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1 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 Herb Rothschild Jr.: Reason to believe ... Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Reason to believe ... Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL One of three downtown beautification projects OK'd Another two will come back for further review Comment By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 7:41 PM By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 7:41 PM » Social News A prominent corner in downtown Ashland will receive a makeover after the City Council approved architectural designs as part of the Downtown Beautification Project at its regular meeting Tuesday. The corner of Winburn Way near the north entrance to Lithia Park will soon see an expanded planter bed, a sitting alcove to replace a popular bench currently at the site, and additional landscaping. The project, designed by KenCairn Landscape Architecture, will also remove broken retaining walls and add additional greenery adjacent to the Plaza, something the council has identified as a high priority. Landscape architect Kerry KenCairn said the project was a win for the city because it retained a popular seating area while protecting a large conifer at the site and expanding the soil mass surrounding it. A large decorative boulder will also be retained as part of the new design. According to city documents, contractor bids for the Winburn Way project will be solicited beginning in December with an expected completion date of March 2016. The council approved the Winburn Way project unanimously. A second project in the downtown area is headed back to the design phase as the council grappled with how to improve the intersection of Pioneer Street and Lithia Way. The southeast corner of the intersection, in front of the Stop ’N’ Shop convenience store, currently utilizes unsecured block walls to enclose planters and has diverging sidewalk grades, something city staff has deemed unsafe. Architectural designs, also completed by KenCairn Landscape Architecture, called for the removal of the block walls and the addition of concrete retaining walls with poured footings. Part of that process would necessitate the removal of two red maples, trees the architect felt were not suitable for urban environments due to their need for large root growth and a propensity to lift sidewalks. Councilor Pam Marsh said she had concerns about removal of the trees. “Some particularly controversial tree removals have brought us to this point where I think saving trees is an exceptionally high priority,” she said. “So I would like to see if we can’t go back see if we can save the tree on Pioneer … and save one, and if possible, two of the trees on the project side.” Councilor Mike Morris said the council had directed KenCairn to produce the best design possible for the long-term use of the site, and that prioritizing the trees over a quality design could be a mistake. “We’ve asked her to give us the best product she can,” Morris said. “And what we’re asking, I think, is that we don’t want the best product. And I don’t know if that’s something I’m willing to do. … I’d like to see the trees stay, but if that means in four or five years we start seeing the wall change or we start seeing the sidewalks change or we have to take the tree out, that’s not something I want to see happen. If we asked them to give us the best product they can, and now we ask them to modify it, I think that the project won’t be what it could be.” Councilor Rich Rosenthal noted that the council was not turning down the design, but asking for a second design that incorporated the existing trees to determine if it could be suitable. City staff noted that the additional design work would come at a cost and that additional funding would have to be approved by the council if the design budget increased by more than 25 percent. The council voted 5-1 to approve new design work incorporating the existing trees. Councilor Morris dissented. The council delayed a motion regarding design work for improvements to planters on the Plaza completed by CoveyPardee Landscape Architects at the request of the Ashland Historic Commission. The council did discuss possible concerns regarding proposed fencing to protect greenery on the plaza and regarding proposed planting pots and forwarded their comments along with the design to the Historic Commission. A letter to the council said the commission intends to submit comments on the design ahead of the council’s next meeting. The council decided not to consider action on improvements to planters at the Lithia Way/Pioneer Street parking lot upon recommendation of city staff until a detailed survey of trees present at the location could be undertaken. Engineering Services Manager Scott Fleury estimated the survey could be completed in time for the council’s regular meeting Sept. 1t. All four projects are part of a $67,500 dollar allocation of transient occupancy tax funds for downtown beautification projects. All four project are slated for completion ahead of the 2016 tourism season. Alec Dickinson is an Ashland freelance writer. Email him at [email protected]. By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 7:41 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... 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