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Planning Commission (View All)

Planning Commission Special Mtg

Agenda
Tuesday, July 23, 2019

ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
July 23, 2019

Audio Recording
 
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Pearce called the meeting to order at 5:31 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
Roger Pearce
Lynn Thompson
  Maris Harris, Planning Manager
Derek Severson, Senior Planner
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant



 
     
Absent Members:   Council Liaison:
    Stefani Seffinger, absent
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Pearce addressed the memo in the packet on the LUBA settlement agreement regarding 188 Garfield Street. The applicant would build 70 units instead of 72 and possibly no major recreational facilities.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
Kristina Lefever/Ashland/Explained she was the chair of the Bee City USA Subcommittee.  She wanted to know if the master plans included practices and policies that supported pollinators.  She asked the Commission to consider incentivizing developers to have a percentage of bee friendly gardens in their landscape plans.
 
UNFINISHED BUSINESS 
  1.    Approval of Findings for PA-T2-2019-00008, Snowberry Brook, Map 39 1E 11C Tax Lot #2504 on Engle St/Map 39 1E 11C Tax Lot #2505 on Villard St.
The Commission had no ex parte on the matter.  Chair Pearce noted a conversation he had with a reporter from the Ashland Tidings regarding the re-noticing and reopening of the hearing at the Commission meeting July 9, 2019.
 
Senior Planner Derek Severson explained the applicants had requested a two-week delay and submitted changes to the Findings (click here) late that afternoon.  The Commission reviewed the proposed changes.
 
The Commission accepted the following changes:
  • Page 1, Recitals 2) first sentence striking the word for to read the construction of a 60-unit
  • Page 8 first full paragraph fourth sentence.  The Commission discussed the applicant’s proposed language.  They modified it to read The Commission finds that it lacks jurisdiction to approve any encroachments such as the bollards and gate proposed by the applicant.
  • Page 9 last paragraph and sentence add a preponderance of the to read is supported by a preponderance of the evidence contained with the whole record.
The Commission did not accept the following changes:
  • Page 5 first full paragraph, third sentence regarding the definition of ORS 197.763
  • Page 5, the wording highlighted in the second full paragraph regarding ORS 197.763(7)
  • Page 6 first full paragraph second sentence adding that the proposal complies with all applicable and striking have been addressed in the applicant’s designs.
  • Page 9, adding the Tree Commission’s written findings as an attachment.
  • Page 13 number 7 first sentence regarding McCall Drive alley improvements.
The Commission discussed the McCall Drive alley improvement in the draft Findings that removed language from 4(h) and 6(b) to create a new #7.  They decided to make the information 6(h) without the applicant’s changes.
 
Commissioners Dawkins/Brown m/s to approve the Findings for PA-T2-2019-00008 as amended.  DISCUSSION:  Commissioner Mindlin was not comfortable requiring the applicant to do something they had no control over in order to get approval.  The Commission discussed the Condition that required the road to be built prior to occupation.  Per code, they had to build the road.  How the applicant modified the road fell to the Public Works Department and the Transportation Commission.  The applicant would get a Certificate of Occupancy only if the road was completed.
 
Chair Pearce made the following changes:
  • Places that stated Alley improvements shall be constructed to city standard which requires a minimum 12-foot-width paved driving surface with 2-foot buffers on each side and shall at a minimum provide bicycle pedestrian and emergency vehicle access, strike and shall at a minimum provide bicycle pedestrian and emergency vehicle access. The sentence would read Build a 12-foot-wide road according to alley standards and meet the Public Works Department requirements.
  • Page 7, last paragraph fourth sentence.  Add a Condition that read, The Commission does not approve any encroachments such as bollards or a gate within the McCall Drive right-of-way as proposed by the applicant.  
  • Page 8, first sentence continued from page 7.  Strike standards to enable at a minimum bicycle, pedestrian and emergency vehicle access, to read standards to enable access.  
  • Page 8, second full paragraph first sentence.  Change the language to read The Planning Commission agrees with the conclusion of the Traffic Impact Analysis that the proposed 60-unit development can be approved.
  • Page 8 second full paragraph.  Strike the last sentence regarding cut-through traffic.   
Commissioner Dawkins accepted the amended language.
 
Commissioner Brown made the following changes:
  • Page 7, last paragraph third sentence.  Clarify connectivity and strike pedestrian and bicycle from The Planning Commission finds that McCall Drive is public right-of-way that is already owned by the city, that works in conjunction with a network of easements provided through adjacent developments to enable pedestrian and bicycle connectivity in the absence of a more traditional gridded street network, and that is to be completed to address standards requiring that paved access and adequate transportation be provided according to city street standards.   
Roll Call Vote:  Commissioner Dawkins, Brown, Norton, Pearce and Harper, YES; Commissioner Mindlin, NO.  Commissioner Thompson abstained from the vote. Motion passed 5-1.
 
B.  Approval of Findings for PA-T2-2019-00010,185-197 Lithia Way.
The Commission had no ex parte on the matter.  They discussed the parking requirements.  Parking would be revisited if the Oregon Shakespeare Festival was no longer renting the building.  New tenants might have to build parking.
 
Commissioners Harper/Dawkins m/s to approve the Findings for PA-T2-2019-00010 as amended.  DISCUSSION:  Chair Pearce offered an amendment.  On page 11, the first sentence seems consistent with the illustrated Possible Exception Design, change to is consistent with the illustrated Possible Exception Design.  Commissioner Harper accepted the amendment.  Roll Call Vote:  Commissioner Mindlin, Pearce, Harper, Norton, Brown and Dawkins, YES.  Commissioner Thompson abstained.  Motion passed. 
 
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
 
Submitted by,
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
 

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