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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHPCMinutes_2010_07_08 Brookings Historic Preservation Commission July 8, 2010 A meeting of the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission was held on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall. Members present: Pat Powers, Pam Merchant, Janet Gritzner and Dennis Willert. Mary Bibby, Les Rowland and Ryan Hall were absent. Shari Thornes, City Clerk, was also present. Chairperson Willert called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. Agenda: A motion was made by Merchant, seconded by Powers, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried. Minutes: A motion was made by Merchant, seconded by Powers, to approve the May 6, 2010 minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried. Next Meeting: Thursday, August 12th @ 4:00 p.m. New Business: Brookings Municipal Utilities – Residential Street Lights. Staff report the Brookings Municipal Utilities may allow different street light designs in the historic districts. The design has not been selected; however, property owners would have to pay the difference in cost from the standard design. Members asked if property owners would have the choice to participate or would it be decided on a majority basis. They also asked if the costs would be assessed back to owners similar to a sidewalk or alley assessment. Powers noted that several areas have restrictive covenants governed by home owners’ associations. Any street light design for historic districts would have to be reviewed by the BHPC, pursuant to state review laws. Staff noted that there is a desire to extend the downtown street lights into the Central Residential Historic District. New City Website. Merchant and Willert volunteered to work on the content for the new City website. Project & Issues Updates/Reports: Preserve America Signage. Members felt strongly that it was SHPO’s responsibility to redesign the signs and resubmit new designs to the Commission for approval. Powers suggested SHPO enlist the help of the graphic design talents of the SD Tourism Office staff to redesign the signs. In addition to problems previously cited, members also noted that the photos were not dated or sourced. University Week for Women Porch Tour. Merchant said the tour was very successful with 22 participants. She added narrative and photographs to the previous tour document. One unfortunate thing occurred with transportation. The bus transporting the participants was 25 minutes late and the event is on a tight timeline. For future tours, she suggested giving participants a packet of all our walking tour brochures at the end of the event. 2010/2011 Grant Award: The BHPC’s National Park Service 2010/2011 grant request was fully funded in the amount of $8,000 ($2000 basic funding and $6,000 supplement funds). Supplemental funds will be used for the following additional activities: National Trust Conference: One Commission member and staff will attend the 2010 National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference in Austin, TX from October 27- 31, 2010 Creation of a Board Local Register Handbook that would include all the pertinent documents that Commissioners would need to provide the city with sound decision-making and a glossary of preservation-related terminology that might be helpful for Commissioners of varied levels of expertise. A Board Retreat for the Commission that would review their role in the historic preservation process and establish their goals and objectives for the educational component of their Certified Local Government work. This session would be totally separate from any standard education process the City of Brookings already provides for Commissioners vis a vis conflicts of interest, and other legal matters. A Mock Public Hearing to provide Commissioners a "rehearsal" for the local review process. This mock session would provide an opportunity for the Commission to experience the process first-hand, before actual decision-making would need to occur. This may also involve a field trip to another jurisdiction to observe the process elsewhere, before this mock session (i.e. Deadwood). This rehearsal would occur in whatever room the BHPC would occupy in their official decision-making capacity. Volunteers (BHPC alumni, community leaders, etc.) would be recruited to serve as applicants and mock testifiers to add realism to the process. An informal meeting with staff, consultant and past preservation community leaders to share their hard-won experience with municipal and/or civic process. Merchant also suggested the Commission hold an annual joint meeting with the Preserve Brookings organization. National Register Properties & District: CENTRAL City/County Governmental Center Update: The State Historic Preservation Office issued its final letter of determination on the first 11.1 review related to the demolition process. SHPO did encourage the City to save the house located at 512 3rd Street. Private efforts continue to save this house. The City will hold a public auction of all the houses and other structures on July 27th. Anything not sold will be torn down. Joanita Kant, former BHPC member, photo documented the contributing structures pursuant to National Park Service national register guidelines. The photos and corresponding documentation was filed with the State Historical Archives and a copy was retained in the city offices. Kant donated her time. The owners of the large apartment building at 524 Third Street applied to relocate the structure in a commercial zone west of Main Avenue South and had requested a variance. However, the Board of Adjustment turned it down the variance. It was noted that the house may still be moved onto the proposed site. A motion was made by Powers, seconded by Merchant, to request the Board of Adjustment reconsider this variance application. All present voted yes; motion carried. A motion was made by Powers, seconded by Merchant, to notify the Joint Powers Board that the building exterior site plan and elevations are also reviewable and suggest including the BHPC in process prior to any determination is made in order to facilitate the timing approval of the plan. All present voted yes; motion carried. Announcements/Correspondence Masonic Temple – Representatives of the Masonic Temple located at 225 Main have asked for technical assistance regarding possible funding for a preservation planning grant. Huron – The City of Huron is interested in a preservation ordinance that would create local districts and asked for a copy of the Brooking’s ordinance as an example. Aberdeen - The Brown County Historic Preservation Commission is interested in creating a preservation month newsletter and asked for past examples of the BHPC’s newsletters. Calendar July 7th Porch Tour July 22nd Workshop on Tools & Financial Incentives for Historic Structures - Deadwood July 27th Auction of Houses – Central District July 28-Aug 1 National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Forum, Grand Rapids, MI Oct 26-30 National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conf – Austin, TX May 20-21, 2011 150th Anniversary of Dakota Territory Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Submitted by Shari Thornes