ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Community Development/Engineering Services Building – 51 Winburn Way – Siskiyou Room
Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Terry Skibby, Henry Baker, James Watkins, Allison Renwick, Keith Swink, Alex Krach, Sam Whitford, Tom Giordano (left meeting at 6:35pm)
Absent Commission Members: None
Council Liaison: Eric Navickas
High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Planner: Angela Barry; Clerk: Billie Boswell
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – SPECIAL MEETING
At 5:30 pm, Chairman Dale Shostrom called the Historic Commission special meeting to order. Discussion of the nominees for the Historic Preservation awards resulted in the following selections.
Historic Preservation Award Winners:
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING
At 7:10 pm, Chairman Dale Shostrom called the regular Historic Commission meeting to order.
Mr. Watkins moved to approve the minutes of the March 5, 2008 meeting. Mr. Baker seconded the motion and they were approved unanimously. Mr. Whitford abstained because he was absent from the meeting.
PUBLIC FORUM: Huels, Wellspring Resort, Hwy 99, spoke concerning the colored concrete being used in the historic districts. He felt it should be grey rather than the earthtone he has seen. Chairman Shostrom and Mr. Skibby explained that they had requested a toned down, more historic looking color rather than the white-grey color being used. The Public Works department chose the buff (tan) color. They also pointed out that the strong color fades very quickly to more readily match the older sidewalks.
PUBLIC HEARING:
A. Planning Action #: 2008-00338
Subject Property:
Owner/Applicant: Laura Bixby Fox
Description: Request for a Modification of an existing Conditional Use Permit and Site Review for the establishment of an office use for the property located at 600 Siskiyou. No physical alterations to the site are proposed.
Chairman Shostrom read the description and verified there were no conflicts of interest or ex parte contacts. Ms. Barry explained that the original Conditional Use permit required a CUP if the tenants changed. She said staff supports eliminating this condition and allowing a tenant change if the new use is applicable to the R-2 zone’s regular or conditional uses. There were no exterior changes to the building being proposed.
There being no one in the audience wishing to speak, Chairman Shostrom closed the public hearing.
Mr. Whitford moved to recommend approval and it was seconded by Mr. Skibby. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Planning Action #: 2008-00355
Subject Property:
Owner/Applicant: Lois Van Aken
Description: Request for a Conditional Use Permit and Site Review approval for a two-unit Travelers Accommodation for the property located at
Chairman Shostrom read the description and asked if there were conflicts of interest or ex parte contacts. Mr. Swink said he knows the owner but felt he could be impartial. Ms. Barry explained the second unit was legal non-conforming and the owner would live in it. The two-unit Traveler’s Accommodations would be in the main house in front. A variance was requested to not pave the driveway in order to preserve the tree.
There being no one in the audience wishing to speak, Chairman Shostrom closed the public hearing.
Mr. Krach felt that the residential nature of the neighborhood was being diluted more and more by transient housing and recommended it be denied. Mr. Skibby said he was OK with it because the historic natures of the structures were usually better preserved than as rentals. Ms. Renwick and Mr. Swink both felt some concern but commented that it’s hard to tell owners what they can or can’t do with their properties. Mr. Krach said he felt it also affected the livability of the neighborhood.
Mr. Baker moved to approve the project as submitted. Mr. Swink seconded the motion. Mr. Watkins pointed out that B & B’s tend to revert back to single family homes after a few years. Mr. Krach still felt strongly that it would negatively impact the neighborhood. By consensus the Commissioners felt the policy issue of transient housing within the historic neighborhoods should be handled as a separate issue. The original motion was approved by majority vote, 5 for and 3 against.
Mr. Krach then made a motion stating the Historic Commission, as a body, wanted to articulate to the Planning Commission and the City Council that the policy allowing transient housing in the historic district’s residential neighborhoods had a deleterious effect, contributed to a shortage of rental housing, diminished the sense of place and created a more commercial presence. Mr. Whitford seconded the motion. The motion was approved by majority vote, 5 for and 3 against.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Building Permit #2007-01764
Subject Property: 160 Helman
Owner: James Batzer
Ms. Barry explained that the building plans submitted for approval contained some significant design changes from what was approved by the Historic Commission and the Planning Commission on the planning action. Staff was recommending they apply for a modification, but suggested the applicants first get feedback from the Historic Commission on the proposed changes. Some of the changes included:
· Windows – different sizes and numbers of
· Material types are different
· 3rd story step-back eliminated
· Roof – pitch is steeper
· Balcony changed to interior floor space
· Door sizes changed
James Batzer, owner and Mark McKechnie, architect, were surprised at staff concerns because they felt they had “substantial compliance” with the approved planning action. They detailed why some of the changes were made.
Chairman Shostrom said he had spent several hours reviewing and comparing the two sets of plans and found significant differences. Besides the obvious changes in details and materials, the entire bulk and scale had increased. He also requested the plans be at least 1/4 inch equals one foot scale and that the Commission needed details showing wall sections, windows and trim, exterior relief, roof overhangs, eaves, and parapets. There was consensus among the Commissioners that the redesigned building plans were not acceptable.
B. Review Board Schedule
April 3rd |
Keith, Keith, Dale |
April 10th |
Terry, Alex, Sam |
April 17th |
Terry, Henry, Allison |
April 24th |
Terry, Jim, Dale |
May 1st |
Terry, Tom, Allison |
May 8th |
Terry, Keith, Jim |
C. Project Assignments For Planning Actions – No assignments were made because the two new actions 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 – Mr. Watkins and Ms. Renwick requested a sample of last year’s winners’ information be sent out. Mr. Swink said he would also do a Railroad District walking tour immediately following the Award Ceremony. Ms. Boswell said the deadline for the winner’s “blurbs” is Monday, April 21st.
E. Parks Archive Project – Mr. Swink said he would contact the Parks Department and set up the tour.
F. Lithia Springs National Register Nomination – Commissioners reviewed the draft gun club lease. There were concerns about the hazardous materials section. They believe clean up dollars should be collected prior to 2019. Mr. Baker said he feels the gun club is no longer an appropriate use for the property. The Commissioners agreed the property should be registered as a historic site.
G. Single Family Residential Design Standards – No report
H. Co-Sponsorship with Conservation Commission for Fall Workshop – No report
DISCUSSION ITEMS – Ms. Barry reviewed the Arterial Setback Ordinance with the Commissioners. There was consensus for support of the changes.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Historic Commission meeting will be on May 7, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Siskiyou Room.
It was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m.