Camas says no to owner’s plans for Farrell House

Camas’ landmark Farrell House cannot be used to hold indoor and outdoor events as its owner had hoped, officials said Tuesday.

The city’s council adopted a resolution during a special meeting Monday night that rejected owner Heidi Curley’s bid for an unclassified use permit. In doing so, the council affirmed its unanimous vote on the matter from a week earlier.

The council’s decision came more than a month after the city’s planning commission recommended approval for Curley’s plan.

Curley, who purchased the house last year, sought an unclassified use permit to hold events ranging from backyard weddings with up to 100 people to luncheons and tea parties with as few as 10. But the council sided with neighbors who voiced concerns related to noise and traffic issues that could negatively affect their lives.

The Farrell House, 416 N.E. Ione St., was built in 1913 by a well-to-do Camas department store owner and is listed on the Clark County Heritage Register. The distinctive Greek Revival-style home had belonged to the Farrell family until last year, when Curley purchased it.

Curley appears to be taking the council’s decision in stride.

“I will live in this grand old house and raise my three beautiful girls,” Curley wrote on the Farrell House’s Facebook page following the council’s decision.

Curley did not return phone calls Monday or Tuesday. Neither did Camas community development director Phil Bourquin.

Tom Martin, a vocal opponent of Curley’s initial plans, expressed satisfaction and surprise at the council’s 7-0 vote.

“They hit the nail on the head,” Martin said, adding the council addressed all of the concerns residents had.

Martin complemented Curley on how much work she has already put into the Farrell House.

“I’m not going to hold a grudge,” he said. “I hope we can be good neighbors.”

While Martin praised the council’s decision, fellow Camas resident Karen Hall criticized it.

Hall is the owner of the Camas Hotel and a member of the Camas Downtown Association. Events at the Farrell House could have resulted in more customers for the hotel, Hall said.

“It is disappointing that the council has let ‘fear of change’ color what should have been a fairly straightforward decision to allow Ms. Curley (to) do something that she has a right to do anyway (i.e., hold parties at her home on a limited basis),” Hall wrote in an email. “The only difference would have been that she would have been able to receive some compensation for her trouble and the city could have provided restrictions that would protect her neighbors from excess noise and traffic.”

Curley had planned to use the Camas Friends Church, adjacent to Farrell House, for additional parking.

Ray Legendre: 360-735-4517; http://facebook.com/raylegend; http://twitter.com/col_smallcities; ray.legendre@columbian.com.