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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 Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police On landmarks, personal and geologic Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Speech and debate team claims Jean Ward title 10 things to know for Tuesday, Feb. 3 Education Speech and debate team claims Jean Ward title SOU board names officers, committees Parent files complaint against Ashland schools Learning on the job AHS speech and debate team headed north Environment 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 The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped Business Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Ride & Drive: The 2015 BMW M4 Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect New Ashland eatery features Basque cuisine Learning on the job Politics and elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland Fiber Network wants to be able to keep trade secrets Volunteer award, State of City address presentations Tuesday City's policy, efforts aim for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address State News Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Two new wolves confirmed in Southern Oregon, state reviewing status of northeastern packs State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Geraldine "Gerry" Smith Death Notices Lily Hearn May Antonucci Shareable Sports Latest Stories New England Patriots' Brady, Belichick still have work to do Raiders, at last Hawks keep streak alive, top Trail Blazers Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep High school Raiders, at last Ashland swimmers sweep three-way Grizzly spirit Ashland girls remain winless in MWL Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Southern Oregon University Raiders, at last Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep Southern Oregon zeroes in on first men's soccer coach Howard named NAIA coach of the year Opinion Latest Stories Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Editorial Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Our View: Missing teen dilemma Our View: Making room for all Our View: Honor well deserved Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 26 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions Guest Column: A Koch and bull story Guest Opinion: A New Year’s resolution you can keep: starting “the conversation” Chris Honoré: Modern media: the unreliable narrator Guest Opinion: The relevance of socialism in the U.S. Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Share your love poems at Downtowne Coffee House Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory Community blog: Applegate Library offers self-publishing workshop Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Theater Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Music Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore Visual Art Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Whiplash' pounds out a riveting beat Movie review: ‘Mortdecai’ majorly misses the mark Movie review: Aniston’s performance is the icing on ‘Cake’ Movie review: ‘Cake’ showcases Jennifer Aniston at her best Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories On landmarks, personal and geologic Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Shayne Looper: More wedding equals less marriage? Dr. Elaine Heffner: What’s in a name? Food for Thought: Sweet potatoes are a versatile vegetable Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police ... Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police ... Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... STATE OF THE CITY Mayor proposes quality-of-life development efforts Stromberg sets out five ways to improve housing, transit in Ashland's tight boundaries Comment By Thomas Moriarty Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Thomas Moriarty Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 28, 2015 @ 11:26 am By Thomas Moriarty Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 28, 2015 @ 11:26 am » Social News Ashland needs to change its approach to development if it wants to maintain its quality of life in the long-term, Mayor John Stromberg told residents in his State of the City address Tuesday night. Doing that, he says, means making better use of the infrastructure the city already has to accommodate growth within its restrictive urban growth boundary. Since 1982, Ashland has maintained a policy of pursuing "infill" in existing developments over expansion of the city's geographic footprint. To do that, the city has, among other measures, encouraged construction of multiple new housing units on existing residential lots, as well as consolidation of those developments to avoid damaging the city's prized scenery.  Addressing a packed house in the Ashland Community Center, the mayor described himself as a believer in market freedom and the need for minimal regulations. "But laissez-faire development doesn't result in a good quality of life," he said. Ashland's population growth has remained relatively modest in recent years, increasing by just 40 people between 2013 and 2014, but the mayor said demographic changes have been enough to show weaknesses in the city's development strategy. Stromberg pointed to what he described as the unintended consequences: Residential neighborhoods with only one main thoroughfare, upstairs apartments in the city's mixed-use planning overlay that don't house employees of their ground-floor businesses. The mayor also attributed steady decreases in enrollment in the Ashland School District to a lack of family-friendly housing developments within the city. Stromberg's proposed solution is five-fold: Concentrating residential development along a defined public transit loop Fostering family-friendly developments of houses with at least three bedrooms and adjacent yard space. Modifying mixed-use housing overlay to provide for local employees and business owners. Building basic infrastructure to allow development of the 65-acre Croman Mill Site. Reducing traffic impact on pedestrians in the downtown core. He also suggested that that the city should pursue a transfer system for development rights. This would allow landowners within specific planning zones to sell the building rights that came with their properties to landowners with more profitable holdings. Stromberg said he and community development director Bill Molnar will have to approach state and regional planning partners for input, and that the city will likely partner with the Rogue Valley Transit District to achieve the public transportation goals he outlined. "This is a town for connection, and we all connect to each other," he said. The mayor said he's asking the City Council to give direction to planning staff regarding how to proceed with each of the proposals. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471, or by email at [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Thomas Moriarty Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 28, 2015 @ 11:26 am » 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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