Strategy ULT-4. Support more climate- ready development and land use. Ashland’s population is growing, and with a larger population comes new development. Updating zoning requirements and land-use policies can shape new development to be as climate-resilient as possible. PRIORITY ACTIONS ULT-4-1. Regulate new development in the Wildfire Lands Overlay part of the urban growth boundary. The Wildfire Lands Overlay includes areas where homes and buildings are in close proximity with undeveloped lands. Evidence from other cities indicates that wildfires are most deadly and destructive when they burn into denser neighborhoods on the outskirts of town. Reg - ulating building materials and vegetation man - agement as part of new development in the Wildfire Lands Overlay can reduce the risk of severe damage as the frequency and intensity of wildfires increase. ULT-4-2. Revise community development plans to favor walkable neighborhoods and infill density. Ashland has a series of long-range planning documents that guide development across Ashland districts, neighborhoods, and natural areas. Revisiting these plans to ensure that they support climate-ready development needs, such as walking, biking, transit, parking management, and climate adaptation features, will ensure that Ashland development is con - sistent with the City’s climate goals and com - mitments. It will be important to ensure that these activities do not come at the expense of higher housing costs, which could disadvan - tage low-income populations. ULT-4-3. Modify the WUI code to include construction techniques appropriate for wildfire-prone areas. Ashland’s Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) zones are the most wildfire-threatened parts of the city, and the risk of wildfires affecting these areas will only increase as climate change increases the frequency and severity of fires. Modifying the WUI code to require more resilient construction techniques can minimize the risk that new structures built in the WUI are damaged or destroyed by fire. OTHER ACTIONS • Require, through a Brush Ordinance, property construction and maintenance for “defensible space.” • Consider regulating further construction or expansion in the WUI part of the urban growth boundary (UGB). • Evaluate future climate impacts on transportation infrastructure and operations, including critical needs for emergency response, goods and services movement, and community access. • Change zoning to minimize development in high flood-risk areas.C Ad C MiC Ad 67 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANURBAN FORM, LAND USE & TRANSPORTATION67

Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)