ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION

Minutes

April 5, 2006

Community Development/Engineering Services Building – 51 Winburn Way – Siskiyou Room

Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Terry Skibby, Jay Leighton, Allen Crutcher, and Henry Baker, Rob Saladoff, Sam Whitford, Tom Giordano
Absent Members:  None

Council Liaison: Jack Hardesty

High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Maria Harris, Senior Planner, Billie Boswell, Administration

CALL TO ORDER – SPECIAL MEETING

At 6:00 PM, Chairman Dale Shostrom called the special meeting to order.  The Commissioners brought in pictures and discussed the merits of each nominee to determine those that would receive an award.  The following awards were granted:

Historically Compatible New Multi-Family:  124 Alida Street

Historically Compatible New Residential:  22 Scenic Drive and 55 Scenic Drive and 112 Almond Street

Historically Compatible New Accessory Building/Detached Garage:  360 Pearl Street

Historically Compatible Residential Addition:  542 Siskiyou Blvd.

Historically Compatible Residential Restoration:  231 Gresham Street and 633 Iowa Street

Organization Award:  Southern Oregon Historical Society

The Special Meeting was stopped at 7:10 PM and the Commissioners agreed to resume it after the Public Hearing portion of the regular Historic Commission meeting.  A five-minute break followed.

CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING

At 7:15 pm, Chairman Dale Shostrom called the regular meeting to order.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Baker asked that a correction be made to the second paragraph under Approval of Minutes on page 1 to change the verbiage from “sustaining” to “abstaining”. 

Mr. Saladoff made a motion to approve the minutes as amended and it was seconded by Mr. Baker. The motion passed unanimously with Ms. Leighton abstaining.

PUBLIC FORUM:  No speakers

PUBLIC HEARING

Planning Action 2006-00453

175 North Main Street

Conditional Use Permit and Site Review

First United Methodist Church of Ashland

Ms. Harris explained to the Historic Commission that Planning Action #2006-453 had been called up to a public hearing to be held on May 9, 2006 so the staff report had not been drafted yet.  Chairman Shostrom requested they review the building details only.

Beverly Thruston of Architectural Design Works, 1105 Siskiyou Blvd. and representing the property owners, reviewed the changes made to the plans based on the suggestions of the Historic Commissioners at the March 8, 2006 meeting.

Chairman Shostrom and Mr. Skibby requested that the gothic window frames be retained by moving them to the North Main side of the building.

Mr. Skibby and Mr. Whitford felt it very important that the Parsonage Rectory be preserved as it is a historical icon of Arts & Crafts cottages.  The applicant stated there were no plans to do anything to the rectory. The Commissioners requested that the applicant remove the verbiage “Future Expansion” from the plans.

There was consensus that the proposal showing the slight arch design on the arcade was more graceful and matched the arch of the bell tower.

(Ms. Leighton excused herself from the meeting at 7:45)

Mr. Skibby asked that all window trim details be shown.

Jon Reinhardt of159 North Main Street, a neighbor, was concerned about the impact the 2-story addition to Wesley Hall would have on his property. The Commissioners felt the impact and look of the addition would be an improvement over what is there now. Mr. Reinhardt also feels the parsonage needs to be maintained to prevent further deterioration of the building, particularly the foundation.  Mr. Whitford suggested it should also be repainted historically accurate colors.

Lee Bowman. 554 Mountain Meadows Drive, a member of the Church Building Committee, stated the Church has no intention of demolishing the parsonage.  It could be moved if expansion occurred in that area but there is nothing planned in the near future. 

Mr. Saladoff asked about the usage of the parsonage.  Mr. Bowman said the church administration would temporarily use the parsonage for offices during construction.  It is not decided if it will revert back to a parsonage or not.  Ms. Harris confirmed that if the use of the building permanently changes from a residential use, a conditional use permit would be required.

There being no one else wishing to speak, the public meeting was closed.

Chairman Shostrom reiterated the Commission’s desire for the Church to protect the integrity of the existing parsonage.  Ms. Thruston stated that drainage work would be done during excavation to solve the water in the basement problem.

Mr. Whitford asked for samples of the stone to be used.  Chairman Shostrom asked that better detail of the windows, columns, trim sizes, exposures of siding, etc. be provided to scale.  Mr. Skibby confirmed with Ms. Thruston that composition shingles would be used for the roof.  Chairman Shostrom also asked that the outline of the parsonage show the site plan.

CONTINUATION OF THE SPECIAL MEETING  

It was decided that the following commissioners would provide a brief write-up on each of the selected award winners by May 1, 2006:

Tom – 124 Alida Street

Dale – 22 Scenic Drive & 633 Iowa Street

Sam – 55 Scenic Drive & 231 Gresham Street

Keith – 112 Almond Street

Allen – 360 Pearl Street & 542 Siskiyou Blvd

Jay – Southern Oregon Historical Society

OLD BUSINESS

A. Review Board – Following is the month’s schedule for the Review Board, which meets every Thursday from 3:00 to at least 3:30 p.m. in the Planning Department:

B.  Project Assignments for Planning Actions

C.     National Historic Preservation Week – May 21-27, 2006   (See minutes for Special Meeting)

D.     City Design Review Process Memo to City Council – No Report

E.     “Design Criteria – 247 Third Street” Memo to Planning Commission – Ms. Harris suggested including specific reasons why the plans presented were not “historically compatible” to explain why the Historic Commission’s decision should not have been overturned.

F.      Lithia Springs National Register Nomination – No Report

G.     Multiple Properties Submission for National Register of Historic Places – Ms. Harris reported that seven applicants responded to the RFP.  George Kramer was chosen.  A contract would be drawn up for signatures.

H.     Single Family Residential Design Standards – No Report

I.         Co-Sponsorship with Conservation Commission for Fall Workshop – No Report

NEW BUSINESS –

A.      CLG Grant Application – Ms. Harris asked the Commissioners to bring suggestions to the next meeting regarding the second round of Reconnaissance Survey.  Discussion followed concerning whether or not repair of the Lithia fountain and Lincoln’s head would be eligible for the grant.  Ms. Harris said she would check on it.  Mr. Skibby said the Historic Commission was involved with the original restoration of Lincoln’s head.  Chairman Shostrom asked Mr. Skibby to attend the Park Commission meeting to represent the Historic Commission and bring a report back.

ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA –

A.      Illegal Addition – 451 North Main Street – Chairman Shostrom showed pictures of an illegal mechanical room addition on the Hersey House Bed & Breakfast that appeared dangerous.  Staff agreed to review the situation with the Building Official and the Code Compliance Officer.

B.     Electric Meter Boxes – Chairman Shostrom showed pictures of a large bank of meter boxes placed in an unsightly manner along the sidewalk in a landscaped area.  It was felt that meter boxes, transformers and fire vaults need to be shown on the plans and available to be reviewed by the Historic Commission.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The next Historic Commission meeting will be on May 3, 2006 at 7:00 pm in the Siskiyou Room.

ADJOURNMENT

With a motion by Mr. Giordano and a second by Mr. Saladoff, it was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m.