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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.