HDC_03 06 1997LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
6 March 1997
Commissioners Present:
John Bush Tommy Jameson Charles Marratt
Commissioners Absent:
John Greer Julie Wiedower
Staff Present:
V.Anne Guthrie Anthony Black
The roll for the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC) was called, and there
was a quorum. There were no minutes of the February meeting submitted for approval
nor were there public hearings or Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) scheduled.
The order of business was to review various data regarding the use of artificial siding in
the MacArthur Park historic district and to develop a policy for siding to complement and
be part of the district's design guidelines. A week prior to the meeting, the LRHDC
received information on artificial siding, which included the following:
►Preservation Briefs #8: Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings
►Interpreting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards (#80-006): Installation of
Artificial Siding
►Letter from the U.S. Dept of the Interior regarding artificial siding
►Memorandum regarding artificial siding in historic districts
►2 Brochures and 4 newsletter articles on artificial siding
►Letter from preservation officer about application of vinyl siding
►Chapel Hill Artificial Siding Policy (1991)
►2 Preservation Law Updates regarding artificial siding
►Hume and Myers article regarding aluminum/vinyl siding on historic buildings
Little Rock Historic District Commission
Minutes of 6 March 1997, Page 2
►Memo from Society of the Plastics Industry regarding siding in
historic rehabilitation
►Various graphics and policies from other cities about artificial siding
After reviewing the above-listed documentation, the LRHDC discussed artificial siding,
accompanying policies and the pros and cons of having a policy for artificial siding. It
was decided that there was a need to have a policy for artificial siding as an
amendment or complement to the MacArthur Park Historic District Design Guidelines.
While the guidelines state on page 53 that "artificial or substitute materials such as vinyl
or aluminum should not be used," a policy for artificial siding provides an applicant the
opportunity to address concerns with artificial siding and its effect on the original siding.
By having a policy, the applicant must show that artificial siding will not harm the
architectural aspects of a structure.
The discussion focused primarily on the application of siding as detracting from the
architectural integrity of a structure and less so on the economics and energy savings
of siding. The artificial siding policy from Chapel Hill was discussed as a template for
LRHDC, as it addresses particular items/issues that need to be addressed. Certain
questions must be answered by the applicant prior to applying artificial siding, such as:
will the architectural character of the structure be lost due to the covering of details, the
removal of features or change of scale; will the artificial materials be incongruous with
the materials used by adjoining properties; will the application of artificial siding harm
the existing siding? It was decided that staff would follow Chapel Hill's policy and adapt
it for LRHDC's use; after the policy is drawn up members will be faxed a copy of the
proposed policy for review and comments. Tentatively, a policy on artificial siding will
then be adopted at the next meeting.
As there was no further business, the LRHDC adjourned at 6:00 p.m.