally broad range of permitted uses, including retail, service businesses, light industrial, contractor yards and trade services, RV and boat storage, and self-storage development. The property's location, zoning, and recorded entitlements make it well-suited for several distinct development paths — each appealing to a different buyer profile.

Permanent Access Easement — A Significant Entitlement

The property benefits from a permanent, recorded, non-exclusive access easement providing direct vehicular and pedestrian connectivity to Merlin Road via the adjoining Three Rivers School District property. The easement runs with the land in perpetuity and represents substantial entitlement value — the prior owner had been under contract with Dollar General before the easement was secured, and procuring this access was a multi-year effort that is now complete and recorded. The next buyer skips this lengthy and uncertain process entirely.

Self-Storage Development — Site-Ready Due Diligence

The current ownership invested significantly in preparing the site for a 24,900 SF, 8-building, 205-unit self-storage facility. While the conditional County approval expired in July 2025, the complete due diligence package remains highly valuable for any buyer pursuing a similar development:

• Engineered preliminary site plans and architectural designs (Smith Engineering, LLC)
• Geotechnical design report
• Planning summary and building elevations
• Recorded access easement agreement
• Clear template for re-engaging the County's approval process

For a storage-focused buyer, this package represents tens of thousands of dollars in completed engineering, design, and entitlement work — and a development timeline that's potentially months ahead of starting from scratch.

RV Park Development — Adjoining Parcel Required (Limited Availability)

The property's location at the gateway to the Rogue River recreation corridor — one of Oregon's premier whitewater rafting, fishing, and outdoor tourism destinations — makes it a compelling candidate for RV park development, with strong seasonal demand from the region's robust outdoor and tourism economy. However, the subject parcel has septic limitations that constrain higher-water-use applications. RV park development or other commercial uses with significant water and septic demand will require the additional acreage and water capacity provided by the seller's adjoining 0.34-acre parcel at 171 Almond Street (MLS #220194452), listed at $95,000, which features a strong producing well (15 GPM). Together, the two parcels provide the footprint and infrastructure to support a park-scale septic system and on-site water supply.

Note: 171 Almond is currently being evaluated by buyers considering it for residential development. The window to acquire both parcels as a package may be limited — interested investors should reach out promptly to confirm availability.

Location Highlights

• 6,594 vehicles per day on Merlin Road (2023 count)
• I-5 traffic at the nearest interchange: 31,687 ADT
• 8.9 miles to Grants Pass (population 39,468)
• Gateway location to Rogue River rafting, BLM lands, and the Hellgate Canyon recreation area
• Josephine County is experiencing sustained population growth and continued economic diversification beyond its historical timber base into healthcare, light manufacturing, logistics, and outdoor recreation

The Bigger Picture

Southern Oregon continues to attract residents, businesses, and visitors drawn by the region's affordability, natural beauty, and growing infrastructure. As Grants Pass expands northwestward and tourism traffic to the Rogue River corridor remains strong, the Merlin commercial corridor benefits from sustained spillover demand. Lower entry pricing relative to Grants Pass core commercial sites means investors can secure a meaningful position in a growing market without paying premium-corridor pricing.

Investment Summary

This is a flexible, well-positioned commercial site with recorded entitlements, substantial completed due diligence, and multiple viable development paths. Whether the buyer's vision is self-storage, RV park development, retail or service commercial, or a long-term land hold in a growing corridor, the property offers genuine optionality at an attractive basis. The seller is motivated and willing to discuss flexibility on terms. Package pricing is available when combined with the adjoining 171 Almond Street parcel.

Contact the listing agent today for the complete document package, to schedule a site visit, or to discuss the package opportunity before it potentially closes.