HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-27 Planning MIN
B
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
August 27, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Roger Pearce called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street.
Commissioners Present: Staff Present:
Troy Brown, Jr. Maria Harris, Planning Manager
Michael Dawkins Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
Alan Harper
Melanie Mindlin
Haywood Norton
Roger Pearce
Lynn Thompson
Absent Members: Council Liaison:
Stefani Seffinger, absent
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Planning Manager Maria Harris announced the appeal for the Snowberry Brook Phase II planning action would go before
the City Council September 3, 2019.
PUBLIC FORUM
Sharon Bryson/Ashland/Spoke to a house being built next to hers where the deck met her fence line. The tenants
would be able to look into her private space. It was very intrusive. She wanted to know options for increasing her fence
height.
Ms. Harris explained Ms. Bryson could ask for a variance. Commission suggestions included asking the neighbors to
build a fence, planting bamboo, and hiring a lawyer for private land use counsel.
Huelz Gutcheon/Ashland/Spoke to requiring all new construction be EV ready.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.Plaza and Public Space Standards
Planning Manager Maria Harris gave the staff report and provided a presentation (see attached). She explained this was
an introduction to the topic. Staff would return with a formal request at a future meeting.
Alan Harper arrived at 7:16 p.m.
Barry Thalden/Ashland/Submitted three documents into the record (see attached) regarding his concerns and
suggestions.
Commission comments thought plaza space should apply to first floor square footage in the downtown area.
Suggestions included more benches and undulating sidewalks downtown instead of plaza space.
Ashland Planning Commission
August 27, 2019
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B.Draft Amendments to Open Space Standards
Planning Manager Maria Harris gave the staff report and provided a presentation (see attached) on suggested changes
to the Open Space Standards. The Commission made the following changes to the draft:
Page 1
Open Space (c). Remove the word “common” from the first sentence.
Open Space (b). Add a heading.
Section 3 Open Space. Add a definition and refer to it on page 1 as “defined by Section 3.”
Open Space 1(a). Change the percent of lot area.
Open Space 1(a). Second sentence change “be dedicated as open space” to “be required as open
space.”
Open Space 1(c). Strike “permanently” from the second sentence.
Page 2
2 Common Open Space (a) Required Area. Match the language with the Performance Standards chapter or
“Based on the density of 10 units…”
2 Common Open Space (a) Required Area. Strike second sentence “The common open space…”
2 Common Open Space (c) Location (ii). Strike (ii).
2 Common Open Space (d) Slope. Change fist sentence “…shall be located on slopes less than five
percent….” to “…slopes shall not be located on slopes greater than five percent…” and clarify non usable
space.
2 Common Open Space (e) Surfacing. Remove “bark” from the first sentence.
2 Common Open Space (b) Dimensional Standards (i). Change the code reference.
3 Private Open Space (ii). Specify corridor width.
Page 3
3 Private Open Space (b) Ground-Floor Dwelling Units. Remove “shall” from the first sentence.
3 Private Open Space (c) Ground-Floor Dwelling Units. Retain the four-foot minimum for balconies, change
the first sentence to read “Private open space can include…”
Page 4
3 Common Open Space Required (a) Required Area (i) Multifamily and Attached Single-Family Housing.
Clarify language regarding 8%.
Page 5
3 Common Open Space Required (B)(2)(b)(i) and (ii). Change the word “shall.”
(B) Density Bonus Point Calculations (2)(b). Change language regarding the one percent bonus, “…for one
percent in excess of the base requirement…”
Page 6
3 Purpose (a). Clarify “points” as “density bonus points.”
3 Standard (b). Add a condition of approval regarding amenities based on the estimated value shown by the
developer prior to the certificate of occupancy.
3 Standard (b). First sentence, add “major” to “recreational facilities.”
Section 3 Definitions. Define Open Space.
The Commission commented on a letter submitted by Mark Knox on open space (see attached).
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
Submitted by,
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
Ashland Planning Commission
August 27, 2019
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