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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-02 Historic MINASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION Minutes June 2, 1993 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Jim Lewis at 7:38 p.m. Members present were Jim Lewis, Terry Skibby, Le Hook, H.L. Wood, Dana Johnson, and Steve Ennis. Also present were Associate Planner Bill Molnar, and Secretary Sonja Akerman. Nan Hannon, Keith Chambers, and Jane Dancer were absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Skibby stated on page 8 of the May 5, 1993 Minutes, he sent a letter to Dick Ackerman, not Rick. Hook then moved to approve the Minutes as corrected. Johnson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. STAFF REPORTS PA 93-045 Minor Land Partition 99 Granite Street Stephen Cary Molnar explained last month this was on the agenda as a three lot subdivision, and as explained at the last meeting, Staff had erred because a lot cannot be created where the width is greater than the depth. The applicant has had the surveyor resubmit the request as a two lot partition. Staff is recommending approval of this, with the driveway to be paved to 15 feet, which will be usable access to both lots. Skibby wondered what size structure could be built on the Pine Street lot. Molnar said 45% could be covered by impervious surface, which would be approximately 5,000 square feet. Skibby remarked the building will be very visible from Granite Street. When Johnson questioned Molnar about the revised two lot partition, he said it seems to have satisfied the neighbors. Hook moved and Johnson seconded to recommend approval of this proposal. The motion passed unanimously. PA 93-053 Site Review 230 Van Ness Avenue Darrell A. Boldt and Lana McGraw Boldt Molnar related this was also heard last month, however, because the partition section of the ordinance states the flag drive needs to be paved, a Variance is required not to pave. Increased traffic along the alley was a concern of both the Historic Commission and the Planning Commission. There is a potential of adding 18 to 22 units on undeveloped property off the alley. This would result in approximately 200 vehicle trips per day. Planning is not as concerned about this alley serving as a short cut because it will not provide access for non-local traffic. The "T' intersection also limits its use. Peak hours of traffic would be 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-5:30 p.m. An alternate landscape plan has been proposed by the Staff to help break up the parking area in creating a more aesthetic alleyscape, while discouraging the "parking lot" effect of the alley. Alley paving will be deferred, but it will be graded to 15 feet and crushed rock will be required. Staff is recommending the alley be graded from Laurel Street to the end of the property (which would leave 100 feet unimproved). The owner will have the option to improve this 100 feet. As explained in the Staff Report, paved coverage with alley access is 14.6%, while it increases to 50.9% if the flag access were to be used. The Commission discussed potential development in the alley area. Molnar stated Staff will be paying closer attention to the alleyscape by incorporating porches, landscaping, etc. Darrell Boldt presented new elevations. The Commission appreciated the design changes. Hook stated he is still in favor of the alley access, especially after examining the percentages of paving. This proposal will set the precedence for later development. Lewis agreed, and added he would rather have the trees in the flag drive than asphalt. Boldt said it would have greatly diminished the yard space if the flag drive was used for access. The alternate plan has a lot of merit, but he would like to save the box elder, and he would be sacrificing some lawn area by the parking space # 1. Ennis questioned the footprint of the townhouses as redesigned. Boldt said it was slightly enlarged when he changed the design of the structure, and he is looking at scaling down the size because of the encroachment in the parking area, as he needs to maintain the outside clearances. Wood stated the small open space (as the applicant has proposed directly off the alley) could be used by the tennants. The Staff proposal would lose that area and replace it with islands that cannot be used. Ennis said he did not feel it would be as beneficial as Wood contends because of the large area allotted for backyards, and he doesn't feel it would be used. Hook did not agree with Ennis, but said he could understand. He thinks the area would be used, but realizes there are trade-offs involved. Wood said he hoped there would be a community feel to the project and the open area would be used. Molnar interjected by stating Staff was trying to visualize long term development by breaking up the parking. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes June 2, 1993 Page 2 The Commission discussed the possibility of six required parking spaces rather than seven if on-street parking credits are feasible. This would eliminate parking space #1 and the open space could be preserved. Ron Thurner, 1170 Bellview Avenue, stated he would like to see the use of the alley as part of the back up space encouraged. He then questioned the vision clearance of parking space #1 due to the box elder. Molnar said the traffic study didn't address vision clearance so it will have to be checked. Ennis recommended the trim board separating the units be painted a different color. It was the consensus of the Commission the alley should be used as access. Ennis commented a much better project results when all people involved put their heads together. Ennis then moved to recommend approval of this application with the following comments: 1) the revised elevations be approved as presented at the meeting, however, the applicant be encouraged to do more work on the back elevation and present to the Review Board to further break up the design; 2) the alternate parking landscape design appears to be the best solution, and if Staff could investigate using on-street credit to reduce required parking, the lawn area would be conserved; and 3) alley be improved to end of property only. Hook seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. A liaison will attend the Planning Commission meeting. PA 93-075 Site Review 310 Oak Street Tim Cusick/Lance Pugh This application is for the remodel of the existing car wash into 2,200 square feet of retail space, explained Molnar. This is one element of the overall face lift of the property and is a permitted use in the E-1 zone. The back of the building will face the armory. Although not part of this planning action, Ennis stated the new gutters on the armory have a strong negative effect on the building. Hook added this should have come to the full Commission. Skibby and Lewis explained the need for this new system. Tim Cusick later said he has communicated with the State Historic Preservation Office regarding this and was tom to match the gutter on the left for the right side of the building. Skibby said the design is compatible and less imitative of the armory than when plans were first presented. Lewis explained the similar features with Cantwell's Market, tying it in to the improvements. Also discussed was parking/circulation. Tim Cusick explained he has received many inquiries requesting information about the spaces which will be available - from doctor's office to pizza parlor. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes June 2, 1993 Page 3 Ennis stated this is a great improvement from what is existing. Johnson moved and Skibby seconded to recommend approval of this application to the Planning Commission. The motion was unanimously approved. PA 93-085 Conditional Use Permit Under the Viaduct on Water Street Gary Voget Molnar said this Conditional Use Permit application is for the temporary use of an outdoor fresh flower stand which will be open from June through September. Various cities look at temporary uses to provide a more dynamic pedestrian area, to fill in gaps along vacant spaces, and to generate energy in the area. Negative aspects include non-payment of rent/taxes and they compete with uses already established in the area. Staff's main concern is that single cart uses have always had the policy of having to get approval from private property for a location; no public property has been used. Larger uses in the public right-of- way have been allowed (i.e. Grower's Market). The concern in this case is what the benefit to the City would be, if any. It appears to be more a benefit to the cart owner. Therefore, Staff is hesitant to recommend approval for a for-profit vendor. This is, however, a unique situation, as it is an underutilized area. The Planning Commission has the option of approving this application as a test case, then reviewing it again in a year, or denying it. Lewis questioned the liability factor involved and wondered if there would be problems like the Marketplace has had. Hook said it seems as though approval of this application would be undermining existing merchants, and he is disinclined to set a precedence with this area. Johnson agreed and said it could open a "can of worms". Ron Thurner wondered why there would be a separation between large and small businesses, as there could be competition to local businesses with the Grower's Market. Lewis said the Market is only there once a week for half a day, and it is required to have at least 60% of the vendors sell agricultural goods. Wood questioned why the City has a say in this if the State owns the property. Molnar answered it is because this is a temporary use. The applicant will be required to have permission from the State in writing if it is approved. Hook stated he totally agreed with the Staff Report, then made a motion quoting Staff's conclusion in saying the Historic Commission "cannot recommend approval of a single temporary use located on public right-of-way. While there may be a demand for the flower sales, it is more appropriate that the use be located on private property, and that the use not be subsidized by locating on public lands." Wood seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes June 2, 1993 Page 4 PA 93-084 Modification of Previously Approved Site Review 277 Fifth Street Daniel D. Jackson, D.D.S. Molnar explained the applicant's original approval for the front setback off "A" Street was 14 feet. The Site Design and Use Standards states the setbacks may not be more than 20 feet, and strongly urges orientation of the development toward the street. The applicant now proposes to move the bulk of the building back to 26 feet, with an entry area located 18 feet back from the property line. One concern is that a large douglas fir would have to be removed. Staff felt the original proposal was good, so it came up with a compromise, whereby the main portion of the building would be set back 18 feet, thus saving the tree. The owner has said the reasons for moving the building back include retaining the view of the hills with the future development across the street, and to be more in line with the business located adjacent to the site. Hook said he would argue against cutting down the tree, as it is the largest one in the area. Dan Jackson clarified his idea to have the setback moved back would put it more in line with Euro-Mek and the building next to it. He wanted the porch (or entry area) 20 feet from the sidewalk, and was under the impression this would meet the standards. Lewis said he felt it would be detrimental to lose the tree. Jackson said he didn't want to see the tree go either, but with a possible two story development across the street, he wanted to place his building as far back as possible. Many trees have already been saved because of the layout of the sidewalk. A building twice the size of the proposed one would be allowed on the lot. Because of his investment, he does not want the building too close to the street and feels it would look nicer if it were moved back. He remarked it would be nice to have more greenway and space between the street and the building. He also added the Staff compromise had already been agreed upon and the plans in the office depicted this, so he did not feel it was a compromise. In order to move the building back as far as he has done, he was required to enlarge the porch to eight feet (his compromise). If not allowed, he would like to have the porch scaled down to four feet again. Ennis remarked the Staff compromise would not only save the tree but it also meets the intent of the ordinances. Although he would prefer the eight foot porch, he could understand why the owner would like to change it back to four feet. Ennis then moved to recommend denial of the application and to amend the currently approved building permit to have the porch reduced from eight feet to four feet as originally drawn, and the setback from "A" Street property line to the building should remain at 18 feet, which saves the tree and seems to meet the intent of the ordinances. Hook seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes June 2, 1993 Page 5 BUILDING PERMITS Permits reviewed by members of the Historic Commission and issued during the month of May follow: 228 "B" Street John Ferguson Remodel 126 Nursery Street Brent Thompson Remodel 881 East Main Street Richard Brock Skylights/Reroof 227 Fifth Street Dan & Linda Jackson Demolition SFR 928 "B" Street Harry Bornstein Plan Revision 182 Scenic Drive Crissy Barnett Retaining Wall 122 Helman Street Barry Baker Remodel/Addition 310 Oak Street Tom Cantwell Remodel 237 First Street Ashland Community Food Store Food Store 556 "B" Street Adv for Severely Handicapped Addition 372 East Main Street Andy South Bathroom Addition 234 Vista Street Sid DeBoer Swimming Pool 130 Will Dodge Way Sid Ainsworth Remodel 105 Nob Hill Street Jim & Barbara Wilson Remodel 622 Siskiyou Boulevard Lombard, Knudsen & Holtey Sign 47 North Main Street Plaza Cafe Sign 20 South First Street Twenty South First Street Sign 3 Granite Street Bento's Express Sign Lithia Way/Second St. Ashland Marketplace Sign REVIEW BOARD Following is the schedule (until the next meeting) for the Review Board, which meets every Thursday at least from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Planning Department: June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 July 1 Lewis and Skibby Wood, Skibby and Dancer Lewis, Ennis, Chambers and Skibby Hook, Johnson, Wood and Skibby Skibby and Dancer OLD BUSINESS Loss of Residential Housing Ennis reported the subcommittee had met on May 12 and had incorporated changes which were suggested at the joint study session. The draft was submitted to John McLaughlin for comments, and Ennis will meet with him on June 1 lth. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes June 2, 1993 Page 6 Cemetery Nominations to National Register Lewis stated he, Johnson and Skibby had met with Kay Atwood regarding where and how to proceed. Since half the money will be available from the City in July, she will begin the preliminary work. A memo will be submitted to the City Council explaining the progress. Applegate Trail Plaque Draft #5 was a major improvement in the wording for the proposed plaque. There are still a few grammatical errors. Placement will be discussed when the final draft is presented. (With a motion by Skibby and second by Ennis, it was the unanimous decision to extend the meeting past 10:30 p.m.) NEW BUSINESS Election of Officers Because of the lateness and the fact that three members were absent, election of officers will be at the next meeting. Railroad Park Lewis reported he will be attending the next Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, as the development of the new park will begin soon. He requested a letter be sent thanking the Parks Commission and seeking input on the appropriate place for the golden spike commemorative. Hook moved and Skibby seconded to authorize Lewis write the letter. The motion passed unanimously. Heritage Sunday Skibby related Heritage Sunday will be on June 27th at Lincoln School. Since it is the anniversary of the Oregon Trail and Applegate Trail, photos and displays will be set up. Volunteers are needed. Goal Setting/Orientation Meetine It was decided Monday, July 19th would be the best date for the goal setting/orientation dinner meeting. July 26th is the alternate date. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes June 2, 1993 Page 7 Open Space Memo from Hal Cloer Lewis and Skibby will work together as a subcommittee to consider means to encourage property owners to opt for open space as a way of minimizing property taxes without radically changing the character of the neighborhoods. ADJOURNMENT With a motion by Hook and second by Skibby, it was the unanimous decision to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 p.m. Ashland Historic Commission Minutes June 2, 1993 Page 8