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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes - July 20, 1999Planning Commission Minutes July 20"', 1999 Page 2 Report. The applicants, Jackson County; Naumes, Inc.; and Oregon Department of Transportation, are proposing changes that would result in the addition of approximately 33 acres to the City's UGB. The addition to the UGB will create approximately 19 acres of commercial land with the designation of C-4 and 14 acres to be designated as Open Space/Greenway. The property is located in the vicinity of East Pine Street and N. Peninger Road. As required when amending the Urban Growth Boundary a joint Planning Commission meeting must be held. The purpose of this meeting is to review the staff report(s) and public testimony, and recommend an appropriate action to the Central Point City Council and Jackson County Board of Commissioner~lso, as required, a Notice of Proposed Amendment has to been sent to the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DECD). DECD, has 45 days to review and comment on the proposal before any final action can be taken. Mr. Humphrey and Ms. Kuntz both indicated that at the time there is no response from DECD or the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Mr. Humphrey also noted that DECD is requesting the City of Central Point submit its buildable land inventory before the final hearing. Several of the commissioners had questions regarding the development and if all the neighbors, especially the Jackson County Fair had been contacted. Ms. Kuntz indicated that the Fair Board has approved of the development and Mr. Humphrey identified where the proposed development would occur if approved. Craig Stone, agent for Naumes Inc., addressed the Joint Commission on the development. Mr. Stone indicated that the Fair board enthusiastically supports a new commercial development in the area because any new development will help with their entrepreneurial enterprises. Mr. Stone stated that the Naumes are a farming business. They do not usually develop land, but this property is no longer suited to producing crops. It is surrounded on three sides by existing or potential development. Re-zoning of the land will only change 19 acres, in which a hotel would be located. The other land will continue to be Open Space. Mr. Stone mentioned that as the Expo continues to grow a commercial hotel will have to be placed somewhere in the vicinity. Commissioner LeGros asked Mr. Stone and Mr. Humphrey how big the Bear Creek Greenway in this area will be. Mr. Stone indicated that the area is roughly 13 acres, but can be amended to add more if needed. Planning Commission Minutes July 20`h, 1999 Page 3 Commissioner Hennion asked for more specific reasons why farming is not a viable option for the area, he also asked for a detailed map or report summarizing the amount of commercial land in Central Point, and he asked what is ODOT's role in this process. Mr. Stone stated that a detailed Memo will be presented with the next report and that ODOT would serve as both an applicant and as an affected state agency. Mr. Humphrey noted the exact amount of vacant commercial land available in Central Point and also noted that a Buildable Lands Inventory Report will be available soon. Mark Ashby, of ODOT Region 3, spoke in opposition to any immediate action on this proposal. Mr. Ashby noted that ODOT had only known of the UGB expansion for two days and would need time to study the report. He suggested that ODOT should be given time to analyze data on traffic flow in the region and other concerns on this item. He noted that a comprehensive traffic impact shady would have to be completed for this site. Several Commissioners asked if he had read the previous report and asked for guidelines for a study. Mr. Ashby noted that the applicants should get in contact with the ODOT traffic engineering department and devise a plan. Mr. Stone again addressed the Commission about the traffic shady and talked about the qualitative versus quantitative land available in Central Point. Mr. Stone told the Commission that he would let his clients know of the requirements and get in contact with and work out the specifics with ODOT and Jackson County. Commissioner Fish made a motion to continue consideration and the public hearing for the Comprehensive Plan Amendments and zone changes for the Naumes Development to a subsequent meeting. Commissioner LeGros seconded the motion. Commissioner Hennion for Jackson County made a motion to continue consideration and the public hearing for the Comprehensive Plan Amendments and zone changes to a subsequent meeting. Commissioner Greene seconded the motion. ROLL CALL: Motion passed both Commissions unanimously. B. Public hearing to consider a site nlan introduced by Barbara and Stephen Brown to modify an existing business at 841 E Pine Street for a drive up window The subject property is located in the C-4 Tourist and Office Professional zoning district. There were no ex-parte communications or conflicts. Planning Commission Minutes July 20`s, 1999 Page 4 Ken Gerschler presented the Planning Department Staff Report. The applicant's Barbara and Steven Brown have requested a site plan review by the Planning Commission that would allow a drive through window to be installed at 841 East Pine Street in the C-4, Tourist and Office Professional zoning district. The applicant's have been waiting for the Rite-Aid development to proceed with its project so that the drive through would be able to access the vacated ninth street right of way. With the Rite Aid development on hold the applicant's have decided to proceed with their proposal. The site plan indicates that the drive through window would be positioned on the east side of the building. Vehicular patrons would circulate from Ninth Street, through the parking lot, and up a newly created driveway to the window with an eventual exit from the site via a rear alley. In order for this development to proceed the applicant's will have to address how they will deal with problems of topography, street width, access and stoma drainage. Mr. Humphrey noted that this development was supposed to be in conjunction with the street vacation. The ninth street is currently a public street and will only be vacated if the Rite Aid Development proceeds. Mr. Gerschler noted that he spoke with the Building Department and that the window itself is permitted on the property. Additional concerns revolved around ingress and egress points and traffic circulation and parking. Lee Brennan, Public Works Director, presented the Public Works Staff Recommendations. Mr Brennan commented that ninth street is a public street with a 60-foot right of way. The current proposal would put the new driveway in the public