ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION

Minutes

November 3, 2004

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

Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Tom Giordano, Alex Krach, Rob Saladoff, Terry Skibby, Jay Leighton and Henry Baker
Absent Members: Sam Whitford

Council Liaison: John Morrison (absent)
High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Maria Harris, Senior Planner; Billie Boswell, Administration

CALL TO ORDER

At 7:05 p.m., Chairman Dale Shostrom called the meeting to order. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Leighton moved to approve the October 6, 2004 minutes as revised. With a second by Swink, the motion was approved with all voting aye.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Chairman Shostrom suggested that the agenda be amended to allow the scheduled Planning Action #2004-138 for 234 Vista Street be heard prior to the Preview of the Mixed-Use Development proposed for 165 Lithia Way.  The commissioners agreed.

Planning Action 2004-138

Conditional Use Permit and Physical & Environmental Constraints Permit

Applicant: Joanne Krippaehne, Madrona Achitecture

Owner: Sid & Karen DeBoer

234 Vista Street

Most members had site visits but no ex-parte contact.  There were no conflict of interest issues.

The request is for a Conditional Use Permit to construct an addition to the existing single family residence with a proposed total floor area in excess of the Maximum Permitted Floor Area allowed by ordinance.  The Maximum Permitted Floor Area for the parcel is 3,249 square feet, while the proposed residence is 4061 square feet or 25% greater than allowed by ordinance.  In addition, a Physical Constraints Review Permit is requested to construct a swimming pool and other recreational structures on slopes in excess of 25 percent.

Maria Harris stated the application for a Type 1, Conditional Use was approved with conditions by staff with all conditions of the previous hillside development permit and Historic Commission recommendations with final approval by staff advisor.  She deferred a detailed description of the project to the DeBoer’s agent, Joanne Krippaehne.

Krippaehne described the existing Frank Clark designed house and the proposed addition to include a kitchen and great room on the main floor, a bedroom above and a basement.  The owners plan to replicate the existing details of the old house in the new addition including the siding, trim, windows and carved rafter tails.  The owners plan to remove the “tree-house” structure on the hillside and add terraces to reduce the bulk of the existing retaining wall.  Landscape items on the previously approved “Big House” project would be applied to this project.  Krippaehne pointed out that the addition was designed to sit behind the existing garage making it nearly invisible from Vista Street.

The owner, Sid DeBoer, explained to the Commissioners that the current design is intended to give them the amenities of the previously approved building permit for the “Big House”, but in a smaller package that is more compatible with the neighborhood.  If they can get approval for this project, they will not go forward with building the “Big House”.

Chairman Shostrom questioned the 18-foot retaining wall.  Krippaehne explained the retaining wall currently exists as the hillside basement wall of the “tree-house” structure.  When that structure is removed, the wall would be retained and several planting terraces would be added to soften the look down to the outdoor recreation area.

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

The Commissioners liked the design, complimenting the DeBoers on their efforts to retain the details of the existing historical home, placement of the addition behind the garage to minimize it’s visibility from the street and scaling the addition to fit appropriately with the existing house.  They felt the additional 25% of floor space would be appropriate for the size of the lot.

Skibby moved to recommend approval of the application as presented.  Swink seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

PREVIEW of Mixed-Use Development Proposal for 165 Lithia Way, the Copeland Lumber site.

Applicant:  Redco and Archerd & Dresner

Owner:  Redco, LLC

165 Lithia Way

The applicants presented the preliminary design for the old Copeland Lumber site (1.4 acres) at the corner of Lithia Way and First Street to include two buildings with commercial retail spaces on the first floor and loft-style residential housing in the two additional stories above. Office/studio units or townhouses would be attached in the back and a parking garage installed underground. Six three-story single-family row houses would also be built on the southwest side of the property to transition the development into the residential neighborhood. Approximately 39 housing units are planned with a minimum of 4 affordable housing units.

A proposed mid-block pedestrian crossing on Lithia Way would continue between the two commercial buildings to create a pedestrian breezeway and access to a public plaza/parking area in the center of the site dividing the commercial buildings and the row houses.  Green space would be developed on the southeast portion of the site between the row houses and the existing City parking lot and the existing single-family residential area.

Following the presentation, the Commissioners discussed the scale of the project, the largest project in Ashland’s downtown, and the effect it would have on the existing image of Ashland.  They came up with the following list of concerns to be communicated back to the applicants:

1.      The façades of the buildings are too ornate for Ashland.  Specifically, the number and mix of materials was identified.  Simplify the palette of materials and the exterior details.  Buildings in Ashland’s downtown are not this complex.

2.      The building feels like Portland, somewhat trendy and generic –and does not feel like Ashland.  Does this building contribute to what Ashland is, how the community defines itself?

3.      The size of the windows in Ashland’s downtown buildings get smaller going up the building, more residential in scale.

4.      This is a huge project, biggest proposal to date.  There are concerns with the scale of the buildings.  The scale feels like a jump from a town of 20,000 to a city of 200,000.

5.      There is a concern about how the project will be received.  The suggestion was to hold another public meeting prior to further design work and submission of the application.

ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA

None

OLD BUSINESS

A. Review Board  – Following is the November 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.  Co-Sponsorship with Conservation Commission for Fall Workshop – Meeting delayed until December.

D.  Lithia Springs National Register Nomination – Maria Harris contacted SHPO and is waiting to hear back from Roger Roper about the historical significance of the Gun Club retaining their use.

E.  Memo to Council Regarding Authorization for Multiple Listing Survey for National Register of Historic Places

Maria Harris spoke to George Kramer who will come to the December meeting to discuss Multiple Properties Submissions and doing a reconnaissance survey.  Maria said SHPO could provide monies for the study through the CLG grant.

F.  Brown Bag Lunch Ideas – Old House Fair – Remove from agenda.

G. Single Family Residential Design Standards – Formation of a sub-committee postponed until the December meeting.

COMMISSION ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA

None

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The next Historic Commission meeting will be on December 8, 2004 at 7:00 pm in the Siskiyou Room.

ADJOURNMENT

With a motion by Shostrom and second by Leighton, it was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 p.m.