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HDC_05 20 1996LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES 20 May 1996 Commissioners Present: John Bush Tommy Jameson Carl Menyhart Julie Wiedower Commissioners Absent: Bob Roddey Staff Present: Anthony Black V. Anne Guthrie Shawn Spencer The roll for the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC) was called, and there was a quorum; as this was a continuation of the 2 May meeting, there were no minutes. The meeting started with a brief statement regarding the purpose of this special - called meeting, which was to decide on the application made by the Hillcrest Resident's Association's (HRA) for local designation of a historic district for portions of the Hillcrest neighborhood. The meeting's purpose also was to discuss draft design review guidelines, which were revised after the 2 May public hearing. A staff presentation, on design guidelines and its general approach, was demonstrated with overheads from the text. It was stated, for the record, that at the previous meeting and in the legal ad copies of the design guidelines were available in the city's Neighborhoods and Planning office after 16 May. The original design guidelines were available months prior to this meeting. After the presentation, Chair Bush opened the floor for comments regarding the proposed design review guidelines. Questions were asked about the guidelines and: their legality; the city process; compliancy; amendment and appeal processes; particular improvements or issues about home repair; making them user - friendly; as a violation of property rights; etc. The main thrust of the discussion was that the design review guidelines needed to be improved and clarified. There was discussion about their being in conflict with the state enabling legislation and that they needed refining and, more importantly, the support of neighborhood residents. All said, there were six for and seven against the design review guidelines. Chair Bush then opened the floor for discussion regarding the local historic district designation of Hillcrest. Several public comments were critical of the designation process and stated that it was a violation of property rights. There was discussion regarding the proposed local district designation and: contributing and non - contributing structures of the Hillcrest architectural survey; there needed to be another sort of designation other than as a local historic district; it did not allow for property owners to improve their properties without being fined. Members of the LRHDC and staff responded to these comments and how the designation related to property rights, zoning and land use. Jim MacKenzie commented that local designation is a tool utilized to preserve neighborhoods and, primarily, to protect property from demolition; it is only under local historic district designation that allows the opportunity to review demolition permits. Many people either favored or opposed designation; a brief review of the speakers revealed that were eleven for and thirteen against the local historic district designation of Hillcrest. Discussion focused on the next step of the process, i.e., the Board of Directors vote on the local district designation and the accompanying deadlines. Black reiterated that there are three choices available to the Board: accept the LRHDC's recommendation; reject the recommendation; or send it back to the LRHDC. Commissioner Jameson made the motion "to recommend to the City Board of Directors the approval of HRA's (Hillcrest Resident's Association's) application for Hillcrest as a local historic district; and for there to be a modification of the Historic District Commission composition (i.e., to drop the second MacArthur historic district's property owner and substitute it for a Hillcrest district property owner). There was discussion of the board's composition, which is the following: one architect; one at-large; one Quapaw Quarter Association representative; one resident/property owner from MacArthur district; and one property owner from the MacArthur district. Commissioner Wiedower seconded the motion. A vote was taken and it was unanimous: to recommend approval to the City Board of Directors of the application by the Hillcrest Resident's Association (HRA) for the outlined areas of the Hillcrest neighborhood to become a locally designated historic district. The LRHDC public hearing adjourned at 7:30 p.m.