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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-05 Historic MINASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION Minutes May 5, 1999 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at the Community Center by Chairperson Jim Lewis at 7:43 p.m. Members present were Jim Lewis, Terry Skibby, Gary Foil, Joan Steele, Curt Anderson and Keith Chambers. Also present were City Council Liaison Cameron Hanson, Associate Planner Mark Knox and Secretary Sonja Akerman. Members Dale Shostrom and Vava Bailey were unable to attend the meeting. The Commission is currently one member short. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Anderson moved and Skibby seconded the Minutes of the April 7, 1999 meeting be approved as submitted. The motion was unanimously passed. PUBLIC HEARINGS Planning Action 99-051 Conditional Use Permit 143 Fourth Street Bob Heyerman Knox reported this application is for the modification of a two-story, accessory residential, non-conforming structure at the rear of the lot. Since the setbacks do not meet the current standard, a planning action is required. The applicant is proposing to maintain the basic building, but will remove the portion that encroaches into the alley and improve the dilapidated structure by installing a new roof and new siding, replacing the windows, adding a deck, and adding height to the second story to make it more livable. The applicant has worked with the Review Board and Staff feels comfortable recommending approval. One of the conditions will be to pave the alley from the southern boundary of the lot to the existing paved alley to the north. Knox also noted the property to the north currently has a planning action in process to construct a second unit in the rear of the lot. Skibby asked about the paving policy in the Railroad District. Knox stated paving is still a requirement by ordinance. Skibby explained a few years ago there was a committee of concerned citizens, including a few Historic Commission members, that tried to come up with alternates to paving all the alleys. Chambers clarified he was on the committee and stated although no definitive alternative to paving was reached, the Commission has traditionally requested the alley paving be delayed because paving can degrade and change the character of alleyways. The Commission concurred. Lewis added citizens were also concerned about paved alleys becoming thoroughfares at the "B" Street meeting last week. Discussion ensured regarding grading and laying down 3/4 minus rather than paving. Chambers commended the applicant on the design for the improvement of the building, however, he also had a few questions. When he asked about the bareness of the south elevation, applicant Bob Heyerman answered the carport is only shown on the east elevation. Chambers then questioned the short windows on the west elevation. Heyerman said the window on the left is a bathroom window, and in talking with the other contractors involved with the project, they would actually prefer a larger window on the right. Heyerman then agreed to match the window on the right with the center window. Chambers stated he would prefer longer, narrower windows. Chambers also asked about the north elevation with no windows. Lewis said he thought it was due to building codes and the closeness of the building to the property line. Heyerman added there will also be another unit on the property next door, so it affords both units more privacy and should be more energy efficient. Lewis asked about the 1 x 4 corner trim and the 1 x 5 window trim, stating it would be better to use 1 x 5 for both, especially since the true size is always narrower. Heyerman said they will be using 1 x 6 for both so it will be the true size. When asked, Heyerman said the roof pitch will be 5 x 12. Skibby noted this project will be a great improvement over what is there because the existing building is in very poor shape. After discussing the conditions of approval, it was decided condition 2 should read ". .... the rear alley be improved by grading and laying down 3/4 minus from the subject lot's southern most boundary ...... "Condition 5 state" The owner sign in favor of a local improvement district .... "Condition 6 shall read "The west elevation bottom right window be enlarged to match the center window and the corner board trim shall be 1 x 5." Steele moved to recommend approval of this proposal to the Hearings Board with the conditions modified and added, as stated above. Chambers seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed. BUILDING PERMITS Permits reviewed by members of the Historic Commission and issued during the month of April follow: 283 "B" Street 342 High Street 11 North Main Street 145 Sherman Street 156 Eighth Street 78 Third Street 150 Nursery Street 209 Almond Street 600 Siskiyou Boulevard 134 Church Street 600 Siskiyou Boulevard 249 "A" Street Bonnie Shaffer Ralph Nelson Webster's David KcKee Michael Datz Jonathan Williams Jane Sterling John Javna Laurie Bixby John Berry State Farm Insurance Sunflake Interior Remodel Addendum Re-roof Interior Remodel Addition Deck RepaidRemodel Foundation Under Existing House Remodel Foundation/Remodel/Move House Sign Sign REVIEW BOARD Following is the May schedule for the Review Board, which meets every Thursday from 3:00 to at least 3:30 p.m. in the Planning Department: May 6th May 13th May 20th May 27th Skibby, Anderson and Foil Skibby, Lewis and Chambers Skibby, Bailey and Steele Skibby, Steele and Shostrom OLD BUSINESS Project Assignments for Planning Actions PA# I Address