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Agendas and Minutes

Planning Commission (View All)

Planning Commission Study Session

Agenda
Tuesday, October 22, 2019

ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
October 22, 2019

I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Roger Pearce called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers.

Commissioners Present:		Staff Present:
Troy Brown, Jr. Michael Dawkins Alan Harper Melanie Mindlin Haywood Norton Roger Pearce Lynn Thompson		Bill Molnar, Director Maria Harris, Planning Manager Dana Smith, Executive Assistant

Absent Members:		Council Liaison:
		Stefani Seffinger, absent

II.             ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Director Bill Molnar explained the annual commission update to the City Council was December 3, 2019. Recently, Council had voted in favor of having the Commission move forward on possible amendments to the Plaza Space Standards in the downtown. The Commission would have a study session on the matter before the end of the year.

III.            PUBLIC FORUM
Huelz Gutcheon/Ashland/Supported EV wiring being required for new construction and provided a recent example with a cottage housing project.

IV.           DISCUSSION ITEMS

Draft Amendments to Open Space Standards
1. Discuss Draft Amendments

Monika Neri/Jacksonville, OR/Questioned private space in (3)(b) Ground-Floor Dwelling Units being 12-feet from the recycling and refuse areas. It should not matter if the refuse area was enclosed. She wanted the Commission to strike (3)(c) Upper-Floor Dwelling Units. There needed to be flexibility for odd shaped areas. The difference between 5-feet and 6-feet could adversely affect density. She also wanted (2)(c) Location stricken. The parameter and setback would get incorporated into common open space. For (3)(a)(ii) Walkways and Storage Space, she wanted ingress and egress included in the minimum area required for private open space.

Planning Manager Maria Harris noted highlights and clarified revisions. The Commission made the following changes:

(2)(f) Fences and Walls. The Commission agreed not to prohibit 6.5-foot fencing between a neighboring development and open space.
(2)(g) Play Areas. Deleted.
(2)(h) Credit for Proximity to a Park. Deleted.
(3)(c) Major Recreational Facilities. Deleted.

The Commission discussed the “open space” references in the code. Chair Pearce, Commissioner Norton and Ms. Harris would form a subcommittee to review each instance and make changes if needed.

Commissioner Norton requested a one-page summary that captured the changes in addition to the draft amendments document.

2. Initiate Application for Legislative Amendment to Revise Open Space Standards

Commissioner Thompson/Brown m/s to initiate application for Legislative Amendment to revise Open Space Standards. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed.

V. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

Submitted by,
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant