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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-10 Planning MINASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 1995 C~l I TO ORDER were ~, Mok~r, M~lcib~ ~d Y~ea. APPROVAl OF MINUTES AND FINDINnS The Minutes of the September 12, 1995 meaUng were approved. Garr moved to approve the Findings with a correction to Planning Action 96-102 by adding the words 'meets all the crtteria of 18.88 and 18.72'. Bingham seconded and all approved. PUBLIC FORUM Bingham showed a video on world population. TYPE II PUBUC HEARINGS PLANNING ACTION 96-101 REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE (COUNSEUNG) AT 144 NO. SECOND STREET. THE OFFICE V/iLL PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR DISADVANTAGED FAMIUES AND INDMDUALS IN THE ASHLAND AREA. APPUCANT: INTERFAITH CARE COMMUNITY OF ASHLAND (ICCA) Site Visits and Fx Parte Contacts All Commisalonem had a site visit and aJso received a letter and Railroad District Inltll Strategy draft from Jackie Sims. Cloer noted parking spaces and he left a list of questions with Sue Crader. STAFF REPORT Molnar reported this action is subject to a Conditionel Use Permit and notices along with the criteria were mailed to property owners. The Staff Report contains datails of the proposal to locate a professional office (resource center for disadvantaged families in the area) with the primary use as counseling. Given the modest size of the building, the use would be sknilar to the target use of the zone (duplex). With regard to traffic impacts, the applicant has submitted Infi3rmation about their clients and their modes of travel. Based on those figures, the majority of people seeking services use transit or walk. Many letters have been received in opposition to the proposal. Major concerns am: that the office will be ctosed at 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. leaving the house dark after hours, that c~m~s migh~ ~ on or around the property whae waiting for the ogice to open, and that it would be po~ive to maintain some type of - residential componem on the ~e. The Historic Commission recommended approval of the w~plic~qon by a vote of 4-2. Conditions Imposed were: review of the operation In a year and wanting to review the handicap accessible ramp. being dark for 16 houm a day and wanted staff to ~ the iasue. Mokmr said it would fell under criteria (g) w#h opportunitis~ to addre~ the Ismm through lighting on-site. It had been suggested that the conversion of the garage to I re~:lence would give i rasldence on-Mle, however, Cioer fi3ough( this would not alleviate the problem ofthe main house being da~ for 16 hours aday. McLaughlin explained that neither the Planning Commission nor the ~ Council has received the Pailroad District Draft Infili Strategy. The summations made in that report were by the ~. The Staff feels the use the a~:)~tt'$ are proposing ~ under per8o~ sac, ice ~ or professional office. PUBUC HEARING CAROLYN JOHNSON, 450 Thorntorl Way, ~ Board Chak SUE CRADER Johnson gave some history of the ICCA, stating that their current office is located at the Seventh Day Adventist Church under a lease agreement. ICCA received block grant funds to purchase a site. After looking at 15 sites, ICC~ settled on the 2nd Street location because it is close to a bus line, accessible for the disabled and it is a one story structure in good repair and the seller has been willing to wall while they go through the process. Crader stated that !CCA's current ~ is ~ and private .ceunesiing space is desperately needed. The neighbors in the current location have not even realized ICCA is operating. They are open about 300 days a year wllh approximately 10 cllant~ per day. At the propoecd M~e, Creder would expect many residential activities to occur such as children playing in the back yard, people mowing and weeding. There is an anti4oitering rule. ~ people ICCA serves are trying to get on with thek lives. Many clients am referred to ICCA for services and are told the hours of operation. The police are trained to bring referrals during business hours. There has never been a problem with people sleeping in the yard or neighborhood. Ordinances are in effect to curb that problem. Crider added that HUD will not release funds If a property is not in good repak