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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Mt. Ashland offers shuttle service Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally Education Levy supporters kick off campaign Bowling for knowledge Sharing black culture It's alive! SOU students create thought-provoking art Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Silvio Calabi: Range Rover Sport, the off-road GT Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Ride & Drive: The 2015 BMW M4 Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect Politics and elections Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation State News Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' Oregon's second in command abruptly returns from capital Nation - World Obituaries Arlene M. (Ryan) Mills Michael Wayne South Claire G. Craft Theodore F. "Ted" Carter James Fredrick Shareable This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Raiders perfect on senior day Millers smother Grizz on senior night Three questions facing the 2015 Oregon State baseball team Under SOU spotlight one last time Just following the rules High school Millers smother Grizz on senior night Crater girls, boys cruise to victory in Midwestern League blowouts Grizz boys' upset bid falls just short in loss to Churchill Layton picks Western Oregon Ashland girls go 6-1 in multi-team dual meet Southern Oregon University Raiders perfect on senior day Three questions facing the 2015 Oregon State baseball team Under SOU spotlight one last time Just following the rules Raiders sweep Hope Int., stay perfect Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Workers need more power Landgren cartoon: Disneyland measles outbreak Matthew T. 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Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Fifty Shades’ of boring Movie review: ‘Kingsman’ transcends spy-movie tribute status Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Cotillard embarks on a journey of hope in 'Two Days, One Night' Movie review: ‘Leviathan’ tells a whale of a human tale Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories David Murdock: Take a nice little walk Looking Up: The sky on Valentine's night Health Watch: The rise of wearable fitness tech Jimmy Smothers: Car trouble turns into a pleasant experience Marketta Gregory: We are loved Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland ... Ashland Calendar: Feb. 14 ... Workers need more power ... Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland ... Ashland Calendar: Feb. 14 ... Workers need more power ... COUNCIL CORNER Council Corner: Transforming Ashland for the future Comment By John Stromberg DailyTidings.com By John Stromberg Posted Feb. 10, 2015 @ 2:00 am Updated Feb 12, 2015 at 6:06 PM By John Stromberg Posted Feb. 10, 2015 @ 2:00 am Updated Feb 12, 2015 at 6:06 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter, or email ... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter , or email [email protected] . » Social News At my State of the City speech on Jan. 27 (see the video at http://bit.ly/1DZj3fX), I put forth five proposals to preserve and improve the quality of life in Ashland in the coming years. They all have to do with land use and circulation and would, over time, transform the look and feel of Ashland in a profound but evolutionary way. They are: 1) Concentrate high-density residential development in “nodes” on the city’s public transit corridor — and allow a limited amount of this development to be mid-rise towers. Possible locations include: Hersey and North Main; downtown/Plaza; uptown (Gresham and East Main); SOU No. 1 (Siskiyou and Bridge); SOU No. 2 (Walker Avenue and Ashland Street); East Main and Mountain Avenue; and Gateway South (Tolman Creek and Ashland Street). 2) Reserve the Normal Avenue Neighborhood Master Plan area to provide larger detached homes suitable for families with children, built in cluster developments to allow shared gardens, play areas and parking. 3) Modify the city’s current mixed-use residential overlay (which allows residential units to be built above commercial and office space throughout Ashland) so that a portion serve local employees and business owners. 4) In partnership with property owners, provide future funding for basic infrastructure in the Croman employment area to encourage developable land for businesses so that residents can work in the town where they live. 5) Reduce the presence and pressure of cars downtown and in adjacent neighborhoods while improving the pedestrian environment and linking the entire town with frequent public transport. Here’s how the proposals work together: High-density development along the public transit corridor allows us to accommodate retiring baby boomers from California while also building the foundation for ecologically desirable public transport to link the community. And the towers, or “spires,” can be markers that identify Ashland’s distinctive neighborhoods. Centrally located, high-density development allows lower-density, family-friendly development in the Normal Avenue area while staying within the compact urban form of Ashland’s participation in the Regional Problem Solving agreement. The fact that the Normal Avenue area is yet to be annexed gives the city more latitude in its development requirements — i.e., the family-friendly homes, but also possibly a watercourse park and affordable housing. For years the council has aspired to making Ashland more family-friendly but we haven’t devised a way to achieve it — until now. The idea of mixed-use housing is consistent with Ashland’s character because it brings residents into the city’s commercial and office districts, but originally the intention was also to provide housing for local workers and business owners, shortening their “commute,” reducing their carbon footprint and allowing lower- to middle-income people to live downtown. The Croman property was master-planned five years ago but hasn’t developed, in part because of the initial costs of basic infrastructure (streets, water, sewer, electricity, broadband, etc.). The land-use purpose of this area is an employment zone so local residents can work in the town where they live and travel to their jobs on the trolley, by bicycle or on foot — again reducing the community carbon footprint. Infrastructure can be “forward funded” by private developers and the city working together to invest in costs up-front and recoup funds as the area is built out. (This same approach may apply to the Normal Avenue area as well.) Lastly, Ashland’s success in tourism and livability draws more than 200,000 visitors each year. They drive here in cars which crowd downtown streets and smother adjoining residential neighborhoods with on-street parking. We want them to park their cars when they arrive and not touch them again until they leave. This calls for attractive, convenient parking structure(s), an enhanced and leisurely pedestrian environment and the Ashland trolley for trips to our charming outlying neighborhoods. All five proposals require code modifications, regulatory permission, financial resources and outside support, and they must win approval from the City Council. But they also constitute a clear and visionary plan for the city and one that plays well with Ashland’s reputation for creativity and leadership. We can sell this plan, and stakeholders will invest in its success. People used to look to Ashland for leadership in land-use planning. It’s time again to take up that torch. Imagine flying low over Ashland at dusk during the Festival of Lights, with the crown jewel of downtown glowing against the darkening sky and the seven neighborhoods strung like beads on a necklace celebrating this shimmering, enchanting town! John Stromberg is mayor of Ashland. By John Stromberg DailyTidings.com By John Stromberg Posted Feb. 10, 2015 @ 2:00 am Updated Feb 12, 2015 at 6:06 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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