HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-0526 Special Mtg PACKET
CITY OF
ASHLAND
AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
May 26, 2010
Civic Center Council Chambers
1175 E. Main Street
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Does the Council approve the first reading of ordinances adopting Chapter 18.53
Croman Mill and related ordinance, Ashland Comprehensive Plan, and
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map amendments?
Please Note: The Public Hearing and record for this itme are closed. No additional public
comments will be accepted at this time. Additional materials for this item can also be found on
the Aoril6, 2010 and Mav 4.2010 Council meeting agendas.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this
meeting, please contact the City Administrator's office at (541) 488-6002 (TTY phone number 1-800-735-
2900). Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I).
COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON CHANNEL 9
VISIT THE CITY OF ASHLAND'S WEB SITE AT WWW.ASHLAND.OR.US
CITY OF
ASHLAND
Council Communication
First Reading of Ordinances Adopting
Chapter 18.53 Croman Mill and Related Ordinance, Ashland Comprehensive
Plan, and Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map Amendments
Meeting Date: May 26, 20 I 0 Primary Staff Contact: Bill Molnar
Department: Community Develop ent E-Mail: molnarb{al.ashland.or.us
Secondary Dept.: None Secondary Contact: Maria Harris
Approval: Martha Benn Estimated Time: 2 hours
Question:
Does the City Council approve the first reading of ordinances adopting Chapter 18.53 Croman Mill
and related ordinance, Ashland Comprehensive Plan, and Comprehensive Plan and Zoning map
amendments?
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends the Council hold deliberations and provide direction on Chapter 18.53 Croman Mill
and the related ordinance, Ashland Comprehensive Plan, and Comprehensive and Zoning Map
Amendments.
Background:
At the May 4,2010 meeting, the record was left open until 4:30 p.m. on May 12, 2010 for comments
on the transportation analysis update. Three comments were received and are attached to this memo.
Please bring the previous packet materials from the April 6 and May 4 meetings to the May 26, 20 10
meeting. The record for the planning action is located on the project web site
www.ashland.or.us/croman at http://ashland.or.us/files/2010-05-04 CromanMill PARecord web.pdf.
Second reading should be scheduled for June 15,2010 if the Council is prepared to move forward on
first reading or has minor revisions to the ordinance, plan and map amendments. If the Council wishes
to see more significant revisions to the ordinances, plan and maps, Staffrecommends the first reading
of the ordinance be continued to July 20,2010.
Related City Policies:
Ashland Comprehensive Plan - Chapter II: Introductions and Definitions, Chapter III: Citizen
Participation, Chapter IV: Environmental Resources, Chapter VII: The Economy, Chapter VIII: Parks,
Open Spaces and Aesthetics, Chapter X: Transportation, Chapter XI: Energy, Air and Water
Conservation, Chapter XII: Urbanization
Chapter l8.! 08 Procedures
Council Options:
The Council may approve, approve with modifications, or deny the first reading of ordinances
adopting Chapter 18.53 Croman Mill and related ordinance, Ashland Comprehensive Plan, and
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CITY OF
ASHLAND
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map Amendments. If significant revisions are required, delaying
first reading until a later date such as July 20,2010 meeting may be necessary.
Potential Motions:
I. Move to approve first reading of the following ordinances and request that the ordinances be
brought back for second reading on June 15,2010. '
. Ordinance #1: An Ordinance amending the City of Ashland Comprehensive Plan to add a
new Croman Mill District designation to Chapter II [Introduction and Definitions] to add the
Croman Mill Plan Designation on the adopted Land Use Map Legend and adopt the Croman
Mill Site Redevelopment Plan and Economic Opportunities Analysis as support documents to
the City of Ashland Comprehensive Plan
Exhibit A: Croman Mill Site Redevelopment Plan (December 2008)
Exhibit B: City of Ashland: Economic Opportunity Analysis
Exhibit C: Comprehensive Plan Map Legend
Exhibit D: Comprehensive Plan Appendix A: Technical Reports & Supporting Documents
. Ordinance #2: An Ordinance amending the Ashland Land Use Ordinance creating a new
Chapter 18.53 Croman Mill
Exhibit A: Chapter 18.53 Croman Mill
. Ordinance #3: An ordinance amending AMC 18.72.080.C Site Design Review Standards to
add new Site Design and Use Standards for the Croman Mill District
Exhibit A: Section VIII Croman Mill District Standards
. Ordinance #4: An ordinance amending AMC 18.08.190, 18.08.341, 18.08.342, 18.08.343,
18.08.845,18.12.020, l8.61.042, 18.68.020, 18.68.050, 18.72.030, 18.72.110, 18.72.120,
18.72.140, 18.72.180, 18.84.100, 18.88.070, 18.88.080, 18.92.020, 18.96.090, 18.104.020,
18.106.030,18.108.0174 of the Ashland Municipal Code and Land Use Ordinance for
consistency with new Chapter 18.53 Croman Mill
. Ordinance #5: An Ordinance amending the City of Ashland Comprehensive Plan to change
the land use map designation of approximately 99 acres of land within the City of Ashland
Urban Growth Boundary from Industrial, Employment, Single-Family Residential and Rural
Residential (Jackson County) to the newly created Croman Mill Plan Designation; amending
the City of Ashland Zoning and Land Use Control Maps to rezone approximately 78 acres of
land within the City Limits from M-1, E-1, and R-1-5 Districts to the newly created Croman
Mill Zone; and imposing five Croman Mill Overlay Districts on the Croman mill zoned
properties, including Compatible Industrial, CM-CI, Office Employment, CM-OE, Mixed Use,
CM-MU,Open Space, CM-OS, Neighborhood Center, CM-NC
Exhibit A: Proposed Comprehensive Plan Designation
Exhibit B: Proposed Croman Mill District Zone (CM)
Exhibit C: Proposed Zoning Map Changes
. Ordinance #5a: An Ordinance Extending the City of Ashland Detail Site Review Zone
Exhibit A: Croman Mill District Detail Site Review Update
. Ordinance #6: An Ordinance amending AMC Chapter 15 to create LEED Certified Building
Pri ori ty
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CITY OF
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2. For minor revisions:
Move to approve first reading with proposed amendments as noted after each ordinance, and
request that the ordinances be brought back for second reading on June 15, 2010.
(see list of ordinances above)
3. If more significant revisions are necessary:
Move to direct staff to make changes as directed, and to continue the first reading on the proposed
Croman Mill District ordinance, plan and map amendments to the July 20,2010.
Attachments:
I. Letter from Cate Hartzell, May 12,2010
2. Letter from Colin Swales, May 12, 2010
3. Letter from Mike Montero, May 11,2010
4. Croman Discussion Topics Outline, Mayor John Stromberg, May 4,2010
\
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er~'
>>> "Cate Hartzell" <cate<iilmlnd.net> 5/12/2010 1:28 AM >>>
May 12, 2010
Cate Hartzell
892 Garden Way
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Ashland Planning Commission
20 East Main Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Dear Commissioners,
FOR THE RECqRD PA #2009-01292 [Croman Mill ]
Testimony from a citizen-neighbor raised the question of whether Mistletoe
Road Is owned by the city or whether It Is In fact located In the Railroad
Right-of Way, Could you please clarify this Issue, as It seems to be very
Important to Phase II of the plan?
I am concerned that the transportation system designed for this project will
not accommodate the full range of actlvlty that Is allowed on acreage of
this size zoned as It Is.
The City appears to have declared that It will never have a need for M-1
land, The zoning and design of the Croman Mill property predetermines the
site In such a way as to make It all but Impossible to use for IIght- to
medium-Industrial purposes. However, I encourage the City to design the
transportation system to accommodate more Industrial purposes If it proves
necessary. Cement Is harder to change than zoning. It could be that our
predictions for the future are less than accurate,
Thank you for your attention to this Input.
Respectfully,
Cate Hartzell
RECEIVED
MAY I 2 2010
City of Ashland
Community Development
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April Lucas - Transportation and Cram an PA#2009-01292
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RECEIVED
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From:
To:
Date:
Sub,ject:
Colin Swales <colinswales@gmail.com>
Barbara christensen <christeb@ashland.or.us>
5/11/2010 10:40 PM
Transportation and Croman P A#2009-0 1292
MAY 1 2 2010
City of Ashland
Community Development
FOR THE RECORD - Planning Action #2009-01292 [ Croman Master Plan I
(email- to be sent via City Recorder before 4:40 p,m, 5/12/10 deadline
Note: Please send electronic copies to the Council, and for their online packet, in order to preserve the
included hyperlinks),
Mayor and Council,
I have some suggestions and some questions:
. Viable Transit?: The problem I personally have with the transportation planning for the
Croman Property is that the planners think it necessary to force "high density" out there in order to
make would-be public transit options (Buses, Streetcars, Commuter Rail etc.) appear somewhat
marginally viable to this area. This ex-mill property is located at the very outskirts of our city's'
farthest southern boundary - about as far as it is possible to be from the rest of the Rogue Valley's
transportation networks and at over 3 miles distance, it is further from our downtown plaza than
Talent. Why not concentrate such density close-in near existing transit routes?
. Alternative choices for office/employment along existing routes:
1. The walkable Downtown (C-I/C-I D) still has huge vacant scattered holes around it suitable for
future possible office use and not shown on the City's lluUdable_Lam!sJ_!!y~!!tory_.::JILI. e.g.
