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41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, January 25, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 8, 2004 Ashland council OKs over-the-limit home By VICKIE ALDOUS for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — An Ashland couple will be allowed to build a home that exceeds the city’s new maximum size ordinance governing historic districts. On Tuesday night, the City Council approved a Church Street house project proposed by Rob and Susan Saladoff that is 9 percent over the size limit. The maximum size ordinance does allow homes that are up to 25 percent over the limit if houses meet certain criteria — such as being architecturally compatible with the neighborhood and having appropriate bulk and scale. "There’s basically an escape valve in the ordinance to handle conditions that may not have been considered," said Ashland Community Development Director John McLaughlin. Council member Cate Hartzell cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the bulk and scale of the house proposed is too large for the neighborhood. Advertisement The home will not be the first that exceeds the maximum size of 3,249 square feet set by the council last year to be built in a historic district. Five projects have exceeded the limit, but it was the first subject of an appeal. Neighbors opposed to the home argued it would be too large, would contribute to traffic problems and could harm a neighbor’s tree. They also said the process used to grant exceptions to the size limit is arbitrary and defeats the intent of the ordinance. "What we have in effect is not an escape valve, but a loophole. It’s thwarting the effect of the ordinance," said Lew Nash, who noted that people who win an exception to go the full 25 percent over the limit will have a home that is twice the size of average houses in the city’s historic districts. Other neighbors said the house is beautifully designed, with additional rooms built behind the front of the home to make it appear smaller. Past Ashland Historic Commissioner Keith Chambers, who was involved in the creation of the ordinance, said exceptions should be made where appropriate. "There was a deliberate attempt to introduce flexibility into the ordinance," he said. Vickie Aldous is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach her at 482-3456. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers