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REDEVELOPMENT Talent truckstop rezoning allows more uses Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News On a split vote Wednesday, Talent City Council approved a zoning change to increase potential uses on the Talent Truck Stop site, although dissenters expressed worries about potential floodplain issues. A commercial interchange zoning that allowed only operations such as gas stations, fast-food restaurants or hotels on the West Valley View Road site near Interstate 5 was in place. Approval of the new commercial highway zoning will allow a wider variety of businesses and also residential development. “We are asking for the property owner to have some flexibly in the use that can be put on that property,” said Megan Lanier of Richard Stevens and Associates, who sought the change for property owner Talent Commercial Leasing. Businesses such as bakeries, offices, restaurants, retail shops, laundromats and health clubs might locate on the site, said Lanier. Discussions with potential buyers have focused on commercial uses rather than residential development, she said. Previous zoning allowed residential structures only atop commercial buildings on the 5.2-acre site. Under the new zoning, up to 50 percent of the land may be used for ground-level residential development as long as commercial development separates the housing from West Valley View Road. Four adjacent sites are zoned commercial highway. The city’s Planning Commission had recommended the zone change. Councilors Anthony Abshire and Teresa Cooke voted against the change. It was supported by councilors Daniel Wise, Ryan Pederson, Christina Collins and E.J. McManus. Cooke expressed concerns about flood threats to potential residential development at the site, although any development activities would need a site review. Worries about pollution at the site bothered Abshire. “Anything can be built there as long as you meet the floodplain requirements,” said Community Development Director Zac Moody. Lanier stated any development of the site would have to go through a floodplain review. Floodplain concerns also worried Mayor Darby Sticker, who said she would have liked to receive an application for development along with the zoning change request. But four council members favored the change without having development plans before them. “It extends a lot more flexibility to the city and the future developers,” Wise said after Pederson made a motion to approve the change. Potential buyers have visited the site and looked at feasibility studies, but nothing has developed, Randy Simonson of Commercial Real Estate said prior to the meeting. His firm has marketed the property for three years. He said he’s talked with every hotel company on the West Coast about locating there, but the area is too small demographically. “Because of the commercial evolution of the area, there were some changes that we thought were needed to market the property more broadly,” said Simonson. Talent Truck Stop operations that included fueling, vehicle washing and maintenance ceased in 2010, and the Talent Truck Stop Restaurant closed the same year. A truck-dispatching operation continues at the site. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected] By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 11, 2016 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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