HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-28 Planning MIN
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
April 28, 2020
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Roger Pearce called the meeting to order at 7:00 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 Maria Harris, Planning Manager
Alan Harper Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
Kerry KenCairn
Haywood Norton
Roger Pearce
Lynn Thompson
Absent Members: Council Liaison:
Stefani Seffinger, absent
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Development Director Bill Molnar explained this was Commissioner Brown’s last meeting. He noted
Commissioner Brown’s contributions to the Commission. He would be missed. Mr. Molnar announced the election of
officers would occur in May. He explained the meeting May 12, 2020 would be televised. The meeting would adopt
the rules the City Council was using requiring written testimony only. There would be an evidentiary hearing on the
1511 Highway 99 annexation that night.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A.Approval of Minutes
1. March 10, 2020 Regular Meeting
Chair Pearce called for a vote to approve the minutes of March 10, 2020. Commissioner Brown and KenCairn
abstained. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed 5-0.
IV. PUBLIC FORUM
V. LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING
A. PLANNING ACTION: PA-L-2020-00008
APPLICANT: City of Ashland
DESCRIPTION: A public hearing on ordinance amendments to the Ashland Land Use Ordinance
to update and clarify the open space requirements and design standards for multifamily and
single-family housing developments, and to correct terminology related to open space and
other minor wording edits. The proposed amendments include two ordinances: 1) An ordinance
amending Chapters 18.2.5 Standards for Residential Zones, 18.3.9 Performance Standards
Option and PSO Overlay, 18.4.2 Building Placement, Orientation, and Design, 18.4.4
Landscaping, Lighting, and Screening, and 18.6 Definitions of the Ashland Land Use Ordinance
to amend the open space requirements and design standards, and 2) an ordinance amending
chapters 18.2.2 Base Zones and Allowed Uses, 18.2.3 Special Use Standards, 18.2.5 Standards
for Residential Zones, 18.3.2 Croman Mill District, 18.3.4 Normal Neighborhood District, 18.3.5
Ashland Planning Commission
April 28, 2020
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North Mountain Neighborhood District, 18.3.9 Performance Standards Option and PSO Overlay,
18.3.10 Physical and Environmental Constraints Overlay, 18.3.11 Water Resources Protection
Zones (Overlays), 18.3.14 Transit Triangle Overlay, 18.4.2 Building Placement, Orientation, and
Design, 18.4.2 Parking, Access, and Circulation, 18.4.4 Landscaping, Lighting, and Screening,
18.4.5. Tree Preservation and Protection, 18.4.6. Public Facilities, 18.5.2 Site Design Review,
18.5.3 Land Divisions and Property Line Adjustments, and 18.5.7 Tree Removal Permits of the
Ashland Land Use Ordinance for consistency in terminology related to open space and other
minor wording edits.
Planning Manager Maria Harris provided a presentation (see attached):
Why Amend the Open Space Standards?
When is Open Space Required?
Examples of Open Space
What Stays the Same?
Commissioner Dawkins confirmed common open space would include gardens. Commissioner Thompson
questioned whether there was enough specificity regarding “50% can be covered in shrubs, mulch and other
ground covers if designed so residents can move through and interact with open space.” The Commission
discussed modifying the language in 18.4.4070 Open Space (5)(a) Surfacing. Ms. Harris noted 5. Improvements
provided a list of acceptable uses. She would look into revising the language in (5)(a).
Proposed Amendments
Ms. Harris clarified the way the ordinance was constructed did not apply to cottage housing standards which were
considered a use. Ideally, it would be good to have all the open space requirements in one place.
Proposed Amendments for Common Open Space with graphics and examples
Commissioner KenCairn suggested adding a 20-foot dimension to the graphic showing the space with the path going
through it was 20-feet wide.
Proposed Amendments for Private Open Space with graphics and examples
Miscellaneous Proposed Amendments
Open Space Terminology
Next Steps
Questions of Staff
The Commission discussed including language from the old standard requiring 50% being suitable for human use in
18.4.4.070 Open Space (5)(a) Surfacing. Ms. Harris would combine the language and revise the overall statement.
Deliberation
Chair Pearce explained issues he had with Table 18.4.4.070.A Required Open Space Area by Type of Review
Procedure. He wanted the preferred requirement to be in each section where it was required and have 18.4.4.070
be the standards. Ms. Harris would add specific code references to 18.4.4.020 Applicability (E) and add a footnote
to the table. The Commission approved the revisions.
The Commission agreed with the major recreational facility recommendation.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned 8:19 p.m.
Submitted by,
Dana Smith, Executive Assistant
Ashland Planning Commission
April 28, 2020
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