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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-0221 ASHLAND INN FINDINGS750 WELCH ROAD, SUITE 325, PALO ALTO, CA 94304 PH. 415/326-8250 Clarence "A L" ~Wearingen PRESIDENT December 19, 1977 Ashland Planning Commission City Hall Ashland, Oregon 97520 Gentlemen: This application is for a Conditional Use Permit to allow the applicant, the Ashland Colony Inn Investors, to use the existing premises for travelers' accommodations during the ~978 Shakes- perean Festival season. This Conditional Use Permit is sought under the provisions of the Zoning Code, Section 18.08.030C, whereby the premises could be used as a travelers' accommodation for a period not to exceed twelve months. This request is to use the Colony Inn apartment units as a tourist facility for travelers or tourists in the City of Ashland during the forthcoming Shakesperean Festival season. The period of time requested for would be from June 1, 1978 through September 30, 1978 inasmuch as the official Shakesperean performances are scheduled to begin June 10, 1978 and end on September 24, 1978. The additional time requested would be to accommodate those who desire to come a few days early, as well as those who might want to stay over a few days after the last play has been performed. Should the need be deemed sufficient by all agencies involved, the Colony Inn could make a limited number of accommodations available during the period from February 1, 1978 through May 1S, 1978 to coincide with the Spring Shakesperean Festival season. The following FINDINGS OF FACTS are submitted in support of this request: FINDING: The establishment, maintenance or operation of the pro- posed use does not adversely affect the health, safety, peace, morals, comfort or general welfare of persons residing and working in the neighborhood. Ashland Planning Commission Page 2 December 19, 1977 EVIDENCE: The individual units will be rented as they are and will not require any physical renovation or alterations. The occupancy will not change the nature of the use, because the tourists will be using the facility in the same manner as i~as been used under the present permitted use. The proposed conditional use contemplates the renting of the units by advance reservation, with the emphasis on group or "package plans." Such will result in less vehicular traffic because such groups usually travel to the area by chartered busses or vans, or several in each automobile, as contrasted to the mode of trans- portation used by single family tourists. A portion of the premises, that lying immediately adjacent to the intersection of Park and Siskiyou Boulevard, is a vacant lot which shall be available to be used for the parking of the vehicles used by the tourists. The adjacent property has been available for use in previous years. but ~as seldom used as traffic did nct require such useage. Since Siskiyou Boulevard is presently one of the major traffic arterials, such will not change the use nor substantially increase the intensity of traffic in the neighborhood. The parking lot is presently predominantly grass covered so the use will not create a dust problem. The ingress and egress for such traffic, being from Park Street, will not create a traffic hazard. Tourists historically visit the recreational and business areas, so that they will not tend to permeate the immediate neighborhood, causing area wide confusion or pedestrian traffic therein. FINDING: The proposed use is not detrimental or injurious to prop-- erty or improvement in the neighborhood. The character of the immediate neighborhood is as follows: EVIDENCE: It is bounded immediately on the Northwest and Northeast by P~rk Street andSiskiyou Boulevard. Immediately west of Park Street is an apartment complex, with residences south therefrom. Immediately aeross Siskiyou Boulevard, beginning at the intersection with Park Street and continuing in a southeasterly direction, there is an apartment complex, the United Farm Realty office, a vacant lot, and a business at the intersection of Clay Street. Immediately .southwesterly and adjacent to Verda Street are residences. Across Terra Street, which abuts the Colon)' Inn, there is a Baptist Church abounded on each side by its parking area. It is significant that the Colony Inn was used in the same manner as is now proposed during the 1976 and 1977 Shakesperean Sumr~r Festival seasons, and no injury or damage to the neighborhood is known to have occurred as a result. Ashland Planning Commission Page 3 December 19, 1977 FINDING: The proposed use is not detrimental to the general welfare of the City, and fulfills a public need. EVIDENCE: Historically, the major tourist attraction in AsHlana has been the Oregon Shakesperean Festival. In 1967, the total attendance was 62,364. In 1977, the total attendance to the Shakesperean-oriented activities was 232,453. According to the Assistant General ~:anager of that Association indications are that their activities for the 1978 year will be expanded and should cause an i~crease in the total attendance above that of 1977. These patrons utilize motel, hotel, a~d restaurant accommod~tions. Southern Oregon State College has increased its enrollment from 3,730 in 1967 to 4,275 in 1977. It is reasonable to assume visiting parents and friends will continue to use overnight accommodations in Ashland. Furthermore, the college has been the sponsor of different academic-oriented groups, attracting overnight visitors for those purposes. Ashland is also exposed to potential oYer- night visitors who are travelers on Interstate Highway S, being the first city in the state for northbound traffic. Overnight accommodations to meet this public need have not kept pace with the demand which has been and will continue to increase. This disparity between the ability to meet the need for tourist accommo- dations is evidenced by complaints received by such organizations as the Oregon Shakesperean Fesrivai to the effect that all the local accommodations are occupied during the Shakesperean Festival season, ~ith the result that the cities of Medford, Grants Pass, Oregon, and Yreka, California, as well as other cities in the area are receiving patronage of their tourist-oriented facilities as a direct result of Ashland's inability to meet that need. Although additional tourist facilities are planned and under con- struction, it appears none will be completed in time to impact significantly on this year's Summer Season. It is estimated that 70 units will be available at the Colony Inn. Based on 1977~ and assuming a 10% increase in tourist trade, the Colony Inn would host 1,139 Shakesperean visitors. If each visitor stays an average of three days and spends an average of $S0 per day, $170,850 would be infused directly into the local economy. In addition, the intended use would be subject to the City's ,~otel Tax, which would become a part of the General Fund of the City. The 1977 Motel Tax was approximately $982.39, which was paid for the festival season. Respectfully submitted, ASHLAND ~OLON~~ INN INVESTORS Bil . Vhorton Property Manager BL~V/sko Enclosure