HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHPCMinutes_2017_06_08Brookings Historic Preservation Commission
June 8, 2017 Minutes
A meeting of the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission was held on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 5:00
p.m. in City Hall. Members present: Leah Brink, Angie Boersma, Virginia James, Jessica Garcia Fritz, Janet
Merriman, Dennis Willert and Janet Gritzner. Absent: Greg Heiberger. Others present: Shari Thornes and
Laurie Carruthers.
Welcomed new member Carrie Kuhl co-owner of Hitch Design and introductions were made.
Chairperson Boersma called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. A motion was made by Brink, seconded by
Garcia Fritz, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes, motion carried. A motion was made by
Merriman, seconded by James, to approve the April 13, 2017 minutes. All present voted yes; motion
carried.
PROJECT/ISSUE UPDATES & REPORTS
A. Events/Special Projects
1) Wrap-up on Preservation Month activities
a. Brookings Register Column by Virginia James
b. Green Drinks by Jessica Garcia Fritz – Garcia Fritz was able to use a projector at Wooden
Legs. There was a good turnout including SDSU’s sociology department. Decent questions
regarding the Armory and civic vs. public vs. green space were raised. Garcia Fritz will
repeat the presentation for Jessica Schade this summer. A majority in attendance were
not in favor of the Armory demolition. Brookings offers many alternate greenspaces.
Thornes mentioned the holiday weekend could have hindered attendance. Members
agreed April 2018 would be a good kick off to Preservation Month.
Willert arrived at 5:18 pm.
c. Historic Sites on Bikes by Angie Boersma & Janet Merriman – The route and features
change this year. There was a fair turnout due to the holiday weekend. However, a
discrepancy on start time of 5:30 or 6:00 pm. Members also agreed to move the bike
tour for 2018 due to the holiday weekend. The 3rd Friday in May was discussed rather
than the 4th Friday. Boersma will shorten the tour and post on website. A back-up docent
needs to be planned. Discussed possible coordination with the Mayor’s Ride in 2017
(August 17) or 2018. As tours develop the Commission will promote through the Yonward
app or videos on website.
2) 2017 Mayor’s Awards releases, event details – press releases are due next week. The Mayor’s
Award presentation will be held in conjunction with the ABLE Awards for Accessibility, Butler
Human Rights Award and Mayor’s Generational Leadership Award at McCrory Gardens from
5-7 pm, with a program at 6pm. Ted Spencer from SHPO will be attending. Members will
need to wear their name badges. Boersma will present the awards with Brink as a backup. It
was suggested with so many awards to have Boersma and Heiberger alternate awards.
Winners & Member Assignments:
817 3rd Street (SCORY LLC) – Excellence in Rehabilitation (Merriman)
908 5th Street (Laine & Caleb Evenson) – Excellence in Restoration (Gritzner)
521 8th Street (Christopher & Kelsey Stoltenberg) – Excellence in Rehabilitation (Brink)
825 6th Avenue (Gail & Rosemary Robertson) – Excellence in Rehabilitation (Kuhl)
405 7th Avenue (First United Presbyterian Church) – Ongoing Excellence in Restoration
(James)
719 8th Street (Brennen & Lorraine Sullivan) – Stewardship (Gritzner)
Prairie Cemetery (Master Gardeners) – Preservation Service Award (Gritzner)
Patricia Fishback – “Mary McClure Bibby” Lifetime Achievement Award (Executive
Committee)
Honorable mention letters:
404 12th Avenue (Jill Thorngren & Greg Holdeman) (Boersma)
824 9th Street (First Bank & Trust Community Development Corporation) (Boersma)
3) June 23rd Strategic Planning Retreat
The BHPC members and staff will participate in a facilitated strategic planning retreat on
Friday, June 23 in the City/County Government Center, Room 300. Facilitator Monica
Callahan will arrive ahead of time to meet with executive committee and staff to plan for the
event and tour the town. Staff has requested a draft agenda by June 8 to review with the
Commission. The retreat will be from 8:30 – 4 pm at the Brookings City & County
Government Center, 3rd Floor Community Room 300. Lunch will be off-site at the Old Market.
Gritzner will not be at the retreat.
4) District Plaques; property owner contact and contractor/installation process - Willert
reported his progress on contacting property owners in the Central Residential Historic
District and having difficulty reaching property owners. Willert is creating a Powerpoint book
for Miller to use for installation. The districts need to be resurvey and add properties to the
registration.
B. Liaisons:
1) Comprehensive Master Plan Advisory Committee (Boersma & Garcia Fritz)
a. Community Workshops, July 11-13
b. Stakeholder Meeting, July 11, 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Community Development has scheduled a
Stakeholder Group meeting for Tuesday, July 11th at 1:30 PM in the Community Room for
the following volunteer boards: Historic Preservation, Public Arts Commission,
Sustainability Council, Human Rights Commission, Parks & Recreation Board, and Bicycle
Advisory Committee.
a. Boersma questioned if chair/vice-chair are not available, could another member
fill in? Thornes will check.
c. June 12 – mini-workshops with the Advisory Committee run-through.
