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57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend January 23, 2004 Ashland council denies downtown project By BILL CHOY Mail Tribune The controversial Bemis building project was denied by the Ashland City Council on Thursday night. In a 3-2 vote, the council agreed with a citizens group that filed an appeal saying the building behind the Ashland Springs Hotel on Hargadine Street was too big for downtown Ashland and exceeded the city’s "big box" ordinance. The planned structure, proposed by Ed and Tayna Bemis of Ashland, calls for an approximately four-story building totaling about 81,212 square feet. The city planning department said the building would have 34,296 square feet of commercial and residential space, and 23,671 square feet in parking. Those opposed to the building said it was too big for downtown Ashland and would not fit in. The Ashland Planning Commission approved the proposal in November. In December, a group of local residents calling themselves Citizens For Responsible Government filed an appeal with the city against the planning commission’s recommendation. Advertisement They said the building would be out of step with the big box ordinance, which passed on Sept. 16. Developers submitted their plans to the city on Sept. 12. The ordinance limits new buildings to 45,000 square feet, including parking. Thursday’s meeting was a continuation of the council meeting on Tuesday, which ran out of time to hear more public comments on the issue. Dale Shostrom, chairman of the Ashland Historic Commission, spoke against the proposal. He told the council he was expressing his own thoughts, and not the viewpoints of the Historic Commission, which approved the proposal. While he applauded the creativity and flexibility of the architect’s design, he said he still had major concerns. "What I find objectionable is the building’s large bulk and scale, which is just not compatible with Ashland’s downtown historic core," he said. Council member John Morrison said he felt the building was "totally out of scope" with the rest of downtown. Council member Don Laws felt the council needed to follow the law and not deny the application. Council member Chris Hearn did not participate in the meeting because of a conflict of interest. The firm he works for represents the Ashland Springs Hotel, which owns the parking lot where the proposed structure would be built. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times