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Hillside Inn plan approved Dissenters: Ashland should save trees By PETER WONG ASHLAND -- The City Council voted Tuesday to approve the transformation of the Hillside Inn into a retail building and studio apartments, but only after a debate about saving trees in the redesigned site on Siskiyou Boulevard. The 5-1 approval clears the way for Leo Jansen to proceed with his plan to demolish the main Hillside Inn building and replace it with a retail building of 10,901 square feet. The 24 rooms at 1520 Siskiyou Blvd. would be converted to studio apartments. The lone dissenter was Councilman David Fine, who said he agreed with opponents that the site plan failed to comply with city requirements to protect significant trees. Mayor Cathy Shaw, who votes only to break ties, said she sided with Fine. But Councilman Steve Hauck said the city requirement is for developers to attempt to save as many healthy trees and shrubs as possible, "and they have made efforts to save the natural vegetation on this site." Other council members said they weighed the value of saving additional trees, some of which are said to be 2 or 3 feet in diameter and 35 feet tall, against a desired redesign of the site at Ashland's southern gateway. Most arguments were presented at a public hearing two weeks ago. "This is how the destruction of Ashland would begin," said Gaelyn Larrick, one of two opponents who did not get a chance to speak at the earlier hearing. The Planning Commission approved the project last fall. In other business, the council gave preliminary approval to new street standards for residential and commercial areas. Adoption is scheduled Feb. 2. The standards apply only to new streets. For residential neighborhood streets, a single travel lane of 11 to 14 feet may be permitted, depending on parking space. If parking is allowed on one side of the street, the curb-to-curb width could be as little as 22 feet; if allowed on both sides, 25 to 28 feet. "Narrower streets have several benefits," the new city policy says. "It is not uncommon for 25 percent or more of a proposed development's land area to be set aside for required rights of way. Using narrower streets can reduce this percentage and free up the land for open space or more intense development. "Narrower streets reduce street development costs. Narrower streets have been found to slow down traffic and reduce accident potential. Narrower streets also have a more intimate feel and contribute to neighborhood livability." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA