HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-10 Planning MIN
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
August 10, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Pam Marsh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street.
Commissioners Present: Staff Present:
Larry Blake Bill Molnar, Community Development Director
Michael Dawkins Maria Harris, Planning Manager
Dave Dotterrer April Lucas, Administrative Supervisor
Pam Marsh
Debbie Miller
Melanie Mindlin
Mike Morris
John Rinaldi, Jr.
Absent Members: Council Liaison:
None Eric Navickas, absent
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Development Director Bill Molnar announced the City Council’s comments and resolution regarding Regional
Problem Solving (RPS) will be presented at a public hearing before the Jackson County Planning Commission at 9:00 a.m. on
Thursday, August 12.
Commission Chair Pam Marsh announced the vacancy on the Planning Commission and encouraged interested citizens to
submit applications to the Mayor’s office.
CONSENT AGENDA
A.Approval of Minutes
1. July 13, 2010 Planning Commission Minutes
Commissioners Miller/Dotterrer m/s to approve the Consent Agenda. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed 8-0.
PUBLIC FORUM
No one came forward to speak.
OTHER BUSINESS
A.Approval of Findings for Planning Action #2010-00582, 1405 Tolman Creek Rd.
Commissioners Dotterrer/Rinaldi m/s to approve the Findings for Planning Action #2010-00582. Voice Vote:
Commissioners Morris, Rinaldi, Blake, Miller, Mindlin, Dotterrer and Marsh, YES. Commissioner Dawkins, NO. Motion
passed 7-1.
B.Overview of Pedestrian Node Project.
Planning Manager Maria Harris presented an overview of the City’s pedestrian node project. She explained this project comes
from the “string of pearls” concept that was presented at an arterial design workshop that occurred in September 2007. Ms.
Harris noted the importance of improving the safety and mobility for pedestrians and motorists and listed the elements for
great pedestrian streets as: good places to sit, transit stop amenities, a network of bike routes and parking, a high degree of
transparency on the ground floor of buildings, continuous building walls, and creating private/public open spaces.
Ashland Planning Commission
August 10, 2010
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Ms. Harris provided the history of this grant. She explained the Planning Division originally submitted a grant pre-application to
the state for the Pedestrian Node Project, but was later asked to combine this with the Public Works Department’s
Transportation System Plan (TSP) project. Staff complied and in June 2009 the City received a state grant that incorporated
the Pedestrian Node project into the TSP project. She clarified the Public Works Department is managing the overall project,
however the Planning Commission will be very involved in the TSP update and the Planning Division will be handling the
Pedestrian Node portion (Task #6).
Ms. Harris listed the intersections identified for the Pedestrian Node project as: 1) East Main Street and North Mountain
Avenue, 2) Walker Avenue and Ashland Street, and 3) Tolman Creek Road and Ashland Street. She also stated these future
nodes share common characteristics including: 1) intersections include one of Ashland’s boulevards, 2) there is an existing
auto-oriented development pattern, 3) there are undeveloped and re-developable sites, 4) there are existing bus lines, 5) there
are commercial and community oriented uses near the intersection, and 6) there is currently zoned commercial or multi-family
residential. Ms. Harris also touched on the project objects, scope of work, and the upcoming meeting schedule.
Staff was asked to comment on why the Tolman Creek Rd/Ashland St intersection was selected instead of the intersection of
Siskiyou Blvd and Bridge. Mr. Molnar clarified because of budget constraints, there was not adequate funding to include all
four intersections. Ms. Harris noted the development potential for the 3 lots that were selected, and it was clarified the Siskiyou
Blvd intersection was removed from this project since this could have conflicted with the study being done as part of the SOU
Master Plan.
Commissioner Marsh recommended they discuss the public meeting schedule for the pedestrian node element. She
questioned who will plan and run these meetings and stated she would like for the commission to take on more ownership with
this project. Marsh proposed a subcommittee of the Planning Commission be selected to flush out some of these details.
General support was voiced for this suggestion and the commissioners shared their input. Commissioner Dotterrer suggested
the subcommittee could help assemble the comments from the public meetings and recommended the commission vote on
meeting minutes for those workshops to ensure the outcomes are accurately captured. Commissioner Miller suggested
examples of pedestrian node projects be presented at the public meetings and recommended they allow citizens to comment
on how this project might affect them. Commissioner Mindlin voiced her concern that the public meetings will be more of a
presentation format and would like to make sure the public influences the outcome. Ms. Harris clarified the consultant’s will not
be coming to the first public meeting with a set of schemes. Commissioner Miller recommended they have a good amount of
media coverage, and recommended they get the word out early to create buzz. Commissioner Mindlin commented that there
is a huge amount of education needed for the public to understand why the City is doing this project and stated it would be
great to get this information out in advance of the meetings.
Commissioner Marsh asked for volunteers to participate on the subcommittee. Commissioners Rinaldi, Miller and Mindlin were
selected to work with staff in regards to the public workshops.
C.Approval of changes to Planning Commission Rules of Conduct/Discussion of Chair and Vice Chairs for
remainder of 2010
Commissioner Marsh noted the Rules document contained in their packet materials contains an error and corrected copies
were handed out at the beginning of the meeting. Staff clarified the error was regarding the Commissions ability to make
changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The old version states any changes have to be approved by the majority of
members on the commission, and the new language states only a simple majority of those present is now needed.
Commissioner Dotterrer questioned the language in section 6.3(a)(i) which states a request for reconsideration shall be made
at least 15 days prior to the commission’s next regular meeting. He asked if this places a burden that can’t be met since there
is typically only 14 days between meeting dates. Mr. Molnar clarified staff typically brings findings before the commission 30
days after the decision is made, and commented that he believes the 15-day timeframe was selected in order to have
adequate time to evaluate the request and notice the meeting. He stated Dotterrer raises good question and recommended
this item be postponed so that staff can compare the language in the Rules document with the requirements in the Land Use
Ordinance. Marsh agreed and recommended this item come back at a future meeting.
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August 10, 2010
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Commissioner Marsh noted the new procedures change the timing of the chair selection, which previously has taken place in
June. She clarified the new procedures state the officers will be selected at their first meeting in January and asked whether
the commission would like to elect interim chairs.
Support was voiced for extending the terms of the commission’s existing officers.
Commisioners Mindlin/Rinaldi m/s to extend the terms of the current officers until the elections in January. Voice
Vote: all AYES. Motion passed 8-0.
Commissioner Marsh recommended the Commission start thinking about their annual retreat, which is typically held in the fall.
Several possible dates were mentioned. The commissioners were asked to email staff the dates they would be unavailable
and Marsh stated she would work with staff and send out options.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
April Lucas, Administrative Supervisor
Ashland Planning Commission
August 10, 2010
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