Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/12/2000 - Regular Minutes - Historic Preservation CommitteeHistoric Preservation Committee Regular Meeting Utility Customer Service Center 310 Krenek Tap Road Wednesday, January 12, 2000 -- 5:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Deborah Jasek, Chair; Russell Duke, Co-Chair; Bill Lancaster; Shawn Carlson; Elton Abbott; Margaret Griffith; Monte Trenckmann; Marsha Sanford; Joan Perry MEMBERS ABSENT: Dock Burke STAFF PRESENT: David Gerling, Special Facilities Superintendent; Pamela Springfield, Committee Secretary; Steve Beachy, Peter Vanecek, Parks and Recreation; David Massey, Electrical Division; Lee Battle, Development Services; and Cathy Raney, GIS VISITORS PRESENT: Dennis Maloney; Mike Luther 1. Call to Order: Deborah Jasek called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Approval of Minutes: Margaret Griffith made a motion to approve the December, 1999 minutes. Russell Duke seconded. The members voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written. 3. Hear Visitors: City staff members, Steve Beachy, Peter Vanecek, Parks and Recreation; David Massey, Electrical Division; Lee Battle, Development Services; and Cathy Raney, GIS; were all introduced. Visitors, Mike Luther and Dennis Maloney, had nothing to present. 4. Southside Area Lighting Project ~ Presentation, Discussion and Possible Action: David Gerling had handouts for everyone (see attached) with cost estimates for the project. He said $50,000 of this project was budgeted from capital funds and $20,000 from hotel/motel funds. He displayed a map created by City staff, showing proposed locations for the decorative lights, as well as existing lights. David G. said there have been two different styles of decorative lights used in City parks. He said the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) was familiar with the decorative lighting that had been installed in Brison Park because they had approved its use. The other lights, located in Thomas Park, are very similar, however the base of the pole is sturdier and more decorative. Pictures of both poles were shown. Both are direct-burial, concrete poles. David G. went over the cost estimates. He said the City’s Electrical Department would install 3-6 poles at a time, when time permitted. He said City staff had suggested putting four poles along Dexter Street first. Since Dexter Street was highly traveled, they thought it would be a good selling point for the rest of the area; however, the suggested locations were not definite. The goal is to have the project finished by the end of fiscal year 2000. David told the members that some of the current lights would be removed. He wanted everyone to keep in mind that not all residents in the area will like what will be done. There will be trenching and digging in and around the yards, sidewalks, and streets associated with the project. All residents will be notified of work being done in their area with doorhangers, which will give information on the project, phone numbers, etc. The $1,400 estimate would cover the cost of either pole chosen. The members discussed several options: installing five additional poles (for a total of twelve poles) in Brison Park - either around the perimeter or inside the park. This was based on an issue that had been discussed by the HPC at a previous meeting. installing lights on George Bush Drive as gateways into the area; installing lights on every street entrance into the area; Steve Beachy told the members that deciding on the locations of the poles would probably have to be an ongoing project coordinated with the Electrical Department, since installing lights may be more difficult in some areas than in others. David Massey agreed, stating that some locations would be tough to get to. Steve told the members to keep in mind that the project could possibly be carried on into the future, however the installation of 40 lights is what can be accomplished in the first year. He said that City staff needed two things from the committee at the present time: Guidance on which pole was preferred, so it could be put out to bid as soon as possible. (Once the poles are received they will be stored, with installation as time permits.) Guidance on where to start with the lights, with detailed locations for the remaining lights coordinated later – possibly on a monthly basis. After some discussion regarding locations where the first lights could be installed, Steve suggested forming a subcommittee that would go out with the map, and check on locations. He said by the time the lights were bid out and approved by City Council, it would probably be April before the first light would go in. Marsha Sanford made a motion to go with the same light poles used in Thomas Park. Joan Perry seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Deborah asked if the same type pole could be used in Brison that was already there. Steve said it could be done and he would make sure the same pole was used. Margaret Griffith made a motion to complete the lighting around Brison Park as the first priority, with five additional lights (for a total of twelve lights) using the same type pole. Russell seconded. All members were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. David G. said future agendas would include items to discuss other lighting locations. Making smaller copies of the map was discussed. David G. said the pictures could be removed, and 8 ½” x 11” maps would be sent to everyone. Elton Abbott moved to form a subcommittee to look at locations for lights, and to meet with the City’s Electrical Department to see which lights would be easy, and which would be difficult, to install. Marsha Sanford seconded. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. Russell Duke, Bill Lancaster, Margaret, Monte Trenckmann, and Deborah agreed to serve on the subcommittee. Steve told the subcommittee to contact David Massey. The City staff members who were present for this agenda item were thanked for coming and excused. 5. Workshop Items: Deborah said the reason the members were meeting at the Utility Service Center was to have access to the GIS (Geographic Information System), and that Cathy Raney would be helping out. a. Define boundaries for historic neighborhoods: Deborah said she’d read through about 98% of the ordinances from other cities, which Pam had sent to all members. She said there were some things that were worth considering when drafting College Station’s ordinance, such as tax abatements. Deborah said she’d found out from the tax records that there were a few houses in the West Park Subdivision - the area of Montclair, Grove, and Fidelity Streets - which were built in the 1930’s. She also said that there were a lot of trusts and corporations that owned homes in that area. Shawn Carlson said if it was possible for GIS to pull up the homes, which based on the tax rolls were built before 1950, then it would be easy to see which were the older subdivisions and put a boundary around those houses. Cathy said she would run a query to get that information. Elton made a motion to form another subcommittee that could take the time to sit with GIS, get a map printed out with the subdivision information needed, and report back to the HPC. Marsha seconded. All members voted, and the motion passed unanimously. Elton, Shawn and Marsha agreed to meet with GIS before the next meeting. b. Begin to draft criteria for historic area ordinance(s): Everyone agreed to table this item until the next meeting, since most members had not read through the information they’d received. Shawn said she’d read through the material, and wanted to make a suggestion based on her observations. She said she believes that the HPC is looking at creating a conservation district/area, as opposed to a historic district/area. Her understanding is that an historic area deals specifically with structures, whereas a conservation district deals with everything around the buildings as well. Deborah agreed, and told the members to read through everything and jot down ideas. She told them to remember that the HPC could be as liberal or as conservative as they wanted to be when outlining this ordinance. 6. Agenda Items for Future Meetings: Investigation of the status of the A&M Church of Christ, currently owned by the Methodists on the corner of Church and Main Streets, for a potential preservation stance from the HPC; Plaques for the decorative light poles for bonfire victims; c. Facade Committee needs a designated representative from the HPC. Deborah will continue to sit on the meetings unless someone else would like to be the representative. She said they don’t meet on a monthly basis. d. Criteria for historic ordinance; e. Boundaries for historic neighborhoods. 7. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m.