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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOtis_388_2021_ROW Vacation ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Minutes December 14, 2021 I.CALL TO ORDER:7:01PMvia Zoom Chair Haywood Norton called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Commissioners Present:Staff Present: Michael DawkinsBill Molnar, Community Development Director Haywood NortonMaria Harris, Planning Manager Roger PearceBrandon Goldman, Senior Planner Kerry KenCairnDerek Severson, Senior Planner Lynn ThompsonApril Lucas, Development Services Coordinator Michael Sullivan, Administrative Assistant Absent Members:Council Liaison: Lisa VernerPaula Hyatt(Absent) II.ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Norton informed the Commission that,per the applicant’s request, the public hearing forPA-T2-2021-00035has been postponed untiltheFebruary 8, 2022Planning Commission meeting. CommunityDevelopmentDirectorBillMolnarmadethefollowingannouncements: Mr. Molnar thanked Planning Manager Maria Harris for her years of service to the City of Ashland. She will be retiring at the beginning of January 2022. At the City Council Business Meeting held on December 7, 2021, the City Council unanimously approved the Planning Commission’s proposed Annexation Code changes withaminorlanguageadjustment. The Planning Commission will not hold a Study Session on December 28 and will reconvenein January. Mr. Molnar reminded the Commission that a preliminarypre-application for developmentofthe Croman Mill Site had been received and the applicants were considering changes to the plans that would likelyrequire a legislative amendment to move forward.The applicants plan to comebefore the Planning Commission and discuss the plans furtherand are also planning a public outreach event in January to communicate directly with the public. III.CONSENT AGENDA A.Approval of Minutes 1.November 23,2021Study Session CommissionersPearce/KenCairn m/s to approve the Consent Agenda. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed.5-0. IV.PUBLIC FORUM–None V.UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Approval of Findings for PA-T1-2021-00159, 329 Granite. Ashland Planning Commission December 14, 2021 Page 1of 4 Ex Parte Contact: CommissionerKenCairn notedthatshe is part of the design team for this project. CommissionersPearce/Thompsonm/s to approve the Findings for PA-T1-2021-00159. Voice Vote: Commissioners Pearce, Thompson, Dawkins, and Norton, YES. Commissioner KenCairn abstained. Motion passed 4-0. B. Approval of Findings for PA-T1-2021-00158, 351 Walker. Ex Parte Contact: No ex parte contact was reported. Deliberationsand Decision CommissionerPearce commended theStaff’s findingsbut expresseda concern that theydid not adequately address the appellants main point of contention, mainly the potential property devaluation caused by the view of the proposedcellulartower. He stated that the Staff’s position thatthis concernwas outside the scopeof the Commissionwasnotconveyed clearlyin the findingsand proposed the following language: “Appellant’s evidence regarding adverse effects to livability were focused on concerns about the potential for adverse health effects from exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation from the proposed cellular facility.As discussed below,the consideration of those types of concerns are preempted by federal law and may not be considered by the Planning Commission.” Commissioner Thompson also suggested an edit to the Findings for clarity. On page 8in the second paragraph, three specific points are listed but points two and three are not enumerated. CommissionerThompsonrequestedthat these be more clearly marked. CommissionersPearce/Dawkinsm/s to approve the Findings for PA-T1-2021-00158withthe statedamendments. