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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/2000 - Regular Minutes - Historic Preservation CommitteeHistoric Preservation Committee Regular Meeting City Hall Training Room 1101 Texas Avenue Wednesday, December 6, 2000 -- 5:15 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Shawn Carlson, Chair; Margaret Griffith, Co-Chair; Deborah Jasek; Bill Lancaster; Thomas Taylor; Myron Gantt; Robert McGee; Monte Trenckmann; Graham Sheffy MEMBERS ABSENT: Marsha Sanford STAFF PRESENT: David Gerling, Special Facilities Superintendent; Lee Battle, Molly Hitchcock, Deborah Grace - Development Services; Pamela Springfield, Committee Secretary VISITORS PRESENT: Mike Luther; Benito Flores-Meath 1. Call to Order: Shawn Carlson called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. 2. Consideration & Approval of Member Requests for Absences: Marsha Sanford was the only member absent. Robert McGee stated that he would be absent from the January 10, 2001 meeting. 3. Approval of Minutes: Deborah Jasek moved to approve the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) minutes from the November 1, 2000 regular meeting. Robert seconded. Hearing no objection, the motion passed unanimously. Myron Gantt motioned to accept the minutes from the November 13, 2000 workshop as written. Tom Taylor seconded. Hearing no objection, the motion passed unanimously. 4. Historic Home/Building/Subject Plaques: Two applications had been submitted: a. 404 Fairview - Bill Lancaster and visitor Mike Luther made corrections, which were noted on the original application. Tom asked what criteria were necessary in order to award a historic home plaque. Shawn stated that the structure must be at least fifty years old. The program is mainly an inventory of homes, with the history of the home included. Deborah made a motion that this application be tabled pending receipt of more information from the applicant, Melissa Bingham. Tom seconded. Hearing no objection the motion passed unanimously. Molly Hitchcock said that she had a listing, which might be helpful, explaining where and how to go about researching information on a house. b. 504 Dexter – Bill stated that he had been interviewed to help with this application. He made a few corrections, which were noted on the original application. Tom made a motion to accept the application with the changes and Myron seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. This house would receive historic home plaque #59. 5. Hear Visitors: Benito Flores-Meath stated that he wanted the members to be aware of the status of the property at 303 Boyett (formerly the Commandant’s House), 300 College Main, and Fitwilly’s. The Boyett property, listed as medium priority for preservation in the Northgate Historic Resources Guide, had been completely renovated and now looks nothing like the original building. The College Main property, listed as high priority and built by Ernest Langford, had been demolished. Both properties were over fifty years old. According to the Northgate Zoning Ordinance this meant that they should have been renovated according to federal guidelines. Fitzwilly’s had minor renovations done, which were not drastic enough to affect the historical integrity of the building. Several of the members questioned why this ordinance wasn’t being enforced if it was already in place. Lee Battle stated he would have the Northgate Zoning Ordinance information available at the next meeting for discussion. He added that this was in line with what the consultants were currently working on. This item will be put on the agenda for discussion at the next meeting. Shawn suggested that more expanded discussions could be done when the consultant comes to speak to the HPC. 6. Transition of Historic Preservation Committee from Parks Department to Development Services: Lee Battle wanted to make the members aware that the City Manager had made the decision to transfer the support for the HPC from the Parks Department to the Development Services Department, effective January 1, 2001. He introduced Molly Hitchcock, a Development Review Planner who has previous experience with the Main Street Program, and Deborah Grace who would be providing the administrative support that Pam Springfield had been providing. He said their department is already set up to do some of the same types of things that the HPC is doing, such as the home plaque applications. He said that in terms of what the HPC did, the changes shouldn’t be that visible. Shawn said at a future meeting, she would like to discuss having someone from the HPC acting as a liaison to the Planning and Zoning Board and attending those meetings. 7. Update from Shawn Carlson on Brazos Heritage Society Projects: The Documentary and Book Project is basically on hold and being revised. The book portion of the project has been dropped and the documentary will be divided up into three different videos. The Children’s Museum will be opening in April in the old Bryan City Hall. The Brazos Heritage Society will have a room in that building which will be the focus of their operations. Shawn stated that she and David Gerling were currently the liaisons for the HPC, however, she would be dropping off that board. She asked that the names of anyone interested in serving on that board be forwarded to her so that she could turn them over to their nominations committee. 8. Historic Ordinance Preparation: The HPC is waiting to meet with the consultant and a date has not been set to do that. There was not much that could be done until that happens. The consultant would not be available to meet in December, and the date of the January meeting may have to be changed in order to meet with him. 9. Historic Neighborhood Award Program: Tom stated that Myron had come up with the idea of going to the different neighborhood associations and having them take ownership of the program. They could promote the program in their neighborhoods and, as an association, bring the nominations back to the HPC at least once annually and no more than quarterly. This would not preclude anyone else from making nominations. A draft of the nomination application form was distributed. Discussion followed regarding whether the program should be limited to the historic areas. Margaret made a motion that nominations be limited to structures within the defined College Station historic areas. Monte seconded. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. It was felt that if a nomination outside a historic area was submitted, the HPC could meet and perhaps do a special recognition award. Lee suggested that a set of program guidelines be written, similar to what Tom and Myron had started. He would get a copy of the Community Appearance guidelines to Tom to help him to that. Lee shared some of the frustrations that went along with the Community Appearance Committee. Tom stated that if the neighborhood associations weren’t interested in the program, then the HPC shouldn’t do the project. Lee said he would get the names of the contacts for the neighborhood associations to Tom. Tom made a motion to table this item until the next meeting so that Tom could determine the level of interest from the neighborhood associations. 10. Agenda Items for Future Meetings: In addition to the standard agenda items: a. Lighting Project Update from Tony Michalsky with the City’s Electrical Department b. Veteran’s Athletic Park & Complex – Update regarding selection of artist for the memorial from Deborah Jasek c. Historic Ordinance Preparation d. Neighborhood Award Program e. Oral History Book Update by Jeff Carroll (if not ready may be on February agenda) f. Northgate Historic Ordinance/Northgate Resources Survey g. HPC Member Liaison to Planning & Zoning The next meeting on January 10, 2001 will be held in the City Manager’s Office Conference room. 11. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.