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Growers Market clears a hurdle By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings The Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market has won initial approval to operate near Lithia Park, but only in a location without room for all vendors during the height of the season. At a special Monday night meeting, the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission gave its approval for the market to operate in the parking lot across from Lithia Park that is home to the Darex Family Ice Rink in winter months. The approval carried by a narrow 3-2 margin. The Ashland Planning Commission will take up the issue on April 8. Market members - along with Ashland residents who spoke on the market's behalf - had sought to use Winburn Way from just north of the park bandshell to the intersection with Nutley Street. That option would have required the closure of Winburn Way from the Nutley intersection nearly to the intersection with Granite Street from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Tuesday from April to October. However, it would have provided space for 84 booths. The parking lot option leaves room for only 49 booths, forcing hard choices, according to market manager Janet Bierbower. "I would give preference to the growers," she said. "The crafters would have to sit out during the height of the season. It's obvious to me from the community support at the meeting that the community is supportive of operating in Lithia Park." Instead of using the Lithia Park lot, market members could consider seeking permission to use North Mountain Park parking areas, although space would be limited there as well, Bierbower said. About a dozen residents at the meeting spoke in favor of allowing the market in Lithia Park, despite a parks policy banning commercial activity there. Winburn Way is considered a part of the park. Siting the market at the park would allow residents to enjoy locally grown produce and quality crafts in a beautiful setting that is close to downtown and within walking distance of many homes, supporters said. "The number one rule for sustainable living is to buy locally," said resident Leslie Belew. "There's something really beautiful about marrying Lithia Park with the market." But Jean Crawford, former parks commissioner, said during her time in office she heard several requests each year for exceptions to the ban on commercial activity. "You should think very long and very hard about the concept of making exceptions," she warned. "As soon as you make an exception to commercial activity in Lithia Park you'll have 20 people at your door saying, 'Why not us, too?'" Commissioner Jim Lewis said he personally was in favor of the market, but advocated the parking lot option because of its reduced impact to the park. Commissioners Lewis, Mike Gardiner and JoAnne Eggers voted to deny the Winburn Way request. Gardiner and Eggers had strong reservations about allowing the market near the park. Lewis - along with Commissioners Rich Rosenthal and Diane Amarotico, market supporters - then voted as a majority for the parking lot option. In other business Monday night, the commission reached consensus to reconvene a citizen committee that had explored and recommended a funding mechanism for buying parks, trails and open space. The committee recommended shifting a portion of the city's prepared food and beverage tax that currently funds the wastewater treatment plant to park land acquisition. Sewer rates would have been increased to offset revenue losses to the treatment plant. The Ashland City Council voted against sending the funding plan to voters, and later denied a simpler plan to increase the meals tax to pay for park land purchases. Original members of the funding committee could be called back to explore options, and new members could be added. The parks commission will consider the make-up of the committee at its regular meeting this upcoming Monday. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -