HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-02-07 Historic MINASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION
Minutes
February 7, 1990
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, Rick Harris and Joyce Ward (who arrived at 8:40 p.m.).
Also present were Associate Planner John McLaughlin, Secretary Sonja Akerman and City
Council Liaison Susan Reid. Commission members Lorraine Whitten, Maxine Colwell and
Susan Reynolds were absent. Commission members Margaret Dode and Pat Warner have
resigned.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Since there was not a quorum until Ward arrived, approval of the Minutes of the January
3, 1990 meeting was delayed until the next meeting.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVISIONS
Kay Atwood commented on her revision of the Historic Preservation element of the
Comprehensive Plan, which was included in the packet to the Commissioners. She stated
that she had taken comments from the minutes of two Historic Commission meetings and
notes from Hal Cloer for the revised version. She also explained that she had added brief
descriptions of the four historic interest areas and accomplishments on the Ashland Cultural
Resources Inventory.
The next step for the Comp Plan revision will be to forward it to CPAC.
Atwood then updated the Commission on the inventory. She is now working on the
Siskiyou-Hargadine District, which will be finished in April. With the completion of the
Skidmore District in August, the survey and the SHPO grant will be concluded.
STAFF REPORTS
It was decided to proceed without a quorum on three of the Planning Actions since they
appeared to have little or no changes of previously approved Planning Commission
decisions.
PA 90-023
Extension of Previously Approved Site Review and Variance
133 Sixth Street
Bob Martindale
McLaughlin briefly explained the history of this request, reminding the Commission that
compromises had been made by the applicant and the Historic Commission regarding the
design of the proposed house and garage. The approval was granted on March 13, 1989.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 7, 1990
Nothing has changed in the plans, ordinances or policies. Harris recommended this action
be passed to the Planning Commission without comment since nothing has changed.
PA 90-040
Extension of Previously Approved Conditional Use Permit, Variance and Site Review
137 North Main Street
James B. Parker
McLaughlin clarified that all previous conditions will apply. Because there were no
objections, this action will be passed to the Planning Commission without comment.
PA 90-042
Change in Applicant
163 Granite Street
Louise Samuelson
McLaughlin stated this is a change in ownership and applicant. A Planning Action is
required to make sure the new applicant is aware of all the conditions which were attached
to the previous approval and to let the neighbors know of the change. Since the only
change is the applicant and there were no objections, this action was also forwarded to the
Planning Commission without comment.
SIGN CODE ORDINANCE DRAFT REVISIONS
McLaughlin distributed yet another draft copy of the Sign Code Ordinance revisions. He
had discussed ways to make it more palatable to the public with John Fregonese, so after
a few changes, came up with another draft. George Kramer stated the revisions imply that
historic signs will be specially treated by the Council, but not "how". He also feels it needs
to give owners more of an incentive to keep and maintain a historic sign. Discussion
ensued regarding changes which Kramer and the Commission agreed needed to be made.
The Commission directed Staff to make the changes which were discussed and to have it
ready for the next meeting.
HISTORIC COMMISSION BROCHURE
The Commission agreed the content of the brochure was fine. Boundaries of the Historic
District were discussed and it was acknowledged that now is the time to work on a
definitive perimeter so it can be adopted at the same time the Comprehensive Plan is
adopted.
(Ward arr/ved at th/s t/m~)
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 7, 1990
STAFF REPORTS (continued)
PA 89-020
Conditional Use Permit and Site Review
34 Union Street and 549 Allison Street
G.IC Schrock
McLaughlin explained this is an abutting "L"-shaped piece of property which contains 17,000
square feet. The applicant proposes to located two upstairs units in the house at 34 Union
Street, two in the remodeled garage, one in the new carriage house and three in the house
at 549 Allison Street. This will be the largest B & B in Ashland if it is approved. The City
has no limit as far as the Land Use Ordinance is concerned, while Jackson County has a
limit of six units - and anything over that would be considered commercial enterprise. He
added that if the lot was vacant, it would accommodate seven apartment units. The alley
is already paved.
G.K. Schrock then stated he is trying to bring three things together with this application.
The first is the rehabilitation of the property at 34 Union Street. It is of the vernacular
style with an all wood interior and no plaster. The location is very close to downtown and
only a block from where the Stage Road turned. He wants to bring the workmanship
together on the lower portion with vertical boards and battens, identical to the structure on
Highway 66 (the Dunn House). The carriage, he added will not be board and batt because
it is of a later date. The new coach house will be in a simple Victorian style which will
bring back a feeling of the American Renaissance. The porch at 34 Union Street will be
removed and the addition will be attached to the Northeast wing. Two dormers will be
added to the front of the house, while the roof will remain the same. No exterior changes
will be made to 549 Allison. He also mentioned that the interior at 34 Union Street will
remain the same.
The Commission discussed at length the great extent of outside changes at 34 Union, even
though a 200 square feet addition is not that much. Harris stated he did not feel the
changes to 34 Union Street were homogenous with the area or the historic structure of the
existing house. Lewis stated the heavy modification, especially with the removal of the front
and back porch, vertical siding, window changes and gable ends, would be making its own
history and not retaining anything from its original history.
Schrock interjected that the upstairs needs to be rehabilitated in order to make the
structure more sturdy, and that while changing the look by adding dormers, the roof will
remain the same. Jac Nichols, architect, added that the retention of the porch had been
discussed with Mr. Schrock and was a possibility. Schrock stated the previous owner had
told him that board and batt siding is under the existing siding.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 7, 1990
George Kramer informed those present that he had recently earned a masters degree in
historic preservation from the University of Oregon and one of his professors is an authority
on this type of construction. He stated board and batten housing was very rare in Oregon
and it would be very inappropriate to have one within the City limits of Ashland, even
though that may have been the siding at one time.
Harris said the need is to try to maintain compatibility and that such a mix of designs does
not add to the look of the house in a historic way, nor maintain the history. It defeats the
purpose of historic preservation in town to have such heavy modification to a structure.
Skibby asserted the carriage house design is not compatible with either house. He said he
felt the B & B ordinance is to save original architecture of houses and not to alter them
so drastically. This clearly, he feels, is not the intent of the ordinance.
Ward stated she felt the use of the property fits, but how the buildings are treated is what
matters.
Harris moved to recommend approval of the Conditional Use Permit with the following
conditions: that only six units be approved because the remodel of the garage is not
appropriate due to setbacks and substantial change, and that the modification of 34 Union
Street and garage be not significantly altered, and that the Historic Commission will work
with the owner and architect to accomplish a new design. After a short discussion, he
withdrew the motion.
Skibby moved to recommend denial of the project because the plans, as presented, are not
compatible with the area and that the remodel is too drastic; that the new building is not
compatible in design regarding placement of windows and design of roof; and because these
changes so drastically alter the historic character of the neighborhood, that it is not in
keeping with the intent of the ordinance. Ward seconded the motion. Discussion followed
to clarify the points of concern:
1,
Gable end of 34 Union Street is too asymmetrical and since it is a primary
view, is not compatible.
2. Board and batten siding is inappropriate for 34 Union Street.
3. Caps on all windows are inappropriate with the design of 34 Union Street.
Entryway contributes to the asynunetricality of the house and modernization
of the design.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 7, 1990
0
Horizontal windows at 34 Union Street are incompatible and the scale and
orientation are inappropriate in the Southeast elevation.
e
The screen porch windows of the Southeast elevation of 34 Union Street are
a detriment to that elevation and are not compatible with the original window
design.
,
The hip design of the roof addition is different than the original structure and
is inappropriate at 34 Union Street.
8. The cantilevers on the carriage house are inappropriate.
9. The geometric design of the carriage house is inappropriate.
It was the unanimous opinion of the Commission that the eclectic design of the project
does not make any sense and it should be redesigned.
On voice vote, the Commission unanimously approved the motion.
PA 90-027
Conditional Use Permit and Site Review
666 "A" Street
James and Cheryl Lewis
McLaughlin stated that last month, portions of this action were reviewed. The Lewis' plan
on moving a house from Medford, which was slated for demolition, to this site. Because
it is zoned for employment, a residential structure requires a Conditional Use Permit. Staff
feels there are no negative impacts with this proposal and that the size is appropriate for
the neighborhood.
Lewis declared a conflict of interest.
McLaughlin said the houses need to be located so that the property could eventually be
split. When questioned about the distance between the houses, Lewis stated there will be
at least 15 feet between them. He also discussed the landscaping, verifying they will be
planting approved street trees, but two existing cottonwoods will have to be removed. In
addition, he is in the process of searching for photos of the house so he can replicate the
porch.
Harris moved and Skibby seconded to recommend approval of the project to the Planning
Commission. Lewis abstained; Harris, Skibby and Ward all voted aye.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 7, 1990
BUILDING PERMITS
Permits reviewed by members of the Historic Commission and issued during the month of
January follow:
Jackie Bruni
Brent Thompson
Stella Moser
Ann Clouse
Simon Kechlovian
Rob Holman
M. Dunn
Roberts BP
Scrap Peddlers of Ashland
Vocational Resource Consultants
Ashland's Optical Expressions
Lithia Sports Ltd.
130 Helman St. Garage
535 Iowa St. Window
135 "B" St. Addition*
70 Water St. Door
212 Vista St. Remodel
75 N. Main St. Remodel
159 N. Laurel St. Remodel & Fnd
595 N. Main St. Sign
240 E. Main St. Sign
150 N. Pioneer St.Sign
30 N. Main St. Sign
372 E. Main St. Sign
* Denotes a permit that was disapproved by Historic Commission.
NEW BUSINESS
National Historic Preservation Week
George Kramer spoke on behalf of Siskiyou Pioneer Sites Foundation, representing the
Historic Preservation League of Oregon. He said that SITES is trying to arrange a series
of lectures on historic preservation prior to Historic Preservation Week, with the final
lecture to be held during that week. The lectures would be held in Jacksonville, Medford
and Ashland (hopefully, with monetary participation from the Ashland Historic Commission,
Medford Historic Commission and Southern Oregon Historical Society for printing posters
and tickets). The Historic Commission agreed this would be a worthwhile educational
project to increase awareness of historic preservation. Harris suggested the Commission
advertise in conjunction with Historic Preservation Week and that the lecture series
culminate in Ashland. Kramer will return to the next meeting with more information.
The Commission also agreed the bill stuffer is fine as it is. Skibby will print a photograph
for the first page of the newsletter.
OLD BUSINESS
Ordinance Revisions
This will be discussed at the March 7, 1990 meeting.
Ashland Historic Commission
Minutes
February 7, 1990
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 8 - Lewis, Harris and Skibby
February 15 - Ward, Lewis and Reynolds
February 22- Harris, Skibby and Colwell
March 1 - Ward, Skibby and Whitten
(Harris moved to extend the meeting past 10:30 p.m. Skibby seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously.)
NEW BUSINESS
Golden Spike Memorial Park
Because of the time, the Commission agreed to discuss this during the March meeting.
Skibby stated that the Ashland Heritage Committee will be addressing this at its next
meeting, so he will report to the Commission on the results.
Special Assessment - 35 Granite Street
Harris moved and Skibby seconded to recommend approval for special assessment of the
residence located at 35 Granite Street, and the motion was unanimously passed. 35 Granite
Street is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other
Skibby discussed the construction work at 115 Sherman Street. The building permit was
approved at the time of Conditional Use Permit and Site Review approval, based on
drawings which were turned in and statements made at the Historic Commission meeting
by the owner, Laura Laurence. McLaughlin stated the owner will be writing a letter to
explain why the construction happened as it did and what is going on now. This will be
reviewed by both the Historic Commission and the Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m.