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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-11-08 Planning MINASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 1994 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Barbara Jarvis at 7:05 p.m. Other Commissioners present were Thompson, CIoer, Finkle, Armitage, Carr, Bingham, and Giordano. Staff present were McLaughlin, Molnar, Knox and Yates. MINUTES AND FINDINGS The Minutes and Findings of the October 11, 1994 meeting were approved. PUBLIC FORUM Jarvis introduced and welcomed the new Planning Commissioner, Peter Finkle. TYPE III PLANNING ACTION PLANNING ACTION 94-128 REQUEST FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF ASHLAND TRANSPORTATION PLAN MAP. AMENDMENT INVOLVES THE LOCATION OF A FUTURE STREET DEDICATION (EXTENSIONS) BETWEEN ROMEO DRIVE AND MILL POND ROAD, EVAN LANE AND FORDYCE STREET, ORCHID STREET AND KIRK LANE AND MUNSON DRIVE AND KIRK LANE. APPLICANT: CITY OF ASHLAND A request for continuance was submitted by attorney, Kurt Knutsen. Carr suggested proceeding as per the agenda. Cloer expressed his reservations about continuing with the hearing. He wanted to make sure every side of the issue was discussed. McLaughlin explained that the neighbors were already given a month's delay to review the street connection between Romeo and Mill Pond. The additional connections were added and properly noticed to the neighborhood. He also indicated the time is right to work this transportation issue out because the Planning Commission agendas have not been as busy. McLaughlin did not see a substantial reason to delay the hearing. Jarvis felt that Mrs. Eldman has adequately notified everyone of tonight's meeting, as well as through the noticing process and thought there was enough information to proceed tonight. Carr moved to proceed with the planning action and arrive at a recommendation to the City Council. Bingham seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Thompson arrived at the meeting. STAFF REPORT McLaughlin reviewed portions of the Staff Report dated October 11, and the Addendum I dated November 8, 1994. He said the addition of the street connections would insure a modified grid street pattern. This has been happening in an informal way in this area, and Staff has made sure that developers have been working to that end as well. The connection from Romeo Drive to Mill Pond Road has been planned since 1990. The extension of Munson Drive and Kirk Lane to Mountain Avenue have been shown for future connections. McLaughlin explained that the City is trying to comply with the State's Transportation Planning Rule by connecting streets within neighborhoods. The benefits to the connection would be: reduced trip lengths, safe and convenient routes for autos, bikes, and pedestrians, possible area for para-transit or taxi pick-up for handicapped persons, and less costly transit. McLaughlin encouraged adoption as presented. Jarvis questioned McLaughlin if Romeo Drive had always been designed for connection and he stated that had always been the intent. Carolyn Eldman's letter was entered into the record. PUBLIC HEARING WES REYNOLDS, 1265 Munson Drive, a consulting planner and member of AICP and an affiliate of ITE, stated that he believes this application is on the right track in looking at the whole neighborhood, however, he requested that the Commission consider that if these connections are adopted, there will not be much area left to do a neighborhood plan. Why not go one step further and develop a neighborhood plan? The destinations need to be addressed -- what areas people need to get to -- Garfield Park, Civic Center, Mountain Avenue park, Armory, Middle School, Natural History Museum. There is excellent potential for walking and bicycling. In addition to the proposed new street connections, what will be happening on East Main and Fordyce and the transportation plan? What are the neighbor's responsibilities? There was no suggestion in the Staff Report about where traffic calming will be done and where pathways for bikes and pedestrians would be located. REES JONES, 107 N. Wightman, lives in the neighborhood and thought connecting streets was an issue of community. Cohesive neighborhoods are unified by easy access. Building barriers and homes that are isolated for only auto access are not in our best interest. The Comprehensive Plan will remind us of our goals. The street connections will provide the City with integrated neighborhoods, not isolated streets. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING NOVEMER 8, 1994 MINUTES HARLAN CURTIS, 264 Mountain Avenue, stated they live where the intersection of Munson and Mountain will be connecting and this will funnel traffic through Munson to Mountain and they fear congestion. Beth Whitman talked about extending Hersey Street past the Mountain Avenue park and connect another street besides Munson. Jarvis read the testimony request forms in opposition to the proposal from the following: JEFF BENSON, 1315 Romeo Drive ED ALEXANDER, 1259 Munson Drive CORINNE MAGANAN, 13115 Romeo Drive BETTE G. KINSELLA, Romeo Drive CYNTHIA MARTIN, 1355 E. Main BEVERLY SPJUT, 531 Fordyce SUSAN ROGNEY, 1365 Romeo Drive Molnar described where there will be a possible bicycle/pedestrian access to the Mountain Avenue park. CAROLYN ElDMAN, 541 Fordyce Street, stated that she has been planning to build adult foster care housing on her property but if the street goes through, she will not be able to situate the project so it will fit the lot properly. She plans to use some of her property to grow food for the patients and raise animals. Eldman knew the street plug was there but felt she had an option of how it would be used. She indicated the Police Department find that dead end streets are safer. On cul-de-sacs, neighbors tend to notice when something happens because there is less traffic. Eldman also has major concerns about flooding in this area. After the heavy rain last week in which five homes flooded, she feels the through street would make an impact because it would be more pavement for water to run across. She also took a petition to the neighbors and submitted it for the record. LINDA SMITH, 1310 Romeo Drive, purchased her property because it was on a cul- de-sac. She bought it in beginning of 1991 and the CC&R's did not say anything about the through street. As it is now, children are safe on the street. She has concerns about the width of the road and the turn at the curve. RICHARD ALBERT, 541 Fordyce, said he is partners with Eldman and his comments echo hers. If the street did not go through it would give a little more open space and a sense of community and safety. