<div>New Housing Projects Code Changes,SOU Parking Lot Plan ContestedNeighborhood objections to new development projects, large and small, are running up against efforts by the state legislature and two members of the City Council to loosen government regulations, policies and procedures to encourage more housing construction.Changes made in Salem on local government review of new projects include eliminating citizen appeals of Planning Commission decisions and reducing mailings to neighbors of new projects – cutting in half to 100 feet the old requirement of mail notifications of neighbors to development plans.Locally, Councilors Jeff Dahlke and Derek Sherrell have proposed 16 additional changes in the city’s procedures for handling zoning and building applications. Their list has been narrowed to 13 after a meeting with Community Development department staff.In addition, they have given up seeking approval this fall of all of their proposals. Planning Commission Chair Lisa Verner told them their schedule was unrealistic given the mandated review timetable for ordinance changes.Meanwhile, neighbors of a proposed small development on South Mountain avenue are objecting to a variance granted by the Community Development staff for a small project that would be built on a parking lot that Southern Oregon University has abandoned and sold opposite the university’s historic Churchill Hall.The issue is the location of the driveway into the parking lot for 10 garage spaces. Not only is the driveway less than 100 feet from a neighbor’s, as currently required, but it’s “approximately 138 feet south of the South Mountain Avenue/Siskiyou Boulevard intersection.“South Mountain Avenue at this location carries substantial vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle activity on school days, including high school and university students and neighborhood pedestrians. At busy times, residents may wait for extended periods before safely exiting existing driveways,” Beth Remingon, Laura McLellan and Robert McCLellan have written in their appeal.The project by Mr. Development, LLC of Medford includes 10 units with up to four small additional housing units (ADUs) on the half acre site.</div>

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Neighborhood objections to new development projects, large and small, are running up against efforts by the state legislature and two members of the City Council to loosen government regulations, policies and procedures to encourage more housing construction. Changes made in Salem on local government review of new projects include eliminating...

Ashland City Hall Tidbits 9/21/2026: Housing Code Changes into 2027 Docket & SOU Parking Lot Development Plan Contested

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Neighborhood objections to new development projects, large and small, are running up against efforts by the state legislature and two members of the City C

Ashland City Hall Tidbits 9/21/2026: Housing Code Changes into 2027 Docket & SOU Parking Lot Development Plan Contested

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