ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
AUGUST 10, 2004
MINUTES
I. | CALL TO ORDER Chair Russ Chapman called the Ashland Planning Commission Study Session to order at 7:40 p.m. on August 10, 2004 in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street, Ashland, Oregon.
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II. | TOPIC: DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL GOALS AND UPCOMING APPLICATIONS. | |||||||||||||||||||
Council Goals A Summary of Council Goals for FY 2004-2005 (updated as of July 16, 2004) was included in the Study Session packet. McLaughlin explained that affordable housing is a goal the Council has set forth. The Council has adopted the Housing Needs Analysis and the Housing Action Plan. The Planning Commissioners felt the two plans left many unanswered questions and that more statistics and information are needed to create an accurate picture of the true affordable housing needs in Ashland. McLaughlin said the purpose of tonight's meeting was to make the Commissioners aware of the Council goals. The Council is saying we have an affordable housing problem and they want to see something happen. The first thing to do is make land use changes. The Council has directed the Housing Commission to work on the strategies. The impact to the Planning Commission will be in seeing any ordinance changes coming forth from the Housing Commission that will contain affordable components. Though it seems we will never have enough affordable housing, we continue to make strides in helping create affordable housing. Douma submitted a list of the questions to Staff and the Commissioners he has raised concerning affordable housing. McLaughlin reiterated that the policy has been set and the direction has been set. If a Planning Commissioner does not agree with the direction, then he/she can personally go to the Housing Commission and Council and ask them to change course. The role of the Planning Commission is to understand this course.
Upcoming Applications There are downtown projects in the works - the redevelopment of the Copeland property as well as other redevelopment plans in the downtown. There has been interest in the higher end market rate housing in the downtown. A proposal has been made for redevelopment of the Croman property that is still in the early stages. The Commission will be reviewing some affordable housing projects funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. |
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III. | ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. |