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have been recognized by the Chair, give your name and complete address for the record. You will then be allowed to speak. Please note the
public testimony may be limited by the Chair.
June 13, 2023
REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
I.
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Verner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E.
Main Street. She welcomed Commissioners Gregory Perkinson, Russell Phillips, and Susan
MacCracken Jain. Commissioner MacCracken Jain was unable to attend the meeting.
Commissioners Present: Staff Present:
Lisa Verner Brandon Goldman, Community Development Director
Kerry KenCairn Derek Severson, Planning Manager
Doug Knauer Aaron Anderson, Senior Planner
Eric Herron Michael Sullivan, Executive Assistant
Gregory Perkinson
Russell Phillips
Absent Members: Council Liaison:
Susan MacCracken Jain Paula Hyatt
II.ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Development Director Brandon Goldman made the following announcements:
The City received a $1.58 million grant to be used for the acquisition of a homeless and
inclement weather shelter. The grant was provided by the Jackson County Continuum of
Care.
The City Council approved the City’s 2024-2025 biennium budget, and also approved some
consumer-price index-based increases for planning fees. These will go into effect July 1, 2023.
Townmakers, LLC has updated the City regarding their development of the Croman Mill Site.
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has collected site samples and will have the
results of the tests in July, 2023. The application from Townmakers, LLC will be dependent
upon the level of cleanup necessitated based on the results of those tests, and staff expects
the group to apply for a preapplication conference over the summer. This item could come
before the Commission again if the Commission requests it.
The June 27, 2023 Commission Study Session has four items to discuss: a Chamber of
Commerce Economic Diversification Study; an update from the Climate & Environmental
Policy Advisory Committee regarding a natural gas ordinance update; a draft review of a
Climate Friendly Area (CFA) study; and a discussion on where to hold the 2023 annual
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ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).
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Commission retreat and the items to be discussed.
Commissioner Knauer expressed interest in hearing the presentation given by Townmakers, LLC, and
Mr. Goldman responded that staff would contact them.
III.CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes
1. May 9, 2023, Regular Meeting
Commissioner Knauer noted that test results included on page 12 of the packet were not seen at the
May 9, 2023 meeting. Mr. Goldman noted that those numbers were part of a digital presentation that
was given at the meeting that didn’t show up in the infographic, but appeared in document form.
Commissioners KenCairn/Knauer m/s to approve the consent agenda as presented. Voice Vote:
All AYES. Motion passed 6-0.
IV.PUBLIC FORUM - None
V.UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A.Approval of Findings for PA-T2-2023-00040, 1111 Granite St.
Commissioners Knauer/KenCairn m/s to approve the findings as presented. Voice Vote: All AYES.
Motion passed 6-0.
B.Approval of Findings for PA-T2-2023-00042, Clear Creek Dr. Parcel 7 - 391E09AB TL 6700 &
391E09AA TL 6200
Commissioners KenCairn/Knauer m/s to approve the findings as presented. Discussion:
Commissioner Herron asked if changes were made to the findings. Chair Verner noted that the
Commission had suggested changes, which Mr. Goldman stated were included on pages 90-91 of
the findings. Voice Vote: All AYES. Motion passed 6-0.
VI.TYPE II PUBLIC HEARING - CONTINUED
A. PLANNING ACTION: PA-T2-2023-00041
SUBJECT PROPERTY: Tax Lot 404 Clinton St.
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planning@ashland.or.us. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
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OWNER: Magnolia Heights LLC
DESCRIPTION: A request Performance Subdivision Outline Plan approval for a
12-lot, 11-unit residential subdivision. The application also includes requests for an
Exception to Street Standards, and a Tree Removal Permit for four significant trees.
Additionally, the applicant has applied for a minor amendment to the adopted
Physical and Environmental Constraints map to effectively remove a drainage way
form the map that is not extant on the property. And finally, the applicant has
addressed the applicability standards of the Water Resource Protection Zone WRPZ by
providing a wetland determination demonstrating that there are no regulated
wetland resources on the subject property. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION:
Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-5; MAP: 39 1E 04 DB; TAX LOT: 404
(PLEASE
.
NOTE: The record and public hearing are closed on this matterThe Planning
Commission's consideration of this item will be limited to their deliberation and decision.
No further submittals (evidence or argument)will be accepted into the record.)
