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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us April 6, 2005 Fordyce Street project runs out of time, again By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland City Council is beginning to show the strain of handling hearing after hearing on disputed developments. On Tuesday night, the council heard from a parade of supporters and opponents of the proposed Fordyce Street co-housing proposal, but ran out of time to make a decision on the issue. A March hearing on the co-housing project — which would provide affordable housing but requires a zoning change for more dense development — was continued to Tuesday for lack of time. The council decided to start its next regular meeting on April 19 an hour early in the hopes of reaching a decision on the co-housing project. A hearing on another matter also is planned that night. “We have these public hearings coming up every time or every other time,” Councilor Kate Jackson said. “We need to be more efficient about how we handle them.” Councilor Cate Hartzell, who is known for her detailed questioning during council meetings, bristled at Jackson’s remarks. Hartzell said she prepares for meetings in advance by closely studying the council packet that contains information on agenda items, but questions still remain on important topics. Mayor John Morrison said the council must not rush to judgment on controversial land-use issues. The Ashland Planning Commission denied the co-housing proposal in December 2004, saying it was not compatible with the neighborhood of surrounding single-family homes. Co-housing backers then appealed the planning commission’s denial to the city council. “This is a quasi-judicial process. We must be thorough,” Morrison said. Councilor Chris Hearn urged balance, noting the importance of the co-housing project to supporters who hope to live in the affordable units, and to opponents who fear the project will disrupt the neighborhood. “We do need to understand the gravity of the situation. It’s important to both sides,” Hearn said, adding the council also needs to understand the need for efficiency. The council has dealt with numerous land-use appeals in the past few years. Meanwhile, some Ashland planning commissioners have lamented the body’s inability to make long-range plans for the city as commissioners spend countless hours reviewing and ruling on current projects. Ashland Community Development Department staff have asked the council to hire a consultant to oversee development of a new downtown plan. High resident participation and concern about the future of the downtown overwhelmed staff’s recent efforts to hold public forums. The council was scheduled to meet this afternoon to discuss the staff request. In other business Tuesday night, the council approved a payment plan with restaurateurs Ron Roth and Kathleen MacMichael. The couple, who own Geppetto’s Restaurant and are co-owners with a third person of the Plaza Cafe, fell behind on food and beverage tax payments after MacMichael hurt her knee in 2001. The council also heard from residents who believe the Ashland School District is moving too quickly to find alternative uses for Lincoln Elementary School; and set a public hearing for May 17 on Tolman Creek Road Local Improvement District assessments. Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 482-3456 x 3018 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms Homeschooling Tatoos student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation diamonds Currancy Exchange Online Casinos Community Fasa Student Loans Tatoo Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams