ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION

HEARINGS BOARD

MINUTES

JULY 14, 2009

CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner Dawkins called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street.

TYPE II PUBLIC HEARINGS

A.      PLANNING ACTION:  #2009-00662    
SUBJECT PROPERTIES:  155-157 Sixth Street
APPLICANT:  Allison Renwick
DESCRIPTION:  A request for Conditional Use Permit approval to exceed the Maximum Permitted Floor Area within the Railroad Addition Historic District and a modification of a previous Site Review approval (PA #2005-968) to construct a 279 square foot addition to an existing residence, constructed in 2006, at 155-157 Sixth Street.  COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:  Low Density Multi-Family Residential; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP #: 39 1E 09 AC; TAX LOT: 3300

Commissioner Dawkins read aloud the public hearing procedure for land use hearings.

Declaration of Ex Parte Contact

No ex parte contact was report. Blake and Dawkins both indicated they had passed by the property.

Staff Report

Associate Planner Derek Severson presented the staff report for the planning application. He provided a brief overview of the site and explained there are currently three structures on the property: 1) a 1,272 sq. ft. dwelling at the front of the property built in 1903, 2) a 216 sq. ft studio behind the front house along the alley, and 3) a 998 sq. ft. dwelling that was constructed at the rear of the property in 2006. Mr. Severson stated the Applicant is proposing a 279 sq. ft. addition to the dwelling at the rear of the property, and noted when this structure was built it received an award from the Ashland Historic Commission for “Historically Compatible New Multi-Family Construction.” Mr. Severson commented on the maximum permitted floor area (MPFA) calculations and stated the proposed addition would put the property at 15% over the MPFA and therefore requires a public hearing and conditional use permit approval.

Mr. Severson displayed several photos of the lot, structures, and proposed addition. He stated staff feels the addition is well designed, has good attention to detail, and the placement minimizes impact to the neighborhood. He stated staff’s recommendation is to approve the application with the conditions noted in the staff report.

Mr. Severson clarified the parking requirement has been met and also clarified the garden shed currently located on the property would be moved to the neighbor’s lot. He added keeping the shed in the same location would require a variance and if this was requested by the Commission staff would need to re-notice this action for a separate hearing.

Applicant’s Presentation

Allison Renwick/ 157 Sixth Street/Clarified the garden shed is currently in a very inconvenient sport and moving it to the neighbor’s property will provide some needed screening between the two houses.

Deliberations & Decision

Commissioners Mindlin/Blake m/s to approve PA #2009-00662 with the conditions proposed by staff. Voice Vote: All AYES. Motion passed 3-0.

ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

April Lucas, Administrative Assistant