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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Public meetings for May 18-22, 2015 Sawyer Paddles sues manufacturer, alleging breach of contract Mahar wins, Hillcrest loses in growth plan for Medford Feds go after Rogue River lawyer for failing to pay $125,000 in taxes Medford police search for suspect who robbed Flamingo's at gunpoint Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Public meetings for May 18-22, 2015 Feds go after Rogue River lawyer for failing to pay $125,000 in taxes Medford police search for suspect who robbed Flamingo's at gunpoint Man allegedly tried to burn Medford police officer with lighter Medford driver faces assault charge for hitting skateboarder Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Education SOU student's project tells story of devastating Weed fire South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Environment Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks State News Oregon wildlife officials eye phased-in hunting, fishing fee increases Wyden's gambit on trade deal pays off Panel sends Jackson, Josephine drought declarations to governor Court overturns $85 million award for Oregon soldiers Oregon families should get $284 in tax rebates next year Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Nita Day Alan Leslie Robins Kathryn "Kay" Blanche White Eva Robarts Donald Kent Hoyt Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Challengers claim crown McIlroy sets course record with 61 Wu falls just short of advancing to NCAAs Two down, one to go for American Pharoah Pirates strong at Skyline district meet Varsity 541 College Sports Wu falls just short of advancing to NCAAs Beavers continue hot streak, trip Cardinal Committee urges switch to 30-second shot clock Even-par round keeps Wu in contention Wu off to fast start in NCAA regional Pro Sports McIlroy sets course record with 61 Two down, one to go for American Pharoah Warriors advance behind Curry Spectacular crashes at Indy raise concerns Brady, union threaten Goodell with lawsuit Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Blog: L is For... Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Other Views: Keeping marijuana away from minors Letters to the Editor, May 15 Where would you put a new Costco? Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws Granlund cartoon: Kim Jong Un and snoozing Editorials Other Views: Keeping marijuana away from minors Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 15 Letters to the Editor, May 14 Letters to the Editor, May 13 Letters to the Editor, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 11 Columns Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Kathleen Parker: Defining deity down: Changing others' religion Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Lifestyle Latest stories New Arrival: Greta Scott Spangler Community blog: Rhubarb's sour stalks have surprising savory side Anniversary: Leon and Gail Guss celebrate 60 years together 5 local fishing opportunities for summer visitors Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Food Community blog: Rhubarb's sour stalks have surprising savory side 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Season Stepp: Use pink lemonade in recipes Quick, easy, versatile Page H. Onorato: Cookbook offers old friend in the kitchen today Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: Longleaf pines making a comeback Pergola, arbor, gazebo: Learn the differences Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs Options abound for gardens in shady spots Tricks and tips to enlarge your small bath Health Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day New cardiac rehab center opens at Asante RRMC Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs 5 picks for live entertainment Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Theater 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Music Live Music in Local Clubs Blues great B.B. King dead at 89 Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory Victor D. Infante: If loving bad pop songs is wrong ... The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters Community Events Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Dining 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food From rustic to elegant: Wine tasting in Southern Oregon Quick, easy, versatile Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Kicking state government down the road ... Public meetings for May 18-22, 2015 ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center ... Our View: Kicking state government down the road ... Public meetings for May 18-22, 2015 ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center ... SKYPARK City board topples elevated housing plan Developer appeals to Medford City Council By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 13, 2015 @ 4:20 pm Updated May 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 13, 2015 @ 4:20 pm Updated May 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A proposed $3 million elevated housing project known as SkyPark faces some stiff headwinds following a rejection of the plan by a Medford commission. The developers have filed an appeal with the Medford City Council, which will hold a hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21, in City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St. SkyPark is a 26-unit housing complex that would be built above an existing public parking lot at the corner of Central Avenue and 10th Street. The Site Plan and Architectural Commission agreed with some residents that the project could generate parking problems, and it also found the residential design wasn’t suitable for the downtown. “That’s in the eye of the beholder,” said Mark McKechnie of Oregon Architecture of Medford. He said he has spent more than two years shepherding the project through the city and has invested a “six-figure amount” for planning and engineering. McKechnie said the design of the project is similar to a row of shops just to the north on Central Avenue, from Main Street to Eighth Street, which includes Bricktowne Brewing Co. The Medford Urban Renewal Agency signed off on the project Jan. 15, selling “air rights” for $1 for everything above 12 feet in the parking lot located on Central Avenue between Ninth and 10th streets across from the Medford library. MURA, which is made up of city councilors, provided a 50-year lease for land in the parking lot for the columns and entrances for the building on the ground floor. Most of the parking lot will remain open to the public. Councilors generally thought the project was unusual but endorsed the idea because they have been hoping to get more residential developments in the downtown. Oregon Architecture of Medford and Ashland developer Allan Sandler formed a corporation known as Sky Park Medford LLC to build the project, which will have 20 two-bedroom units, five three-bedroom units and a single one-bedroom. Each unit will have two baths with the exception of the one-bedroom, which will have one bath. Units will be priced from $150,000 to $250,000. The parking lot now has 75 spaces but would be increased to 78 in the new design, despite the columns and entrances needed to support the two- and three-story building. The units will require 26 parking spaces, leaving a net of 56 spaces for the public. Some local businesses worried that the residential complex will require more than 26 spaces, causing potential parking problems. McKechnie said the city is building a new parking lot at the corner of 10th Street and Riverside Avenue as well as another lot next to the Inn at the Commons. Stephen Cook, owner of Farrell’s Glass Service, wrote a letter April 3 saying he was worried about the project’s impacts on already limited parking in the downtown. David Wilkerson of ORW Architecture praised the SkyPark project at a public hearing but also complained the project wasn’t dense enough for the downtown area. Jeff Bender, chair of SPAC, works for ORW. Wilkerson said the overtly single-family residential design of the project doesn’t fit in with the feel of the downtown core. McKechnie wrote senior planner Kelly Akin a letter April 3 stating, “I was dismayed to hear David Wilkerson of ORW Architecture bad mouth the SkyPark project at the public hearing today. He also happens to be Jeff Bender’s boss. I respectfully request that Jeff Bender recuse himself from further deliberations at this point.” According to minutes of the April 17 meeting, Bender said he does not feel there is any potential conflict of interest. Bender voted with the majority on SPAC to reject the project. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm .     By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 13, 2015 @ 4:20 pm Updated May 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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