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed 5-0. C. Review of Draft Findings for PA-L-2021-00012. CommissionersPearce/Thompsonm/s to approve the Findings for PA-L-2021-00012. Voice Vote:allAYES. Motion passed 5-0. VI.LEGISLATIVE HEARING: A.PLANNING ACTION: #PA-L-2021-00013 APPLICANT: City of Ashland ORDINANCE REFERENCES:AMC 18.2.3 Special Use Standards AMC 18.2.6Standards for Non-Residential Zones AMC 18.3.13 Residential Overlay REQUEST:The proposal includes a series of amendments to the Ashland Municipal Code (AMC) Title 18 Land Use to the residential standards for mixed-use development in the Commercial (C-1) and Employment (E-1) zones. Chair Norton reminded the Commission that its role isto makea recommendation to the City Council,who willthenmake a final decision regarding theamendment to the Ashland Municipal Code. Ms. Harris provided a presentation for the Commissionthat detailed the core change in the proposed ordinance, thatmixed use buildings could be65%residential on the ground floor (up from 35%)if they meet three criteria: 1) are two or more stories, 2)are less than ten acres in size,and3) are located outside of the Downtown Design Standards overlay.Ms. Harris explained that other proposals had been made, including temporarily allowing up 100%Residential withinthe E-1 zones, but found that such a change would be difficult to enforce.After consultation with the Departmentof Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) it was decided that this would alsoconstitute a significant change and require anupdate to theEconomic Opportunity Analysis. Ashland Planning Commission December 14, 2021 Page 2of 4 Another proposed amendment would remove residential density limitations to encourage the construction of smaller and more affordable housing over larger and more expensive buildings (See attachment #1).Ms. Harris did suggest one change to her proposal, which was an issue brought to her attention by Commissioner Thompson. Under the current amendment the shift in the Floor Area Ratio (FAR)standards would be applied too broadly, so staff suggested removing the FAR standards from non- residential land before moving forward. With that amendment in mind, Ms. Harris recommended the Commission approve the ordinance andforward it to the City Council for review.Commissioner Thompson asked for additional clarification regarding the new proposed FAR standards and was concerned that they would apply unintended restrictions on smaller buildings.Ms. Harris assured her that smaller buildings would not be affected by the FAR changes, and that a restraint wouldin fact be removed. Commissioners Pearce/Thompson m/s to recommend amendments under PA-2021-00013 to the City Counciland include staff’s recommendation to amend table to FAR standard.Roll Call Vote: Commissioners Dawkins, KenCairn, Pearce, Thompson, and Norton, YES. Motion passed 5-0. VII.TYPE II PUBLIC HEARINGS A. PLANNING ACTION: #PA-T2-2021-00035 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 233 Granite OWNER/APPLICANT: Heidi Leverenz DESCRIPTION: A request for a Land Partition to split a 1.08 acre property into two parcels. The application indicates that the two resultant parcels will include a 0.34 acre parcel which contains the existing residence, and a 0.73 acre parcel situated to the south and accessed by a flag drive. The request includes a variance to the number of lots accessed from the private driveway and an exception to street standards to not install sidewalks to current standards where there are existing curbside sidewalk improvements. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-10; MAP: 39 1E 08 DA; TAX LOT: 1300. Chair Norton reiterated that PA-T2-2021-00035, 233 Granite St. would not be heard tonight and requested the Commission continue the public hearing to February 8, 2022. CommissionersDawkins/KenCairn m/s to continuethepublic hearing toFebruary 8, 2022. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed 5-0. B. SUBJECT PROPERTY: Public Right-of-Way adjacent to 39 1E 05AD Tax Lot #502 OWNER/APPLICANT: City of Ashland Public Works Department DESCRIPTION: The Planning Commission will consider a request to vacate a portion of the Otis Street right- of-way north of Map 39 1E 05AD Tax Lot #502 near 388 Otis Street and make a recommendation to the City Council. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Single-Family Residential; ZONING: R-1-5-P; ASSESSOR’S MAP/TAX LOT: 39 1E 05AD Tax Lot #502. Senior Planner DerekSeverson provided a presentation on the request to vacate a portion of Otis St.due to the cul-de-sac existing on anowthrough-road.He stated staff is recommending approval with the following conditions: 1) the applicant be required to install a new continuous curb, 2) adequate right-of-way or a public pedestrian access easement to support future curbside sidewalk installation should be retained, and 3) the applicant sign-in favor of a Local Improvement District (LID) for future street improvements(See attachment #2).With these considerations Staffrecommended the Commission recommend approval to the City Council. Commissioner Thompson asked if there was a sidewalk that would connect from the opposite side of the cul-de-sac, to which Mr. Severson replied that there was not. He elaborated that the section in question was not part of the West Village subdivisionand thata sidewalkwould not be required at this stage unless the City Council believed it merited one. He added that there are currently trees and other obstructionsthat would need to be addressed before a sidewalk could be installed. CommissionersPearce/KenCairnm/storecommendCouncil’sapprovaloftherequesttovacate388Otiswiththe conditionsrecommendedbyStaff.VoiceVote:allAYES.Motionpassed5-0. Ashland Planning Commission December 14, 2021 Page 3of 4 VIII.ADJOURNMENT Chair Norton referenced the annual report given to the City Councilon December 7, 2021whichdescribedthe work that the Community Development Department and the Planning Commission did throughout thepastyear.Alsooutlinedin the reportwere futureplans for the Housing Production Strategy meeting and the Croman Mill sitedevelopment.Chair Norton asked that Mr. Molnar distributethereport withthe Planning Commissionmeetingpacket for January 11, 2022. Senior Planner Brandon Goldmaninformed the Commission that the applicants for the proposed Croman Mill site development intendonholdinga public open houseprior to the January 25, 2022 Planning Commission Study Sessionwhere they will be presenting their concepts to the Planning Commission.This would be to gatherfeedback from neighbors and the public at large before the applicants come before the Commission with a formal application. The Commission briefly considered attending the open house but decided against it to avoidunintentionallyachieving a quorum outside a Commission meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:04p.m. Submitted by, Michael Sullivan, Administrative Assistant Ashland Planning Commission December 14, 2021 Page 4of 4 One Change Proposed change no – Transit Triangle Overlay no change – Inside the DDS overlay Other Amendments Recommended Revision Existing Standard for Detail Site Review Overlay City Council Review 2 2 0 2 y r a u r b e Next Steps F / y r a u n a J Otis Street R-o-W Vacation Staff Report A request for the Planning Commission to review and make a recommendation on the vacation of a portion of the public right-of-way for Otis Street near 388 Otis Street. Proposal DetailsKey Issues Site Description/HistoryStreet Connectivity Theareaofright-of-wayproposedforThisvacationeliminatesanolongerneeded vacationherewasdedicatedtothecityasturn-aroundarea,andposesnostreet partofaMinorLandPartition(MLP#392)inconnectivityissues. 1978forthecreationofa cul-de-sac where Pedestrian Connectivity OtisStreetdead-ended.Withtherecent completionofinfrastructurefortheWestInstaff’sview,theapplicantshouldinstalla VillageSubdivision,OtisStreetnownewcontinuouscurb,adequateright-of-wayor continuesintoCoffeeLaneandnolongerapublicpedestrianaccesseasementtosupport dead-ends,andthereisnownoneedforafuturecurbsidesidewalkinstallationshouldbe retained,andtheapplicantshouldsign-infavor cul-de-sac/turn-aroundinthislocation. ofaLocalImprovementDistrict(LID)forfuture Proposal streetimprovements. Approvalofthecurrentrequestwouldvacate Utility Easements thesemi-circularareaofright-of-wayonthe southsideofOtisStreet,showninredintheStaffwouldrecommendthataten-footwide figuresabove,infrontofTaxLot#502.utilityeasementberetainedwithinthevacated areatopreservetheabilitytoextendpublic infrastructurebetweentheWestVillage Subdivisionandtheneighborhoodtotheeast. Staff Recommendation StaffrecommendsthatthePlanningCommissionforwardafavorablerecommendationto theCityCouncilandaskthatacontinuouscurbbeinstalledandthatpublicutilityand publicpedestrianaccesseasementsberetainedinthevacatedsection,andthatthe applicantsign-infavorofafutureLIDforfrontageimprovements. Otis Street R-o-W Vacation Staff Report A request for the Planning Commission to review and make a recommendation on the vacation of a portion of the public right-of-way for Otis Street near 388 Otis Street.