ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION

Regular Meeting Minutes

September 5, 2007

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

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

Council Liaison: Eric Navickas – Absent

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

CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING

At 7:04 pm, in the absence of Chairman Dale Shostrom, Vice-Chairman Terry Skibby called the Historic Commission meeting to order.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Watkins made a motion to approve the August 8, 2007 minutes and it was seconded by Mr. Baker. Mr. Giordano and Mr. Whitman abstained since they were not at the August meeting.  Approval was unanimous by the remaining Commissioners.

PUBLIC FORUM:  No speakers

PUBLIC HEARING

A.  Planning Action 2007-01369

157 North Main St (also 35 Bush St.)

Request for a Conditional Use Permit to convert an existing multi-family residence to a two unit Travelers’ Accommodation

Applicant: Russell & Erin Page

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

Ms. Harris stated the house is a historic home and has been a long term rental.  The owners now want to convert it to a Travelers’ Accommodation.  There will be no exterior changes.  Vice-Chairman Skibby commented that the siding was not yet finished in the gable.  Ms. Harris explained that 35 Bush is the Traveler’s Accommodation and the owners will be required to live on site.  There is a lot of screening.  Mr. Giordano asked if it met the maximum house size.  Ms. Harris said it did.  Mr. Whitford asked what the second story space was to be used for and Ms. Renwick responded that it will be a massage studio.  Ms. Harris added that there would be a deed restriction to prevent the second story from becoming a rental.

There were no further questions of staff.

There being no one in the audience to speak, Vice-Chairman Skibby closed the public meeting.

Mr. Krach was concerned about losing a rental to a Traveler’s Accommodation, but felt the project was well done.

Vice-Chairman Skibby commented that the remodel of the house had received a Historic Preservation award by the Historic Commission several years ago.

With a motion by Mr. Baker and a second by Mr. Whitford, the Historic Commission recommended approval by majority vote with Mr. Krach voting against it.

OLD BUSINESS

A.      Review Board –

September 6th	Terry, Keith, James
September 13th	Terry, Henry, Alex
September 20th	Terry, Tom, Jim
September 27th	Terry, Sam, Allison
October 4th	Terry, Keith, Dale

B.     PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS FOR PLANNING ACTIONS - Mr. Krach said he thought PA#2006-00877 had been finalled.  Mr. Whitford said that PA#2006-01959 had also been completed and can be removed from the list.

PA #2004-138	234 Vista St (Sid & Karen DeBoer)	Swink
PL#2005-01226	820 “C” Street (Randy & Helen Ellison)	Shostrom
PL#2005-01674	11 First Street (Ron Yamaoka)	Skibby
PL#2005-02105	145 East Main St (Urban Development Services/SERA Arch)	Giordano/Baker
PL#2005-01307	125 Sherman Street (Russ Dale)	Shostrom
PA#2006-00453	175 North Main (First Methodist Church Remodel)	Swink
PA#2006-00875	520 Fairview Street (Stewart Ward-Porch)	Swink
PA#2006-00877	A Street between 5th & 6th Streets (Tax Lot 6507 – Jerry Kenefick)	Krach
PA#2006-00612	160 Helman (Siskiyou LLC & James Batzer-Commercial Buildings)	Shostrom/Giordano
PA#2006-01959	144 Second Street (Mary Nelke – Addition for Travelers Accom)	Whitford
PA#2006-01999	25 North Main Street (Allan Sandler – Masonic 3rd Story Addn)	Krach
PA#2007-00398	237 Almond Street (Don Sever – ARU)	Whitford
PA#2007-00798	80 Wimer Street (Thomas Petersen – Kitchen Addition)	Watkins
PA#2007-00579	485 A Street (Hoxmeier – Modification of Site Review for Mixed Use)	Baker

C.     Ashland School District – No report

D.     Ashland Library – Vice-Chairman Skibby said Jackson County had contracted out the library service and the Ashland Library would be open 24 hours a week.  The Ashland Library Bond would be voted on later in September and, if passed, would add additional hours. 

E.     Ethics Ordinance – Ms. Harris said the Council agenda item for Ethics Ordinance had been delayed. 

F.      Lithia Springs National Register Nomination – Mr. Baker asked if the Gun Club would be responsible for fixing the well that was damaged when it was shot at.  Ms. Harris said she would find out.  Ms. Harris also reviewed the signs that were proposed to be put near the Lithia Water Fountains in the Plaza.  They would have an enameled surface.  Ms. Renwick felt the second sentence on the narrative sign was a little clumsy to read.  Mr. Baker felt the sign should indicate that the source was “3 ˝ miles” east of the downtown in the same sentence.

(Mr. Baker left the meeting at 7:40 pm)

Mr. Skibby questioned how the signs would be mounted.  Ms. Harris said they would be monument signs but        wasn’t sure how tall they would be.  Mr. Giordano felt that information was important.  Ms. Harris said she would pass on the Commission’s comments.

G.    Single Family Residential Design Standards – No report

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

NEW BUSINESS

A.      Invitation to join the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) – Mr. Krach felt the publication was too technical and too expensive.  There was consensus among the Commissioners.

DISCUSSION ITEMS – Ms. Renwick asked about the email sent by Human Resources about the City Attorney and Public Works Director.  Ms. Harris said individual responses were asked for rather than a Commission response.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The next Historic Commission meeting will be on October 3, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the Siskiyou Room.

ADJOURNMENT

It was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.