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Staff Concurrence: Concrete Block Wall in the Canemah National Register Historic District
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RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion): Staff requests HRB confirmation of the staff decision. If the HRB does not concur, the applicant must submit a request for formal HRB review.
BACKGROUND:The applicant requests approval for a concrete block wall on a property in the Canemah District.
The wall is existing; the property owners are requesting this approval to achieve compliance with city codes. The wall is made of split-faced concrete block and faces the Willamette River.
HRB Policies permit concrete block walls in rear yards, side yards, and alleyways. This property does not contain a primary structure, thus it does not have a defined front, side, or rear yard. The property is a narrow strip of land between the railroad tracks and the Willamette River. It contains private docks and patios serving the owners of the properties on the other side of First Avenue. Staff's decision is based on the fact that no contributing structures are on the property, and that the site functions as a rear yard. Furthermore, the main portion of the wall is not visible from First Avenue or any other public street within the District. There are a few steps between First Avenue and the railroad tracks that are made from concrete block. See attached photos taken from the right of way.
Staff concurrence is a process by which staff may verify a staff-level decision with the Board. Staff are authorized by the code to approve requests that meet the HRB policies. On rare occasions, where the policy is not 100% clear or there is not a precedent for approval, staff will ask the Board for concurrence, or agreement, with the staff decision, to ensure that decisions are compatible and consistent.
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