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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Hottest Galleries: October 22, 2007 Planners to consider procedural changes By Julie French Ashland Daily Tidings Community Development Director David Stalheim will give recommendations for land use decision-making procedures on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at his last planning commission meeting before he heads back to Washington. One procedural amendment would allow staff to make decisions on minor planning issues, such as secondary dwellings on single-family lots, without being subject to commission approval, Stalheim said. The change would allow neighbors to submit comments to staff before a decision is made, rather than waiting for a hearing at the commission where they can no longer argue for or against the development. "Quite often, neighbors help inform us about issues, such as environmental and traffic issues, that may not be as obvious to us as they are to the neighbors," Stalheim said. "It gets them involved earlier in the process, which really helps their participation and will lead to better decisions." Stalheim said he expects the commission to approve several other amendments to the land use ordinance that have been under consideration since April. The changes should make the requirements of the ordinance clearer, he said. The commission will also discuss the possibility of adding a hearings officer who could approve development projects. When Stalheim arrived in Ashland, he suggested such an officer was not necessary, but he will leave with a different recommendation. "I've rethought it based on my history here," he said. "I think we probably should have done that." A hearings officer used as a short term solution would ensure fair and consistent application of the ordinance, he said, as well as allow for more efficient use of the commission's time. "So much time is spent on these minor land use decisions that in my mind should be better spent on long range planning discussions," he said. The meeting will be held at the Civic Center on 1175 E. Main Street. Staff writer Julie French can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 227 or [email protected] . To post a comment on this story, go to www.dailytidings.com . Current Comments: Beware density and parking: Santa Cruz rubber-stamps "granny unit" conversions without any off-street parking requirement. Result: you can't put out your trash for collection because the street is full of parked cars. Richard Cranium - Ashland OR - October 22nd, 2:47 PM Thanks again to Cate, Alice, and Swales for putting the City in a position to hire "another" person to oversee planning in Ashland. Mr. Stalheim obviously couldn't possibly know from the surface what each of you were trying to do. Now he does and he's fleeing! Each of you are doing a great job busting this City's budget and refocusing attention to manutia manure instead of the realities this town will face in the future. Progressives? Try Regressives! Manutia Manure - Ashland - October 22nd, 2:59 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us