HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-05 - Historic Landmarks Commission Minutes
117 NW Lafayette Avenue, Bend, Oregon 97703 | P.O. Box 6005, Bend, OR 97708-6005
(541) 388-6575 cdd@deschutes .org www.deschutes.org/cd
MINUTES
DESCHUTES COUNTY HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION
DESCHUTES SERVICES CENTER
1300 NW WALL STREET, BEND, OREGON, 97701
NOVEMBER 5, 2018 – 5:30 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Horting-Jones called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Historic Landmark
Commissioners present were Sharon Leighty, Rachel Stemach, Dennis Schmidlng, Bill
Olsen, and Kelly Madden. Staff present were Peter Gutowsky, Planning Manager, and
Zechariah Heck, Associate Planner.
II. PAST MEETING MINUTES
The October 1, 2018 meeting minutes were approved as drafted.
III. PUBLIC HEARING: FILE NO. 247-18-000658-HS, PROPOSED ALTERATION OF THE
WILLIAM P. VANDEVERT RANCH HOMESTEAD HOUSE
Chair Horting-Jones opened the public hearing by reading a prepared opening statement.
For the record, staff clarified that all commissioners besides Commissioner Olson visited
the subject property earlier in the day. Staff captured the extent of the site visit in the
following inset. There were no challenges of ex parte contact by the HLC or staff.
Vandevert Homestead House Site Visit – Commissioners Sharon Leighty, Rachel
Stemach, Dennis Schmidlng, and Kelly Madden joined Zechariah Heck, staff, to the
subject property. Scott and Sue Olson, property owners, greeted the group and
explained they could walk around the building freely to see the damage to the
historic house. Eventually, the HLC and staff entered the historic home to see the
damage that was visible from the interior of the home.
There were no discussions about the merits of the applicant’s proposal. The
property owner answered general questions about the extent of the damage and
their plans to repair if the application before the HLC is approved.
Next, staff provided an overview of the staff report and explained the typical process of a
public hearing.
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The applicants, Jeffrey Klein and Scott & Sue Olson, presented their proposal to the HLC.
Mr. Klein handed out 11x17 elevation drawings and floor plans to the HLC – these
documents are incorporated into the digital record as Exhibit A. They explained the
attached garage of the historic house is damaged due to a leaky roof. Additionally, the
applicants explained there are several walls that are damaged due to rot and need to be
replaced according to a structural engineer. They proposed to replace the walls with
standard framing and inscribe log siding to match the existing siding of the house. A
component of the proposal is to replace a garage door and a window with a folding glass
door. Mr. Klein made a statement that the subject house is not the original homestead
house; the original house was demolished circa 1990. The existing house is a replica.
There were no contests to this statement, although staff noted the house, albeit a replica,
is still on the County’s Goal 5 Historic Resources Inventory and, therefore, is afforded
protections in Deschutes County Code.
The HLC and the applicants had a dialogue regarding the proposal and their intention to
maintain the integrity of the historic house.
Once the applicants concluded their presentation and answered all of the questions of
the HLC, Chair Horting-Jones closed the public hearing because there was nobody else in
the audience.
Staff guided the HLC to the staff report and began the deliberations to determine if
applicable criteria were met. Commissioner Olson made a motion to allow for the repairs
but disallowing the folding glass doors citing a lack of design congruency. A lengthy
discussion ensued after this motion as several commissioners stated they do not feel the
folding glass doors were a compatibility issue. The discussion expanded to a
consideration of what repairs were adequate for the applicant to repair the damage.
Several commissioners expressed a concern of making a decision that will not work for
the applicant. A few commissioners also made a statement that the subject house should
not be a historic site because it was not the original homestead house. Staff responded
that the house is on the County’s Goal 5 Historic Resources Inventory as a relocated and
renovated structure, thus, in staff’s opinion, alterations to the design of the house need to
comply with the provisions in Deschutes County Code.
Citing the need to discuss possible design options with the applicant, Chair Horting-Jones
reopened the public hearing. The applicants again came forward to discuss options with
the HLC. Once the HLC better understood what was doable for the applicants in repairing
the structure, Chair Horting-Jones closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Schmidling made the following motion:
Subject to staff recommendations and findings within the staff report, the HLC finds,
based on the applicant’s burden of proof, the HLC’s site visit of the subject property and
recognition that the proposed alterations are to a replica of the original Vandevert
Homestead House, the applicants’ proposals to repair the deteriorating logs with
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standard frame construction and log wood siding along with a folding glass door
system are compatible with the applicable standards set forth in Deschutes County
Code.
Commissioner Leighty seconded Schmidling’s motion. All commissioners were in favor of
the motion besides Commissioner Stemach, who expressed her concern that the
proposal may negatively impact the historic integrity of the structure even if the structure
is indeed a replica and not the original homestead house.
The Commission directed staff to use the approved motion above as a finding for all
relevant approval criteria the application is subject to. In addition, the Commission gave
approval for staff to draft a final decision of file no. 247-18-000658-HS to be reviewed by
Chair Horting-Jones. If Chair Horting-Jones approves of the decision, she shall sign the
document, which will then be issued by staff as prescribed in the Deschutes County
Procedures Ordinance.
IV. COMMISSIONER AND STAFF COMMENTS
Commissioner Madden discussed May Historic Preservation Month and the need to plan
early.
Staff reminded the HLC that the State Historic Preservation Office is hosting a Certified
Local Government workshop in Independence, Oregon, on November 16. Any
commissioners interested in attending should contact Zechariah.
Staff announced the next regularly scheduled HLC meeting will be on January 7, 2019. The
main topic will be what CLG projects.
V. ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Zechariah Heck, Associate Planner