right of way. In order to proceed a contract with the city would have to be worked out, noting that at any time the city could take that property away from the applicants. Mr. Brennan noted that the sidewalks and an existing driveway apron would have to be repaired and that the applicant's were suggesting using rolled paving driveway curbing. Mr. Brennan noted that this kind of paving usually is not durable, easily cracks, and should not be considered a viable option. He also noted the slope of the driveway and stated that the city requires a 2 to 1 slope and the current configuration does not comply with these standards. Usually setbacks for a development of this type are 32 feet, the current configuration is only 10 feet. Mr. Brennan also noted that the drainage is not adequately addressed in the current plan and that it would have to be addressed. He also depicted graphically how cazs would turn out of the driveway stating that it would be difficult for vehicles turning in and out of the business and that trucks could not do the turn adequately. Mr. Brennan asked the commission that if this site plan is approved that the Public Works Department would recommend improvements to the sidewalks and alley. A Storm Drain plan would have to be introduced to deal with run Planning Commission Minutes July 20`h, 1999 Page 5 off, and that engineered plans, drawn to scale, would have to be submitted. The Applicants, Barbara and Steven Brown 841 E. Pine Street, stated that this was the first they have heard of the problems associated with their proposal. They have been trying to work with the City of Central Point to create the new drive through. They believe they are being treated unfairly. They are not asking for a lot, just a window to be competitive. They do not own the land and do not think they should have to pay for the improvements. The cost of improvements would be a financial burden and effect the viability of the business. They have never had problems with the traffic. Their only problem is with trucks parking perpendicular to their business to enter the liquor store. The applicants indicated that if they got permission to proceed before the end of the moth they could get a break on their construction costs of about one thousand dollazs. Mr. Humplu-ey addressed the commission and told them they should not feel pressured to make a decision on this proposal Mr. Humphrey also stated that there have been some communication problems, but not to the extent they are being presented to the commission. The Commission asked about the Rite Aid development and how that would affect this proposal. Mr. Humphrey indicated that if Rite Aid does not come in ninth street will remain public right of way, and that he would contact Rite Aid to see what its status is and inform the commission of this discussion. Until the City hears otherwise, the Rite Aid development project as approved is still viable. Commissioner Fish made a motion to continue this item to the next meeting pending further information on the Rite Aid development. Slte also stated that the Brown's should contact the City's Public Works and Planning Departments on how to solve this issue. Commissioner LeGros seconded the motion. ROLL CALL: Motion passed unanimously. C. Public Hearine to consider a reouest by Victor Kosmatka to vary from the Citk's standard off-street parking requirements The subject pronerty is located on the north side of Chem Street, 140 feet east of North Tenth Street in the R-3 Residential Multi- Famil, z~P district. There were no ex-parte communications or conflicts. Ken Gerschler presented the Planning Department Staff Report. The applicant, Victor Kosmatka, has requested a variance from the off street parking requirements for the Planning Commission Minutes July 20"', 1999 Page 6 tentatively approved East Cherry Estates Subdivision. Mr. Kosmatka has designed his own floor plan which attempts to de-emphasize the garage as part of the overall architecture. His request for the variance is based upon aesthetics, affordability, and a precedence that was set for single car garages on a similar padlot development across the street. The decrease in garage size is intended to increase the distance between each unit and reduce the overall cost for the first time buyer. It will also add to the aesthetics for this area and make the whole cul-de-sac look like one development. There are garages of smaller dimensions across the street. Commissioner Fish asked Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Gerschler how a precedence had been set. Mr. Humphrey told the commission about the problems with the Blue Bird Heights Development. The smaller garages were not permitted, and were supposed to be wider. When the buildings were constructed the garage door size was influenced by new building code requirements. Mr. Brennan presented the Public Works recommendations and gave evidence that the proposed amount of parking would not be enough to get cars off the street. Mr. Brennan noted that Bluebird Heights has enough parking for four cars per unit and the off-street parking is filled up. The Public Works Department would recommend having 40 feet of concrete, two adjoining 20 foot wide driveways, to makeup for the lack of parking in the garage. The Applicant, Victor Kosmatka, informed the Commission that this development is supposed to be aesthically pleasing. The garage is de-emphasized so that the owner will have more yard and abetter-looking house. These pad-lots are designed for the first time home owner and since this is an R-3 type zone they are within the guidelines for an R-3 development for parking uses. Daniel Kosmatka, 33 Bell Air Court, Medford, OR, is the co-developer. He stated that since this is an R-3 zone those parking requirements should be applied. They are trying to make agood-looking house without having to add too much concrete. Tom Sharp, of East Cherry, stated that he was in favor of this proposal and that the Kosmatka's should be allowed to pursue this development because the other side looks just the same and there will be a parking problem regardless of how much pavement is put in. Planning Commission Minutes July 20`h, 1999 Page 7 Commissioner Riggs asked the Public Works Director how much concrete they would want. Mr. Brennan indicated the Public Works Deparhnent would recommend 40 feet. Commissioner Riggs made a motion to adopt Resolution Number 458 approving the Variance from the standard off-street parking requirements. The applicant's will add an additional foot on each side of the driveway pavement for a total of 33 feet of pavement. Each garage having 16.5 feet of pavement. Commissioner Lunte seconded the motion. ROLL CALL: motion passed unanimously. VII MISCELLANEOUS There were no miscellaneous items. VII ADJOURNMENT