HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-25 Planning MIN
B
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
September 25, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Melanie Mindlin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East
Main Street.
Commissioners Present: Staff Present:
Troy Brown, Jr. Bill Molnar, Community Development Director
Michael Dawkins Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
Alan Harper
Melanie Mindlin
Haywood Norton
Lynn Thompson
Absent Members: Council Liaison:
Roger Pearce Dennis Slattery, absent
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Development Director Bill Molnar introduced new Planning Commissioner Alan Harper. Last week, the
City Council had a hearing on the Infill Strategy Transit Triangle. Right before the meeting, staff received a letter
from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). As part of the record, they wanted staff to look at the impact
of increased density at the intersection of Ashland Street and Tolman Creek Road. Staff had already compiled some
of that information already but thought it was best not to consider First Reading. Council conducted the Public
Hearing for input. The item would go back to Council at their October 16, 2018 meeting. It would most likely be a
continuation of the public hearing since the complete analysis for ODOT would not be done by that time.
At the Council Study Session October 1, 2018 staff would provide a Housing Element Update.
The Planning Commission meeting October 9, 2018 would have the 880 Park Street deliberation and a 30-unit
affordable housing project behind the Rogue Federal Credit Union on Ashland Street. The Commission would also
hear another large apartment project at 188 Garfield Street.
Mr. Molnar would look into whether Commissioners Brown and Harper could participate in the deliberation for 880
Park Street. He thought if they watched the video and reviewed the record they might be able to participate.
AD-HOC COMMITTEE UPDATES
Commissioner Dawkins provided an update on the Ashland Transportation Expansion and Feasibility Study. He
recommended the Commission read Technical Memorandum #1 on the 2018 Transit Feasibility Study webpage. He
distributed a document on the Ashland Conceptual Transit Concepts depicting feasible routes.
PUBLIC FORUM
Brent Thompson/Ashland/Wanted the Planning Commission to reinstate the ability of property owners to do minor
land partitions without bringing services to the new lot. The owner would be required to disclose there were no
Ashland Planning Commission
September 25, 2018
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services at the time of sale or they could put in services when they wanted to build. He also wanted a revision of the
minor lot partition that maintained the current amount of landscaping requirements. Lastly, he wanted a revision to
the ARU ordinance that would allow two units no larger than 300 square feet each.
Huelz Gutcheon/Ashland/Spoke to solar energy, read from a newspaper article and expressed support for solar
energy.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Vice Chair Mindlin moved agenda item B. Alan Harper Introduction and Presentation on Views from
Communities Around the World to D.
A. Approval of Findings for PA-T2-2018-00001, 449-459 Russell Street.
Commissioner Dawkins, Thompson, and Norton had no ex parte. Commissioner Brown, Mindlin, and Harper
abstained. The Commission and staff discussed whether there was sufficient quorum to approve the Findings.
Commissioners Mindlin/Dawkins m/s to approve the Findings for PA-T2-2018-00001. Voice Vote: ALL
AYES. Commissioner Brown, Thompson, and Harper abstained from the vote. Motion passed 3-0.
B. Confirm Planning Commission Retreat date May 11, 2019.
The Commission confirmed May 11, 2019 as their next retreat date.
C. Confirm term limits for Commission Chair.
Ashland Municipal Code (AMC) 2.10.050 Election of Officers, Secretary, and Subcommittees stated that
neither the chair or vice-chair could serve for more than three consecutive annual terms. Mr. Molnar would
follow up with the Legal Department for clarification.
D. Alan Harper Introduction and Presentation on Views from Communities Around the World.
Commissioner Harper shared his background and credentials. He and his family undertook an eighteen-
month trip to 41 countries. He provided a presentation and discussed his experiences from a planning
perspective.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Submitted by,
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
Ashland Planning Commission
September 25, 2018
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