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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-10 Hearings Board MINASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS BOARD MINUTES JANUARY 10,1995 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairperson Jenifer Carr at 1:35 p.m. Other Commissioners present were Jarvis and Bass. Staff present were Molnar, Knox, Madding and Yates. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND FINDINGS The Minutes and Findings of the December meeting will be approved at tonight's meeting. TYPE II PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING ACTION 94-148 REQUEST FOR A SITE REVIEW TO CONSTRUCT FOUR APARTMENT UNITS ON THE EAST SIDE OF CHESTNUT STREET AT LUNA VISTA. VARIANCES ARE BEING REQUESTED FOR A REDUCTION IN DRIVEWAY WIDTH FROM 20 FEET TO 17 FEET AND A REDUCTION IN THE REAR YARD SETBACK FROM 20 FEET TO 10 FEET. APPLICANT: SCOTT FOSTER/HOUSING AUTHORITY OF JACKSON COUNTY Site Visits or Ex Parte Contacts Site Visits were made by all. STAFF REPORT This project is located at the intersection of Luna Vista and Chestnut. The lot has some slope to it and the proposal is to construct four units. The project has been challenging to get a design that complies with the City's complex site design process and still work within the budget constraints of HUD. Two variances were requested-- one for a driveway width of 17 feet instead of the required 20 feet. The other variance would allow a 10 foot rear yard setback instead of the standard 20 feet. This application was called up for public hearing by a neighbor. A letter was submitted from that neighbor, dated 1/9/95 outlining concerns about this action. The driveway width was a concern because of emergency vehicle access. Staff has met with the Fire Department to see if the width of the driveway posed any problems, particularly in serving the back unit. Staff looked at the driveway as though it were a flag lot serving a duplex. The Fire Department was more concerned about adequate work area than the width of the driveway. Assistant Fire Chief, Don Paul felt that a fire truck could be brought back to where the two compact spaces are located and fire apparatus could be parked there. The four foot walk adjacent to the driveway will allow for additional clearance around the truck. Overall, the Fire Department thought there would be adequate space for fire equipment. The rear yard setback variance is an unusual circumstance. The original proposal was for one building with the parking area at the far rear but because of the grade change, a large retaining wall would had to have been constructed. This design would be less appropriate for the neighborhood using a 20 foot rear yard setback. Even though there is multi-family development in the area, the neighborhood is fairly single family in nature with smaller building envelopes and smaller masses. This allowed the development to be broken up with a larger building uphill, creating the parking area between units, allowing views out toward the mountains between the two buildings. The grade changes and the positive impacts upon what Staff considered a better design with more positive impacts on the neighboring properties, warranted the variance. There were concerns about the location of the driveway, in relationship to the Chestnut intersection. The driveway is located as far down Chestnut as possible, given the parcel's limited street frontage (65 feet). The vehicle trips generated will be relatively low. The driveway will meet vision clearance standards. Staff recommended approval of the application and the two variances with the attached eight Conditions. Condition three addresses the fence. Bass wondered if the property line dispute that was mentioned would any way affect the width of the driveway. Molnar said it shouldn't because the dispute is to the rear of the property. PUBLIC HEARING THERESA PRESTON, ABELOE & ASSOCIATES, representing the Housing Authority of Jackson County said the applicants worked out an agreement with the neighbor where any fence will be replaced that is damaged during construction with a wood fence and if any portion needs to be taken down, a temporary fence will replace it within a certain time period so the neighbor's animals will not get out. The plans say "remove existing fence" on topography plan, but that wording should have been stricken. The fence will remain and be maintained during construction. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS BOARD JANUARY 10, 1995 MINUTES The driveway has been located as far to the north property line as possible. They tried to keep the driveway level as it approaches Chestnut to provide as much visibility as possible before making a transition onto Chestnut Street. They tried to keep the units at about 1600 square feet which is comparable in size to the houses in that neighborhood. Preston explained that in order to have the parking in the right place, they needed to push back 10 feet into the required 20 foot setback. The front of the building is set back 20 feet. Jarvis wondered how the second stow of the building will impose on the properties below. Molnar said there are no upper stow decks and there is no second stow window on the north side of the second stow. COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION AND MOTION After a discussion with Don Paul, Jarvis felt her concerns had been addressed with regard to emergency access. Jarvis moved to approve PA94-146 with the addition of Condition 9. Condition 9 would state that driveway vision clearance standards be met. Bass seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. TYPE I PLANNING ACTIONS PLANNING ACTION 95-001 REQUEST FOR FINAL PLAN APPROVAL OF A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED (OUTLINE PLAN) 12-LOT SUBDIVISION UNDER THE PERFORMANCE STANDARD OPTION LOCATED IN THE OAK KNOLL SUBDIVISION (PHASE 4). APPLICANT: JERRY AND ERVIN TONEY This application was approved. PLANNING ACTION 95-003 REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND SITE REVIEW FOR EXPANSION OF A FOUR UNIT TRAVELLER'S ACCOMMODATION TO A SIX UNIT TRAVELLER'S ACCOMMODATION AT 137 NORTH MAIN STREET (THE COOLIDGE HOUSE). APPLICANT: BRAD PARKER This application was approved. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS BOARD JANUARY 10, 1995 MINUTES PLANNING ACTION 95-004 REQUEST FOR A MINOR LAND PARTITION TO DIVIDE A PARCEL INTO THREE LOTS LOCATED AT 1361 EAST MAIN STREET. APPLICANT: DON BALLEW This application was approved. PLANNING ACTION 95-006 REQUEST FOR FINAL PLAN APPROVAL OF A 12-LOT SUBDIVISION ON 7.6 ACRES UNDER THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS OPTIONS, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED BETWEEN THE DITCH ROAD AND SCENIC DRIVE, AND BETWEEN NUTLEY STREET AND LOGAN DRIVE. APPLICANT: JOHN BARTON; BRUCE ROBERTS; POKII ROBERTS This application was approved. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS BOARD JANUARY 10, 1995 MINUTES