and the property cannot be leased. This property is in the appropriate price range. Howe inquired abou~ the motel voucher program and Crader said that the mote~ are in various locations and that sometimes clients are sent to Medford. Johr~3n said this faculty will not ever be a shelter. It IS cheaper to have motel vouchers than run a shelter. Johnson noted how ICC, A has tried for three years to provide shower facilities through the YMCA, sports dubs, and others but to no avail. Also, ICCA is giving out $500 a month in laundry vouchers. That amount would be reduced if ICCA could provide laundry facllitkm. Crader added that the M3owers and laundry services are supplementary and that only a certain p,.Jmber of people could use those facilllies at appointed times. Finlde wondered how ICCA would feel about having a3me patton of the hou~ or garage used for ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 1996 and HUD ~ no~ rdease the funds If there was ~ ~ ~Rer one yeer ICCA would not be u~ing the MARY AUCE SHEPARD, 9G5 Park Stree~ WENDY PAULSEN 29 Summit Street, Medford 97501 JASON REBLOI~J~O 29 Sumn-~t StreW, Medford 97501 BECKY SMITH, 29 Summ~ Medford 97501 GINA DALACCl, JV/Ashland Teen Center, 29 Summit Street, Medford In F~vor PAUL STEINBRONER, 114 Third Street, thanked ICCA for ~ his neighborhood. His neighborhood is primarily commercial and redck~ial. This use would be an TERRY SKIBBY, 611 Be~ch Street, Historic Commlmdon Ikdaon, ~lated the HIModc Commission voted in favor of the proix~ai. They felt strongly It be reviewed in a year bec~ute It would address the neighbors' wanted to review the design for compatibility. After listening to the teetlmony, # seemed the use would be similar to a home occupation. Howe wondered about the one year review. McLa ~ughlin said that could be added as a condition, however, if there was a problem with the operation a hearing could be scheduled to review the operation before a revocation hearing would be scheduled. Skibby said the one year review could possibly bring up any changes to the historic nature of the community. ADAM GEOVESE, 449 S. Ivy, Medford, OR g7501, Director of Catholic Community Smvtces of Southern Oregon stated that if this use is not granted, it will have an Impact on the homeless and poor in the Rogue Valley. PAT SWARTWOOD, 77 Pine Street, said ~he ha~ worked with the hemele~ for the last few years in Medford. She noted that in the ~ 10 to 15 years the ~ belwean the 'hev,' and 'have nots' is increasing. The homeless Issue is no~ going to go away. This community hes an opportunity to create some tools to help people here and not send them on to the next community. FRANK LLOYD, 705 Willow, ndnlster of the ~ Clutch at 318 B Street ~tated though he ahere~ the concema of the neighbor% the al~t~nce of ICCA is n~ going to ~top any problems in the nelghbodxx~d. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMi~UO# REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 1% 1995 the lighting Issue can be ~. He is very rmJch in favor of granting a ~ionai Use Permit to !CCA. building. That is the situation as it exists now. The only reeourca is iCCA and IndividuaJ faith communities doing things Individually. Coordinated elforts work far better. JOAN SZABOKY, 238 N. Wightman, is a volunteer of ICC, A and b on the board. In her experience, giving servicas to those in need keepa the surrounding envkonment free of vandalism, crime, or building. They will abide by the rulee sat out for them. They will net loiter If you tell them not to. CHARLES STEELE, 83 N. Wlghtman, is on the board of ICCA, and he has obeerved work of ICCA and he is highly Impressed despite the fact that the Seventh Day Adventist Church has not been able to give ICCA more space. Steele believes that with better facJPt_iee, they will be able to offer better and more needed septices. PAUUNE SULLIVAN, 525 Sheridan Street, has been e$$ocloted with ICCA for many years. There has never bccn. a problem with the people or Ioiterk~ at e#Jter the Eptecopal Church or Seventh Day CLAYTON GORDON, 436 Helming, is a regular volunteer wilb ICCA and did no~ believe the two ereas of concern that neighbors have are valid. Parldng is no~ a problem becauee moat people arrive at ICCA on foot or by bus. Also, he has not had anyone loiter or stay after the office is closed. ~ desperately needs this facility. The biggest problem now is that there is no Ntower and a Nx3wer is needed before a LUCILLE COMBEST, 1208 Iowa-B, is a volunteer with ICCA and said that with more space volunteers will be much more helpful. With regard to use of the hou~-Combast said the Commission should not look at it as a monument to the past but look to those who are in need right now. BETTY SWINNERTON, 292 Orange Street, is a volunteer for ICCA and Nm has never been threatened, abused, or heard unacceptable language at the facility. Everyone is grateful for help. FRED SHEPARD, 995 Park Street, has volunteered for ICCA and has found that thoee that give help end up receiving so much back from those receiving the aid. MARIE IRELAND, 1661 Clark Street, INes right across the street from ICCA and works for SL Vincent DePaul. She h~ never had any complaints from anyone at the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Only one car about once or twice a week park at the church. She favors the application. ASHL...'U4D PLYING COMMISSION RECIUL.ad~ ~ MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 1905 ROB81 SIRINSKY, 740 Park Street, favored the propoeal. Second Street b zoned R-2 with half the area commerc~ u~ with. parldng Io~ next door. Do we really wan{ a place like this in our town? Yes, we need · permane~ fac~y and the time h~ arrived for us to put our money where our mouth is. In OpposEion UNDA FERGUSON, 228 B Street, is concerned about the paddng impact. There b curt .e~ly ~ lack of parking in the nelghbo~x]. There is never enough parking on the ~treet for the post oilice customers or the other ~ currently in the neighborhood. She would a,~ that the applica~ be required to JACKIE StMS, 26~ B $~reet, pa~ed o~t the Dma irl Strategy for the ~ Dtetrict ateting It i~ just a draft. She was one of thoee who me~ to dlacm the vi~on kx the r~ ntrm months ago. The neighbors overwhelmingly voted ncX to have anymore outdgh~ commercial uees in R-2 zones in the neighborhood. There were concerns to retain the reeidenUa/flavor and w#h the ne~ viiaiRy. It is no~ healthy for a neighborhood to have a large portion c/the homes empty for the night. If this application i~ grar~ed there will be one home lelt on the east side c~ Second Street that is reskler~ial. She would predict that house would soo~ request a Conditional Use PermR for a commercial use. Sims thought if a lawyer applied for a CUP, the Commission would deny it. ~ w~ ~ve ~ ~ an objection. WILL BROWN, 139 Second Street, lives directly ~cro~ the stree~ from the applicant's property. He agreed with everything Strn~ said. He i~ at a Io~ for anything that fi~ the uee the .applicant i. a~king for in ~n R-2 zone. Brown read from the R-2 ordinance (CUP - Prefemdonal office~ ~ the applicant fits m~l. It cemesciosertofittlngatravetler'$accommodati~. ~~~"owrler JiM SIMS, 269 B Street, not~l that the application for the Yoga Center was turned down previously because of inadequate parking. How much m~'e commercial ~ the neighborhood want?.' There cannot be a good neighborhood watch with no people to watch. He canno~ imagine people coming to JOHN STOUGH, 276 B Stree(, iive~ across from the church parking Io~ and he is concerned with parking. With the poet office customera and workera, there is heavy traffic. Wh~ if the uae of the proposed facility would Increase from 6,000 to 10,000 people? Finkle though~ Ashland Community Food Store and Cantwel!'$ Market would have had a greater Impact than this use but he has not heard anyone expressing concer~ over these uses. Stough said those buNnesses have had an impact. There are even more people walking. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTE8 OCTOBER 10, 19~6 STEVEN SACKS, 259 B Street, s;dd the ~ b ~ ~s a place to llve. Everytime the Commission makes an exception to the zoning, ~ re~lence i~ taken aw~y, takir~ people out of the neighborhood. In responie to Finide's quMtlon abc)u~ the facility poMibly being owner occupied, MEGAN LEE, 153 N. Second Street, i~ concerned Mx)ut Ioitedr~ since there is ~tready loitering at the church. It does not matter what kind of 'bbeJne~ that was being requested for ,, Conditional Use Permit, St~ff Re~;x:mse ~ this are~ is close to the downtown edge (page 9). It i~ difficult to read the draft they were given by Sims. Cioer wondered