Chair Verner read aloud the guidelines for a Type II Public Hearing. She reminded the Commission
that was item was continued from the May 9, 2023 meeting. No further submittals or comments will
be submitted or accepted at this meeting. The Public Hearing was closed, but the Public Record was
left open and allowed for submitted comments to be received for two weeks.
Chair Verner stated that comments were received during this period, though no comments or
materials were received after May 30, 2023 (see attachment #1). Chair Verner also noted that
Commissioners Perkinson and Phillips were not present at the May 9, 2023 meeting when this item
was first heard. She stated that both Commissioners could participate in the continued discussion if
they could attest to having thoroughly reviewed the packet materials for the May 9 and June 13
thth
meetings, and have watched the recording of the May 9 meeting. Commissioners Perkinson and
Phillips attested that they had done so.
Ex Parte Contact
No ex parte contact was reported. Chair Verner conducted a site visit.
Discussion and Deliberation
Commissioner Perkinson thanked staff for making changes to the findings, and asked if these
revisions changed staff’s recommendation. Mr. Goldman responded that it did not, pointing out that
a new condition was added requiring that the final plan application include the Department of State
Lands’ concurrence with the submitted wetlands report. Mr. Goldman noted several other changes
made to provide further clarification to the findings (see attachment #2).
Commissioner Knauer inquired about whether a Water Resource Protection Zone (WRPZ) always
correlates to a wetland. Mr. Goldman responded that the designation of a wetland or a WRPZ along
creeks is based on whether they are intermittent or ephemeral, and that staff determined that there
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In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please email
planning@ashland.or.us. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).
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was no ephemeral creek on that site, as was previously mapped. Commissioner Knauer asked how
the City could conclude that an ephemeral creek did not exist given its intermittent nature. Mr.
Anderson answered that the wetland delineation report showed that there was no wetland present,
and that a visit to the site shows no physical drainage, therefore the WRPZ standards are not
applicable. Commissioner KenCairn commented that developments over the last few decades have
changed or removed many wetlands and ephemeral areas. She added that the development of the
site could also provide any necessary drainage from the site in the event of high precipitation.
Commissioners Perkinson/Phillips m/s to approve staff’s recommendation of PA-T2-2023-00041
with the updates provided by staff on June 13, 2023. Roll Call Vote: All AYES. Motion passed 6-0.
VII.OTHER BUSINESS
A. Election of Officers
Commissioner Perkinson motioned to elect Commissioner Verner as Chair. Voice Vote: All AYES.
Motion passed 6-0.
Commissioner Herron/KenCairn m/s to elect Commissioner Knauer as Vice Chair. Voice Vote: All
AYES. Motion passed 6-0.
VIII.OPEN DISCUSSION
Councilor Hyatt spoke to the ongoing work at the Croman Mill Site by Townmakers, LLC, emphasizing
the role that the Commission will play in that process and the importance of their recommendation
that they will make to the Council.
Commissioner Perkinson spoke to the amount of information contained in the Housing Production
Strategy (HPS) report, stating that he may have questions about it in the future. Mr. Goldman
responded that the Commission would review a number of items contained in the HPS, and that staff
will begin reviewing the first of those items in July, 2023 before bringing them to be reviewed by the
Commission in the form of a study session.
Commissioner Herron stated that he would not be able to attend the July 25, 2023 Study Session.
The Commission discussed when to hold its annual retreat, though no date was decided. Mr.
Goldman stated that staff would sent out a poll in order to determine an appropriate date and time.
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In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please email
planning@ashland.or.us. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).
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Commissioner Knauer inquired how the Croman Mill project would be financed, what risks would be
shared with the City, and what the plans looked like for mixed housing. Councilor Hyatt responded
that there is no written plan yet, and that the Commission would likely not see any updates
regarding this project until the “no further action” notice from the Department of Environmental
Quality is lifted. Mr. Goldman added that the applicants have multiple plans for residential, mixed-
use, and commercial buildings on the site, and that the development will require code amendments
to take place. Once the applicants complete a pre-application they will provide the Commission
with a conceptual plan, but the Commission will not review the application until it comes before
them in the formal Public Hearing process.
IX.ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Submitted by,
Michael Sullivan, Executive Assistant
Next Meeting Date: June 27, 2023
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In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please email
planning@ashland.or.us. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).