ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION
Regular Meeting Minutes
Community Development/Engineering Services Building – 51 Winburn Way – Siskiyou Room
CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING
At 7:10 pm, Chairman Dale Shostrom called the regular Historic Commission meeting to order.
Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Terry Skibby, Henry Baker, James Watkins, Allison Renwick, Keith Swink, Alex Krach, Sam Whitford
Absent Commission Members: Tom Giordano
Council Liaison: Eric Navickas, absent
High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Planner: Angela Barry; Clerk: Billie Boswell
Mr. Whitford moved to approve the minutes of the April 2, 2008 meeting. Mr. Watkins seconded the motion and they were approved unanimously.
PUBLIC FORUM: None
PUBLIC HEARING:
A. Planning Action #: 2008-00353
Subject Property:
Owner/Applicant: Ashley Jensen
Description: Request for a Conditional Use Permit to operate a private dance school and for a Variance to the required number of parking spaces and a Variance to the required proximity for offsite parking for a property located at
Chairman Shostrom read the description and verified there were no conflicts of interest or ex parte contacts. Four Commissioners made site visits. Ms. Barry explained the applicant was eliminating four apartments on the second floor to create dance studio. The two remaining apartments would be remodeled. The dance school would offer group classes only in the evening and a parking agreement for a lot at Fourth and A streets was obtained. There were no further questions of staff.
The applicant, Ashley Jensen,
There being no one in the audience wishing to speak, Chairman Shostrom closed the public hearing.
Mr. Watkins stated he was not in favor of the project because of the loss of more affordable housing. Mr. Skibby felt it was important to allow businesses to upgrade in order to protect the historic building. He also pointed out the building was in an E-1 zone. Mr. Swink did not feel there would be a negative impact to the neighborhood. Mr. Whitford complemented the applicant on her efforts to save the building. Ms. Renwick did not feel parking in the neighborhood would be a problem in the evenings. Mr. Krach confirmed with the applicant that the apartments had already been demolished prior to submitting for the planning action and obtaining permits. She said they had.
Mark Knox, from the audience, recommended a condition be included to allow the second floor to be converted back to up six apartments in the future.
Mr. Skibby moved to recommend approval of the proposal as presented, with the suggestion the Planning Commission attach a condition that if, at some point, a future owner would want to change the use back to residential the Commission would support this and that the building could revert back to its historic use of six residential units without requiring a Variance to parking. It was seconded by Mr. Whitford. The motion passed 7-1 with Mr. Watkins against it.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Building Permit #2007-01764
Subject Property: 160 Helman
Owner: James Batzer
Ms. Barry explained that the applicants had revised their plans again to more closely reflect the original plans approved during the Planning Action process. Overall the Commission was happy with the changes that were made and commented specifically that:
The Commissioners felt there were still modifications needed and made the following recommendations:
B. Review Board Schedule
May 8th |
Keith, Keith, Alex |
May 15th |
Terry, Henry, Dale |
May 22nd |
Terry, Tom, Allison |
May 29th |
Terry, Sam, James |
June 5th |
Terry, Keith, Alex |
C. Project Assignments For Planning Actions – No assignment was made because the new action reviewed did not include any exterior changes.
PA #2004-138 |
|
Swink |
PL#2005-01226 |
820 “C” Street (Randy & Helen Ellison) (Temp C of O issued) |
Shostrom |
PL#2005-01674 |
|
Skibby |
PL#2005-02105 |
|
Giordano/Baker |
PL#2005-01307 |
|
Shostrom |
PA#2006-00453 |
175 North Main ( |
Swink |
PA#2006-00612 |
160 Helman (Batzer-Comm Bldgs) {New Bldg App recd-in review} |
Shostrom/Giordano |
PA#2006-01999 |
|
Krach |
PA#2007-00398 |
|
Whitford |
PA#2007-00798 |
|
Watkins |
PA#2007-00579 |
|
Baker |
PA#2007-01400 |
|
Skibby |
D. Historic Preservation Week “This Place Matters – George Kramer will speak on “Why This Place Matters”. Keith and Henry will set up lobby case.
E. Parks Archive Project – Mr. Swink, Ms. Renwick and Mr. Whitford toured Park Department’s basement archived with Jay Leighton and Suzanne Warner. Ms. Warner said she would send criteria and guidelines for what to keep and how to keep it. She would also look into funding availability.
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
DISCUSSION ITEMS – Mr. Skibby shared information about the Lithia Park Centennial and said he would be providing pictures for the 4th of July celebration.
Chairman Shostrom asked who is responsible for approving public art and/or pedestrian benches in the Historic Districts? Ms. Barry said she would research.
NEW BUSINESS – Ballots were cast for Historic Commission Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. Results were Chair: Shostrom; Vice Chair: Skibby; and Secretary: Krach.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Historic Commission meeting will be on June 4, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Siskiyou Room.
It was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m.