whether or not more thinking through wa~ necMMry on this propoMJ. It seemed to Cloer that the m)rvice ICCA h providing to the . ,conmunliy il 8o importam that there should be ci~y participation In the decision. There are some tefT~C IKJVantagM in fraying the type of service6 offered by ICCA in ccmjurk:-tion with. the church. What about the city providing some facilitation for meeting both the needs of ICCA and should this be approved, participation financially to rnee~ the concerns of the neighbors such as parkin~ on-site living faciitle~? Madding said it would be difficult under the parmn~ers of the HUD to mene~arily comper~ate the neighborhood. ICC, A would be welcome to come back through the process (block grant funding process begin~ in February) and come up with residentlaJ characteristics. The City i~ involved with ICCA by providing block grant funds and also looking at sites. They would like to see the funds expended within this fiscal year (June). Giordano asked what some o~ the problerrm were with ot~r ~te~. Madding said of the three she looked at, two were in relatively bad condition and would have needed rehehifitation to bring them up to HUD standards. The other hou~ o~f LR Way, the seller wa~ reluc~utt to wait for ICCA to go through the Condltion~l U~e Permit process. Rebuttal Johnson was willing to address the concern~ o~ the neighbors by installing a "see4hru" fence, and added lighting at night. They have three parking space~ and client vehicle trip~ per day are three. Three thousand units of service have been given to 1,211 inclNiduais (n(X 3,000 individuals). The faciRy has to ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 1996 13trigham a~ked how many citef~ am see~ at cme time. Crader responded that the most would be two families of five to six. Clients are usually spread out throughout. ~ the day. Finide asked about having a live-in person and Crader said It was po~aible, but. it wo~id be a cilm~edce to someone to have to live In an office space. She would rather convert the garage to a unit. The Commission entered the letter from Judith Steven~ into the record. COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION AND MOTION Armitage asked for a straw vote as to whether the Conditionill Use falls under the R-2 zoning. Glordano, Bingham, and Howe felt itfita use under CUP in R-2. the applica~t met the roquirod ~ o~ proof .for a CUP? Firfide had a rignor coneem with CriIada C (2) beceuae the paddng a/~uation is akeady ~o acutely difficult in the area. Cloer and Can' thought the uae would generate more traffic than the targeted use. Howe is Impressed with the pedestrian traffic this use win generate. She believed there should be some mitigation to the neighboetx~ by way of adding two parking spaces in the rear in addition to the required parking to allow for any Increase in volunteerism or client increase. Bingham, Bass and Giordano had no problem with parking. Giordano disagreed that the lawn area in the rear should be made into parking. Criteria C (5) - generation of noise, light and glare. Finide believes there could be a potential concern with steady or heaw use o~ the property. Carr agreed. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 1995 Giordano feels this property is on the fringe and i~ not convinced it is residential. He would oppose the proposal if it were a protlec~ o~ "B" Stree(. He would like to see mixed use, b~ that Is not the CARR MOVED TO CONTINUE THE MEETING UNTIL 19:3~ P.M. ALL APPROVED. Howe echoed Giordano's remarks. Thb b a ~ zone betwe~ commercial and reelde~ial requiring that there be non-retail businesses that retain reelde~iai charac~ in how they look and provide the buffer in keeping It ~ like residential so there i~ no~ a wall of retail changing to homes. This particular property seern~ to be within the buifer zone to protec~ the rest o~ the neighborhood. If she could draw a line I~ would be from the alley down to,-=,,,rd 'A' Street, no~ allowing anything wi~hou~ a residence. It doe~ no~ seem reasonable to expect a famiy to move into the proposed house. There will be a Iigh~ shining from the church parking lot all nigh~ long and near a commercial area. The nature of the ICCA does not seem to allow an owner to live on-site. District has been chipped away at and she would like to see this no~ happen any more. She believes there is a better location for this use. neighborhood meetings with a personal judgmer~ that no more CUP's or commercial should be allowed in the Railroad District. Bingham argued this is not a ~claJ use. Cloer said I~ will be obviously unoccupied for 16 o~ 24 hours. approve this a~tication If i~ would cause a sh~ from rommero~ to resklor~le/. Arrnitage has heard from the neighbors this could be a change in livability and could not support this use in the neighborhood. Bingham wondered rather than denying the proposal, what ~ adding a condOion there be a Howe moved to approve Planning Action 96-101 ~ the conditions listed. Bingham seconded the motion. The motion failed with Giordano, Howe, and Bingham voting 'ye~' with Armltage, Can', Finkle, Carr moved to deny Planning Action 95-101 based on the f~owing Cond~ionai Use Perrnlt c~erla no~ being met: C. (b), (e), (t), and (g). Bass seconded the motion and i~ carried with Armltage, Carr, Finkle, Cioer, and Bass voting "yes" and Howe, Bingham, mxJ Gkxdano voting "no". ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MI#UTES OCTOBER 10, 1~4 CARR MOVED TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL 11:00 P.M.. ALL APPROVED. PLANNING ACTION 9E..099 REQUEST FOR A SITE REVIEW AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A PROFF~SIONAL OFFICE. VARIANCE REQUESTED TO REDUCE A REAR AND SIDE YARD SETBACK FROM TEN FEET TO SIX FEET. 493 NORTH MAIN STREET APPUCANT: CATALINA PHYSICAL THERAPY BUILDING Site Visits -qd FY P.rte Cor~',~cts All ~ had a site vi~. The I~ter from Jack and Pmnela Evans wes read in~o the record. STAFF REPORT ~ expla~md thle i~ a req~met to conetrier an approximateJy 2,000 m~ar® feet, 1 1/2 ~ory oifice neighbod~43d. With regard to the Variance reclueet, there are m3me unusual circumstances Justifying the In response to Evans' letter, Moinar said he looked at the vegetation in question and there is an overgrown laurel hedge and a mature almond tree. A condition has been Included based on review by the Tree ~ that additional plantings would be required and pmoautionary measures be taken to save the tree. Staff recommer~ed approval with the attached six Conditions. Howe wondered if the any of the existing retaining will rem~n. Ivlolnar thouglX there was a new PUBLIC HEARING JANE RICHARDSON, 781 Uberty Street KEN GOSUNG, 777 Jacluelyn Street DOYLE BRIGHTENBURG, 350 Phelps Street Gosling said none of the retaining wall will be kept. Richardson said they have no Intention of removing any plants unnecessarily. Brightenburg said the parking back-up is tight. Some of the space~ to one s~cJe might be used by Staff. The appllcan~ said they were willing to work wi~h the r~ on landscaping in conjuncUon with the rmghbors property. Gosling said they would be using hodzontal siding. JACK EVANS, P.O. Box 1293, Ashland, OR, said at least 80 percent of the vegetation is on their ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 199~ property. The cut will come within 12 inches from the property line, and a local numeryman told Evans that the existing plants will die under thoee circumstances. He asked a Condition be placed on the applicants to continue the existing fence all the way to the curb and that the applicants remove all the vegetation. If Evm-~' want to plant vegetation on their side, they can do so. that the retaining wall will come back another four feet and If vegetation is added, they will barely be able to enter their front door. RebuttAl C-,c~Ing/Richardson proposed a combination fencing and vegetation with each party to share the cost. agreed upon plan, such as the fence. COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION AND MOTION presarve wherever poselbie the exiaJng veget~tim (6). Should =~antlal amount of vei}etation fall, thena Mte-obecuringfencewouid have to beinstailed. (NewConditlo~5. Carrsaconded morton. Bass had a little concern about the "encouraged to cooperate" phrase. McLaughlin said it is only there for guidance with the Condition requiring the fencing. The motion carried unanimously. There will be a Study Session on October 24, 1995. Planning Action 95-100 will be heard at that time. ADJOURNM~=NT The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 p.m. ASHL.AND PLANNING CCMMI$SIO# REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 199~ 10