HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-04-03 Historic MINASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION
Minutes
April 3, 1991
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, Thomas Hunt, Susan Reynolds, Keith Chambers, Jean
MacKenzie, Lorraine Whitten and Deane Bradshaw. Also present were Senior Planner
John McLaughlin and Secretary Sonja Akerman. Commission member Mark Reitinger was
absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Skibby moved and Hunt seconded to approve the Minutes of the March 6, 1991 meeting
as mailed. Motion passed unanimously.
STAFF REPORTS
PA 91-044
Conditional Use Permit
34 Union Street
G.K. and Doris Schrock
McLaughlin stated the applicants would like to structurally alter the garage which is located
on the property line of the alley, and convert it to living space. The building will be
upgraded and considered a single family structure. Staff is recommending approval.
G.K. Schrock, when questioned about the elevations, stated the existing two garage doors
will be removed and replaced with 22 x 54 inch windows to match the house. Doris
Schrock said the remodel will be similar, except for the windows, to what had previously
been proposed and approved. The same siding will be used and the garage will keep the
same roof pitch. A door will be placed on each end of the alley side for mechanical access.
Whitten moved to recommend approval of this application with the proviso the Historic
Commission review the plans when submitted. Chambers seconded the motion and it was
unanimously approved.
PA 91-047
Conditional Use Permit
174 North Main Street
Marilyn Krichman
McLaughlin reminded the Commission of recent approvals on this piece of property and
added the applicant wants to get approval for a traveller's accommodation prior to building
the new unit, which will be constructed in another year. She is also proposing one of the
parking spaces not be paved now to allow for the construction of the new unit. This space
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
April 3, 1991
will have a 3/4 minus surface in the interim. Parking will accommodate the two unit
traveller's accommodation. Staff is recommending approval.
Skibby moved and Whitten seconded to recommend approval of this application to the
Planning Commission. Motion was unanimously passed.
BUILDING PERMITS
Permits reviewed by members of the Historic Commission and issued during the month of
March follow:
Dale Rooklyn
Rick Klimeck
Lloyd Haines
Erik Wallbank
Beulah Smith
Jim Duncan
Jim Duncan
Nick Wise
Philip Lang/Ruth Miller
Susan Beryhill/Phil Miller
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Daniel/Nelwyn Maloney
G.K. Schrock
Chateaulin Selections
Blooksbury Books
137 7th St. Addition
500 Iowa St. SFR
31-B Water St. Deck Addition
300 Pioneer St. Office Bldg.
159 2nd St. Remodel
692 "B" St. Garage/Studio
692 "B" St. Remodel
248 8th St. Solarium
758 "B" St. Demo. Interior/Porch
129 S. Laurel Remodel
15 S. Pioneer Remodel/Addn Restrooms
44 Morton St. Garage
549 Allison St. Garage Addition
240 E. Main St. Sign
52 E. Main St. Sign
290 E. Main St. Sign
OLD BUSINESS
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:
April 4
April 11
April 18
April 25
May 2
Skibby, Hunt, Reynolds and Bradshaw
Skibby, Hunt, Chambers, Whitten and MacKenzie
Skibby, Hunt, Bradshaw, Chambers and Lewis
Skibby, Hunt, Bradshaw and Lewis
Skibby, Hunt, Whitten and Chambers
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
April 3, 1991
National Historic Preservation Week
Hunt will correlate with the Chamber of Commerce on newspaper articles. Awards will be
presented on May 17. Skibby stated he will make information available to the Tidings on
City Hall's 100th birthday. He added Heritage Sunday will also focus on this event.
Senate Bill 750
All members should write letters regarding this bill, with copies to the Planning Office.
NEW BUSINESS
Railroad District Committee
Lewis stated since the proposed siting of the substation the committee is concerned with
is located outside the Historic District, there was really nothing official the Commission
could do. There is a potential for the Railroad District to be placed on the National
Register of Historic Places, in which case Historic Commission input would be more viable,
especially under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The depot on the
corner of 5th and "A" Streets is the closest property which is on the National Register. The
proposed park on "A" Street between 7th and 8th Streets, although also outside the Historic
District, may be of some concern to the Commission. He continued to say the Mayor has
set up a committee to study such issues as health, so although the Commission may have
certain concerns regarding these issues, other committees have been established as
authorities.
Skibby stated the proposed location is very near the Golden Spike, then he read a legal
description of that point (the legal description is hereby made a part of the minutes and
attached at the end). He also presented the old yard map and stated he and one of the
City Engineers had pinpointed the placement of the golden spike at the bottom of "A"
Street.
Bradshaw commented she feels the substation would be out of character visually and added
the driving of the Golden Spike was of national significance. Whitten interjected the PNB
antenna was fought because of visual and health problems and believes there are
similarities between it and the substation.
Betsy Anderson, member of the Railroad District Committee, stated she feels there would
be an adverse effect on the Historic District. Betty Camner, also a member, stated
distribution lines will go up 7th Street. Lewis added he was informed the existing lines in
the alley between "A" and "B" Streets will be upgraded to accommodate the increased
electric load.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
April 3, 1991
Ron Thurner, a spokesperson for the Committee, stated the burden of informing the
substation location to City and relevant commissions rests with those seeking the change -
- BPA, PP&L and the City. He added it was disturbing to him the Railroad District
Committee had to bring it to the Historic Commission rather than the City.
Camner said the site between Mountain Avenue and "A" Street is the preferred site. The
Railroad Committee is not opposed to a new substation, and agrees the need exists. This
site, however, is located too close to homes, schools and the proposed park. Committee
members would like to move in a positive direction.
Phil Clark stated he is a member of the committee the Mayor appointed regarding the
substation. He said it seems funny the Historic District does not include the railroad lines
and believes that even though the site in question is located outside the Historic District,
it would have a negative effect on the district.
Whitten remarked the Commission members have individual concerns, however, it cannot
comment as a Commission. Lewis added if there are health concerns, the whole city would
be affected, not just the Historic District. Hunt is especially troubled about the location
adjacent to the proposed park area.
Cate Hartzell stated she has been to all meetings regarding the location of a new substation
and has learned that transients seem to be a specific problem in conjunction with
substations. People do not reside for long periods of time in these areas. Restoring older
homes takes money and loving care, which probably would not be the case if the substation
were located so near to the Historic District.
David Sebrell related if the Historic Commission had any concerns, they should be stated
now because there is a 15 day process to confirm the site. He feels safety and property
values are the most important issues. Camner added BPA will take concerns of
commissions, individuals, etc. in its Environmental Assessment. BPA officials have already
expressed their concerns with two houses that will be under extremely hot lines. She
maintained the whole picture has to do with the quality of life in the area.
Thurner stated he has done land use consulting for three years now. It is important to
understand by the time you are getting a permit, you have already gone through the site
review process, so he feels input is necessary as early as possible. He asked the
Commission to review this site because it is adjoining the Historic District. With regard to
the 106 process, he reiterated the actual burden to bring this before the Historic
Commission falls upon the applicants. Since the location "may" have an adverse impact on
the Historic District, he would like the Commission to send a letter or statement to the
State Historic Preservation Office and to other relevant people.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
April 3, 1991
It was the consensus of the Commission its main concerns with the location of Site 6 are
the close proximity of the proposed park, streetscape, and visual effect of wires, including
lines of alley, because what affects "A" Street affects the entire Historic Railroad District.
Reynolds and Bradshaw volunteered to write a letter noting Historic Commission concerns
and send copies to the Mayor and City Council, Planning Commission, SHPO and the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
Camner informed all present she has the Southern Pacific report and DEQ report telling
SP to clean up the contaminated soil under the round house and they are available for
viewing.
Letter From Ken Mickelsen
A letter to the Historic Commission from Ken Mickelsen, Director of Ashland Parks and
Recreation Department, was discussed. He had received a letter from Edith Montgomery
who suggested a marker be erected by the Lincoln Statue relating its unique story.
Chambers stated there is something pure and dean about the statue so he would be a little
apprehensive about a sign sticking up and detracting from the statue itself. Lewis suggested
the story be made a part of walking tours. It was decided, however, the proposal should
be researched, since the concept sounds interesting as long as it not be distracting. Because
of its small budget, the Commission wondered who would pay for such a sign.
ADJOURNMENT
With a motion by Skibby and second by Chambers, it was the unanimous decision of the
Historic Commission to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m.
OREGON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
Lewis A. McArthur
SISKIYOU the name Siskiyou as applied to a post office did not
appear until April, 1895, well over a half a century after
Hudson's Bay Company trappers had named the pass through the
Siskiyou Mountains. The compiler does not know the exact
location of the first Siskiyou post office, which was in charge
of Alice E. Ager, but for many years this office was near the
Southern Pacific Company station Siskiyou at the northeast end of
the Siskiyou tunnel and very close to the Pacific Highway. This
post office was closed October 31, 1932. The compiler has been
asked about where the golden spike was driven on completion of
the Siskiyou line of the Southern Pacific Company. In March,
1947, G.H. Kilborn, superintendent of the Southern Pacific
Company's Shasta Division at Dunsmuir had a search made of the
old records and reported that the golden spike was driven on
December 17, 1887, at about 5:04 P.M. on the east side of the
track at the south end of the Ashland yard at mileage 428:8. The
spike was driven at survey station 1154+05. The driving of this
spike completed the Siskiyou line of the Southern Pacific.