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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-0417 Parks & Rec. MIN City oI Ashland PARKS AND RECRF, ATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE: Present: Absent: I. CALL TO ORDER SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Aprll tT, 2000 Ted Coppedge, JoAnne Eggers,i Sally Jones, Laude MacGraw, Director Ken Mickelsen Rick Landt rderat 5:30 p.m. at the II. AESTHETIC MODIFICATIONS to ddving range at Oak Knoll Golf Course Chair Mace'aw re__that in response to s request by some neighbors adjacent to the Oak Knoll Golf course that a meeting had been h~dcl wfth those nelghljors, D~-re~or Mickalsen, Commissioners Jonas and herseft to discuss .possible modifications which might be made to the driving rang~whlch woUld rsduce the visUal mpact of the range on thelr hornes. Shebriefly reviewed a memorandumdated April 13~ 2OC0 which ouffined the results of that meeting. She indicated that visual renderings had been drawn to reflect the change in appearanCe of the ddving range if the changes were made and asked the Directof to review some of the details. 1 ) Lowering of the poles from 50' to 35' for either the full length of the range or for part of the range, and 2) Planting trees or shrubbery to hide the halghbors~ view of the polas. considered lighting the range for night use add that It was not pad of any future planning, the neighborhood meeting the two Commissioners present had indicated that the Commission might be willing to adopt a policy to that affect but that they did not believe placing a formal rastdction to that effect on the golf course would be in the best interest of the community. Regarding the legality of such an agreement, he was asked to contact City Attomey Paul Nolta who indicated that he would strongly advise against establishing that type of restriction on the property. Mr. Nolte also indicated that if such a rastdction were to be ¢onslderad that, because the property was owned by the City of Ashland, it would be the City Council not the Parks and Recreation Commission which would be required to make the decision. Public ConmTlent In opening the discussion for public comment, Chair MacGraw first asked the opinion of Tom Kohler, Oak Knoll's golf professional, about tllle proposed modffications. Mr. Kohler said that in his professional opinion lowering any or all of the poles from 50' to 35' would decraase the level of safety related to errant golf bells escaping onto the fairway. As to whether or not trees or shrubbery should be planted to camouflage the poles, he said that it would make retrieving balls harder and would increase maintenance costs some but, if the Commission wants to plant near the poles, that it would not cause significant problems. III. MOTION Spedal Meeting - Apd117, 2000 Ashland PaWs and Recrealte~ C,~mmtlalon . ' Page 2 of 2 , ,= '~ Driving Range Aesthetics PublicComment-continued ~,? Related to the question of planting trees and shrubs to block the view of the poles, Marcella Owens, a neighbor, esld that she had taken an informal survey of the homeowners and that 61% had indicated that they would prefer that no "lines or shrubs be planted. Also, related to the netting, the neighbors Indicated that they would prefer the black or dark grey neffing that the Department has purchased rather than switching to gmqn or some other color. In discussion of whethe;' or not the poles should be lowered from 50' t0- 35', the llw gelfern who spoke stated their strong belief that a significantly higher percentage of golf balls would escape from the range If thepotfm were lowered. 'l!mY stated strong oppositk:~to lowedng the poles because it would increqa the possibility of ~ near the range getting hit by errant ba Is COMMISSION DELIBERATION · ; . , , .,l Commissioner Eggera said ~hat If we am gehg 'to have a ddving range that it Ought not to be a safety hazard and that maintaining the poles at 50' wouldbe theapprop~ate thingJo modification to the odgiq81 plans for ¢Ofmllnxffio~ of the drivtng range. Comrr~..sloner Jones The Vote weSi 4yim :,0 no After further disct,~, ~c/3~qm~m to ,take no action at this time related to planting IV. ADJOURNMENT With nO furlher buetness, Chadr MacGraw adJoumed the meeting. Ashla~l, Parks and Recreation Department