HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHPCMinutes_2011_06_16Brookings Historic Preservation Commission
June 16, 2011
A meeting of the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission was held on Thursday, June 16,
2011 at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall. Members present: Dennis Willert, Janet Gritzner, Mary Bibby,
and Pam Merchant. Father Ryan Hall, Les Rowland Tom Agostini were absent. Nancy Flynn,
citizen, and Shari Thornes, City Clerk, were also present.
Chairperson Willert called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m.
Agenda: (Bibby/Merchant) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted yes, motion
carried.
Minutes: (Merchant/Bibby) Motion to approve the April minutes. All present voted yes;
motion carried. Note that the Commission did not meeting in May.
Next Meeting: Thursday, July 7 @ 4:00 p.m.
New Business:
State History Conference Report. Merchant and Hall attended the State Historical Society
Annual Conference in Pierre on May 20-21. Merchant reported the event was a good
opportunity to network with state preservation partners. The confere nce featured a
number of speakers including keynote speaker Brad Tennant; Olivia Mahoney, Chief Curator
for the Chicago History Museum; Judy Cook, performer of traditional Americana and the
British Isles ballads; Jeff Barnes, freelance writer and fifth-generation Nebraskan; Craig
Howe, Director of the Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies; Rick Mills,
Executive Director of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City; David Wolff,
specialist in Black Hills, South Dakota, and western history; Barbara Handy-Marchello,
author of Women of the Northern Plains, Gender and Settlement on the Homestead Frontier
1870 – 1930; and John Timm, a re-enactor of Gov. Arthur C. Mellette, the last governor of
the Dakota Territory, and the first of South Dakota.
Merchant brought materials on state and regional preservation funding opportunities and
recommended utilizing one or more for a realtors’ workshop on historic preservation.
Process to notify owners of historic property regarding pending zoni ng actions. Thornes
reported Nancy Flynn, Central District property owner, contacted Mike Struck, Brookings
Community Development Director, requesting the entire Central Residential Historic District
be notified whenever a zoning action was pending in the district. The City currently mails
notices to property owners located within 150 feet of a proposed zoning action; however,
this is not required by law and is a courtesy. Expanding notification would take a change to
the ordinance and that process would take a long time to implement.
Thornes and Struck came up with an alternative approach that could implemented
immediately and provide quicker notice than a zoning mailing. The City Clerk’s office
handles all city legal notices including rezoning legals which are published 10 days prior to a
public hearing. Rather than a mailing, the City Clerk’s staff could email designated District
representatives whenever an action is pending within either residential district. Flynn will
provide the list of names.
Old Business/Updates and Final Reports:
Preserve America Signs. Signs have been received. The City Park and Recreation
Department is storing them until the final Federal 106 Review is completed.
Plaques. Installation of the Commercial Historic District plaques has been an ongoing
difficulty due to the time involved. A number of Commission members have volunteered,
but the amount of time involved was unmanageable. City Park and Recreation staff are
available to install the plaques, but someone has to meet with each the 59 property and
business owners to gain permission, determine and map the sign location, document all the
details and coordinate with the installers on varying types of building materials. Thornes
has contacted former member Joanita Kant regarding her availability. She also plans to
contact former BHPC chair Jerry McCollough. Merchant suggested Vicki Schuster, new DBI
Director, as a possible project coordinator.
Mayor’s Awards for Historic Preservation. Presentation of the awards has been on hold.
Thornes said coordinating with the Mayor’s schedule, Larson family and other winners for
an event at the Children’s Museum would be difficult during the summer. The Commission
concurred and agreed to pursue a Thursday evening event in September.
Thornes said she anticipates the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities will
give the Museum an “ABLE Award” for accessibility and asked if the Commission would be
interested in a shared event. They responded yes. Thornes will meet with the Disability
Committee on June 24th to get their input.
Funding. The 2012 city funding request is due June 15th and presentation to the city
manager is scheduled for July 7th. Thornes will request level funding for the commission in
the amount of $3,600. The Commission’s 2011/2012 Park Service request is expected to be
fully funded. Thornes obtained an amendment on the 2010/11 funding extending the
project to September 15th.
Preservation Partner Reports
Downtown Brookings Inc. Willert reported the Board hired Vicki Schuster as the new part-
time program director. He noted the Board has scaled back on events, focusing on a few
bigger events this year. Taste of Brookings is scheduled for early August.
Preserve Brookings. Annual board meeting was held on June 13th. No BHPC members
attended.
State & National Register of Historic Preservation Properties & Districts:
Central Residential Historic District
o Contributing status re-evaluation of post-modern structures in existing districts.
Personal visits with the property owners have not been successful. Thornes will do a
mailing requesting approval. She noted the property owner who initiated this issue
had recently replaced the original windows with new, making the property no longer
eligible. She was uncertain whether to continue on the project and will seek
guidance from SHPO.
o Pending review. The proposed conditional use rezoning request for 624 3rd Street
was removed from the May Planning Commission agenda for action in June. In
June, the property owner requested it be tabled until July. The proposed zoning
action is subject to 11.1 review.
Announcements/Correspondence/Communications/Calendar
June 11-18 Basic PLT at Woodlawn in Alexandria, VA
August 31st Allyn Frerichs, City Park & Recreation Director, Retirement Event, Swiftel Center
Purchased Brookings County History Book, replacing the Commission’s copy that was never returned.
Meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes