Document text
0 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 Digging deep into trench rescue training ... Why we sing for peace (part II) ... Ticket availability ... Digging deep into trench rescue training ... Why we sing for peace (part II) ... Ticket availability ... LETTER AT LENGTH Letter at Length, May 11 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Public property giveaway? Almost a year ago, a heavy-duty steel, highway-type guardrail, longer than a football field, supported with steel and wood uprights, was paid for and installed by a private party on the Grandview Drive city street right-of-way (public property) adjacent to new construction, with no city of Ashland encroachment permit applied for or approved, in violation of Ashland Municipal Code 13.02.050, “Encroachment Permits.” I do not think that any of the three exemptions to the encroachment permit requirement apply to this 350-foot-long steel guardrail: “minor,” “no visual impairment” or “guardrail at a driveway approach.” The guardrail has remained in place while the city studies the situation. I called the city offices the day the guardrail was being installed and was told the guardrail was permitted and approved. On further research at the city offices, it turns out no permit was applied for or approved for the guardrail installation, nor was any mention made of the need for a guardrail in the building plans or the Planning Division reports of 2008 or 2014 for the property. The guardrail is not installed at the city/private property boundary, but 30-40 feet onto city property. In addition to this being a violation of the Ashland municipal code, I believe the guardrail presents a significant hazard to the many pedestrians that use this road. The guardrail has narrowed the already narrow roadway by 2-6 feet. Before the guardrail was installed pedestrians had an escape route where they could move out onto whatever little shoulder there is or drop down the hill to avoid a motor vehicle likely to hit them. The guardrail eliminates this escape route. The quick and agile might be able to jump over the guardrail and land on a piece of flat ground or tumble down the steep hillside. Those who are not quick and agile are at significant risk for being crushed between the guardrail and the motor vehicle and would likely suffer broken bones, internal bleeding or death. I do not understand why any city (public) funds are being spent for city staff time and the $30,000 engineering contract to work around the illegally installed guardrail. If the city were ever to install a similar guardrail on private property without the required advance notification and approval of the property owner, I am sure the private property owner would have such a guardrail removed in very quick order. Why should the city allow a private party to install a guardrail without approval on public property and then start using taxpayer funds to mitigate the illegal installation? Paul Rostykus Ashland DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 11, 2016 at 12:01 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501