Copeland site, ex-city parking lot adjacent to Jasmine Building, Beaver Slide parking lot,
Ashland Springs Hotel Parking lot, Evo's Parking Lot, Bakery Parking lot - at rear, Elks Parking
lot, Wells Fargo Parking Lot as well as 2 current City Parking lots at 2nd St. and PioneerlLithia.
And do we really need 3 gas stations along Lithia Way?
2. The nearby Railroad Property (E-1-R) remains largely vacant; Ashland Lumber (open storage - a
non-conforming use in its QetailSite_Reyi~wZO!le) is also not listed as re-developable in the BU,
3. Ex- Lower Pines Trailer park, now without its original affordable housing trailers, remains vacant
- its recent office/residential condo "Mixed Use" planning action has presumably now expired?
This is a large C-l lot over I acre in size.
4. SOU Master Plan proposes commercial development along its Ashland Street frontage. In fact a
lot ofthe of the frontage property along this street is still under-developed - although not counted
as such on the BLI. Ashland Street is on an existing bus route. Buildings along here are limited to
40 ft. height yet Croman is proposed to allow 40 ft plus a bonus of up to two extra stories - 66ft,?
Why is it planned to have such tall buildings on the outskirts while they are prohibited adjacent to
this wide boulevard?
. Previous Plans
1. The City's own 1995 Railroad District Draft Infill Strategy and the 1999 Ashland "B" Street
Transportation Plan remain largely un-implemented. (as does the 2001 Downtown II and
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Page 2 of3
Railroad Property Master Plan, as I mentioned in my prior email ),
2. Our Buildable Lands Inventory (BLI), ignores many existing "Redevelopable" or "Partially
Vacant" (i.e. under-developed) sites close in. [ see http:/tw:ww.ash1and,oI.llsLEiJesLBlJ%
;W20_05.,pdf] The EC.QnQmic_Qppw:tunitieS.Analy_sis..,.EDA itself stated"... The 2005 ELl
update identified redevelopable land, but did not include it in the buildable land base..." Why
would such a remote location as Croman attract Ashlanders to work out there rather than more 1-5
auto-commuters from Talent, Phoenix and Medford? Locals really seem to like being near our
Downtown !
3, The Economic Opportunities Analysis [http://v.'ww,ashlling,.oL!JJ;/fiJe/Ashland%20EQA%
200~6_2.LO.z.pdf] states: "...significant economic activity occurs in the form of home occupations
throughout the City. Many of Ashland's most successfuljirms began as home occupations, and
when they outgrew their homes, moved to larger facilities. In 2004, nearly 1600 employees were
located in residential zones....". Yet it seems to ignore the modern trend to "telecommuting" and
"virtual offices" at home. [ see e,g. bJlp-://www~inc.com/magazine/2QL@.4D.lLthe.=.c!!se~a!1d-=th_e.-
p-lan,for.:-J!te.=xi.rtl!al,cOffipany.hlm) ] ".., "Not only would it save me $300 a month in commuting
costs, it would allow me to roll out of bed at 10 a.m., walk 20feet, and be at work..." The Croman
Plan itself seems somewhat old-fashioned when it envisions an "eco" office-park ofw<)rker bees
housed within expensive cubicle hives, all swarming around a Plexis campus - all at the very
south edge of town.
4, The results of the City's last attempt at master-planning a distant satellite commercial/residential
communities (North Mountain Neighborhood Plan) has now completely stalled with no
operating commercial component in evidence whatsoever. Empty blacktop snakes across an
almost empty hillside. Once-successful developers are now facing imminent foreclosure ( see
"Longtime developer sued by investors - Larry Medinger hit by financial crisis" at
http-:i/Y0YW .dailytidings.cQml.aPP-s/pbcs,dll/ill1ick?AIQ~='/20J 00507/NEWS02/50I0302 ], This is
less than half the distance from our downtown than Croman,
5. Nearby Mountain Meadows retirement center leaves older folks stuck out at the city limits with a
panoramic freeway view - yet no public transit options. Ashland taxpayers are now expected to
subsidize its introduction to this outlier,
6. Medford's planners now realize - too late - the results of their own previous mistaken sprawl
planning which has hollowed out their own town center. [ see Developing downtown districts
hltp- :fiWYf'N.mailJdb.tlnC,c.omLaPPs/Pb.e,s.dllillrtic.I"?AIQ::iZQJ0Q504/BIZi501.03,0_&
. Storage Yards needed:
1. The City's own recent Facilities Master Plan [minutes -http://www.ashland.or.lls/Agendas.asp,?
Qjsp-lay::Minutes&.AMIQ::350(i] states: "...Mr. Ogden... did acknowledge that the
Mistletoe/Tolman Creek property would be consideredfor potential location of city Yard
facilities...Mr. Ogden addressed questions raised by council relating to the City Yard location..."
