HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-02-14 Planning MINASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 14, 1995
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Barbara Jarvis at 7:05 p.m. Other
Commissioners present were Carr, Armitage, Finkle, Bass, Cloer, and Giordano.
Commissioners not present were Bingham and Hibbert. Staff present were
McLaughlin, Molnar, Knox and Yates.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND FINDINGS
Cloer moved to approve the Minutes of the January 10, 1995 meeting as corrected
and Cart seconded the motion. The Minutes were approved as corrected. The
corrections included the sentence on page 3, paragraph 5. It should read as follows:
"Jarvis suggested putting some sort of sticker on the posted notice stating an action
has been continued."
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Jarvis thanked Brent Thompson for his almost 10 years of service on the Planning
Commission. During his time on the Commission, Jarvis noted some of Thompson's
many accomplishments. Thompson was presented with a certificate and a picture.
Thompson encouraged the Commission to interact in an on-going way with the Staff
and each other after monthly meetings and at other times in order to further long-
range planning.
PUBLIC FORUM
No one came forth to speak.
TYPE II PUBLIC HEARINGS
PLANNING ACTION 95-012
REQUEST FOR A SITE REVIEW, OUTLINE AND FINAL PLAN APPROVAL UNDER
THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS OPTIONS FOR A SIX-UNIT, SIX-LOT
SUBDIVISION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF
TOLMAN CREEK ROAD, NEAR THE CORNER OF SlSKIYOU BOULEVARD AND
TOLMAN CREEK ROAD. ALSO INCLUDES A FRONT YARD VARIANCE TO
ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRONT PORCHES.
APPLICANT: HARLAN DEGROODT
Site Visits and Ex Parte Contacts
Giordano is the architect on this project and has a conflict of interest. He stepped
down.
Carr said it was hard to tell where the property was located.
Cloer, Bass, Armitage, Finkle and Jarvis had a site visit.
Jarvis instructed the Commissioners and the public that the Commission will remain
unbiased in their decisions concerning Giordano.
STAFF REPORT
Knox stated that this application involves the construction of six units, three fronting
Tolman Creek and three in the rear. Each unit has a single garage space and two are
proposed to be on Tolman Creek. The remaining four will be located on the side as
shown on the site plan. Staff is pleased with the layout and design of the project with
the exceptions of four items. Staff recommends approval.
One issue needing to be addressed is off-street parking. In order to receive credit on
a public street, the public street has to have curbing. The applicant will be required to
install curbing, sidewalks and a parkrow on Tolman Creek. The design solution for
this will be forthcoming after an agreement is reached between the City and Jackson
County (Tolman Creek Road is maintained by Jackson County). Ultimately, there will
be on-street parking as noted on the site plan.
There will have to be some reciprocal easement agreements for the shared drive
between parcels I and 2.
The applicant will shadow 51 feet the property to the north. The majority of the
shadow will occur on the parking area.
The last issue was the front yard porch variance. Traditionally, in the neighborhood,
there are some houses that have a similar setback to that proposed and very much in
line with what the Planning Commission approved last month and the Council
approved last week (front yard setback ordinance for R-1 zoning).
Finkle wondered if the City and County had an understanding about the type of long-
range improvements that will eventually happen on Tolman Creek Road (sidewalks,
etc.). McLaughlin responded that this would be the first improvement and that the
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REGULAR MEETING
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FEBRUARY 14, 1995
County knows this road is wholly within the City limits and will become an urban street
and the design should reflect the urban nature rather than a rural road standard.
With regard to off-street parking/on-street parking credit, Carr asked if the trade-off is
that curbs, gutters, and sidewalks will be provided by the development. McLaughlin
answered that in order for the developer to receive the on-street credit, they will have
to have the parking improved along with curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Add a
Condition that the applicant has proposed to provide curbs, sidewalks, and gutters.
Condition 5 can be deleted because there are garages and covered bicycle parking
will be provided in the garages.
