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HDC_02 09 2015Page 1 of 4 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 Page 2 of 4 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.” Page 3 of 4 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: OFvj,�&Y� I( r Secretary /Staff 7;7 Date Date Page 4 of 4