I.          CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Roger Pearce called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street.
 

Commissioners Present:		Staff Present:
Troy Brown, Jr. Michael Dawkins Alan Harper Kerry KenCairn Haywood Norton Roger Pearce Lynn Thompson		Bill Molnar, Community Development Director Maria Harris, Planning Manager Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
Absent Members:		Council Liaison:
		Stefani Seffinger, absent

II.        ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Development Director Bill Molnar explained this was Commissioner Brown’s last meeting.  He noted Commissioner Brown’s contributions to the Commission.  He would be missed.  Mr. Molnar announced the election of officers would occur in May.  He explained the meeting May 12, 2020 would be televised.  The meeting would adopt the rules the City Council was using requiring written testimony only. There would be an evidentiary hearing on the 1511 Highway 99 annexation that night.
 
III.       CONSENT AGENDA
A.  Approval of Minutes
1.  March 10, 2020 Regular Meeting
 
Chair Pearce called for a vote to approve the minutes of March 10, 2020.  Commissioner Brown and KenCairn abstained.  Voice Vote: ALL AYES.  Motion passed.
 
IV.       PUBLIC FORUM
 
V.        LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING
A.   PLANNING ACTION: PA-L-2020-00008
APPLICANT:  City of Ashland 
DESCRIPTION:  A public hearing on ordinance amendments to the Ashland Land Use Ordinance to update and clarify the open space requirements and design standards for multifamily and single-family housing developments, and to correct terminology related to open space and other minor wording edits. The proposed amendments include two ordinances: 1) An ordinance amending Chapters 18.2.5 Standards for Residential Zones, 18.3.9 Performance Standards Option and PSO Overlay, 18.4.2 Building Placement, Orientation, and Design, 18.4.4 Landscaping, Lighting, and Screening, and 18.6 Definitions of the Ashland Land Use Ordinance to amend the open space requirements and design standards, and 2) an ordinance amending chapters 18.2.2 Base Zones and Allowed Uses, 18.2.3 Special Use Standards, 18.2.5 Standards for Residential Zones, 18.3.2 Croman Mill District, 18.3.4 Normal Neighborhood District, 18.3.5 North Mountain Neighborhood District, 18.3.9 Performance Standards Option and PSO Overlay, 18.3.10 Physical and Environmental Constraints Overlay, 18.3.11 Water Resources Protection Zones (Overlays), 18.3.14 Transit Triangle Overlay, 18.4.2 Building Placement, Orientation, and Design, 18.4.2 Parking, Access, and Circulation, 18.4.4 Landscaping, Lighting, and Screening, 18.4.5. Tree Preservation and Protection, 18.4.6. Public Facilities, 18.5.2 Site Design Review, 18.5.3 Land Divisions and Property Line Adjustments, and 18.5.7 Tree Removal Permits of the Ashland Land Use Ordinance for consistency in terminology related to open space and other minor wording edits.
Planning Manager Maria Harris provided a presentation (see attached): Commissioner Dawkins confirmed common open space would include gardens.  Commissioner Thompson questioned whether there was enough specificity regarding “50% can be covered in shrubs, mulch and other ground covers if designed so residents can move through and interact with open space.”   The Commission discussed modifying the language in 18.4.4070 Open Space (5)(a) Surfacing.  Ms. Harris noted 5. Improvements provided a list of acceptable uses.  She would look into revising the language in (5)(a).
   
Questions of Staff
The Commission discussed including language from the old standard requiring 50% being suitable for human use in 18.4.4.070 Open Space (5)(a) Surfacing.  Ms. Harris would combine the language and revise the overall statement.
 
Deliberation
Chair Pearce explained issues he had with Table 18.4.4.070.A Required Open Space Area by Type of Review Procedure.  He wanted the preferred requirement to be in each section where it was required and have 18.4.4.070 be the standards.  Ms. Harris would add specific code references to 18.4.4.020 Applicability (E) and add a footnote to the table.  The Commission approved the revisions. 
 
The Commission agreed with the major recreational facility recommendation.
 
VIII.    ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned 8:19 p.m.
 
Submitted by,
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant