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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-11 MinutesMINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION A regular meeting of the Fayetteville Historic District Commission was held on October 11, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 111 of the City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain, Fayetteville, Arkansas. ACTION TAKEN Identification of Key Design Standards to include Discussion Only in a local ordinance district for the Dickson Street National Register District Historic District Commission October 11, 2007 Page 2 MEMBERS PRESENT Leslie Belden Cheri Coley Ethel Goodstein-Murphee Karon Reese STAFF PRESENT Karen Minkel, Long Range Planning MEMBERS ABSENT Vince Chadick Tim Cooper Rob Merry -Ship STAFF ABSENT 2 Historic District Commission October 11, 2007 Page 3 CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair Goodstein-Murphree at 5:46 p.m. I. Announcements A. Karen Minkel, Senior Long Range Planner, announced that the next Certified Local Government Meeting would be held in North Little Rock November 8-10 and would include a one -day training for staff and commissioners. B. Minkel also announced that Staff would investigate whether the Air Museum at Drake Field would make a good candidate for a local ordinance district. C. Minkel informed the Commission that her FMLA leave would begin December 15, 2007 and end March 3, 2008. In her absence, