Agendas and Minutes

Planning Commission (View All)

Hearings Board

Agenda
Tuesday, May 10, 2005

 

 

ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION

HEARINGS BOARD

MAY 10, 2005

MINUTES

 

CALL TO ORDER

Kerry KenCairn called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. at the Ashland Civic Center, 1175, East Main Street, Ashland, OR  97520. 

                                Commissioners Present:      Kerry KenCairn

                                                                                Dave Dotterrer

                                                                                Michael Dawkins

                                Council Liaison:                   Jack Hardesty, absent

                                Staff Present:                        Maria Harris, Senior Planner

                                                                                Derek Severson, Associate Planner

                                                                                Sue Yates, Executive Secretary

 

TYPE I PLANNING ACTIONS

 

PLANNING ACTION 2005-00670

REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO REDUCE THE FRONT YARD SETBACK FROM 20 FEET TO 14 FEET.

973 C STREET. 

APPLICANT:  SARAH & CHRISTOPHER LINVILL

 

This action was approved.

 

PLANNING ACITON 2005-00605

REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONVERT AN EXISTING GUEST HOUSE AT THE REAR OF THE PARCEL TO AN ACCESSORY RESIDENTIAL UNIT.

338 SCENIC DRIVE

APPLICANT:  KENNETH & DONNA RHEE

                                                                               

This action was approved.

 

PLANNING ACTION 2005-00656

REQUEST FOR A MODIFICATIN OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 993 SISKIYOU BOULEVARD.  THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION INCLUDES INSTALLING A HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE ENTRY (RAMP/PORCH) AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE EXISTING BUILDING, REMODELING THE BASEMENT AREA TO PROVIDE A TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT, AND REMOVING FOUR EXISTING PARKING SPACES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPED AREA.

APPLICANT:  KEN GOSLING

 

This action was approved.

 

PLANNING ACTION 2005-00673

REQUEST FOR A SITE REVIEW APPROVAL FOR AN OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE BUILDING LOCATED AT 2565 SISKIYOU BOULEVARD.  A TREE REMOVAL PERMIT IS ALSO REQUESTED TO REMOVE SEVEN TREES SIX INCHES DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH) AND GREATER.

APPLICANT:  CRAIG & MICHELLE BLACK

 

This action was approved.

 

PLANNING ACTION 2005-00328

REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO USE ONE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS IN A MIXED-USE BUILDING FOR ONE HOTEL/MOTEL UNIT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 180 LITHIA WAY.

APPLICANT:  HAROLD DRESNER

 

This action was called up for a public hearing.

 

PLANNING ACTION 2005-141

REQUEST FOR SITE REVIEW APPROVAL TO CONSTRUCT EIGHT RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM UNITS ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 66 NORTH MOUNTAIN AVENUE.  A TREE REMOVAL PERMIT IS REQUSTED TO REMOVE A BLACK WALNUT LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE PARCEL.

APPLICANT:  PACIFIC NORTHWEST BUILDING & DESIGN

 

This action was approved.

 

TYPE II PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

PLANNING ACTION 2005-230

REQUEST FOR A LAND PARTITION TO DIVIDE ONE EXISTING PARCEL INTO TWO PARCELS INCLUDING A FLAG LOT AT THE REAR FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1031 PARK STREET.

APPLICANT:  STEVE LARSON

 

Site Visits or Ex Parte Contacts

KenCairn stated she worked on a project with a neighboring property but felt she could be unbiased.  The other Commissioners did not raise an objection.

 

STAFF REPORT

Harris said this action was called up for a public hearing by a neighbor.  The applicant is asking to divide the 18,000 square foot parcel into to two lots.  Staff believes the application meets the criteria for approval as outlined in the Staff Report. 

 

Harris noted that both lots are over 7500 square feet, not including the flag drive.  There may be a discrepancy in the location of the lot lines, but that should not make a difference in approval of this application.

 

One of the neighbors’ concerns if this application is approved is increased traffic on Park Street.  Pedestrian and bicyclists use Park Street to access the trail system.  The focus is on bicycles trips and the speed at which they travel down the street.  Is there adequate capacity of transportation facilities to serve the project?  Harris said the latest street count in 2001 was 888 vehicle trips per day (from the bottom of the street).  Park Street is a major collector.  Typically the range a major collector can handle per day is 3000 to 10,000 vehicles.  The addition of one home would add ten vehicle trips per day.  The Engineering Department has not had a significant number of reported accidents.  Staff believes there is capacity to handle the additional trips.

 

There are two significant trees on the property.  There are two large redwoods, one close to the street and one in the area of the location of the proposed flag drive.  An arborist has looked at the trees and suggested impervious paving in that area.  A condition has been added to reflect that suggestion. 

 

The applicant is proposing to close the left access and replace it with curbing.  The circular drive will remain in place in order to meet the condition of both the Partition and Off-Street Parking Chapters that the driveways be consolidated when creating a new parcel.  The only issue is the garage is not shown as meeting the six foot side yard setback, therefore, a condition has been added.  The front lot is required to have two off-street parking spaces.

 

There are some trees that appear to be in close proximity to the property line and construction.  Staff has added conditions about expanding the tree protection to cover the driplines of those trees.

 

The applicants have requested an Exception to the Street Standards not to install sidewalks on the front of the property.  The redwood tree is in close proximity to the curb.  An arborist’s report was submitted stating the root mass of the redwood is above the grade for the curb and construction of a sidewalk would impact the tree.  Staff has suggested approval of the Exception because it meets the criteria. 

 

Staff is recommending approval of the Partition and the Exception to the Street Standards with 22 Conditions attached to the approval.

 

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING

STEVE LARSON, 635 Siskiyou Boulevard and STEVE ASHER, P. O. Box 3459, Ashland.  Asher said he tried to accommodate the conditions.  They did not want to install a sidewalk and harm the redwood. 

 

ALLEN KENNER, 995 Park Street, said safety is his main concern.  Bikes, skateboarders and joy riders travel up and down Park Street.  He would like the front yard setback at 20 feet and a red zone painted near the driveway to increase visibility.  There is limited visibility driving either forward or backward out of the driveway.  It is an unusual, dangerous situation. 

 

JARED CRUCE, 1030 Park Street, voiced his concern for both redwood trees and agreed with the arborist.  He is concerned about increased density in the neighborhood.   The 2001 traffic survey is outdated.  They experience high traffic speeds on Park Street daily.  Forty-five miles per hour is not an unusual speed for cars and bikes.  There has been increased construction on upper Park with contractors driving up and down the street.  Backing out of a driveway on that hill is dangerous.  By increasing the housing density on the street, it will increase the on-street parking increasingly decreasing visibility.  Pedestrians use the street walking and running.  . 

 

Harris noted the applicant is trying to maintain the drive so they can still drive forward onto Park Street.

 

Rebuttal – Larson said there will be very little possibility in the neighborhood for further development.  Asher said they have allowed for backing up and proceeding forward with the circular drive. 

 

COMMISSIONERS’ DISCUSSION AND MOTION

Dotterrer/Dawkins m/s to approve PA2005-230 as presented with the attached Conditions. 

 

Dotterrer encouraged the neighbors to take their safety issues to the Traffic Safety Commission.

 

Roll Call:  Unanimous.

 

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Susan Yates

 

 

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