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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-02 Historic MIN ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION Meeting Minutes February 2, 2011 Community Development/Engineering Services Building – 51 Winburn Way – Siskiyou Room CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING, 6:00 pm Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Terry Skibby, Keith Swink, Sam Whitford, Allison Renwick, Tom Giordano, Alex Krach, Kerry Kencairn Commission Members Absent: Council Liaison: Michael Morris High School Liaison: None Appointed SOU Liaison: None Appointed Staff Present: Planner: Derek Severson; Clerk: Billie Boswell APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Kencairn moved to approve the December 8, 2010 minutes as presented and the motion was seconded by Ms. Renwick. The minutes were approved unanimously. (The January meeting was cancelled due to lack of agenda items.) PUBLIC FORUM: None COUNCIL LIAISON’S REPORT: Chairman Shostrom welcomed Mike Morris as the new Council Liaison for the Historic Commission PUBLIC HEARING: 1. PLANNING ACTION: 2011-00027 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 156 Seventh Street APPLICANT: Annie McIntyre DESCRIPTION: A request for a Site Review approval to convert the existing single family residential home and garage to three units. Two units will be located within the existing residence and the third unit will be located in the converted garage. A Conditional Use Permit to convert the garage to habitable space is required because its side-yard setback is non-conforming. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Low-Density Multi Family; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP : 39 1E 09AC; TAX LOT: 900 Chairman Shostrom asked if there were exparte contact or conflict of interest. Ms. Renwick stated she had toured the house with the owner but felt it wouldn’t affect her decision. Mr. Skibby commented that the project had been to the Historic Review Board for comments. Mr. Severson described the project pointing out that the owner planned to side the garage structure with a rusted metal siding off the alley. Ms.Kencairn asked about the phasing timeline. Mr. Giordano asked about the parking plans. Ms. McIntyre showed a picture of the proposed metal siding for the garage structure but was unsure of what the house siding would be. There being no questions or concerns from the audience, the public hearing was closed. The Commissioners discussed the metal siding and agreed that they did not want it to look like a corrugated box. Mr. Giordano made a motion to approve the applicant’s proposal, including modifications to the porch and conversion of the garage to a third unit with the following recommendations: 1) The Commission noted that some determination of what siding would ultimately be used for the main building would be needed in the near-term so that siding placed with the porch work to be done would be compatible with the final treatment of the home. The Commission suggested that the priority of preference in arriving at a final siding solution to replace the existing aluminum siding should be first to reside the entire building to match the original materials, and if that proved not to be feasible to consider a similar, compatible wood siding, or lastly to use Hardi-Plank. Given that final color, material, and trim details have not been provided, and a final siding Ashland Historic Commission Minutes 1 4/12/2022 solution has not yet been determined, the Commission recommends that the applicant bring final design drawings with color and material samples providing these details to the Historic Commission’s Review Board for review and approval prior to making any exterior changes to the garage building. 2) With regard to the existing garage being converted to a third residential unit, the Commission noted that the proposed insulation placement beneath a weathered metal exterior siding may change window reveals and trim details, as well as the thickness of the roof. The Commission was generally supportive of the metal siding proposed as it was in keeping with materials used along alleys within the district and a shop building of this type would typically not have been sided to match the primary structure. The Commission noted that board and batten siding or a siding similar to that used on the main building might also be appropriate. The Commission suggested that the applicant may wish to consider some variation in materials similar to that found on the blacksmith’s foundry building on Tolman Creek Road, which the applicant has cited as a similar example to the metal siding material proposed here, to provide additional architectural interest. The foundry building cited mixes stucco, corrugated metal, and weathered wood, and incorporates barn-type doors into this mix. Commissioners noted that it might be particularly appropriate to consider barn-type doors for the existing plywood covered openings to enhance the converted-shop theme which seems to be driving the design, and also suggested that the use of vegetative screening on the shady side of the building to soften the appearance of the metal would be acceptable. Given that final color, materials, trim and door details have not been provided, and the possibility that the insulation material used could change window reveals, roof forms, trim, and etc., the Commission recommends that the applicant bring final design drawings and color and material samples providing these details in a manner consistent with the discussion above to the Historic Commission’s Review Board for review and approval prior to making any exterior changes to the garage building. Mr. Skibby seconded the motion and the decision was unanimous. 2. PLANNING ACTION: 2011-00028 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 92 Eighth St. APPLICANT: Joseph Charter DESCRIPTION: A request for Site Review and Conditional Use Permit to convert an existing garage into a dwelling unit less than 500 square feet for the property located at 92 Eighth Street. The garage is placed two feet from the C Street property line, and six feet, 10 inches from the primary building on the lot. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Low-Density Multi Family; ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP : 39 1E 09AD; TAX LOT: 3802 Chairman Shostrom confirmed there were no exparte contacts or conflict of interest. Mr. Severson described the project. Mr. Giordano raised a concern over the contemporary look of the large window and asked about on-street parking. Chairman Shostrom and Ms. Renwick questioned the different window and head heights. The applicant, Joe Charter explained that they raised the head height because they wanted to put a storage loft in above the ARU. Several Commissioners felt this exaggerated the bulk and scale of the structure because of its proximity to the property line. There being no one in the audience wishing to speak on the project, the public hearing was closed. The Historic Commissioners recommended that the application be continued to allow for design modifications to address the issues listed below and that the application be brought back to the full Historic Commission for review at their March meeting. While the Commission finds the reorientation of the existing garage gable as proposed to be a very positive element in the proposed design, they have some concerns that raising the existing plate height from approximately eight feet to approximately ten feet serves to emphasize the height, mass, bulk and scale in an already non-conforming area. Drawing emphasis to the height and mass in such close proximity to the property line combined with the use of contemporary fanned/arched windows on the gable end seems incompatible with the district, and the Commission believes that design modifications are needed to de-emphasize the height and mass in proximity to the property line and eliminate these incompatible windows. Specific recommendations are as follows: Ashland Historic Commission Minutes 2 4/12/2022  Reduce the ten-foot plate height to eight feet to de-emphasize the mass and height in proximity to the C Street property line.  Eliminate the fanned/arched windows on the gable end, as these are not compatible with the district or existing home.  The windows and doors on the east and west elevation drawings should be adjusted to achieve a consistent header height of approximately 6’8” to 7’ for a more historically-compatible rhythm of openings.  If the applicant wishes to retain loft storage space in the building, the Commission feels that the additional height and mass would be more appropriately placed at the rear of the structure, to de-emphasize the mass and height in proximity to the property line. This might be accomplished by simply switching the larger volume space containing the loft storage area with the smaller volume space, or by some alteration in the gable form which would place the larger volume further back from the C Street property line. PLANNING ACTION: 2011-00038 SUBJECT PROPERTY: 222 A Street APPLICANT: Garrett Furuichi/Deux Chats Bakery DESCRIPTION: A request for a modification of the previous Site Review approval (PA #2004-018) for the property located at 222 A Street. The proposal involves completing what is presently an unfinished second floor mezzanine space to create additional wholesale bakery production space on the second floor. No exterior changes to the existing building are proposed and no seating is to be added with the proposal. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Employment; ZONING: E-1; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09BA; TAX LOT: 13900 Chairman Shostrom declared a conflict of interest because he was involved in the project. He turned the meeting over to Vice-Chair Skibby and left the room. There was no other exparte contact or conflict of interest. Mr. Severson described the project. He said the parking requirements were sufficient but staff had a concern over the shipping container on the property being used by another tenant, Gathering Glass. Staff felt some kind of screening would be appropriate. The applicant, Garrett Furuichi, requested that the concerns regarding the shipping container be separate from the tenant improvement. He explained the upstairs would be used for dough production and wholesale production and there would not be any expansion of the retail side. Al Carlson, from Gathering Glass, spoke concerning his shipping container and agreed to screen it if requested. There being no one else wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed. Vice-Chair Skibby confirmed that they would discuss the bakery expansion and shipping container separately. Mr. Whitford made a motion to recommend approval of the Deux Chats Bakery expansion to the second floor. Mr. Swink seconded the motion. Mr. Giordano abstained from the vote. The remaining Commissioners supported the motion unanimously. 1) Mr. Severson explained that the shipping container met building code but was a modification of the original site design for landscaping (which was done without review 2-3 years ago). The Commission believes that the container’s placement at the rear of the building and the generally industrial character of the area somewhat lessens the visual impacts, however if the container is to remain it must be screened from view from A Street. Ms. Kencairn suggested they install a 5-foot wide planter of evergreen and deciduous plants with irrigation system to maintain them. The Commission was supportive of the use of vegetative screening, and believes that such screening could be accomplished in a way that would screen the container without requiring pavement modifications, allowing continued access to the container while also facilitating its removal. The Commission would recommend that a single planter be constructed to provide for adequate soil volumes and irrigation to support of mix of deciduous and evergreen materials or vines which would adequately screen the container as viewed from A Street. The Commission believes that final details of the planter and plant materials could be finalized between the Staff Advisor and the property owner. Ms. Kencairn made a motion that the shipping container be allowed to remain with the condition that vegetative screening with irrigation be installed. Mr. Whitford seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously. Chairman Shostrom returned to the meeting. OLD BUSINESS: Ashland Historic Commission Minutes 3 4/12/2022 A. Review Board Schedule rd February 3 Terry, Keith, Kerry th February 10 Terry, Allison, Alex th February 17 Terry, Sam, Tom th February 24 Terry, Dale rd March 3 Terry, Keith, (Sam?) C. Project Assignments for Planning Actions – Cucina Biazzi, 568 E Main, Mr. Skibby witnessed that they are using the back dining area in violation of building codes. Mr. Severson said the Fire Department will do an inspection. He also passed on that new tenants had taken over 163 N Pioneer and were in the process of complying with all planning and building conditions to convert it to a cafe. A new beauty shop tenant moved into 173 N Pioneer without permits. The Building Dept. red-tagged the project and are working with them to secure proper permits. Mr. Severson also said that building modifications for 400 Allison were being submitted. Ms. Renwick agreed to oversee 156 Seventh St. Ms. Kencairn took 222 A St. 92 Eighth St was continued to the March meeting. 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-2009-01288 165 W Fork – New SFR on hillside (Ashley Jensen) (Permit approved-not issued; Swink/Shostrom recession extension expires 2/26/12.) BD-2009-00711 568 E Main St (McKechnie) Cucina Biazzi enclosed dining area (Permit approved- Skibby not issued; expires 8/10/10.) PA-2009-00551 426 A St (Sidney Brown) Mixed Use Bldg (No permit yet; recession extension expires Giordano 2/28/12) PA-2009-00785 255 E Main (Ashland Elks) Balcony on rear (No permit yet; expired 8/27/10.) Swink BD-2010-00156 163 N Pioneer (Intatto Coffee) Coffee shop & roaster (TCO issued 3-17-10) Shostrom PA-2010-00069 175 N Pioneer (Deli) Terrell (no permit) Shostrom PA-2010-00355 550 E Main (Thomashefsky) Hotel/motel – potential window/door replacements (no Skibby permit) PA-2010-00486 820 C St (Ellison) Accessory Structure (under construction) Giordano BD-2010-00446 300 Vista (DeBoer) Elevator (finalled) Whitford BD-2010-01144 963 C St. (Holzshu) New SFR (under construction) Shostrom BD-2010-01065 90 Pioneer/110 Lithia Wy (Singh) Replace doors on Lithia (finalled) Shostrom PA-2010-00993 400 Allison (Robin Biermann) New SFR (Modification to be submitted) Whitford/Renwick PA-2010-01239 85 Winburn (Phelps) New Restaurant/Café (under Council review) Shostrom PA-2011-00027 156 Seventh (Annie McIntyre) Renwick PA-2010-00038 222 A St (Deux Chats) Kencairn DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. Preservation Month 2011: There was consensus that due to the lack of building activity in the Historic Districts the Award Ceremony would be cancelled this year. Other ideas to consider were: add Downtown Walking Tour ; Railroad Museum Tour; Audio Walking Tour; “Meet the Pioneers” event at the Cemetery; a Progressive Dinner with local restaurants. 2. Attendance Report: Mr. Severson discussed the Bi-Annual Attendance Report. 3. Lithia Springs: In response to a copy of a letter from Henry Baker to the Council, Mr. Severson explained that DEQ was concerned about the water quality downstream and additional consultant work would be done. The gate that was open was due to it being replaced with a more secure gate. Mr. Morris explained that if the Gun Club remains, no clean up is required. 4. Mr. Giordano volunteered to attend the 2011 Oregon Heritage Conference in Astoria. ADJOURNMENT It was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes 4 4/12/2022