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Planning CommissionMinutes
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public testimony may be limited by the Chair.
February 27, 2024
STUDY SESSION
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. Councilor Hyatt attended the meeting virtually via Zoom.
Commissioners Present: Staff Present:
Lisa Verner Brandon Goldman, Community Development Director
Doug Knauer Derek Severson, Planning Manager
Kerry KenCairn Michael Sullivan, Executive Assistant
Russell Phillips
Susan MacCracken Jain
Gregory Perkinson
Eric Herron
Absent Members: Council Liaison:
Paula Hyatt
II.ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Development Director Brandon Goldman made the following announcement:
Commissioner MacCracken Jain is now also a member of the City’s Public Arts Advisory
Committee.
III.PUBLIC FORUM – None
IV.TYPE III PUBLIC HEARING
A.Housing Element / Housing Needs Analysis / Housing Production Strategy
Mr. Goldman outlined the core aspects of the Housing Element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, the
2021 Housing Capacity Analysis (HCA), and the 2023 Housing Production Strategy (HPS). He related
how the Housing Element guides legislative development and spending priorities to address the
community’s housing needs, while its goals and policies are designed to foster a diverse and
sustainable housing market, ensuring affordability and inclusivity to meet the evolving needs of the
City.
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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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Mr. Goldman detailed the scope of the HCA, which included an assessment of the City’s housing
needs, its buildable land inventory, and identified various strategies to ensure that the City has an
adequate land supply to accommodate its housing needs over the next 20 years. The HCA projected
that the City would gain 858 new dwelling units between 2021 and 2041.
Mr. Goldman described how the HPS was initiated to assess the City’s housing inventory and to
identify various strategies the City could undertake to increase needed housing. In doing so, the HPS
identified four main strategies the City could implement; 1) encouraging development of low- and
moderate-income affordable rental housing; 2) increasing opportunities for affordable
homeownership; 3) encouraging development of income-restricted affordable housing units; and 4)
preserving the existence of low- and moderate-income affordable housing. Mr. Goldman briefly
outlined the specific actions that could be taken to achieve these goals, as well as their
implementation timeline over the next several years (see attachment #1).
DISCUSSION
The Commission discussed available housing and various strategies to increase housing in the City,
including guidelines allowing building height increases in CFAs, strategies to incentivize
development in the City, and nearby areas that could be annexed into the City in the future.
Councilor Hyatt noted that some residents outside the city-limits had entered into irrevocable
consent to annexation agreements when they are connected to City facilities.
The Commission discussed the importance of attracting middle-income residents while still
providing necessary affordable housing. Commissioner Knauer commented that disincentivizing
unwanted development could be important to encourage higher-density housing developments
instead of larger single-family homes that require exceptions or variances to be approved. The
Commission discussed building and environmental considerations with regards to wildfire
protection.
V.OPEN DISCUSSION
Chair Verner asked if any members of the Commission were interested in assisting staff with any
long-range items on the Community Development Work Plan for 2024. Commissioner KenCairn
asked how staff would be handling the potential implementation of a manufactured-home park
zone and how the Commission could assist with that project. Mr. Goldman responded that the City
had applied for a grant for technical assistance from the Department of Land Conservation and
Development (DLCD), and that staff was in the process of developing an implementation timeline. He
added that Commissioner KenCairn and Chair Verner had provided valuable insight during the
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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).
Planning CommissionMinutes
development of the HPS as members of the advisory committee. Commissioner KenCairn expressed
interest in assisting with the development of a manufactured-home park zone.
Commissioner Knauer noted that he had offered to assist with the upcoming Economic Opportunity
Analysis (EOA) project. Mr. Goldman commented that staff is expecting to receive a contract from
the DLCD regarding the City’s proposed scope of work for the EOA within the next week.
VI.ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Submitted by,
Michael Sullivan, Executive Assistant
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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).