ESTACADA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 – 7:00 PM

CITY HALL

 

1.       CALL TO ORDER

 

          The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.

 

2.       ROLL CALL

 

Present:  Cm. James, Cm. Sager, Cm. McGregor, Cm. Webber, Cm. Crosby, Chrm. Cameron, CP McCallister, DCR Hovda.

 

Absent:  Cm. Copeland.

 

3.       APPROVAL OF JULY 21, 2005 MINUTES

 

Consensus was to approve the minutes as revised (Cr. Webber was not in attendance).

 

4.       PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

A.       Subdivision application #2005-4.  The applicant, William Hilands, is requesting a 5 lot residential subdivision for property described as 34E, 28B, tax lot 2100, which is zoned R-1 (low density residential).  The application is subject to the criteria in Section 16.16, 16.104-16.116 of the Estacada City Code.  Upon recommendation by the Planning Commission, a final public hearing will be held by the City Council on Monday, October 24, 2005, at 7:00 pm in the Estacada City Council chambers.  The property is located on the south side of Darrow Road, Mountain View Lane and west of Regan Hill Road.   

 

Cm. Cameron opened the public hearing and asked for abstentions or exparte contact, there was none.

 

CP reviewed the staff report, which recommends denial.  He also acknowledged a handout by the applicant and marked it as exhibit 4. 

 

Cm. Cameron read a statement regarding evidence. 

 

Gary Darling, DL Design, handed out a site plan of the development labeled as exhibit 5.  The revised plan shows what a 40’ right-of-way would do to the future development of the property by making their developable area above the bluff too minimal.  This is why the applicant does not want to provide for a 40’ roadway.

 

CP asked how steep the slope is along the backside of lots 8-10.  Mr. Darling said he does not have that information at this point. 

 

Cm. McGregor feels the applicant isn’t necessarily trying to save the row of trees on tax lot 3, but rather trying to save buildable area for future lots.  

 

Mr. Darling stated the 25’ roadway could serve only 6 lots, and future lots could be provided access through other means. 

 

CP stated the point here tonight is that the Commission should not approve this first 5 lots in a way that will force them to do something in the future that they do not want to.  He stated the Commission can ask the applicant to show how the future property will be developed so to plan for appropriate access.   

 

Mr. Darling stated the Commission could make a condition that this road only serve 6 lots.  That will limit what the applicant could do in the future.

 

CP stated that the code allows for private roads if a public roadway could not be reasonably be required.  The Commission must make the decision based upon the code, not just because the applicant asks for it.  There might be other design alternatives to serve this area that do not include a private road.  The question the Commission must decide is if the private road is necessary? 

 

William Hilands, applicant stated if the 40’ roadway is necessary then the front lots would need to be reduced to 4.  He feels this could be a solution with a continuance.  He feels living along this bluff area with a 20’ one-way private road would be preferable. 

 

CP feels if the roadway is only 25’ there still doesn’t appear to be enough buildable area along lots 9, 10 and 11. 

 

Mr. Hilands stated lot 7 might have to be removed to provide enough buildable area. 

 

Mr. Darling proposed to eliminate the 25’ road access and just have the 5 lots along Darrow.  All future lots would have to take access off of the north/south road on the west end of the development.  Otherwise, they would like to ask for a continuance instead of a denial. 

 

 

Chrm. Cameron closed the public hearing and reopened the Planning Commission meeting. 

 

Cr. Crosby moved to recommend approval of Subdivision Application #2005-4 with the conditions in the staff report and with the condition that the public road be removed and add a condition that 25’ be added to the north/south road on the west end with16’ of ½ street improved paved area along the north/south road.  Cm. Sager seconded the motion.  Roll call vote:  Cm. James – yes, Cm. Webber – yes, Cm. McGregor – yes, m. Sager – yes, Cm. Copeland – yes, Cm. Cameron – yes.  Motion passed 6-0. 

 

B.        Ordinance #2005-1 - amends the city code dealing with planned developments – clarifies the requirements and procedures and reduces open space to 20%. 

 

The Commission reviewed the proposed ordinance and discussed the changes that were made.  Cm. Sager moved to recommend approval of the ordinance as amended to the City Council.  Cm. James seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

The Commission discussed future meeting dates due to the holidays.  There are not any applications currently in for the October 28th meeting.  The Commission agreed to hold one meeting over the next 3 months on Thursday, December 1st. 

 

5.       ADJOURNMENT

 

          The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.