HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-05 Historic MIN CITY OF
dkSHLAND
ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION ~: ~-~' '~
Minutes
February 5, 2003
CALL TO ORDER
At 7:07 p.m., Chairperson Dale Shostrom called the meeting to order in the Siskiyou Room located in the
Community Development/Engineering Services Building. In addition to Shostrom, members present were Keith
Chambers, Joan Steele, Tom Giordano, Terry Skibby, Gary Foil and Joanne Kdppaehne. Also present were Council
Liaison John Mordson and Secretary Sonja Akerman. Members Jay Leighton and Rob Saladoff were unable to
attend the meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Steele moved and Foil seconded to approve the January 8, 2003 minutes as submitted. The motion passed with
a unanimous vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
PI~:. ,~ing Action 2003-005
Conditional Use Permit and Site Review
35 South Second Street
Mike and Laurie Gibbs
Shostrom reported this request is to add a glass conservatory on the south side of the Winchester Inn and to add
a guest unit on the second floor. He noted the owner and architect had attended Historic Commission meetings
last summer. Originally, they had requested approval for a much larger conservatory. However, because of the
initial reaction of the massing of the conservatory overpowering the existing facade of the inn, the Commission
voiced concerns at the June meeting. As a result, members met with the owner and architect at the site in order
to help minimize the effect the large conservatory would have on the historic building. When new plans were
presented in August, the conservatory was more in scale with the existing building and it did not obscure the
prominent bay window on the south side. Also in June, the Commission concurred the gable addition on the second
floor would be acceptable as long as it would not minimize the original structure.
While the Commission still has concerns about the overpowering mass the second story addition will create, the
members also expressed appreciation of the modifications that have been made.
There was no one in the audience to speak for or against this proposal.
Steele moved and Foil seconded to recommend approval of this application to the Headngs Board. The motion was
unanimously passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Review Board - Following is the February schedule for the Review Board, which meets every Thursday from 3:00
to at least 3:30 p.m. in the Planning Department:
February 6th Skibby, Kdppaehne and Steele
February 13th Foil, Skibby and Shostrom
February 20th Skibby, Giordano and Leighton
February 27th Chambers, Skibby and Steele
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Proiect Assi.qnments for Planning Actiens
PA #2000-120 485 "A" Street (Steve Hoxmeier) Shostrom
PA #2001-029 455 Siskiyou Boulevard (Fire Station) Skibby
PA #2001-075 358 Iowa Street (Eva Cooley) Knox
PA #2002-010 103 S. Laurel Street (Laura Shrewsbury) Leighton
PA #2002-021 25 Granite Street (Carol Dutra) Foil
PA #2002-064 542 "A" Street (David Gremmels & Cary Bryant) Krippaehne
PA #2002-080 286 Eighth Street (John & Mary Ellen Cole) Foil
PA #2002-075 SE Corner of "A" & Pioneer Streets (Alan Sandier) Saladoff
PA #2002-094 340 Oak Street ("A" Street Marketplace) Saladoff
PA # 2002-098 521 North Main Street (Scott Young Medical Center) Leighton
PA #2002-100 142 East Main Street (Earthly Goods) Leighton
PA #2002-125 44 North Second Street (Trinity Episcopal Church) Skibby
PA #2002-127 NW Corner North Main & Maple Streets Intersection (ACHF) Krippaehne
PA #2002-142 120 Gresham Street (Chanticleer) Krippaehne
PA #2002-139 266 Third Street (Third Street Partners) Shostrom
PA #2003-005 35 S. Second Street (Winchester Inn) Krippaehne
Discuss Potential Tidings Articles - 5kibby stated he has talked with reporter Myles Murphy but nothing has been
decided yet. He will, however, be meeting with him soon to bring him historic photos and will try to find out more
at that time.
Steele volunteered to write one or two articles, but said it will first be necessary to know the parameters.
Following is a list of suggested subjects: 1) history of the Lithia Springs property, 2) Siskiyou Boulevard and the
different guises it has had over the years (due to the major construction work it is currently undergoing), 3) schools
- i.e. history of Bdscoe School to coincide with its closing; history and demise of Skidmore Academy School
(located where Briscoe now stands); etc., 3) history of the Camegie Library to coincide with the dedication of the
new library and rededication of this histodc building, 4) history of the Fire Station to coincide with the dedication of
the new station, and 5) in July, the history of the 4thof July Parade. Histodc and current photos could be used with
all subjects.
Skibby related the stone at Briscoe School that was used for children to mount their horses is still there. It was
placed at its present location while the Skidmore School was still in existence. He also noted the library was located
in the City Hall around 1905.
The Commission discussed the Lithia Spdngs property and whether or not historic status should be pursued. The
Commission will invite former Public Works Director Al AIsing to its next meeting for guidance .on what to do next.
Mordson volunteered to track down the status of the property, noting nothing is currently happening and the
property is not for sale. Chambers related the Southern Oregon University Archeology Department works at a field
site every summer. Since Lithia Springs was no doubt used by the Indians pdor to settlement in the area, he will
speak to the department head about the possibility of using this site for study.
National Historic Preservation Week (May 5-12) - Having met with Saladoff regarding events during National
Historic Preservation Week, Krippaehne offered the following ideas.
· Display board(s) representing elements of architectural styles typically seen in Ashland. Although it
would be impractical to do all the styles at this time, Krippaehne said the boards would give the
Commission a tool to use any time. The boards would also include historic photos, depicting a snapshot
of what was happening in Ashland during the time pedod. The first board will portray the social context
for the physical environment prior to the auto between 1900-1905.
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· Since the Oregon Hedtage Commission will be meeling in Ashlandduring this week, it may be possible
for the Commission to put together a 4 hour workshop or 90 minute session, perhaps on "What Style
Is This?" for the conference.
· Self-guided and guided tour(s)- the Railroad Distdct would be a good tour for the Hedtage Commission.
Skibby has once again volunteered to lead one or two cemetery walking tours (possibly focusing on
people who were prominent between 1900-1905). He will also gather enough information to lead a
walking tour of one of the other National Register districts.
· Display board for the award winners. Foil volunteered to work on the board, hopefully with the help of
Leighton.
· Award ceremony for the winners.
NEW BUSINESS
House Demolition Discussion with Buildinq Official Mike Broomfield - Giordano prefaced the discussion with an
explanation of events that led to the demolition of a house on property where he was the project architect. Because
he thought the existing house was in very poor condition and was unsafe, he went to Broomfield and asked what
the normal procedure would be. Consequently, he wrote a letter, then met Broomfield on the site. Broomfield
declared the house dangerous and informed Giordano it needed to be restored or demolished. Since there was
not much to save and restore, Giordano's client made the decision to have the structure demolished. Members of
the r.ommunity and the Historic Commission have questioned this process.
Broomfield said he was at the meeting to explain the process and answer questions. He began by stating Ashland
had adopted the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, which is a national code with established
cdteria of what constitutes a dangerous building. The intent of the Code is to either abate or repair the structure.
The local government has the authority (which is derived from the state) to determine and declare dangerous
buildings. Since Ashland does not have a housing code, there is no one from the City who actively looks for
buildings in a negligent state. Therefore, wdtten notification is required before he will investigate whether or not any
of the cdtedon in the Dangerous Buildings Code applies. In addition to this Code, Ashland has adopted standards
for the demolition and relocation of structures. These standards were specifically adopted to reduce the amount
of refuse that goes into the landfill. Hopefully, Broomfield added, it also saves historic structures from being
destroyed, as a lengthy process is required for the demolition or moving of a structure if it is older than 45 years
and larger than 500 square feet. As Building Official for the City, he is the person who makes decisions on the
condition of the structure. He then wdtes a letter to the owner, who chooses how to deal with the building - either
repair it or abate it. His decisions are published in the local newspaper and can be appealed; however, the time
period is only seven days.
In discussing the issue, the Commission expressed concem that some owners could use the process to manipulate
the outcome. There is also concern that the inventory of historic buildings decreases as trophy houses are built,
especially in the Histodc Districts. Broomfield said he does not encourage people to demolish buildings. He is
sensitive to the community and aware of the histodc inventory. There are, however, individual dghts that also need
to be considered.
Skibby asked if input from the Historic Commission could be sought and Broomfield responded public notice is
pdnted in the paper and anyone can comment. Mordson commented there does not seem to be a process,
however, to save the building. An owner can let a building get into a state of disrepair, then do what he wants.
Broomfield agreed and added that while the Code can be a speedy resolution to a dangerous building, there is no
safety net for the Historic Commission. Members expressed lheir concem about not having input if there is a
potential that something could be done to restore a building.
Giordano stated that if a building is truly dangerous, it is the responsibility of the professionals to bdng it to the
attention of the Building Official. He suggested the Commission write a letter to the professionals in the area to let
them know there is a body of people (Historic Commission) willing to take a look at buildings in order to determine
the potential for restoration. He stated he will solicit input from other members from now on.
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After discussing the varying degrees of "dangerous" and whether or not notification is essential, Broomfield restated
his awareness of and interest in histodc preservation. He also informed the Commission he has worked with local
historic preservation consultant George Kramer numerous times.
ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA
Regarding the rafters on the back of the Carnegie library, Shostrom related that Mayor DeBoer has communicated
the need to first pay the contractors to determine the amount of money that would be available to finish the fascia
and comice work to match the other three sides. The restoration work would cost approximately $25,000. Shostrom
explained the comice and fascia were removed when an addition was constructed many years ago. With the recent
restoration work, the addition was removed, thus exposing the rafters.
ADJOURNMENT
With a motion by Krippaehne and second by Giordano, it was the unanimous decision to adjourn the meeting at
9:48 p.m.
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February 5, 2003