HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes - June 1, 2010City of Central Point
Planning Commission
Study Session Minutes
June 1, 2010
I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:05 P.M.
II. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Connie Moczygemba, Pat Beck, Tim Schmeusser, Keith Wangle,
and Justin Hurley were present.
Also in attendance were: Tom Humphrey, Community Development Director;
Don Burt, Planning Manager; Connie Clune, Community Planner; Dave Jacob,
Community Planner; and Didi Thomas, Planning Secretary.
II1. DISCUSSION
C-4 Zoning District Amendments
Planning Manager pon Burt advised the Commissioners that the purpose of the
study session this evening was to discuss the basic concepts for the proposed
changes to the C-4 zoning district and that details (specific standards) would be
discussed at a later time. Mr. Burt asked that the focus be on design elements.
Staff would be meeting with an ad hoc committee of business people on June 10,
20l 0 and wished to impart the Planning Commission's wishes at that time in
order to provide direction to the businessmen.
The City's Strategic Plan that was adopted in May of 2007 expressed a desire to
maintain a"small town" environment as one of the City's core goals, a
community that was walkable with buildings designed to project more human
scale with attractive streetscapes and pedestrian ways. Connectivity between
destinations by way of pedestrian paths is key to creating and maintaining
walkability in the community.
Connie Moczygemba expressed concerns for design criteria to apply also to the
service components of new construction that abut residential areas.
Tom Humphrey, Community Development Director, pointed out that building
orientation on a property could also serve as a buffer to interface with residential
properties.
Plunning Comntission Minutes
June 1, 2010
Page 2
"Transparency" and the creation of human scale, Mr. Burt said, is created by
utilizing window space for display areas, awnings over storefronts and vegetation.
This is what provides a small town feel.
Commissioners expressed concerns about design criteria, and making Central
Point look "cute". Mr. Burt stated that any given standard doesn't guarantee
quality and that we certainly wouldn't want to create a theme. Architecture
should be functional and can be broken up with the use of different materials.
The code amendments do not advocate an architectural theme.
Commissioners generally agreed that there should be 40% transparency as a
design standard and this would apply to public street frontage where there is
pedestrian movement. Walkability and human scale were also considered to be
necessary components for consideration.
Mr. Burt said that future study sessions would deal with refining design
requirements in conjunction with uses.
Justin Hurley expressed concerns about where the funding would come from for
infrastructure improvements. Don Burt said that this would always be a constant
issue.
Keith Wangle mentioned tree clearance and canopy as a concern. This is where
the sidewalk widths would be important to compensation. Mr. Burt noted that
streetscape design is always fraught with compromises which should be made
consciously.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
The foregoing minutes of the June 1, 2010 Planning Commission Study Session were
approved by the Planning Commission at its meeting on the 3~ of ~vs~ ,
2010.
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