Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 2, 2004 Council delays decision on Haines project By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings For the second meeting in a row, the Ashland City Council ran out of time and thus failed to take any action on the appeal of the Haines Project. A proposed ordinance changing nudity laws, and a decision on the proposed 11,000 -square foot residence of Sid DeBoer also were left undecided. The Haines project would be built at 88 N. Main St. The permit in question will allow developer Lloyd Haines to remove a large alder tree on the site to build a multi-floor office, retail, apartment and restaurant complex. At the last council meeting May 18, the applicant, city staff and those speaking in favor of the project spoke. Appellant Randall Hopkins began his presentation before time ran out, continuing the appeal to Tuesday night. At Tuesday's meeting, Hopkins completed his presentation by taking questions from the council, and then three people rose to speak in favor of the appeal. Diane McDermott, speaking in opposition, said she is concerned about removing the alder tree. "I question whether this is the best way to clean up the area by taking out a beautiful alder," she said. City staff, headed by Planning Director John McLaughlin, then returned to the hot seat to field questions from council members. One of the concerns raised by Hopkins and the council was the continual changes made to the proposal even as it was being debated by the Tree Commission and Planning Commission. Don Laws wanted to know if this process was different from other permits. McLaughlin told the council that modifications are made to most permit applications at some point. McLaughlin said concerns that Haines and his staff of experts were trying to be secretive in the application process were unfounded. He also said Haines was responding to issues raised by staff and the appellant. During the discussion, Kate Jackson put forward a plan to deny the permit without prejudice, so Haines could refile immediately with additional information. Acting City Attorney Mike Franell told Jackson the council could do that. "But in the process, you would be telling your staff the council does not believe their findings," he said. The council was given an extension of the 120-day rule by Haines and his land use attorney Craig Stone. During the extension, Haines will give the council more information and clarification on three issues: the flood plan, tree preservation and the large building issue. The hearing should conclude at the June 15 meeting. The council will then meet to accept the findings at the July 20 meeting, the only city council meeting that month. The Haines project discussion went to the 9:30 p.m. time limit for hearings, forcing the council to delay deciding on the physical constraints review permit for Sid and Karen DeBoer to construct a new single-family home on their property. Council members were not comfortable with some of the wording in the findings of fact, and so they sent the document back to acting city attorney Franell for review. It will come back to the council at a later date for final approval. Also tabled until June 15 was the city's proposed anti-nudity ordinance. One person, Rivers Brown, spoke against the ordinance. Chief of Police Mike Bianca explained to the council why he thinks the ordinance is necessary. "We had 16 incidents of public nudity last year in July, August and September in Lithia Park," he said. "This proposed ordinance will not criminalize nudity but will give my officers the right to tell people to cover up. Failure to do so will not result in an arrest but in their being issued a citation." Bianca said that he was not presenting nudity as a huge problem but more as an issue to be addressed. Mayor Alan DeBoer supported the chief and said he received a significant number of complaints last year. He also said he liked that the ordinance is not criminal. As time ran out at the meeting, the council decided to debate this issue further at the next meeting at 7 p.m. June 15. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams