HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-05 Historic MINASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION
Minutes
February 5, 1992
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Jim Lewis at 7:30 p.m. Members present
were: Jim Lewis, Terry Skibby, Jane Dancer, Keith Chambers, Jean MacKenzie, Lorraine
Whitten, Deane Bradshaw and Le Hook. Also present were Planner Kristen Cochran,
Acting-Secretary Jody Nolte and Council Liaison Susan Reid. Thomas Hunt was absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Bradshaw moved and Whitten seconded to approve the Minutes of the January 8, 1992
meeting as mailed. The motion was unanimously passed.
STAFF REPORTS
PA 92-021
Conditional Use Permit
125 N. Main Street
Elaine Martens
This is a request for a Conditional Use Permit for an additional unit for the traveller's
accommodation located at 125 N. Main Street. Cochran stated this action was requested
by owner of the Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast to increase the traveller's accommodations
from 2 to 3 units. Martens would move her bedroom downstairs. There would be no
exterior changes. Five parking spaces are required and seven are available. Staff
recommended for approval.
There was concern about the addition of an unattached deck. Bradshaw moved for the
approval of the plans with the following contingency: plans for the deck will be secured for
review before final approval. Hook seconded motion and it was unanimously passed.
92-024
Conditional Use Permit
160 Helman Street
Leonard Friedman/Pyramid Juice
This is a request for a Conditional Use Permit for the temporary use of a refrigeration
trailer on the property located at 160 Helman Street. Cochran stated that staff
recommended approval with the following stipulations:
.
Noise levels keep within the noise level requirements.
Unit will be moved behind the existing structure.
o
Landscaping be done to screen unit and garbage from view.
Unit will be moved from neighborhood by October 31, 1992.
A group of citizens representing 15 neighbors stated their concern. (See attached written
statement.) Of prime concern is the continuous noise generated from the unit. The
neighborhood has lived with levels at L50 or higher for 10 straight weeks. They realize this
level has been brought down to an acceptable reading this week, but want continued
monitoring, if the unit is to remain. Of further concern are the facts that the trailer was
initially brought onto the property without a permit and the height and aesthetic quality is
not in compliance with the Historic District neighborhood.
Hook stated he had walked the neighborhood at noon and found that more noise was
generated from a heat pump and Ashland Creek than from the unit. Friedman stated that
he is in compliance with E-1 zoning. He gave a brief history of the area, citing several
companies such as Pennington Granite Company and the Pepsi Cola Bottling Plant which
had previously been in full operation in this area.
After a long discussion of possible alternatives, Bradshaw moved that the freezer-trailer be
moved from the property by April 1, 1992, noise levels continue to be monitored by City
of Ashland and the property be returned to the aesthetic conditions listed in the
Conditional Use Permit. Seconded by Hook and passed by a vote of 6 with Skibby and
Hook abstaining.
BUILDING PERMITS
Permits reviewed by members of the Historic Commission and issued during the month of
January follow:
Charles Cowan 342 Vista St. Remodel/Addition
Loran Faudree 138 3rd St. Demolition Garage
Loran Faudree 138 3rd St. Office/Shop
Dennis Groover 285 High St. Interior Remodel
John Strong 145 "B" St. Addition
Frank Marquez 15 N. 1st St. Storage Units
Patricia Colwell 129 Bush St. Carport
Tom Harrington 145 Union St. Deck
Cliff Llewellyn 351 Morton St. Remodel/Addition
Beasey McMillan 568 E. Main St. Fence/Ret. Wall
Chuck McKereghan 77 6th St. Remodel
Gary Brenden 431 Lori Ln. Deck
Hal Cloer 11 N. Main St. Remodel
Hampton Holmes ERA 135 Oak St. Sign
Provost Home Furnishings 357 E. Main St. Sign
Astro 440 E. Main St. Sign
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 5, 1992
Page 2
American Pacific Title & Escro 346 E. Main St.
The Websters 11 N. Main St.
Sign
Sign
Review Board
Following is the schedule (until the next meeting) for the Review Board, which meets every
Thursday from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Planning Department:
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27
Dancer, Lewis, Whitten and Skibby
Chambers, Dancer and Skibby
Bradshaw, Dancer, Hook, Lewis and Skibby
Chambers, Hook, Whitten and Skibby
OLD BUSINESS
228 "B" Street
Mike Bingham reported that there is work being done on this home between 6:30 and 8:00
in the morning and Mike Broomfield has been notified. Windows have been removed in
order to move machinery into the house. The Millers have received a letter from Bill
Emerson with 17 suggestions on what to do with the home. The Millers have received the
insurance monies of $70,000 and have been offered another $60,000 by the "B-Street
Historic Neighborhood Association". Millers have counter-offered with $120,000. Bingham
is as "flummoxed" as he has always been regarding this situation.
Chambers and Whitten will write a letter stating the Historic Commission's position to
submit to the City Council and media. Some of the general points to be covered in this
letter are:
.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
This is a bizarre situation, not normal.
The Millers have stated they wish to restore.
They have already received the $70,000 insurance monies.
Buy out offers have been rejected.
Counters have been outside the realm of reality.
It has been brought to the Commission's attention that people working
on the house have neither experience nor expertise.
This letter will be drafted for the next Review Board, February 13, 1992.
Bingham also stated he received information from the City of Astoria pertaining to how
it and some other communities handle their historic issues. He has left the information
with staff in the City Planning office. Commission members may stop by the office and
pick up a copy of this information. It was suggested that the Commission research the
possibility of a Demolition by Neglect Ordinance.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 5, 1992
Page 3
NEW BUSINESS
Historic Landmark Preservation Ordinance
George Kramer and John McLaughlin will be setting up a work session.
Special Assessment Application - 52 Granite St.
Moved by Whitten and seconded by Skibby that the Commission approve the Special
Assessment Application for 52 Granite St. Passed by majority.
Grant Possibilities
Payment for research in the amount of $500 has been authorized by John Fregonese.
National Re~ster Nomination - Masonic Lodge/25 N. Main St.
Discussion included the following. The Lodge is:
1. Historically significant
2. Contributes to the community and street scape, and
3. Has had on-going continuous use as a Masonic Lodge
Bradshaw moved to submit. Seconded by Whitten and passed unanimously.
National Historic Preservation Week - Appoint Subcommittee
Terry Skibby and Deane Bradshaw will work with Sonja when she returns. They will
contact Thomas Hunt.
Replacement for Thomas Hunt
Search is on for a replacement. It was suggested that a preferred replacement would be
someone with design/architect expertise.
Alley Committee
The Alley Committee has incurred $29.50 in expenses. They will submit the bill to Sonja
when she returns.
ADJOURNMENT
With a motion by Chambers and second by Hook, it was the unanimous decision to adjourn
the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 5, 1992
Page 4
I address this commission tonight as both an affected property
owner and as the spokeperson for a group of 15 neighbors who are
deeply concerned about the negative impact this application 'has had
on both the livability of our historic neighborhood and on our
property values. ,
Our neighborhood is unique for several reasons. It is an example of
how pride of ownership and respect for historical perspective can
serve to improve individual property values and protect historic
resources. We live in or near a row of designated Ashland Hedtage
Landmarks which have been lovingly and painstakingly restored to
reflect the period in which they were built.
Since beginning our personal historic restoration projects, we have
also added garage structures to house our modern, not-so-historic
automobiles. Note that even these new buildings were constructed
in such a way that the historic nature of our block.was not affected.
These projects were undertaken within the provisions of all
applicable city building code requirements and zoning laws. Rather
than draw complaints from neighbors, they have drawn praise and
complements. What makes our historic neighborhood truly unique,
though, is the fact that, except for one other tiny area, Helman
Street, between Central and Van Ness, is the only area in this city
where the E-1 Employment District meets directly the' Historic
district. E-1 zoning laws prOvide protection to surrounding areas by
specifically stating that structures be built and maintained in
harmony in size, scale, and aesthetics with the surrounding area. A
recent example of this is the Lloyd Haines resort project. Before
their plans were approved, they were requied to be modified to more
closely meet the requirements for blending with the surroundings in
size, scale, and architectural harmony.
We, as a group, do not feel that any reasonable person can look at
Pyramid juice Company's 46 foot refrigerated semi trailer and
conclude that it in any way meets any of these standards. It is
physically impossible to modify a 20 year old, 46 foot long,
refrigerated semi trailer which generates noise 24 hours a day ~
~to comply with~intent of the city ComprehensiVe Plan. Noise
pollution aside, it is apparent that this old trailer cannot be sited
anywhere on the property and still conform, with current and
existing city laws and ordinances.
There are those who would mistakenly assume that we, as property
'owners, have "come to the nuisance". That is, we should have been
aware that this situation existed when we purchased our respective
properties. The fact is, when we moved onto this block, 160 Helman
housed a well-maintained Bell Telephone facility. We neighbors felt
the language of the E-1 zoning offered us protection from obnoxious
development. Just in the last few years has the property
deteriorated to its present condition.
Some have said that our neighborhood group is "anti-business" while
the truth is most of us are engaged in commerce .of one sort or
another. We realize the importance of small, locally owned business
and we recognize the rights of these businesses to prosper and to
grow. But we' also contend that along with those rights comes a
responsibility to one's community. A responsibility to apply for and
be granted permits before building or moving a building on site. ^
responsibility to maintain one's property to an acceptable degree. A
responsibility to conform to the comprehensive plan..
This application before you represents an opportunity to the Historic
Commission. An opportunity to protect those historic resources
which have resulted in much of the developed character of the city.
It is our hope that you sieze this opportunity and not lend your
approval to any permit process that would allow a trailer to remain
on this property.