State mandated zoning intended to encourage walkable neighborhoods with mix of commercial and residential structures
Ashland.news staff report
Facing an end-of-year deadline to choose and zone specific Ashland areas where mixed-use, pedestrian friendly development is encouraged, the city of Ashland will host a public open house and presentation from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the Siskiyou Room of the Community Development Building at 51 Winburn Way to receive public feedback.
State rules on Climate-Friendly Communities were adopted in July 2022 by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development with the goal of climate-conscious planning and transportation policies in regions with more than 50,000 residents, including the areas of Albany, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene/Springfield, Grants Pass, Medford/Ashland, Portland Metro, and Salem/Keizer.
More info
For additional information on Climate Friendly Areas, go to ashlandoregon.gov/climatefriendly.
The Climate Friendly & Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules require cities to identify and re-zone ‘Climate Friendly Areas’ sized to accommodate 30 percent of future population in mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly areas, according to Ashland’s announcement of the meeting. The rules seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles in Oregon’s eight metropolitan areas by focusing future development in pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use areas similar to traditional downtowns to encourage walking, biking and transit and reduce the need to drive, while also supporting greater usage of electric vehicles, the release says.
Ashland has studied potential CFAs at the old Croman Mill site, the Railroad Property, the Transit Triangle formed by Ashland Street, Tolman Creek Road and Siskiyou Boulevard, and the downtown. Ashland now needs to formally select and re-zone adequate Climate Friendly Areas by the end of this year.
Those unable to attend can offer feedback through an online survey available at ashlandoregon.gov/ClimateFriendly.
The Planning Commission will hold a study session to discuss CFA selection and rezoning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 in Council Chambers. The agenda and packet materials will be available at ashlandoregon.gov/PlanningCommission, approximately three days before the meeting.
Email Ashland.news at [email protected].
Related articles:
Council agrees: A denser Ashland would make more city more ‘liveable’ (July 18, 2024)
Ashland close to designating Climate Friendly Areas for development (Sept. 15, 2023)
Trio of Rogue Valley cities to host event on ‘climate-friendly’ neighborhoods (April 1, 2023)
Ashland to co-host discussion on policy for ‘Climate-Friendly Communities’ (Jan. 29, 2023)