I Person(s) Assigned 96-086 685 "A" Street Curt Anderson and Jim Lewis 97-018 661 "B" Street Jim Lewis 98-022 112 Helman Street Vava Bailey 98-039 Holly Street Joan Steele and Jim Lewis 98-045 122 Church Street Vava Bailey 98°047 Between 548 & 628 North Main Street Joyce Cowan 98°070 595 North Main Street Terry Skibby and Dale Shostrom 97-072 440 East Main Street Joyce Cowan 98°075 542 "A" Street Jim Lewis 98o091 559 Scenic Drive Vava Bailey 99°020 525 "A" Street Jim Lewis Ashland Historic Commission Minutes May 5, 1999 NEW BUSINESS Tax Freeze Applications Since the Railroad District is soon to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, individual houses are eligible to receive a 15 year tax freeze if the owners present a renovation plan to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Historic Commission recommends approval. Final approval is granted through SHPO. Plans for the renovation of individual houses are now beginning to be submitted and the Historic Commission has the opportunity to comment. 132 Fifth Street The Commission reviewed plans that were submitted for the renovation of this house. Designer Bill Emerson informed the Commission he had recently faxed the floor plan of the original house to Tami Beth Katz at SHPO. Katz had commented the back porch posts should be more than 4% x 4Y~ and the owner has agreed to canter them or use 6 x 6. The Commission felt this was a grand improvement. Therefore, Skibby moved and Steele seconded to recommend approval of the tax freeze to SHPO. The motion was unanimously passed. The Commission then discussed whether or not it was necessary for the Historic Commission recommendation to go to the City Council for the Council recommendation to be forwarded to the State. Chambers moved that since reviewing tax freeze applications is within the scope of the Historic Commission duties, it should only be necessary to send the City Council a copy of the letter to SHPO. Steele seconded the motion and is passed unanimously. Hanson agreed with this decision since the Historic Commission members are considered to be the experts in the field and the Council relies on their decisions. 625 "B" Street This application is for rebuilding the garage at this site. The only exterior change will be to convert the ramp back to stairs. With a motion by Steele and second by Skibby, it was the unanimous decision to recommend approval of this application to SHPO. 212 East Main Street The Commission reviewed the letter already submitted to SHPO by Knox. All concluded itwas a good letter. 426 "B" Street The Commission had nothing to add to Knox's comments already forwarded to SHPO. The members agreed the work will be worthwhile and is all interior. OLD BUSINESS Grant for National Register Web Site Steele reported the text is complete and on disk. She asked for suggestions of a logo to put on each web page. The Commissioners decided on a swan. It was also decided staff will send a letter to the owners of the structures, even though they have already been contacted in person. The letter will have a short explanation of the project, will thank them for their participation and inform them where they can find the web site. The text will also be included. Ashland Public Library Skibby reported the library is now looking for a scaled down version of the expansion. He will keep the Commission updated. National Historic Preservation Week °7° May 9-15, 1999 The Commission will meet at noon in the Planning Department on May 10th to judge the nominations. More NEW BUSINESS 595 North Main Street Skibby passed around photos of the new building under construction and noted there is no trim around the windows. In reviewing the plans which were submitted for the planning action, it seemed obvious to the Commission there was trim depicted, however, the contractor has said there was no trim on the building plans and it is now impossible to add. The Commission wants to go on record as vehemently recommending window trim at least 1" x 4" wide. Knox will have the contractor meet with the Review Board May 6th to see if anything can be worked out. The members felt confident Ashland Hospital Foundation would have enough pride in the building to make certain the exterior looked good. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes May 5, 1999 Commercial Plans After discussing elevations which are submitted with the plans, especially for commercial buildings, Bill Emerson suggested 1/4" to 1' scale be required for all details. Foil also noted when large sets of plans come in for a planning action or a building permit in the Historic District, it is important to go directly to the elevations, then follow the Historic Commission Design Review form so no details are overlooked. ADJOURNMENT With a motion by Steele and second by Skibby, it was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes May 5, 1999 A$11LAND tlISTOI~IC COIqlql$$1ON A(i£NDA Iqay .5, ! 999 CALL TO ORDER: 7:30 p.m. - ASHLAND COMMUNITY CENTER - 59 Winburn Way APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 7, 1999 PUBLIC HEARINGS: PLANNING ACTION 99-051 is a request for a Conditional Use Permit to modify an existing accessory residential unit located at 143 Fourth Street. Comprehensive Plan Designation: Multi-Family Residential; Zoning: R-2; Assessor's Map #: 39 1E 09 BA; Ta× Lot: 7400. APPLICANT: Bob Heyerman OLD BUSINESS: 1. Review Board ~ appointments/volunteers 2. Grant for National Register Web Site - Update 3. Plans for Library - Update 4. National Historic Preservation Week Judging 5. Other NEW BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT