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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-04 Historic MINASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION Agenda August 4, 1999 L CALL TO ORDER: 7:30 p.m. -ASHLAND COMMUNITY CENTER 59 Winburn Way II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 7, 1999 III. PUBLIC HEARINGS: PLANNING ACTION 99-086 is a request for a Conditional Use Permit to transfer ownership of a three-unit traveler's accommodation and manager's unit located at 486 Siskiyou Boulevard. Comprehensive Plan Designation: Multi-Family Residential; Zoning: R-2; Assessor's Map #: 39 1E 09 BD; Tax Lot: 7400. APPLICANT: Susan R. Yarne PLANNING ACTION 99-062 is a request for Site Review for the construction of six apartment units (three duplexes), located on VanNess Avenue between Helman and Laurel Streets. Comprehensive Plan Designation: High Density Multi-Family Residential; Zoning: R-3; Assessor's Map #: 39 1E 04CC; Tax Lot: 2700, 2801. APPLICANT: Dave Greene IV. OLD BUSINESS: A. Review Board ,, appointments/volunteers B. Project Assignments for each Planning Action C. Update on National Register Web Site D. Other V. NEW BUSINESS: A. The Future of Ashland Creek Fish Barriers B. Other VI. ADJOURNMENT ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION Minutes August 4, 1999 CALL TO ORDER At 7:40 p.m., Chairperson Jim Lewis called the meeting to order at the Community Center. Members present were Terry Skibby, Gary Foil, Curt Anderson, Dale Shostrom, Kay Maser, Keith Chambers and Jim Lewis. Also present were City Council Liaison Cameron Hanson, Associate Planner Mark Knox and Secretary Sonja Akerman. Members Vava Bailey and Joan Steele were unable to attend the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Steele had sent a message noting typographical and spelling errors in the Minutes of the July 7, 1999 meeting. She also wanted a paragraph clarified regarding the National Register website. Anderson then moved and Foil seconded the minutes be approved as corrected. The motion was unanimously passed. PUBLIC HEARINGS Planning Action 99-086 Conditional Use Permit 486 Siskiyou Boulevard Susan R. Yarne Knox reported this application is for a transfer of ownership for the Grape Vine Bed & Breakfast. The applicant has read the file and has agreed to comply with the previous conditions. Chambers moved to recommend approval of this planning action to the Hearings Board. Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. Planning Action 99-062 Site Review Van Ness Avenue Dave Greene Knox went over the history of this planning action, stating it was reviewed by the Commission in 1994. At that time, it was called up for a public hearing mainly because the neighbors did not want the alley to be paved. It was eventually approved by the Planning Commission with one of the conditions being the alley not be paved, but graded and covered with % minus gravel. The approval expired prior to any development taking place. The applicant is now ready to build on this property. He is proposing to build three duplexes for a total of six units. Two of the units will be on Van Ness Avenue; the rest will be off the alley. The units are consistent and in line with adjacent properties. Zoning is R-3, multi-family, which would allow 6.8 units (most likely 7 units if certain conservation measures or affordable housing density bonuses are allowed). All the parking is proposed off the alley, plus one on-street credit is allowed. The transformer and trash enclosure will also be off the alley. A sidewalk will meander from the rear of the property to Van Ness. Each unit will have a small private porch and there will be a common area for all to use. The units will be rentals - four are proposed to be 916 square feet and the other two will be 768 square feet. Elevations are indicative of the neighborhood. The single story units are reflective of a bungalow design. Knox noted ADA requirements had changed since 1994 for the accessible parking space, now necessitating eight feet rather than five. Because of this, staff is asking the applicant to reduce two of the rear units to one bedroom each. This would allow a five foot grass strip on each side of the parking area. In addition, Knox stated four of the parking spaces will be required to be grass-crete. The alley has a 16 foot right-of-way; staff is requiring the alley to be widened to 12 feet (there are only a few areas that are not that wide now). The proposal will generate six vehicle trips per day per unit, probably three-four trips in any given hour. Staff is supporting this proposal. Skibby asked about the alley improvements and Knox responded the Fire Department requires a minimum of 12 feet. Knox said staff is trying to be sensitive to the neighbors in the treatment of alley improvements. Applicant Dave Greene added the two back units will have fire sprinkler systems also. He said this is basically the same project that was approved five years ago, however extensive work has been done on the design. Foil questioned the width of the parking spaces and Greene stated four will be eight feet and four will be nine feet wide. Maser asked about the color and material of the units. Greene answered they will all be similar. When asked by Chambers about the window trim, Greene responded it will be five inches, with a five inch separation between the windows. Shostrom questioned the size of the siding and Greene said it will be six inch hardi-plank. Don Greene, part owner of the property, explained the design changes in the scale, bulk, and the rhythm of entry to the neighborhood. He also said the two units in back will be down sized because they will become one bedroom units. Lois Van Aken, 140 Central Avenue, agreed there needs to be a compromise. She explained she and the neighbors have many concerns regarding this project. Historically, properties have larger main houses in the front and smaller houses in the rear, which are used as rentals. This project is not in keeping the historic integrity of the neighborhood because the front house is not larger and all the units will be rentals. She does not have a problem with the design other than the roof pitch. A major concern is that there is no access offVan Ness for any of the units; access is entirely off the alley. Also, many of the residences in the area have their front yards off the alley. In addition, there are a number of young children that use the alley. Putting in nine parking spaces off this alley will not preserve it. Van Aken said she would like to see an access off Van Ness for the front unit. She would also like it to be different than the rear units. In addition, she would like to see the two one-bedroom units in the rear combined to make one two-bedroom unit, which would make a better rental for a family. This would allow more of a buffer for the neighbors. She would also like to see smooth wood for the siding and a steeper roof pitch for the unit in front. She noted it is very wet in the back. Rob Hirschboeck, 147 Van Ness Avenue, stated universally, Van Ness Avenue consists of front unit owners with rental units in the rear. A heavy volume of traffic now travels on Van Ness. Therefore, residents use the alleys for walking and playing. This makes for an "alley culture" for the area. Van Aken interjected Central Avenue will also go all the way through to Water Street in the near future. Hirschboeck pointed out there are no multi-unit residences on that side of the street. It seems as though this development belongs more on the other side of the street, which is a buffer between the residential area and industrial area on Hersey Street. He also noted this is traditionally an area of springs. None of the neighbors is opposed to development, but what happens in the alley is critical. He would like to see a smaller parking area in the back. Dave Greene stated he was told the parking "should" be off the alley. He worked very hard to design the unit off Van Ness so it will look like a small residence from the front. The units will feel more like individual residences than duplexes. Lewis asked if the rental units could convert to individual ownership. Don Greene responded it would be difficult to convert because they won't be on separate meters. The units were designed to be rented by families rather than students. It seems to be a great location because of the proximity to Briscoe School. He notified the Commission and neighbors the wetland issue has been taken care of and letters are on file. He also stressed the fact that this proposal is not at maximum density. Skibby agreed this will have a lesser impact than what could be done. Lewis stated it has been discussed to not make more curb cuts and staff feels it is better to have access off the alley. Foil said he has looked at the Site Design and Use Standards and feels the project fits in. The only questions he had were on the parking and asked how the landscaped area would be done. Knox related there are conditions of approval regarding this and it will be landscaped to standards. He also reminded the Commissioners four of the parking spaces will be grass-crete. Foil asked if the back units could be combined to one. Don Greene said it would not be economical to do this. At the request of Chambers, Dave Greene showed where the electric meters will be placed. He also described the 6-8 foot parking lights, which will be directed downward. Chambers asked if the units will be considered "affordable". Don Greene said they will be comparable for Ashland. Skibby said zoning seems to be a major factor. The property will be developed because it is R-3. Lewis added all owners have the same rights to density even though they think the density is too high. Chambers agreed with Hirschboeck there is an alley culture with a truly interactive neighborhood. Ashland recognized this and fosters this, but since the density is permitted, he feels there is no easy solution. He sympathizes with the neighbors, but also feels the families that will rent the units will probably like where they live. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes August 4, 1999 Lewis asked about the texture of the siding. Dave Greene verified it will be smooth. Lewis then asked if the units could be painted with slightly different colors. Nikki Greene answered the units will have different colored doors. Skibby reminded the Commission the alley will not be paved and that the gravel surface will be more pleasant than asphalt. Foil noted the neighbors have said they like the addition of new people in their neighborhood, but he agrees with them this seems too dense. He appreciates what the neighbors have voiced as concerns, but explained they are bound be law. Maser observed all these units are the same, however this is a neighborhood where all the houses are different. Lewis agreed but said only the front unit will be seen off Van Ness. Knox stated the roof lines will be different. One unit will have a hipped roof and one will have gable ends in the rear. Chambers stated he feels the neighbors have valid concerns and the Commission sympathizes with them. Shostrom said he feels conflicted with this project. He thinks the units will fit in well and once built and landscaped, they won't be noticed as much as when they are in the process of being built. However, he sympathizes with the neighbors on the alley issue and can see how it will change. The biggest impact will be on the alley and the sense of an alley neighborhoodwill be lost. He said he feels the zoning should be R-2 and that the City has gone the wrong direction in many areas of the Historic District in designating R-3 zoning. Anderson moved and Skibby seconded to recommend approval of this application to the Planning Commission as described with the conditions as recommended by staff. The motion carried with Chambers, Lewis, Anderson and Skibby voting aye and Maser, Foil and Shostrom voting nay. Shostrom stated his vote was more of a protest vote even though he feels it will be a nice development. Chambers added it is important for the City to continue to look at the residential zoning and the impact it has on the historic interest areas. Knox stated this issue would be more appropriate to be brought up in a study session. BUILDING PERMITS Permits reviewed by members of the Historic Commission and issued during the months of June and July follow: 63 Pine Street Tom Chavez Replace Foundation 625 "B" Street Mark and Becky Reitinger Remodel/Replace Porch 625 "B" Street Mark and Becky Reitinger Garage 788 Iowa Street Tom Killeen Remodel/Addition . 289 Idaho Street Lucy Strasburg Demolition SFR 134 Church Street John Berry and Jennifer Jones SFR 40 North Main Street Gordon Claycomb Office Addition 70 Water Street Ann Clouse Deck 880 "C" Street Suzanne Seiber Remodel/Addition 161 Fourth Street Steve McGhehy Accessory Res. Unit 145 Fourth Street Priscilla Hunter Addendum 56 Third Street Barbara Allen Deck/Remodel 625 "B" Street Mark and Becky Reitinger Addendum 143 Gresham Street Ron Snowden Addition 120 Gresham Street Chanticleer Inn Replace Deck 345 Scenic Drive David and Sabra Hoffman Deck/Door 441 East Main Street Astro Station Re-roof 283 High Street Jeanette Poston Convert Duplex to SFR 345 Iowa Street Scott Kaiser and Cathy Stump Remodel 933 East Main Street Debra and Jerry Quast Carport 488 North Main Street A Lively Company Sign 116 Lithia Way Prudential Insurance Sign 99 Central Avenue Ashland Community Health Center Sign 366 Lithia Way Lithia Realty Sign 56 Third Street Casa Bella Sign 449 East Main Street Astro Gas Sign 246 Fourth Street Siskiyou San Sui Do Sign Ashland Historic Commission Minutes August 4, 1999 595 North Main Street 112 Lithia Way 293 East Main Street Ashland Community Hospital Foundation Sign Hair City of Ashland Sign Quiltz Sign REVIEW BOARD Following is the August schedule for the Review Board, which meets every Thursday from 3:00 to at least 3:30 p.m. in the Planning Department: August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26 September 2 Skibby, Anderson and Foil Skibby, Steele and Chambers Skibby, Bailey, Lewis and Maser Skibby, Bailey and Steele Skibby, Steele, Lewis and Maser Shostrom volunteered to be on call during the month. OLD BUSINESS Project Assiqnments for Planning Actions PA# 96-086 685 "A" Street Anderson and Lewis PA# 97-018 661 "B" Street Lewis PA# 98-039 Holly Street Steele and Lewis PA# 98-045 122 Church Street Bailey PA# 98-047 Between 548 & 628 North Main Street Foil PA# 99-020 525 "A" Street Lewis PA# 99-062 Van Ness Avenue Gary Grant for National Reqister Web Site Knox related he is close to having all the current photos taken. Skibby has the historic photos completed and Knox is in the process of scanning them into the computer. Knox also noted he has talked with representatives at the National Register who are overseeing this project. Everything should be submitted soon. Desi_cln Review Form The Commission discussed the new draft version of the form. Chambers suggested having one version to give out as a checklist and one as a checklist for the Review Board. Foil recommended trying out the form as it is, then changing what is necessary. Shostrom said that as a builder, he would like to see a simplified version. He agreed the draft form covers all areas that have been discussed. The Commission will make changes as needed prior to printing the final version. NEW BUSINESS Removal of Fish Barriers in Ashland Creek as it Flows Through Lithia Park Skibby related he wanted to alert the members to the fact there is a proposal to remove or modify the historic waterfalls or dams (also known as fish barriers) in Ashland Creek. This is being proposed as part of the restoration work related to the 1997 flood. These falls are an important part of Ashland's heritage. Historically, they are part of the park. After discussing the proposal, the Commission unanimously agreed its first preference would be to save all three dams. Staff will write a letter on behalf of the Commission. ADJOURNMENT The Commission unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting at 10:05 p.m. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes August 4, 1999