ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION

Regular Meeting Minutes

October 3, 2007

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

Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Terry Skibby, Henry Baker, Jim Watkins, Allison Renwick, Keith Swink, Alex Krach
Absent  Commission Members: Sam Whitford, Tom Giordano

Council Liaison: Eric Navickas – Absent

High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Planner, Angela Barry; Clerk, Billie Boswell

CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING

At 7:00 pm, Chairman Dale Shostrom called the Historic Commission meeting to order.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Watkins made a motion to approve the September 5, 2007 minutes and it was seconded by Ms. Renwick.  Approval was unanimous.

PUBLIC FORUM:  No speakers

PUBLIC HEARING

A.  Planning Action 2007-01400

542 A Street

Request for a Site Review Approval, Administrative Variance to the Site Design Standards to eliminate the required landscape buffer between property lines, a Variance to reduce the required number of off-street parking spaces as allowed for renovation of historic buildings, a Variance to use more than 50% of the provided off street parking spaces as compact spaces and a Variance to provide the required disabled parking space on street to allow for the operation of a coffee house/wine bar.

Applicant: David Gremmels/Carlos Delgado

Chairman Shostrom read the description of the proposed project and asked if there were conflicts of interest or exparte contacts.  There were none.

Ms. Barry stated the subject property received a historic special assessment designation in 2000 from SHPO.  She explained that the applicants planned to demo the existing shed and rebuild a smaller one.  The new shed would have lap siding and a tin roof to match the original building.  Approval is also needed from SHPO.  The variance would be to reduce the required parking spaces from six spaces to three with two being compact and only one regular space.  The handicap space would be provided on the street. 

There were no further questions of staff.

Carlos Delgado, the architect, described the design details and showed color chips of the proposed paint.  Mr. Watkins asked about signage.  Mr. Delgado said he would like a painted sign on front faηade.  Mr. Skibby asked about column details, but Mr. Delgado said there were none.

There being no one else in the audience wishing to speak, Chairman Shostrom closed the public meeting.

With a motion by Mr. Skibby and a second by Mr. Swink, the Historic Commission unanimously recommended approval.

NEW BUSINESS

A.      Pre-Application for 165 Lithia Way

Jerome White, Mark Knox, Evan Archerd and Russ Dale reviewed with the Commissioners their plan for a mixed-use building to be built on two lots in the 7-lot subdivision on Lithia Way.  They are designing a plaza area to meet the 20 foot setback requirement and provide a public space.  They provided site plans but no building elevations were completed yet.  They had not yet determined what landscape elements would be included in the public space but could include raised planters, small trees and seating.  Chairman Shostrom asked about parking.  It was explained that there would be 12 parking spaces in an underground parking lot plus the outdoor parking spaces approved with the land partition.  Mr. White said there will not be an indented entry faηade into the building but the entry would be delineated by an awning or canopy.  Mr. Skibby asked about the use of the third story.  Mr. Archerd said it would be residential but, at this time, they are unsure of how many units.  Ms. Renwick asked if the building would include affordable housing.  Mr. Archerd said it would not because there are less than 10 units.  When asked by the applicants about the building design, the Commissioners wanted it to be compatible with the downtown buildings.  Tudor, Mission or Victorian styles would not be desirable.

OLD BUSINESS

A.      Review Board –

B.     PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS FOR PLANNING ACTIONS – Mr. Swink said that 520 Fairview had been completed and can be removed from the list.  Mr. Skibby agreed to oversee 542 A Street.  Staff was asked to determine the status of 11 First Street and 125 Sherman Street.

C.     Ashland School District – Chairman Shostrom said he did not attend the last meeting because the discussion was regarding all interiors.  There was some discussion regarding a brick wainscoting around the base to set it off and there were some minor ramp and step changes.

D.     Ashland Library – Mr. Skibby announced the library levy had passed and the library would reopen by November 1^st.

E.     Ethics Ordinance – Mr. Swink stated the City Council passed the revised Ethics Ordinance 4-3, which eliminated the exclusion of development professionals from presenting their projects before other Boards and Commissions upon which they are not serving.

F.      Lithia Springs National Register Nomination – No Report

G.    Single Family Residential Design Standards – No report

H.     Co-Sponsorship with Conservation Commission for Fall Workshop – No report

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The next Historic Commission meeting will be on November 7, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the Siskiyou Room.

ADJOURNMENT

It was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.