While those minutes do not list the actual questions asked by Council, I know for a fact that ex-
councilor Alice Hardesty thought that the City Yard on "B" Street (currently zoned R-2/3
residential and/or E-l ?) should be moved due to its incompatibility with surrounding residential
uses.
2. The Ashland School District and SOU also have many such close-in storage yards, ( e.g on
Walker Ave, zoned R-I-5)
3. The Parks dept. Storage Yard at Oak Knoll is zoned residential-, while their Lithia Park storage
facility could also perhaps be moved away from Ashland Creek ( see "Parks department aims to
clean lip its act" - hltrdlW:W1V.d_ailytidings.comlllPps/pbcs.dll/atticle?
AID:=t201Q0325/l'!E,WS02/32W309 ].
4, Public Works has two open storage yards above Lithia Park and the creek - one for pipes and the
other one has annual asphalt-crushing while being adjacent to people's homes. Ripped -up City
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concrete and defunct rubber speed bumps are simply dumped in the nearby quarry in the woods,
[ see http://pic~~~''''!'P.go_ogl'''.c:.o.mlc_olinsF~I,,,s!.QllaIryi! and click on sUdeshow ]
5. Yet the proposed Cram an zoning seems to preclude such messy outside storage use. Why not
allow the far-away Croman property to remain available for such public and private purposes as
outdoor storage? Such a distant existing brownfield (and current dump-site) as the Croman
property seems ideally suited for such uses - more so than our jewel of a city-center park and
surrounding woodland trails. Up-zoning it for the benefit of Mr. Kauffman would make it forever
unaffordable and possibly prohibited for such uses.
Perhaps the aforementioned publicly-owned, and potentially valuable, close-in "open-storage" land near
all the existing transit routes (rail and bus) could then eventually be redeveloped for their more
compatible target (and "highest and best") uses that the zoning dictates,
. Questions:
I. Has the Council considered asking for the opinion of the Transportation Commission on this new
Traffic Impact Analysis, including the possible extra railroad crossing?
2, Has ODOT rail been asked about allowing yet another crossing of their tracks?
3. Will this transportation planning pre-empt the transportation commission's upcoming future
Transportation System Plan decisions?
As Zach Brombacher, commercial property owner, and long-time Croman neighbor stated at the last
Council meeting:
"...1 don't understand why you are doing so much effort for somebody's private property - unless there's
something going on we don't understand"
Perhaps you can help explain when you deliberate?
Colin Swales
(N,B, Although a current member of Ashland's Transportation Commission, the above views are entirely
my own, and should not in any way be construed as representing the TC )
I
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RECEIVED
>>> "Mike Montero" <montero-associates@charter,net> 5/10/2010 6:02 PM >>> MAY 1 1 2010
Brandon, City of Ashland
Community De'Jelopmenl
As we discussed, I will be unavailable for the next 2 days. I left messages at the Planning Dept.
today and have been away from the office so cannot determine if the calls were returned. The'
Developer is out of town and thus request this e-mail to suffice for now our comments
regarding the DKS Technical Memo.
The Memo evaluates Croman District master plan Impacts as baseline against the "no-build"
environment. The memorandum provides that even under the no-build scenario numerous
mitigations would be required to be constructed. The level of mitigation grows however with
development Intensity. Inasmuch as ODOrs letter recognizes that the Croman property's traffic
Impact based on trip generation Is already Incorporated into "no build" analysis, additional
impacts should appropriately be distributed based upon equitable proportionality,
The report does not Identify if any of the proposed mitigations are presently funded through
adopted City capital plans or through ODOT programs. It is my understanding that Exit 14
(Highway 66 and I-S) is currently funded through both the OTIA and STIP funds. The Developer
and property owners respectfully request that this information be made available for our traffic
engineer's review in advance of the next Council meeting.
Sincerely,
Mike
I
I .
u_j
Croman Discussion Topics
(1) M-1 --> office + light industrial
(2) Uses "compatible" w! office
(3) High density employment
(4) Signature street! design/separated bike way
(5) Railroad spur
(6). , C9.rr~c:ti9.11s 10"~j'!lp~gt~gflQlty"c:i[c:uJ"a"tigfl~y~te!Tl
(7) Impact of changes on existing development! property
(8) Appropriateness of locating such a development near the edge of town
(9) Commercial & residential areas
(10) , Parking & openspace + public amenities! private use
(11) Cost of infrastructure
(12) Green requirements [vs. sustainability?]
. energy
. stormwater
. irrigation & landscaping & water
.' sewer
. transportation modes! transit compatibility
. open spacel connection w! creek
. require vs. incentive
(13) Transitions at borders
(14) Design & layout issues
(15) Streamline process
(16) Flexibility
(17) Incremental development
(18) Off-site impacts on transportation
(19) Brownfields
(20) Complexity