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Ashland can expand Hillah Temple, rules state By JILL BRISKEY ASHLAND - The state has ruled in favor of the City Council's right to expand a downtown building, despite the objections of a former city councilman. In April, Brent Thompson filed a notice of appeal with Oregon's Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). LUBA denied his appeal Thursday. Thompson said he wanted to stop the planning commission's decision allowing a remodel of the former Hillah Temple building. The building, at 51 Windburn Way, is a one-story structure. The property was purchased by the city in 1998 to house the community development and public works departments. Plans for the $2.6 million project call for an addition of 4,000 square feet to the current 6,500-square-foot structure. Work was expected to kick off in July or August but was halted by Thompson's petition. Thompson argued that the plans violated the city's adopted principles against urban sprawl. He instead urged officials to construct a two-story building that would allow for more parking and other uses. Thursday, LUBA affirmed the city's decision, essentially over-ruling Thompson's arguments, said Sharlene Stephens, the city's legal assistant. Stephens learned of the ruling Friday. Other city officials were unavailable for comment on Friday. LUBA's decision came one week after the agency heard oral arguments from Thompson, who filed the petition, and Paul Nolte, Ashland's city attorney. "It was really very quick," she said. "LUBA agrees with the city." Attempts to contact Thompson were unsuccessful Friday. However, in a written statement faxed to the Mail Tribune following LUBA's ruling, Thompson wrote, "basically this decision predictably affirms the city's position that it is permissible to build a one-story, land-wasting, sprawl- and traffic-enhancing city office structure in spite of a comprehensive plan language that would indicate the opposite." City officials have said Thompson's suggestion would be more expensive because the building would require structural improvements before a second floor could be added. LUBA's final decision is subject to appeal at Oregon's Court of Appeals. Thompson's faxed statement did not say whether he would pursue an appeal. He did, however, write that he enjoyed learning about the land-use process. He also wrote that the city is restricted by its planning staff. "It is wrong for the city to waste its land resources," Thompson wrote. "But the unfortunate thing here is that the planning director, whose job it should be to uphold the spirit of the state law as to sprawl control, is indifferent to controlling sprawl when the city is an applicant." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.