Historic Committee discusses downtown windows, parking

The city has plans to resurface the parking lot around the Farmers Market and officials hope business owners will spruce up their buildings to make the area an attractive place to park.

In the past, wood windows versus vinyl windows have been an area of contention between businesses and the Historic Zoning Commission. Although wood windows fit historic guidelines, vinyl seems to be preferred among most business owners.

There are six guidelines that outline 20 requirements. As suggested by McMinnville city administrator David Rutherford, he believes that can be simplified to eight to make it very clear as to what can be done.

His suggestion: The original size and shape of a window shall be maintained. Window openings shall not be filled in, reduced or enlarged. New window openings shall not be introduced unless they are evenly spaced between current openings. New decorative windows shall not be introduced to buildings that did not historically have them. Modern materials can be used to replaced damaged original materials. However, they must be in the same style, mass and color as the original.

The perceived parking problem downtown, a hot topic for downtown visitors as well as business owners, will be getting attention.

‘I think that is a perception that is wrong, but it is still a perception,’ said Rutherford. ‘We all know that perception is reality to whoever makes that perception.’

To either confirm or remove the negative perception, the Planning and Zoning Commission is doing a study comparing downtown parking to Wal-Mart parking. It is 520 feet from the front door of Wal-Mart to the furthest parking spot. Using that information and mapping software, commission members will calculate how many parking spaces are downtown and the amount of feet from the furthest parking spot to a destination point.

Along with that information, there may be a few changes. The committee discussed new signs directing motorists to public parking places and the need to do something with the Farmers Market parking area.

According to Rutherford, a partnership between the city and property owners adjacent to the Farmers Market can hopefully be established. While the city resurfaces the area, property owners can fix and tidy up around the buildings.

Demolition and replacement of Historic District buildings was also touched on during the meeting. Until more information is received regarding the downtown buildings and their historical value, the discussion was postponed.

The committee will be meeting again at city hall Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.