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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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Of sound and fury ... Town meeting set to discuss 'travelers' ... Council Corner: Ashland’s homeless aren't the problem ... Our View: Of sound and fury ... Town meeting set to discuss 'travelers' ... Council Corner: Ashland’s homeless aren't the problem ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Plaza fencing is ugly and wasteful Comment By David Sherr DailyTidings.com By David Sherr Posted Oct. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM By David Sherr Posted Oct. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Over 120 feet of 33-inch high, "temporary" iron fences, costing an estimated $10,000, were approved for the east and west sides of the Plaza at a recent City Council study session, when no members of the public were present, and are now awaiting funding approval. The council's “logic” is to plant smaller plants now, wait two years for them to grow, then remove these expensive iron fences once the plants are established. There are many compelling reasons not to install these iron fences: First: Bigger plants, planted now, to form 30-inch or higher living fences, would effectively protect all the plants from trampling, and eliminate the purported need for these very expensive, “temporary” iron fences. A living fence would be much more attractive to begin with, and greatly enhance the look and feel of our Plaza. Larger plants are now thriving on portions of the Plaza which were planted correctly over a year ago, to form a living fence — they are thriving on the northwest side of the Plaza planting area, and have survived well, even during our busiest Fourth of July festivities. Go out to the Plaza and see this for yourself. In the past, much smaller plants were planted in a helter-skelter manner, leaving broad patches of barren dirt, inviting pedestrians and trampling. This manner of planting was destined to fail. Second: The “temporary” fences will cost $8,000 to $12,000, and will be built only to protect the $1,000 cost of plants being planned — (larger plants would up the cost, slightly). How can the council justify such a huge iron fence expense, to protect plants costing a fraction of that, when a viable, much more aesthetic and economical alternative exists? Third: Although the public is being told the fences are “temporary,” there is no set date for their removal — just a "reevaluation" of their necessity in two years, in the language of the council’s resolution. Fourth: The Historic Commission resoundingly recommended against installing the iron fences, as have over a hundred Ashlanders who have written the council to date. Fifth: Katheryn Thalden, an independent, local landscape architect, with no vested interest in the project, has also strongly recommended against installing the iron fences, and has suggested planting larger plants now, to form a living fence. Sixth: The fences are quite ugly and off-putting; they look like a stark cage and jail cell rungs — hardly the impression we wish to convey to our visitors and residents. While I applaud the addition of more greenery on the Plaza after almost three years of our community and visitors having to look at mostly barren dirt, these ugly iron fences, with rungs 4 inches on center, will effectively screen a significant amount (about 25 percent) of the planned new greenery from view. The iron fences are very expensive, unattractive, wasteful and unnecessary in the first place. A viable, aesthetic and much more economical alternative exists — by creating a living fence. Our council should not degrade our town’s historic center with this unnecessary and wasteful iron fences project, decried by independent experts, commissioners, and citizens. Use the approximately $10,000 in proposed iron fence tax funds to permanently beautify our Plaza, not to “temporarily” degrade it. A vote on the fences’ funding will come on Tuesday, Oct. 20, during a scheduled council meeting. Please write/email the council members and urge them not to build this iron fence, and to use the funds to beautify our Plaza instead. More information on these fences, and a color perspective rendering of the fences, created for the Ashland Plaza Restoration Project Facebook page, can be viewed online, by the public. David Sherr lives in Ashland. By David Sherr DailyTidings.com By David Sherr Posted Oct. 17, 2015 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... 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