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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 Wyden's support is vital ... Guest Opinion: City of Ashland space needs ... Haines & Friends Fund grants help local artists ... Wyden's support is vital ... Guest Opinion: City of Ashland space needs ... Haines & Friends Fund grants help local artists ... OUR VIEW Our View: The plan's the thing Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Opposition to the Normal Neighborhood Plan is not surprising, given many Ashlanders' resistance to allowing the city to grow, but it is disappointing. Ashland will grow; that is inevitable. The question is whether that growth will be carefully planned or unplanned. We vote for the former. The City Council will hold the first reading of the Normal Neighborhood Plan tonight. A few observations: No property owner has asked to annex any of the property covered by the plan. So there is no actual development to discuss, just a master plan for development expected to happen slowly over 30 to 50 years. Developers, not city residents, would foot most of the bill for infrastructure. Critics say "the broader population of Ashland" was unaware of the plan until recently — perhaps because they don't live in the neighborhood. Property owners in the area were represented on the working group that drafted the plan; the group held nine public meetings following three public hearings starting more than year ago. Opponents object to the density of the plan: 450 units housing nearly 1,000 people. They say the city's traditional emphasis on infill rather than "sprawl" should continue. Planned, high-density development is the opposite of sprawl. The "traditional" strategy of resisting expanding the city limits has created the highest housing prices in this part of the state. Elementary schools have closed because young families cannot afford to live here. Continuing that approach will mean an increasingly exclusive community that belies its own rhetoric of inclusion.     DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Sep. 1, 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... 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 2015 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