January 4, 2012

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



CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING, 6:00 pm
 
Historic Commissioners Present:  Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Tom Giordano, Allison Renwick, Kerry Kencairn, Terry Skibby, Sam Whitford, Tobin Fisher
Commission Members Absent:   Ally Phelps
Council Liaison: Michael Morris
High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Planner: Amy Gunter, Clerk:  Billie Boswell

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 
The December 7, 2011 minutes were not available to review.  They will be brought to the February 8^th meeting.
 
PUBLIC FORUM:   None
 
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT:  Mike Morris – 2 neighbors near the Gun Club are suing the City over the sound levels, lead contamination and environmental concerns.  All of the Gun Club officers are also listed as defendants. Mike also said the Council has started discussing the ramifications of the City Electric Department changing to electric meters that can be read by radio transmission.
 
PUBLIC HEARING: 
 
PLANNING ACTION:          2011-01656          
SUBJECT PROPERTY:     159 Alida
APPLICANT:                       Erika Karnitz
DESCRIPTION:                  A request for a Site Design Review permit for a 400 square foot accessory residential unit to be constructed in the garage off of the alley for the property located at 159 Alida Street. No additions to the unit are proposed. The applicant also is requesting an administrative exception to side yard buffering requirements and to not pave the parking spaces. 
 
Chairman Shostrom asked if there were any exparte contacts or conflicts of interest.  Mr. Giordano said the applicant had come to the Historic Review Board to discuss the project.  There were no conflicts of interest.
 
Ms. Gunter explained the proposal to is to relocating the existing accessory unit to the garage at the rear, and a request for an exception requirement to pave the parking area. 
 
Without an elevation it was not possible for the Historic Commission to review the modifications to the garage door. Concerns regarding sense of entry, the placement of the trash and recycle enclosure, the materials used, and locations for egress, doors and windows were raised.
 
The Commissioners felt there was not enough information provided to make a decision and recommended that the application be continued until February to review elevations and provide comment.
 
PLANNING ACTION:          2011-01781
SUBJECT PROPERTY:     191 Oak St.
APPLICANT:                       Ken Baker / Cycle Sport
DESCRIPTION:                  A request for a Site Design Review approval for the reconstruction and expansion of an existing garage located in the rear of the property at 191 Oak Street. The garage is currently 194 square feet and the applicant is requesting that the garage be expanded 6 feet to the west for a total of 270 square feet.  
 
Chairman Shostrom asked if there were any exparte contacts or conflicts of interest. There were none. 
 
Ken Baker, the applicant’s contractor, explained the original garage had been built on the ground without a foundation and much of the building was rotted out.  They would like to expand the garage to provide more usable storage space and replace the existing hip roof with a gabled roof.  5” v-groove siding would be used to match the house.
 
No one in the audience had any comments or questions so the public hearing was closed.
 
Mr. Whitford made a motion to recommend approval of the proposed plans with the following recommendations:
 
1)            A 7:12 pitch gable roof is recommended
2)            The Commission recommends the applicant use a 2:1 ratio single, double or casement window or a 4X2 awning window instead of the proposed side by side slider.
 
(The public hearing was reopened to question the applicant about the design of the garage door and then closed).
 
3)            The Commission recommends a plain or historically compatible wood or metal garage door without windows.
 
Mr. Swink seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
 
 
PLANNING ACTION:         2011-01656
SUBJECT PROPERTY:     181 Morse
APPLICANT:                      Reichenshammer Building Design for the Malm’s
DESCRIPTION:                  A request for a Conditional Use Permit to exceed the Maximum Permitted Floor Area (MPFA) within a Historic District by 9 percent or 262 square feet to allow for a 699 square foot addition to the existing 488 square foot cottage. Properties in the Historic Districts are allowed a specific square footage of structures in relationship to the size of the parcel. The removal of a six-inch in diameter at breast height apple tree is also requested to be removed.
 
