HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-13 Hearings Board MIN
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
HEARINGS BOARD
MINUTES
MAY 13, 1997
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ron Bass at 1:40 p.m. Other Commissioners present
were Howe and Giordano. Staff present were Molnar, Knox, and Yates.
TYPE II PUBLIC HEARING
PLANNING ACTION 97-035
REQUEST FOR A SITE REVIEW FOR A SECOND DWELLING UNIT AT 120 HIGH STREET
APPLICANT: RYAN LANGMEYER
Site Visits and Ex Parte Contacts
Site visits were made by all.
STAFF REPORT
This action was noticed as a Type I but a request for a public hearing was filed. The letter from the
neighbors is in the packet, briefly describing their concerns. Molnar read the criteria for approval.
The property is located off High Street and bordered by an alley/private drive. Staff has ascertained that
the majority of the paved surface is under private ownership through various easements. The first 100
feet of the paved surface coming from High Street is public and the remainder is in private ownership.
Giordano wondered if the easements could ever be taken away. Molnar said it could be interpreted in
different ways. There has never been a legal analysis of the easements. During the turn of the century it
seemed rights of usage were give to many of the properties.
In January of 1997, an application for seven town homes was approved by the Planning Commission and
an appeal was filed by the neighbors. The two issues of the appeal concerned lot coverage and whether
or not the owner had rights to utilize the back portion of the alley. That appeal was postponed by the
applicant.
Molnar showed an overhead of the proposed unit. There was a permit taken out for an extensive
remodel. During the building permit stage Staff looked at plans for a kitchen. They told the applicant
they needed to obtain a Conditional Use Permit to make it a legal unit. Parking is off what appears to be
the public alley. The application has allowed for a back-up turnaround space for a parked car.
A boundary line adjustment is also being requested.
The neighbor's main concern seemed to be traffic and impacts on the alley. They are also concerned
with the pending townhome project.
PUBLIC HEARING
RYAN LANGMEYER, 120 High Street, thought this was a very straight forward application. Lang took
over the remodeling from David Larson who did some work without permits.
Bass read comments from GAIL BARNHAM, 117 N. Main Street and WINN FRANKLAND, 122 High
Street, in opposition.
DENNIS JARVI, 117 High Street, said the application does not meet Criteria A, that all applicable city
ordinances have been met. If an inspector was to look carefully at the house, he would find it does not
meet codes. The inside was gutted and remodeled including the windows. He would like the building
department to take a close look at the remodel. He noticed the ceiling height is too low to meet the
building code.
Giordano asked if a building official had looked at the unit yet. Molnar understood there was not yet
approval for final occupancy. Generally, Criteria A refers to standards taken from the land use chapter.
The requirements of the building and planning departments both need to be met. If they meet with the
building office and they do not meet the occupancy requirements, then the applicant would need to go
through the building department to obtain a variance. When all conditions of approval have been met, a
letter goes to the applicant approving it.
Rebuttal
LANGMEYER assured the Commission that the building officials have been through the residence and
Langmeyer will address the building issues as they come up. If Jarvi's notation of the ceiling height was
challenged by the inspectors, Langmeyer said he would request a variance.
Staff Response
Molnar reiterated that Criteria A has always been implied as reference to the Land Use Ordinance.
Howe said the boundary line adjustment seemed straight forward. Access to the unit will be from the
public alley and there should be no increase in traffic.
Giordano is supportive of Staff's recommendation and approval. He would like something added that it
was noticed that the new unit would not meet the ceiling height requirement and it would be up to the
applicant to remedy in some fashion.
Molnar suggested a condition that all requirements of the Ashland Building Department be met prior to
the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. The C of O is issued by the building official.
MERRILL BARNABY, 113 High Street, mentioned that Mr. Bischof never taught at the University of
California.
COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL
Howe moved to approve Planning Action 97-035 with the specific requirement Staff outlined that
guarantees there will be strict building review. Giordano seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously.
ASHLAND
PLANNING
COMMISSION 2
HEARINGS BOARD
MINUTES
MAY 13, 1997
TYPE I PLANNING ACTIONS
PLANNING ACTION 97-037
REQUEST FOR A MINOR LAND PARTITION TO DIVIDE A PARCEL INTO TWO LOTS
655 TOLMAN CREEK ROAD
APPLICANT: KIRT MEYER
This action was approved.
PLANNING ACTION 97-039
REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO EXPAND AN EXISTING NON-CONFORMING
SIDE YARD SETBACK
78 SIXTH STREET
THE AREA TO BE EXPANDED IS ADJACENT TO THE ALLEY
APPLICANT: RONALD AND TRACY BASS
Bass abstained as this is his residence.
This action was approved.
PLANNING ACTION 97-040
REQUEST FOR A SITE REVIEW TO CONSTRUCT A COMMUNITY YOUTH CENTER (APPROX.
8,000 SQUARE FEET)
1175 EAST MAIN STREET
APPLICANT: COMMUNITY WORKS
This action was approved. Commissioners asked about the possibility of a safe crossing for pedestrians
at Garfield or the railroad tracks.
PLANNING ACTION 97-041
REQUEST FOR A MINOR LAND PARTITION TO DIVIDE A PARCEL INTO THREE LOTS
2895 HIGHWAY 66
APPLICANT: JOHN R. AND FEATHER W. KING
This action was approved.
PLANNING ACTION 97-042
REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND SITE REVIEW TO CONVERT AN EXISTING
DETACHED GARAGE INTO A ONE-BEDROOM ACCESSORY RESIDENTIAL UNIT
1067 ASHLAND STREET
APPLICANT: GREG AND JEANNE CARTER
This action was approved.
ASHLAND
PLANNING
COMMISSION 3
HEARINGS BOARD
MINUTES
MAY 13, 1997
PLANNING ACTION 043
REQUEST FOR A MODIFICATION OF A CONDITION RELATED TO FINAL PLAN APPROVAL FOR
PHASE II OF THE OAK STREET MEADOWS SUBDIVISION. REQUEST IS TO ELIMINATE
(VACATE) THE PEDESTRIAN EASEMENT LOCATED ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF LOT 7
137 OAK MEADOWS
APPLICANT: DON GREENE
This action was called up for a public hearing.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.
ASHLAND
PLANNING
COMMISSION 4
HEARINGS BOARD
MINUTES
MAY 13, 1997