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING NOVEMER 8, 1994 MINUTES MARY POWERS, 248 N. Mountain, said that she knew about the street that would connect with Munson, but would like to know the width of the streets that are planned and do the neighbors have any say about where the streets go, how they are connected, and street names. Powers objects to a separate bike path cutting through the lots. McLaughlin explained that the width of the street will be dependent upon the development style of the homes and the number of units. Munson Drive is 36 feet wide in the portions where there is parking on both sides and the new streets could be narrower with added curves, if desired. The design would be up to the developer. Street names are left to the discretion of the developer, however, there is an ordinance addressing street names. The bike path would not be designed to take out properties but to go around or between properties. MARIE MOREHEAD, 310 N. Mountain Avenue, thought it would be difficult to plan future streets when no one is sure what future development will be. Her concern is how this will affect property owners not connected with the development. Morehead is concerned about how much of the Powers property will be used -- there will be three streets going through Powers property plus a bike path. McLaughlin responded that if a development on the Powers property would be going to a lower density because of a street, then a different street pattern would be possible. Morehead is concerned about the amount of traffic coming up Mountain, turning on Munson or Kirk and bypassing the North Mountain/East Main street intersection. There will be more traffic in the communities. RANDY ROGNEY, 1365 Romeo Drive, lives at the end of the cul-de-sac. When he purchased his home, there was no indication there would be a road planned at any time. If the City had left the area open on one end, he might never have bought property. When the subdivision was approved in 1990, the adverse impact had been mitigated because of the street design. It looked like the street design was approved (cul-de-sac). The character of the neighborhood was considered in the design of the development. The cul-de-sac makes the character. Most of the neighbors that Rogney has talked with can see no reason to connect the streets. If this proposal is approved, Rogney wondered if he would lose any of his property. McLaughlin said he couldn't guarantee anything for the future, however, it is not the City's intent nor part of the design to take any of Rogney's property. Rogney thought the connection between Mill Pond is important but would favor a bike path or pedestrian path. This would keep children from walking along Fordyce. It would seem the ordinances could be met by connecting neighborhoods without having a roadway. He asked that the Commission take another look at the turn that will be needed at the end of the cul-de- sac. He also was concerned about drainage. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING NOVEMER 8, 1994 MINUTES Jarvis noted that the curve Rogney mentioned is difficult to go around and people have to go slow. One of the benefits to having difficult curves and narrow streets is that they do slow cars down. An unusual street configuration could be an advantage. Rogney is concerned that people will drive around the island on the wrong side. SCOTT TURRELL, 1335 Romeo Drive, believes there are mechanical and legitimate concerns about the street connection. He thought it would be helpful to try driving a small U-Haul around the cul-de-sac. McLaughlin suggested a possible sign and a traffic circle. COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION AND MOTION Finkle asked the width of a pedestrian or bike path versus a street width. McLaughlin thought about a bike path was 12-15 feet and the street would be about 26 feet wide with sidewalks. DON PAUL, Assistant Fire Chief, said the Fire Department likes to have two ways of entry and through streets are an advantage. Cul-de-sacs are difficult. Carr suggested any streets that do not connect, that bollards could be placed and removed in an emergency. McLaughlin said Staff and the Commission could be flexible with Eidman's design. Thompson wondered about a stub with the parcel to the south of Munson Drive and maybe to the south of Kirk Lane too. McLaughlin said Fordyce will be the focal point of the neighborhood. The Planning Commission, Engineering and neighbors should sit down and determine how the neighborhood should be planned. (Carr left the meeting at 9:05 p.m.) Armitage wondered how much will be gained by pushing Romeo Drive through. Wouldn't a bike and pedestrian path be just as beneficial? Bingham said his biggest problem with the Romeo Drive situation is that people purchased lots with the understanding they were purchasing lots on a cul-de-sac. also does not want Mrs. Eldman to lose the ability to develop her property. He ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING NOVEMER 8, 1994 MINUTES Finkle stated that, based on his site visit and looking at the street design, area, etc., it would not appear likely that a great deal of traffic will be taking that connection to Mountain Avenue. He did not believe there would be much difference in the street width and the bike path width. Thompson wanted the Commission to remember that when an issue is isolated to a neighborhood, it is important that they don't lose sight of the larger goal of reducing vehicle trips per day. The intent on Romeo Drive was always to come through. He is in favor of following that initial plan and he was very sorry there was not full disclosure to the home owners made in the sale of the lots on Romeo. Cloer agreed with Finkle and Thompson. He would approve of each street connection. With regard to the linkage of Romeo to Mill Pond, he aches for Carolyn Eldman, however, he believes the street connections are what the Planning Commission intended to do and that is what should be done. Giordano favors the project. He felt the Eldman property could be master-planned for all the uses they are going to want. Jarvis concluded there are things that could be done to mitigate the connections for the neighbors such as making the narrowest road possible. There will be less carbon monoxide where cars are not turning around on the cul-de-sac. Delivery trucks will not have to turn around. Don Paul's comments were well taken as it is beneficial to have fire apparatus access from two ways. Jarvis did not believe there would be very much increased traffic. Something can be done to the middle island area to make sure people drive around it correctly. Thompson moved to recommend approval of Planning Action 94-128 with the addition of a stub coming down in between Lots 1200 and 1300. Giordano seconded the motion. Armitage suggested adding language that the right-of-way on Romeo be as narrow as possible and that the median design encourage proper traffic flow. Thompson approved the amendment and Giordano seconded. The motion carried unanimously. OTHER The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING NOVEMER 8, 199,t MINUTES