Delete Condition 9 because it is very similar to Condition 2.
Correct Condition 6 to include "opportunity to recycle site" be enclosed in quotes.
PUBLIC HEARING
HARLAN DEGROODT, 706 Oak Knoll Drive, stated that he would be willing to give the
TID water rights to the City as part of this application.
TOM GIORDANO, 157 Morninglight Drive, architect of the project, verified that the
unique circumstances surrounding the request for a variance are because of the non-
conforming setback status in the neighborhood with many homes having a similar
setback as this project. Giordano added that this area is the old Bellview
neighborhood and he has tried to provide small scale single family homes on small
lots with garages in the rear with walkways and porches in the front that will the give
the project a more human scale.
Jarvis asked if Giordano could show that this development will have no negative
impact on the development of adjacent uses, specifically, solar. Giordano stated that
his client will be signing the solar waiver because he owns the adjoining property.
Is there any development that could occur as a result of this development that would
be of benefit to everyone in the City that would not occur because of the solar waiver,
Jarvis inquired. Giordano said the use of the northerly portion, north of the joint
driveway will be parking spaces. In the design of the upper lot, the use will built as
close to Siskiyou Boulevard as possible.
BRENT THOMPSON, P.O. Box 201, stated that whenever a partition is done, the rear
of the development should never be blocked from access to the main street. In this
case there should be a path from Tolman Creek Road to Siskiyou Boulevard. He
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REGULAR MEETING
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FEBRUARY 14, 1995
recommended inclusion of the R-2 and R-3 zones in the front yard setbacks.
COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION AND MOTION
Carr moved to approve Planning Action 95-012 with the following changes to
Conditions:
Add a Condition that the applicant has proposed to provide curbs, sidewalks,
and gutters.
Condition 5 can be deleted because there are garages and covered bicycle
parking will be provided in the garages.
Delete Condition 9 because it is very similar to Condition 2.
Correct Condition 6 to include "opportunity to recycle site" be enclosed in
quotes.
Cloer seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
PLANNING ACTION 95-016
REQUEST TO AMEND THE CITY OF ASHLAND SIGN CODE - CHAPTER 18.96 -
INCLUDING LANGUAGE PROVIDING FOR SIGNMAKER LIABILITY FOR SIGN
VIOLATIONS.
APPLICANT: CITY OF ASHLAND
STAFF REPORT
McLaughlin explained what typically happens that prompted this amendment. A sign
is often erected before a permit is issued. When the City contacts the owner, the
owner will say that their sign company put up the sign and they say they had all the
permits. The City contacts the sign company and they say it is up to the applicant to
get the permit. The ordinance amendment would allow the City to cite a signmaker if
they erect a sign without a permit.
Some Commissioners thought the wording of this amendment is confusing because of
the "legalese". McLaughlin said he would talk with the City Attorney about writing this
in a more readable format with the intent remaining the same.
Carr moved to recommend approval of the amendment to the City Council. Giordano
seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
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REGULAR MEETING
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FEBRUARY 14, '1995
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OTHER
The youth center will be going before the City Council to request land in
Garfield Park. When the youth center decides to build, they will come before
the Planning Commission.
Jarvis noted that it is time to begin the annual nomination process of the James
M. Ragland Memorial Ashland Volunteer Spirit Community Service Award.
Jarvis has applications.
New noticing signs are being used for planning applications that seem to be
sturdier than the old signs.
· Jarvis welcomed Ken Hagen, the Council liaison to the Planning Commission.
The letter from Debbie Miller regarding the No. Mountain Study Session was
discussed. Jarvis and McLaughlin have talked about trying to reach out more
to the community at large with projects of this type.
The Hearings Board for April 11, 1995 will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Council
Chambers instead of 1:30 p.m.
The Planning Commission will be having their annual retreat on Saturday, March
3, 1995 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
· The Vision Planning Conference will be held on March 11, 1995.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
ASH~D PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 14, 1995
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