HDC_03 07 1996Minutes
Little Rock Historic District Commission
Public Hearing
March 7, 1996
5:00PM
The meeting was called to order at 5:00PM by Chairman Bush. A quorum was present --Julie
WiedO\ver, John Bush, Tommy Jameson. Carl Menyhart and Bob Roddey. City Attorney
Anthony Black was present. Historic District Commission Staff Tony Bozynski and Shawn
Spencer were present.
Chairman Bush asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 4, 1996, meeting. A
motion was made by Commissioner Wiedower to approve the minutes as received.
Commissioner Roddy seconded. Motion carried. 5 ayes. 0 noes.
Item# 1 Applicant: Charles Witsell, Jr.
Location: 1004 Scott Street
Request: Structural Alterations
Chairman Bush informed the applicant that the Commission was familiar with the project and
had reviewed all requested documentation.
Charles Witsell was present and explained the application. Mr. Witsell informed the
Commission that this application had been before the Commission in 1986 and had been
approved. Since ownership had changed hands. he was required to resubmit the application. Mr.
Witsell then gave a brief history of the structure and its use. The application was to recreate the
porch to the way it appeared in the 1920s. Also included was the removal of siding from the
front facade, renovation of the roof and to construct a fence on the property line.
Commissioner Weidower asked the applicant if the metal ductwork on the roof was to be
removed. Mr. \Vitsell responded that it would be removed.
Commissioner Menyhart asked the applicant if the removal of siding on the front was the first
phase of the project. Mr. Witsell responded that at this time the front facade is the only facade
having siding removed.
Chainnan Bush asked if anyone was present to speak against the application. None were present.
Commissioner Roddy made a motion to approve the application. Commissioner Jameson
seconded. Motion carried. 5 ayes. 0 noes.
Staff informed the Commission that the 1996 CLG grants had been submitted. One of the grants
was for a feasibility study of Curran Hall. Staff did not know the time table for the State to act
on the proposed grants. Staff had been in contact with the representati\'e for Curran Hall and
informed him on the study.
The Commission was then informed about the possibility of parts of the interior woodwork of
Curran Hall being removed and sold. Cheryl Nichols then spoke and informed the Commission
that the QQA had been approached about buying the woodwork. The Arkansas Historic
Preservation Program (AHPP) had also been approached and decided that AHPP would allocate
funds to purchase the woodwork if Curran Hall could not be renovated
Tony Bozynski informed the Commission that the State Review Board had recommended
approval of National Registrar District status for Central High.
There was discussion about the Board of Directors response to the presentation about Kramer
School. The Commission was informed that the Board seemed supponive and the City Finance
Director was to look over the finance plan.
Staff updated the Commission on the status of the Hillcrest Local Historic District. The
Planning Commission and the AHPP both gave positive recommendations on the report done by
Staff and the HDC. The issue of guidelines was a reoccurring topic at the Planning Commission
meeting.
The next step would be a public hearing before the HDC. Tony Black informed the Comrnission
that the purpose of this public hearing would be to read the recommendations from the Planning
Commission and the AHPP. After the recommendations are read, there is to be a discussion on
whether or not the HDC should recommend that Hillcrest become a Local Historic District. This
public hearing would be the first opportunity for residents of Hillcrest to voice their opinions to
the HDC.
Paul Crawford, president of Hillcrest Residents Association, was present. Mr. Crawford asked
the Commission about the agenda for the public hearing and if guidelines would be discussed at
the hearing. Mr. Crawford informed the HDC that he has recieved questions about: siding.
landscaping, paint colors, decorative fixtures, additions, and demolitions.
Cheryl Nichols also voiced her concerns about the guidelines and how they should be presented
to the public.
After a lengthy discussion it was decided to:
1.Hold the public hearing at the next scheduled HDC meeting, which would be April 4, 1996.
2.The agenda for the public hearing would be:
a.reading the recommendations from the Planning Commission and AHPP,
b.discussion on Hillcrest as a Local Historic District,
c.open forum on other issues.
3.Staff would be prepared to answer questions on the proposed Hillcrest Guidelines.
4.Staff would mail a copy of the Sate statute on historic districts to all Commission members.
5.Staff would make available to the public copies of the proposed Hillcrest Guidelines.
There being no further business before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.