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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC_02 09 20091 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, February 9, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Sister Cities’ Conference Room, City Hall I. Roll Call Quorum was present being four (4) in number. Members Present: Marshall Peters Julie Wiedower Randy Ripley Bob Wood Members Absent: Susan Bell City Attorney: Debra Weldon Staff Present: Brian Minyard Walter Malone Citizens Present: Boyd Maher, AHPP Phil Thomason II. Approval of Minutes a. December 8, 2008 b. January 12, 2009 A motion was made by Commissioner Julie Wiedower to approve the minutes of December 8, 2008 as corrected. Commissioner Bob Wood seconded and the minutes were approved with a vote of 4 ayes and 1 absent. A motion was made by Commissioner Julie Wiedower to approve the minutes of January 12, 2009 as corrected. Commissioner Bob Wood seconded and the minutes were approved with a vote of 4 ayes and 1 absent. 2 III. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness None IV. Certificates of Appropriateness None V. Other Matters a Enforcement Issues A Certificate of Compliance was issued to the Ark Chapter of General Contractors effectively closing the enforcement issue. Steve Hitt of Arc Arkansas is working on the new mulch and should have it completed soon. The owners of 1016 Rock have been notified that the new screen door is in violation of the COA. Staff expects to meet with them soon. A welcome letter was sent to them on April 16, 2008 with a copy of the guidelines. Commissioner Bob Wood suggested that he write a letter to the owners to stress the importance of following the guidelines. Mr. Minyard asked if everyone had printed out the copies of the letters that were sent to the commission regarding real estate agents or homeowners selling houses in the district. Commissioner Wood stated that he would edit the letters and bring them back to the commission. The Core’s property at 1018 Rock Street has a new real estate agent. Mr. Minyard stated that he had a long phone conversation with Ms. Carol Anne Penick, the new agent, on the phone as to responsibilities and duties of listing and selling the property. b Preservation Plan Update The consultant will make a presentation of the Plan in front of the Board of Directors tomorrow night. Points of the Preservation Plan were updated by Phil Thomason, the consultant working on the plan. The next public meeting will be on March 18, 2009 at the Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center. Commissioner Julie Wiedower asked about the guidelines review item in the scope of services. Mr. Thomason stated that it could occur during his March 18 trip, possibly on March 17. c Rosters of Membership Staff will not prepare rosters of the membership of the Historic District Commission for distribution to the public. Staff does not have the authority to change the website of the listing of members under the City Clerk’s section of the website. Mr. Minyard stated that if the City Attorneys’ office had an issue with the website listing, that matter should be taken up with the City Clerk’s office. d Work Plan Satellite Dishes: Staff did the research and satellite dishes can be painted, at least part of it. After discussion among the Commissioners and Staff and with the new 3 information, page 9 of the Workshop items, Staff has suggested inserting a graphic and change of the text. The text should state as the start…”The locations of end-user satellite dishes should not detract”… Near the bottom of the text…”the LNB (Low Noise Block converter), sometimes called the eye, cannot be painted without interference of your reception.” A definition of satellite dishes end user will be added to the Guidelines on page 106 under Appendix J: Definitions and Terms B. Technical Definitions under “S”. It shall read as such: Satellite Dishes: End User: 1) Antennas that are used to receive television broadcast signals; 2) Antennas that are 1 meter or less in diameter and are used to receive direct broadcast satellite service or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals; or 3) Antennas that are 1 meter or less in diameter and are used to receive video programming services or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals. Definition source: (Category II – End User Reception Antennas (47 Code of Federal Regulations Section 1.4000 as of 1-12-09.)) It was discussed that the regulation of satellite dishes would need to be defensible and a detracting element to the district as a whole and that fact be mentioned in the Staff report. e Bylaw Items: Mr. Minyard made a presentation of the item. A discussion was held concerning the deferrals and enforcement items where the applicants refuse to send out notices. A suggestion was that enforcement items that went ninety days without resolution be sent to environmental court. A comment noting such was suggested to be added to the letter sent by staff. A discussion of at the timeframe and deadlines for notices and hearing was had. Mr. Minyard clarified the difference in the different letters and courtesy notices. Chairman Marshall Peters did not want to set a definite timeline for all applicants. He was stating that those who are substantially complete, the time line should be longer. Mr. Minyard stated that all should be treated the same. It was noted by Commissioner Randy Ripley that the letter written by Mr. Minyard is a nicety and that Code enforcement could send a “courtesy notice” without input from Staff. The commission decided to adopt the text on page 14 with the following edits: i) two consecutive instead of three meetings; ii) ...requested by Staff or the Historic District Commission. Bylaws can be waived for the individual items as an alternative. A discussion of a substantially difference application within twelve months was had. Individual applications should be scrutinized before waiving the bylaws for the twelve- month prohibition. It was observed that most applicants amend their application at the hearing to expedite the construction. This will require a Bylaw Amendment, which will have to be presented in writing a month before the vote of the amendment. Commissioner Wood expounded on the letters to the property owners and real estate agents that he will edit and return to the commission next month. That letter was discussed as adding it as a forward to the guidelines.