2) Downtown Brookings Inc. – Kuhl reported the surveys were collected and reviewed. The DBI
Board voted to proceed with shutting down DBI. Then the Mayor announced downtown is a
key project. The DBI Board had a deeper conversation with Chamber. The Chamber is willing
to have committee that focuses on downtown. Kuhl attended last Chamber meeting and a
task force was developed. DBI will dissolve and it will be committee under the Chamber.
Willert asked if Brookings is still a member of the National Downtown Organization as grant
funding is available. Kuhl was not aware.
3) Public Arts Commission (Brink) – Stickwork installation by Patrick Dougherty is now complete.
The artist talk was well attended and received. Volunteers all had a great experience. Bylaws
and procedures are priority for commission.
C. Staff:
1) Pending 11.1 reviews
a. Demolition of 221 Main Avenue, Brookings Park & Recreation Center, National Guard
Armory - The Executive Committee finalized a letter to the City Manager outlining the
questions from the case report. This item will be scheduled for further discussion after
receipt of the City’s responses. Courtesy copy to Mayor and City Attorney. No copies are
sent to SHPO at this time. The 180 days started on March 1. At the August meeting, the
Commission needs to take action. If no answer is received in July, a letter will be sent to
SHPO to extend the 180 and a deadline to respond will be given.
b. Brookings County Jail Expansion -The Brookings Board of Adjustment denied the County’s
request for a 25’ variance to build on the zero lot line. Boersma and Willert attended the
meeting and Boersma spoke in opposition to the request. The 11.1 review is on hold until
the architect prepares revised plans. Back when Thornes spoke with architect in
February, she advised the possibility of splitting the review with the footprint and the
design. Time has now lapsed and the review would need to be all as one. Sheriff Stanwick
contacted Thornes asking about the Commission’s procedures. Thornes advised that she
and Chair Boersma could meet with him to discuss the options. Commissioner Miller is
the project lead. The Traffic Safety Committee was reviewing the intersection of 4th
Street at a meeting on June 8. The neighbors were not notified, so no action can be
taken. Doug Carruthers letter of concern was noted. Boersma advised the Commission’s
duty is to identify character defining features and preserve and maintain them. The
Commission is not a design expert. With all projects, it is not an up/down vote. A packet
of materials must be completed for the Commission to review the details of each project.
c. 11.1 reviews – A detailed packet of information on the 11.1 process and incentives was
created to distribute in the Engineering Department and at the City Clerk’s office. A new
tracking and reporting system on 11.1 applications has been created.
Mayor Corbett has expressed interest in improved maintenance in historic areas and
asked how the Commission could help. There was concern that rushing property owners
to make improvements could negatively impact historic elements, such as windows. An
owner may opt for a replacement over a restoration because it’s faster.
There was discussion regarding funding sources for downtown property improvements.
Willert mentioned a Business Improvement District (BID) in Cedar Falls, IA where the
district owns the first 6 inches of every downtown building. Funds are generated through
a property tax assessment, which creates a slush fund to maintain one or two buildings at
a time. Kuhl advised that the DBI Board had concerns with a BID District. Willert advised
that Iowa has a strong Main Street Program and has resources to draw upon. Thornes
advised that the former Brookings program and some other South Dakota maintstreet
organizations follow the National Main Street principles; however, the State has never
adopted a statewide Main Street program.
Brink left at 6:13 pm.
Willert advised the Deadwood Program has funding resources. Boersma stated that
Mayor Corbett’s concerns are more than façade. He has a strong interest in
beautification programs. 3rd Street has an opportunity to increase code enforcement or
commend people who are renovating. Currently, no property maintenance code is
adopted.
Thornes reported there has been a new interest in historic street lights and an 11.1
review will be submitted to the state.
Thornes reported that she attended the meeting with the Ag Heritage Museum, SHPO
staff and SDSU facilities management regarding the overall plan for walls and the Ag
Heritage Museum. Gwen McCausland is the new museum director. Brosz from SHPO is
an expert in rammed earth structures. South Dakota is considered an expert on rammed
earth.
2) Carnegie Renovations – Thornes reported the contractors are working on the floors this week
and expect to complete the entire project by mid-June.
D. State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE/COMMUNICATIONS/CALENDAR
June 7-9 Statewide CLG Meeting
June 23 Strategic Planning Meeting
July 13 BHPC Meeting, 5 pm
July 19 Combined Award Event
Aug 10 BHPC Meeting, 5 pm
Sept 14 BHPC Meeting, 5 pm
Oct 12 BHPC Meeting, 5 pm
Nov 9 BHPC Meeting, 5 pm
Nov 14-17 National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, Chicago
Nov 30 Trolley Tours – Festival of Lights
Dec 14 BHPC Meeting, 5 pm
June 16-18, 2018 St. Paul’s Episcopal 100th Anniversary Event
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 pm.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers