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SATURDAY January 24, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels January 21, 2004 Public comment on condo project delays decision A decision by the Ashland City Council on a proposal to build a multi-floor condominium and commercial complex behind the Ashland Springs Hotel will have to wait until Thursday. Because public testimony was not completed by 9:30 p.m., by ordinance, the remaining public testimony and council decision was moved to 7 p.m. Thursday at the council chambers. A standing-room-only crowd attended the meeting, anxious to see the outcome. The planned structure, proposed by Ed and Tanya Bemis of Ashland, calls for a four-story building totaling approximately 82,000 square feet. Most of the area is set for parking, mainly for use by hotel guests. The development would include condominiums, including one set aside for affordable housing and retail space. The property is located off Hargadine Street, where a lot used for hotel parking is now located. Before the issue was discussed, council member Chris Hearn asked to be excused due to a possible conflict of interest. The law firm he works for represents the Ashland Springs Hotel, which owns the parking lot. Decision appealed The Ashland Planning Commission approved the proposal 5-2 in November. Last month, members of a group calling itself Citizens For Responsible Government filed an appeal with the city against the planning commission's recommendation. Those opposed to the proposal have said it will not fit in with the rest of downtown and be larger than allowed in the city's new "big box ordinance" which passed Sept. 16. Developers submitted their plans to the city on Sept. 12. The new ordinance limits new buildings to 45,000 square feet, including parking. About a dozen people spoke in favor of the building during the council's public forum, saying it would bring needed housing and provide an attractive business space and building to downtown. Others said it would replace a drab parking lot with something aesthetically pleasing. Doug Neuman, who owns the Ashland Springs Hotel, said the proposed structure will be something that conforms to downtown standards and will be a good fit. "It's not a big box," he said. "It has a residential and human scale." Craig Hudson, who owns the Oregon Cabaret Theatre building across from the parking lot, supported the proposed building, saying it would add to an area that's "probably one of the most bleak sections of downtown." "The excitement and viability of this development is very positive," Hudson added. More to say Bill Street, who represented the citizens group, gave a presentation against the proposed structure. Street told the council he felt the project is too big for downtown and is larger than the current ordinance allows. He also said that the application submitted wasn't complete because they had not submitted a landscape plan. "They shouldn't have reviewed the application until it was completed," he said morning. When he finished, the council did not have any questions for Street. Street said he was "stunned," the council did not ask him any further questions. "I hope it was because it was so clear, that they already made up their minds to decline the application," he said. Street said he has put 100 hours of his own time to gather facts and make a timeline to support his opposition to the project. He said he wished he had more than 15 minutes to give his presentation, and complained that the Bemises had numerous chances during the several public meetings to give their viewpoint. "Is that a fair, reasonable and due process?" he said. Two people were able to talk against the proposal before time ran out. Mayor Alan DeBoer said there were about 17 people against the project scheduled to speak, who did not have the opportunity to do so. The Thursday meeting will be broadcast on Channel 9. 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 Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams