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Builder to appeal permit decision By Sara Murphy ASHLAND � Developers of a proposed fast-food joint near the south freeway interchange insist their plans are finger-lickin� good. Franchisee William Thompson and Pacific Western LLC are appealing the Planning Commission�s Dec. 12 decision to deny their plans for a combination Kentucky Fried Chicken and A&W restaurant at the end of Clover Lane. Thompson, who recently moved to Ashland from Redding, Calif., owns several KFC franchises outside of Southern Oregon, according to Medford attorney Bob Robertson. "We�re just trying to get approval to build a little restaurant near the freeway," said Robertson, who filed intent-to-appeal papers Friday. "It should be easy, but it�s not." Thompson and property-owner Pacific Western, of Medford, submitted a planning application to build a 60-seat restaurant near Denny�s Diner, just outside city limits. Citing concerns about traffic impacts on the intersection of Clover Lane and Highway 66, the Planning Commission last month denied the applicants� request, which required annexation. In response, the applicants are appealing the decision to the City Council � but they�ve also submitted a new application to build on a different Clover Lane lot, just north of the Masonic Temple building. The new proposal to build a 3,240-square-foot KFC and A&W � within city limits � is scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission Feb. 13. Robertson said his clients will withdraw their appeal if the new application is approved. Associate Planner Bill Molnar said Monday he can�t predict whether the commission will approve the new request, which presents the same traffic concerns as the last proposal but doesn�t require annexation. "I think there�ll still be some discussion on that," he said. While Ashland�s codes don�t outlaw fast-food restaurants altogether, they don�t make it easy for national franchises to build, Molnar said. "If you look historically, McDonald�s, Pizza Hut and Wendy�s all had rocky roads to approval," he said. The city restricts the number of drive-up windows within city limits to 12 and all the permits are spoken for. Drive-up windows also are not allowed in E-1 employment zones, such as the proposed restaurant sites on Clover Lane. To accommodate customers who can�t easily get out of their vehicles � or choose not to � Robertson said the proposed restaurant will provide a covered parking area with car hop service reminiscent of the old-time A&Ws. Plans for the new location also include a two-story office building that would serve as a real estate school and Thompson�s franchise office, Robertson said. The design for that building falls under a separate site review application. "This little restaurant would provide additional services for freeway travelers," Robertson said. "That�s all we�re trying to do." Pacific West is a limited partner in the Holiday Inn Express motel being built on Clover Lane. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.