The property owner Donald Malm and his architect, Tamara Reichenshammer, explained that the expansion was to house parents. They showed the hip roof with gable design and pictures of similar styles from around town.  Ms. Renwick and Mr. Giordano felt the addition created too massive a front façade and made the structure too boxy which was not compatible with the original cottage design.  It was suggested by several Commissioners that the addition be set back from the front and the original gable-style roof be used. There was consensus with the Commissioners felt  they could not support the increase in MPFA (Maximum Permitted Floor Area) as presented and suggested the hearing be continued to the February 8, 2012 meeting to give the applicant an opportunity to address the following issues:
1)            The mass of the 40-foot façade needs to be broken up by off-setting or jogging the addition to the existing cottage in order to maintain architectural compatibility and give prominence to the existing cottage. 
2)            Maintain 6/12 roof pitch to maintain and relate to the existing roof form and roof forms in the vicinity.
3)            Eaves and overhang projections should reflect the existing structures overhangs.
4)            Commission recommends applicant modify the proposal to reflect suggested changes
 
Mr. Giordano made a motion for the continuation as stated above, it was seconded by Ms. Renwick and passed unanimously.
 
 
NEW BUSINESS: 
 
A.  Review Board Schedule
 

January 5th	Terry, Keith, Allison
January 12th	Terry, Allison, Ally
January 19th	Terry, Kerry, Tom, Tobin
January 26th	Terry, Tobin, Dale
February 2nd	Terry, Sam, Ally
February 9th	Terry, Keith, Allison

 
B.  Project Assignments for Planning Actions – no changes

BD-2007-01764	160 Helman (Batzer-Comm Bldgs) {Recession Extension approved)}	Shostrom/Giordano
PA-2007-01939	175 Lithia Wy (formerly 165 Lithia) Archerd & Dresner-Mixed Use Bldg – (Expired 7/25/10)	Renwick
BD-2011-00855	165 W Fork – New SFR on hillside (new owner-Suncrest Hms) (under construction)	Swink/Shostrom
BD-2011-00436	426 A St (Sidney Brown) Mixed Use Bldg  (permit issued 5-18-11))	Giordano
PA-2009-00785	255 E Main (Ashland Elks) Balcony on rear (No permit yet; expired 8/27/10.)	Swink
PA-2010-00069	175 N Pioneer (Deli) Terrell   (no permit-code compliance letter written)	Shostrom
BD-2011-01029	400 Allison (Robin Biermann) New SFR  (Ready to issue)	Whitford/Renwick
BD-2011-00820	156 Seventh (Annie McIntyre)  (Issued 7-12-11)	Renwick
BD-2011-00368	928 C St (92 Eighth St) (Charter) ARU (issued 7-11-11))	Swink
BD-2011-01059	260 First St (Syken) house to retail sales (appealed-bldg permit issued 8-25-11)	Phelps
PA-2011-00244	485 A St (Hoxmeier) enclosed porch & food truck (no permit)	Giordano
BD-2011-01079	134 Terrace (Allman) New SFR (Ready to issue)	Whitford
BD-2011-00621	89 Oak St (Amorotico) New façade on building (under construction)	Shostrom
BD-2011-00802	66 Scenic (Forsyth) Solar Variance  (issued 7-15-11)	Phelps
PL-2011-01781	191 Oak St (Cycle Sport) Site Design for enlarging garage	Kencairn

 
 
NEW BUSINESS:

1.  CLG Grant – The Commissioners said they would really like to begin the process of strengthening the Site Review Standards in the code or amend the demo ordinance to better protect the integrity of the historical buildings in the City.  However, in the current economic climate and the strong opposition to more regulation they felt there would not be the support needed.  There was consensus to use the money to produce better public brochures and provide training to historic homeowners, realtors, design professionals and contractors.

 
Chairman Shostrom made a motion to use the CLG Grant money to produce better public brochures and provide training to historic homeowners, realtors, design professionals and contractors. The motion was seconded by Ms. Kencairn and was approved unanimously.
 

ADJOURNMENT

It was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.