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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATED: The storm door is open: More rain on the way in Southern Oregon ... SOU supporters will gather to watch national championship ... Annual AAUW holiday party ... UPDATED: The storm door is open: More rain on the way in Southern Oregon ... SOU supporters will gather to watch national championship ... Annual AAUW holiday party ... PLANNING Council approves Normal plan Years in the making, plan will guide any new development proposals Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Dec. 16, 2015 at 8:44 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Dec. 16, 2015 at 8:44 PM » Social News After several years of hearings and planning and 60 public meetings, the Ashland City Council Tuesday approved the Normal Neighborhood Master Plan, which allows developers to apply for annexation and building — and enables the city to build infrastructure, which will be partly paid for by residents of Ashland. The complex and controversial plan for the 94 acres centered around East Main, Walker and Ashland Streets passed on second reading on a 4-1 vote. Councilor Carol Voison dissented, saying the plan should focus more on infill to achieve density and she objected to the city “serving as a bank when that ought to be the responsibility of the developer.” Voisin said it’s risky to proceed when the Oregon Department of Transportation could deny Ashland another railroad crossing, but Mayor John Stromberg said as an existing crossing, Normal can be modified without that (limitation on the number of crossings in town) coming up. Councilor Mike Morrison decried the neighborhood as “overplanned,” and it’s “almost as if as if the city feels it owns the property. We take 25 to 30 percent of the land and say it’s open space and can’t be built on ever.” Morrison “grudgingly” voted for it but called city regulation tight and strict and noted that the town’s best developments were “pretty much hands off” by the city. The land is currently outside city limits. Any development there would be under county rules, unless the developer requested annexation to the city. The new ordinances update decades-old rules regarding how any newly annexed property could be developed. Buildout of the property is expected to take decades at current growth rates. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Dec. 16, 2015 at 8:44 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501