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Agendas and Minutes

Planning Commission (View All)

Planning Commission Study Session

Agenda
Tuesday, September 25, 2018

ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
September 25, 2018

CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Melanie Mindlin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street.

Commissioners Present:		Staff Present:
Troy Brown, Jr. Michael Dawkins Alan Harper Melanie Mindlin Haywood Norton Lynn Thompson		Bill Molnar, Community Development Director Dana Smith, Executive Assistant

Absent Members:		Council Liaison:
Roger Pearce		Dennis Slattery, absent

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Development Director Bill Molnar introduced new Planning Commissioner Alan Harper. Last week, the City Council had a hearing on the Infill Strategy Transit Triangle. Right before the meeting, staff received a letter from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). As part of the record, they wanted staff to look at the impact of increased density at the intersection of Ashland Street and Tolman Creek Road. Staff had already compiled some of that information already but thought it was best not to consider First Reading. Council conducted the Public Hearing for input. The item would go back to Council at their October 16, 2018 meeting. It would most likely be a continuation of the public hearing since the complete analysis for ODOT would not be done by that time.

At the Council Study Session October 1, 2018 staff would provide a Housing Element Update.

The Planning Commission meeting October 9, 2018 would have the 880 Park Street deliberation and a 30-unit affordable housing project behind the Rogue Federal Credit Union on Ashland Street. The Commission would also hear another large apartment project at 188 Garfield Street.

Mr. Molnar would look into whether Commissioners Brown and Harper could participate in the deliberation for 880 Park Street. He thought if they watched the video and reviewed the record they might be able to participate.

AD-HOC COMMITTEE UPDATES
Commissioner Dawkins provided an update on the Ashland Transportation Expansion and Feasibility Study. He recommended the Commission read Technical Memorandum #1 on the 2018 Transit Feasibility Study webpage. He distributed a document on the Ashland Conceptual Transit Concepts depicting feasible routes.

PUBLIC FORUM
Brent Thompson/Ashland/Wanted the Planning Commission to reinstate the ability of property owners to do minor land partitions without bringing services to the new lot. The owner would be required to disclose there were no services at the time of sale or they could put in services when they wanted to build. He also wanted a revision of the minor lot partition that maintained the current amount of landscaping requirements. Lastly, he wanted a revision to the ARU ordinance that would allow two units no larger than 300 square feet each.

Huelz Gutcheon/Ashland/Spoke to solar energy, read from a newspaper article and expressed support for solar energy.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Vice Chair Mindlin moved agenda item B. Alan Harper Introduction and Presentation on Views from Communities Around the World to D.

Approval of Findings for PA-T2-2018-00001, 449-459 Russell Street.

Commissioner Dawkins, Thompson, and Norton had no ex parte. Commissioner Brown, Mindlin, and Harper abstained. The Commission and staff discussed whether there was sufficient quorum to approve the Findings.

Commissioners Mindlin/Dawkins m/s to approve the Findings for PA-T2-2018-00001. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Commissioner Brown, Thompson, and Harper abstained from the vote. Motion passed 3-0.

Confirm Planning Commission Retreat date May 11, 2019.

The Commission confirmed May 11, 2019 as their next retreat date.

Confirm term limits for Commission Chair.

Ashland Municipal Code (AMC) 2.10.050 Election of Officers, Secretary, and Subcommittees stated that neither the chair or vice-chair could serve for more than three consecutive annual terms. Mr. Molnar would follow up with the Legal Department for clarification.

Alan Harper Introduction and Presentation on Views from Communities Around the World.

Commissioner Harper shared his background and credentials. He and his family undertook an eighteen-month trip to 41 countries. He provided a presentation and discussed his experiences from a planning perspective.

ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.

Submitted by,
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant