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LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, February 9, 2015, 5:00 p.m.
Board Room, City Hall
I. Roll Call
Members Present: Toni Johnson
BJ Bowen
Mark Brown
Kwadjo Boaitey
Jennifer Carman
Jeremiah Russell
Members Absent: Page Wilson
City Attorney: Debra Weldon
Staff Present: Brian Minyard
Citizens Present: Catherine Barrier
Rhea Roberts
II. Finding a Quorum
Quorum was present being six (6) in number.
III. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Commissioner BJ Bowen to approve the minutes of November 10, 2014
as submitted. Commissioner Jennifer Carman seconded and the minutes were approved with a
vote of 6 ayes and 1 absent.
IV. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness
There were no deferred COAs to be heard.
V. Certificates of Appropriateness
There were no COAs to be heard.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435
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VI. Other Matters
Preservation plan Implementation Sub Committee appointments
Brian Minyard, Staff, spoke of the Preservation Plan of 2009 and past efforts to implement the
plan and the reincarnation of implementation group. This group will replace the monthly
meeting that discusses demolitions. This committee will take the data from the previous group
to formulate policies and changes to ordinance and procedures to promote historic preservation
in the city. Debra Weldon, City Attorney clarified that this would be a committee, not a
subcommittee. Mr. Minyard said that the Committee would invite public comment for input at
the meeting. The committee meetings will need to be advertised since they will be public
meetings. Commissioner Jeremiah Russell made a motion to establish a committee and
Commissioner BJ Bowen seconded. The motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes and 1 absent.
Chair Johnson nominated Commissioner Jennifer Carman, Commissioner Jeremiah Russell
and Commissioner Kwadjo Boaitey to be on the committee and Commissioner BJ Bowen
seconded that motion and moved by acclamation that nominations cease. The motion passed
by a vote of 6 ayes and 1 absent. Staff will work on setting up the dates of the meetings. Staff
will provide summaries of the meetings for the Commission at large. One of the three HDC
members would serve as the Chair of the committee. Chair Johnson nominated Commissioner
Jeremiah Russell as Chair of that committee.
Discussion of what topics are expected to be included in the Guidelines Revision
Brian Minyard, Staff, spoke of the upcoming revision of the guidelines and what items the
Commission thinks should be included in the revision: Context; material prohibited or permitted;
roof shapes; etc.
Chair Toni Johnson said that it should list materials. Infill construction is so vague and it is
difficult to make a decision on new construction. She continued that they needed to get citizen
input. Infill across the country is very different and she would like solid information from other
cities.
Commissioner BJ Bowen asked if that list was a list of prohibited materials. Commissioner
Jeremiah Russell said that it should be written as prohibited. This would have to be checked
against the Secretary of Interior Standards. Chair Johnson want to know what the residents
want for infill development. Commissioner Russell continued by mentioning the last two
comments from Commissioner Wilson’s email concerning the overlap area of HDC and CZDC
and the requirement for some applications to go to the Planning Commission. Mr. Minyard
responded to the last two comments from the email. He said that state law requires us to
review all changes to structures within the boundaries of the National Register District. He
continued that the point of structures that had to go in front of the Planning Commission is a
similar but different point. Both questions have a similar answer, by adhering to state law; the
HDC must review the project. Some projects will have multiple reviews. Commissioner Mark
Brown stated that some would prefer no review at all. Chair Johnson stated that mixed use
buildings should be reviewed even more because of the nature of the use. She continued that
the overlap between HDC and CZDC is a question, but was unsure if there was any leeway to
change.
Commissioner Mark Brown brought up the issue of Fence heights. Commissioner Boaitey
stated that he thought that topic had already been revised. Mr. Minyard stated that it had and
the new working was: For larger properties, fence heights should be appropriate to the scale of
the buildings and grounds.”
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Commissioner Boaitey spoke more of materials. He asked the consultant to research what
other districts use. He continued that the Secretary of Interior Standards are vague and give the
Commission latitude.
There was discussion on how to get citizen input and how the citizens could be heard. It was
noted that evening meetings would be best to accommodate citizen participation. It was also
noted to add the Preservation Plan Implementation Group to the consultants meeting.
Enforcement issues
None were brought forward to the Commission’s attention.
Certificates of Compliance
Staff wrote 2 COCs since the last report and copies were given to the Commissioners.
Discussion of location of meetings
The commission was given a handout stating Staff’s position of moving the meetings. Mr.
Minyard summarized the handout. Debra Weldon, City Attorney’s office, state that the appeals
of this commission go to court, and the Due Process and the record of the meetin gs are
extremely important. This is a formal commission and you need to show what you did in a
proper manner. It was noted that other meetings could be held in other locations. Debra
Weldon, City Attorney’s office, stressed that if a case goes to court, it is important that a good
record is kept of the meeting and that procedures were followed during the meeting.
Commissioner Jeremiah Russell asked if the commission could meet otherwise. It was
discussed that the Commission could meet in other locations for other meetings other than the
regular monthly meeting. Mr. Minyard stated that some of the meeting for the Guidelines
Consultant would be happening in the District. There was a discussion on whether a vote
needed to be taken on this matter and how the motion would be structured. Commissioner
Boaitey made a motion to keep the regularly scheduled monthly meetings in the same location
as stated on the adopted calendar. Commissioner Jeremiah Russell seconded and the motion
passed with a vote of 6 ayes and 1 absent.
Walking tour of District in spring or summer 2015
The topic of touring the district was discussed and it centered on two different tours: One van
tour of the entire district to look at new construction, vacant lots and potential infill, and the best
examples of each style. This could take place in the summer. Staff would get a van from the
city for all of the commissioners to be together.
The second tour would be a walking tour in the spring of a smaller area. Staff will work with
AHPP on a tour that has already been scripted that goes north of the Arsenal.
Citizen Communication
None.
VII Adjournment
There was a motion to adjourn and the meeting ended at 6:00 p.m.
Attest:
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