City commission approves zoning change for development

The city of Medford planning commission cleared the first step for what is expected to be a smooth adoption of a proposed subdivision on the city’s northeast side.

Chuck and Linda Gelhaus of Medford are looking to develop a one and two family residential subdivision call Edgewood Estates on a parcel they own north of Allman Street east of Malibu Dr. The plan required the rezoning of part of the parcel from commercial to residential use and a preliminary review of the plat map for the area.

During a public hearing for the proposed rezoning no one came with any complaints. City planner Bob Christensen said he saw nothing that would stand in the way of the area being developed according to the plan they proposed.

He recommended to commission members that they vote to adopt the zoning change contingent on the plat’s final approval. Members agreed and unanimously approved the zoning change with the recommended contingency.

Monday’s meeting was the commission’s first review of the proposed plat. Christensen noted that there were some additional items needed, specifically mapping in the utility lines for water, sewer and electricity and a change in the proposed street name from Gelhaus Drive to 9th Street.

Christensen explained that under the overall city street plan, 9th Street which runs behind the Medford Plaza, would eventually jog over to what is currently Bauer Drive and go up to the northern city limits.

“It will probably be 200 to 300 years before it happens,” Christensen said.

“You may be surprised,” Chuck Gelhaus responded, suggesting growth may occur sooner than that.

Christensen said other than those changes, he didn’t see any issues with the preliminary plat. While the zoning change will go to the city council for final approval right away, final approval of the overall plat will take a more convoluted route with required approvals at multiple state agencies. Christensen warned that it may take three to four months before that is ready to be approved by council.

In other business, commission members:

_ Discussed the creation of twin home and residential condominium requirements in the city. The city’s current condos in the Allman Park complex are part of a planned unit development. Christensen said there is nothing currently spelling out or giving the city any say in how residents may divide a property into condominiums. In a condominium, the homeowner owns the footprint of the residence with all other areas being part of common space with fees charged to maintain those spaces. In twin homes, each side of a duplex and the parcel it sits on would be divided and treated as a separate property without the required setback on a typical parcel allowing the shared wall construction of a duplex. State law allows property owners to establish condominiums without the need for local ordinances, however Christensen suggested the city develop one to have input in how they are set up. There are financial benefits to developers for the different types of developments.

Commission member Tim Hansen questioned why the city would care if a parcel was developed as a duplex or a condominium. Christensen said they would want review authority of these more dense forms of residential development such as requiring uniform siding or coloring from one side of the unit to another.

Christensen said he will draft language for a proposed ordinance change and will bring it to a future meeting.

_ Discussed making changes to the city’s fence rules. Christensen said he is getting a growing number of fence requests. Under the current rules a resident can build up to a 10 foot fence on the property line. Christensen said he would not be opposed to a two-foot setback for fences unless mutually agreed on by both property owners. He will bring additional proposed language to a future meeting.

_ Discussed the need to update the nonconforming use ordinance to match state law which allows property owners to replace structures that were legal nonconforming uses. Christensen used the example of boat houses. Lake residents with existing boat houses are able to replace their structures using the same footprint as the previous building versus having to comply with modern setback requirements. The proposed changes would bring the city rules in line with this change.