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Ashland rejects mill site zone change By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND - Developers say they may use a 65-acre former mill site for heavy industrial or other commercial ventures after planning commissioners rejected their application to rezone the property to allow for a mix of residential and commercial uses Tuesday. "We do have some interest in people out there to use it for M-1 (industrial zoning)," said Maurice Torano of Galpin LLC, which had proposed the development. He said heavy industry is one possibility. Galpin planned a mix-used project to accommodate residences, home businesses, a health care facility, a private school, a church, a tourist railroad stop, and light industry on the site that formerly housed the Croman Corp. lumber mill at the south end of town. Commissioners unanimously agreed with a staff recommendation to reject the zone change. Failure to demonstrate a public need to reduce the amount of land in the city for present and future employment was the staff's primary contention. A city inventory shows that 139 acres are available for development. Up to 165 acres should be available. "Because of its proximity to the (railroad) tracks I hope we won't loose it," said Commissioner John Fields. "It would be hard to replace. Some of the concepts may work in terms of development, but I'm reluctant to go into a zone change." "It seems to me that everything that we do goes in a cycle," said Commissioner Marilyn Briggs. "If everyone is working at home now we will go back to a time of making things...and the land will be needed rather than not needed." But Galpin officials said they felt their plan would best serve the city. The firm spent more than $100,000 on the zone change proposal. Galpin met with the city council and planning staff and held public sessions as they developed the proposal. "We do have alternative plans for the site. We could (expand) by 100 percent or more the amount of commercial ... floor space that already exists (in Ashland)," said Bill Barchet, Galpin's project coordinator. "But we do feel this is the best use." The rejected proposal would have produced from 660 to 1000 jobs along with housing to accommodate workers, said Barchet. He said one of the problems for Ashland businesses is that many employees must live outside the city because of high housing costs. Commissioners adopted findings, conclusions and orders at the meeting. That action would allow Galpin to file an appeal to the City Council within 120 days of the time they applied. Galpin could take the issue to court to seek a writ to allow development if the time period expires. An appeal is among the options Galpin will explore, said Barchet. Tuesday's meeting was a continuation of the review that started Nov. 13. The commission ran out of time to make a decision then after a public hearing on the project. Public comments in November ranged from support of the project as a place where artists could live and work and as a new model of economic development to concerns that it failed to provide affordable housing. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.