ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION

Minutes

July 5, 2006

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

Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Terry Skibby, Jay Leighton, Henry Baker,  Sam Whitford, Tom Giordano
Absent Members:  Rob Saladoff, Molly Owens-Stevenson

Council Liaison: Vacant

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

CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING

At 7:05 pm, Chairman Dale Shostrom called the regular meeting to order.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Swink asked that the minutes be amended to include the information he shared with the Historic Commission regarding the attendance of the Blue Vinyl screening during the Historic Preservation Week.  Mr. Giordano made a motion to approve the minutes as amended and it was seconded by Mr. Whitford. The motion passed unanimously by the commissioners present.

PUBLIC FORUM:  No speakers

PUBLIC HEARING

Planning Action 2006-00877

A Street between Fifth & Sixth Streets on the North side

Site Review

Jerry Kenefick

Chairman Shostrom read the description of the project and verified there were no conflict of interest issues. All of the Commissioners had visited the site.  Mr. Skibby reported that the applicants had come to the Historic Review Board on June 15^th to discuss changing from stucco to siding due to costs. The Review Board had requested the applicant do a cost comparison and the applicant agreed.

Ms. Harris reviewed the application and said staff was recommending approval.  
Chairman Shostrom noted that the plans received in their packet were not the same as those shown by Ms. Harris.

Randy Robillard, architect, 185 Mistletoe Rd, confirmed that the most current version of plans had been delivered to the Planning Department.  He reviewed with the Commissioners that the changes made included bumping out the columns 24 inches to create a recessed doorway, adding a walkway up the side as requested by Planning, and changing the exterior finish to all stucco as requested by the Historic Commission.  A sample of the exterior lighting was shown.  Windows would be an anodized bronze finish.

Since there was no one in the audience wishing to speak, the public meeting was closed.

Chairman Shostrom commented that the applicants had addressed the concerns of the Historic Commission. 

Chairman Shostrom made a motion to approve Planning Action #2006-00877.  It was seconded by Mr. Baker and unanimously approved.

Planning Action #2006-00612

160 Helman Street

Site Review & Administrative Variance

Siskiyou LLC/James Batzer

Chairman Shostrom read the description of the project. 

Ms. Harris explained that the applicants had requested a postponement.  She suggested the Commissioners review the staff report and share any comments they have concerning the project with her prior to the next meeting.

Planning Action #2006-00873

158 Nutley Street

Conditional Use Permit, Variance to MPFA & Variance to Density

David Fisse & Lauren Hegg for Robert Brent

Ms. Harris explained that there is currently a legal non-conforming tri-plex on the property.  The code does not allow for expanding the non-conformity to create an additional fourth unit.  The existing building already exceeds the Maximum Permitted Floor Area by 3,138 square feet. Staff is recommending denial.

Since the applicant was not in attendance and there was no one in the audience wishing to speak, the public meeting was closed.

Mr. Skibby reported he had visited the site to take pictures and the manager had spoken to him about the proposal.  He felt the conversation would not influence his decision.

Ms. Leighton made a motion to deny the proposal since it exceeds the Maximum Permitted Floor Area.  Mr. Whitford seconded the motion and the vote to deny was unanimous.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

PA-2006-00875

520 Fairview Street

Stewart Ward

Per the conditions of his Planning approval, Mr. Ward reviewed the detail changes made to his remodel design as requested by the Historic Commission.  The Commissioners liked the changes and Mr. Skibby made a motion to approve the plans as submitted.  Mr. Swink seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Skateboard Racks

Downtown Plaza & Library

Bike & Pedestrian Commission

Ms. Harris reviewed a memo from Derek Severson, Liaison to the Bike & Pedestrian Commission requesting approval from the Historic Commission to install Skateboard Racks in the downtown plaza and at the Library.  Mr. Giordano like the concept but felt there needs to be common design standards in the Downtown Plan for Urban fixtures such as waste receptacles, bike racks, etc.

Mr. Saladoff made a motion to approve the installation of the Skateboard racks, however, a comprehensive common esthetic plan for downtown fixtures should be developed. The motion was seconded by Ms. Leighton and approved unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Review Board – Following is the month’s 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 – Mr. Giordano requested that 81 Central Ave be removed.  Ms. Leighton requested 70 Water Street be removed.  96 North Main Street was removed.  All of these properties were at or near completion.

C.     Lithia Fountain Repair – Ms. Harris stated two RFP’s were received for the restoration of the fountain. Galbraith and Associates, in association with George Kramer was awarded the contract for the restoration of the fountain.  Ms. Harris also reviewed the memo “What Happened to the Lithia Fountain?”  Mr. Skibby questioned the accuracy of original location of the Chamber of Commerce being where the staircase is now.  He said he would investigate. 

D.     Historic Reconnaissance Survey Status – Mr. Giordano said he had spoken to George Kramer regarding a Reconnaissance Survey work session with Council in July.  Mr. Kramer would like to be on the  HC agenda for August.  Ms. Harris said she would request the presentation be limited to 5-10 minutes.

E.     Lithia Springs National Register Nomination – No Report

F.      Single Family Residential Design Standards – No Report

G.     Co-Sponsorship with Conservation Commission for Fall Workshop – No Report

NEW BUSINESS - None

ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The next Historic Commission meeting will be on August 2, 2006 at 7:00 pm in the Siskiyou Room.

ADJOURNMENT

With a motion by Mr. Skibby and a second by Ms. Leighton, it was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.