Council looks at progress on key Croman Mill site

The area of the Croman Mill Project, named after a lumber mill that used to be on the site. Siskiyou Boulevard is at lower left, Mistletoe Road sweeps along the red line at right center. Townmakers LLC graphic
November 8, 2023

Plans for development coming into focus — slowly

By Craig Breon for Ashland.news

An update on cleanup and redevelopment plans for the 61-acre Croman Mill site on the city’s southern end was given to the Ashland City Council at its business meeting Tuesday evening. The site is so important to the city’s future planning that the council has asked for quarterly updates as planning proceeds.

The sheer size of the mill site gives the developers and the city a palette of choices on issues such as the future mix of uses, densities, height of structures, and the interconnections for cars, transit, and pedestrians both within the site and between the site and adjacent development. 

Croman Mill will likely be listed as one of Ashland’s future Climate Friendly Areas, part of a state plan for urban areas to provide land for more dense, mixed-use housing and business projects designed to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and associated greenhouse gases.

The original actions creating the Croman Mill District, dating from 2010 and 2011, envisioned a large area of primarily industrial development, situated close to the freeway and largely separate from housing. Mike Weinstock, representing Townmakers LLC, the current Croman Mill developers, cited big box shopping or corporate centers as planned-for uses back in 2010.

In the last decade, however, trends both local and regional increasingly call for mixed-use development at higher densities within existing urban areas and incorporating a mix of housing types and price points, as opposed to more traditional single-family homes and blocky apartments.

An artists conception of the Croman Mill Project. Townmakers LLC graphic

One of the key facts emerging Tuesday was the proposed division of the land, providing roughly one-third for commercial and light industrial uses while allocated two-thirds to residential uses. Some of the property could serve both purposes, with apartments above shops or residential units intentionally designed as live/work spaces.

If the project proceeds as planned, Ashland residents would first notice new development along Siskiyou Boulevard, which Townmakers refer to as Phases 1 and 2. It is typical for developers of large parcels to use profits from the first phases of development to help fund the future phases, lessening the amounts needed for up-front costs.

One potentially controversial element of the project is the possible establishment of an urban renewal district, which would use taxpayer funding to help provide some of the infrastructure on the site or facilitate affordable housing elements. Such funding mechanisms will likely come after preliminary site designs, which Townmakers will submit to city staff this week, along with suggested Municipal Code amendments, annexation documents, and results of a traffic study.

More info
A more extensive discussion and graphics regarding Croman Mill can be found at ashland.or.us/SIB/files/110723_Croman_Townmakers_CC.pdf
To see Tuesday’s PowerPoint presentation, click here

The timetable for the project remains unclear. The proposal to phase development would likely allow Townmakers to adjust the project over time, based on market demands, within approved parameters. Additionally, development of some areas cannot proceed without needed cleanup of toxics on the site.

As previously reported, cleanup on the former mill site will focus on soils from former wood treatment and burning areas, which left behind toxics such as dioxins and furans. From sampling done to date, two possible methods of disposal have emerged: either hauling the contaminated soils to a traditional landfill or to a landfill capable of incinerating the toxins. Total soil to be removed is approximately 1,200 cubic yards, or about 100 standard dump truck loads.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — rather than the city of Ashland — has final approval of cleanup plans. Brandon Goldman, Ashland’s Community Development Director, could not give a solid timeline for how the cleanup process will proceed, but said that more details should be available by spring of 2024.

Weinstock, speaking for Townmakers, described the remediation requirements as “manageable” and “nothing scary,” reassuring those, including council members, who would like to see this development process flow expeditiously.

Email Ashland resident, consultant and former environmental law instructor Craig Breon at [email protected].

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Carpenter Media proceeds with more layoffs, cost cutting at Oregon newspapers

The Mississippi-based media chain that recently bought more than three dozen newspapers in Oregon and Washington has spent the two months since its acquisition pursuing job cuts and exploring other steps to save money. Five employees of the Rogue Valley Times were told Tuesday their last day of work would be Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the newspaper’s operations.

Read More »

Update: Tsunami warning canceled for Oregon, California coast

A tsunami warning was in effect for the Oregon coast from south of Florence and into northern California as far south as just north of Santa Cruz after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake was detected 45 miles southwest of Eureka, California, at 10:44 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Tsunami Warning center

Read More »

Council mulls first water rate hikes since 2019

It’s not a question of if water rates will go up, it’s a question of how much. Ashland City Council reviewed a study of the finances of its water system with an eye for how much rates will need to rise in the face of various coming changes during its Monday evening study session. 

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Ashland.news First Edition Holiday Events Guide Ashland Oregon
Rogue Valley Symphony A Gospel Christmas Ashland Oregon
Literary Arts The Moth Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland Oregon

Latest posts

Crossword: Camelot 2025 #01

This week’s crossword: 5 plays from Camelot Theatre’s 2025 season. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week’s crossword: “Grin and Bear It #01.” More crosswords under the Culture menu.

Read More >

Carpenter Media proceeds with more layoffs, cost cutting at Oregon newspapers

The Mississippi-based media chain that recently bought more than three dozen newspapers in Oregon and Washington has spent the two months since its acquisition pursuing job cuts and exploring other steps to save money. Five employees of the Rogue Valley Times were told Tuesday their last day of work would be Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the newspaper’s operations.

Read More >

Update: Tsunami warning canceled for Oregon, California coast

A tsunami warning was in effect for the Oregon coast from south of Florence and into northern California as far south as just north of Santa Cruz after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake was detected 45 miles southwest of Eureka, California, at 10:44 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Tsunami Warning center

Read More >

Council mulls first water rate hikes since 2019

It’s not a question of if water rates will go up, it’s a question of how much. Ashland City Council reviewed a study of the finances of its water system with an eye for how much rates will need to rise in the face of various coming changes during its Monday evening study session. 

Read More >
Southern Oregon Repertory Singers Medford United Church of Christ and Ashland SOU Music Recital Hall Oregon

Our Sponsors

Recology Ashland Leaf Composting Event Ashland Oregon
City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

An enhanced law enforcement area for the south side of Ashland was approved Tuesday by Ashland City Council with one nay vote. The second ELEA for the south side, which will need a second vote before going into effect, was established under the same existing rules as the downtown ELEA.
This week's crossword: 5 plays from Camelot Theatre's 2025 season. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week's crossword: "Grin and Bear It #01." More crosswords under the Culture menu.
Herbert Rothschild: It's time to hear a Mexican perspective on immigration and drug trafficking. President Sheinbaum responds to Trump's threats.
The Mississippi-based media chain that recently bought more than three dozen newspapers in Oregon and Washington has spent the two months since its acquisition pursuing job cuts and exploring other steps to save money. Five employees of the Rogue Valley Times were told Tuesday their last day of work would be Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the newspaper's operations.
When you are not ready to adopt a dog but you miss dogginess, fostering is the perfect solution. And for folks who might want to take a smaller step than fostering, there is the Field Trip program: Take a foster dog for the day, or maybe just a hike.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.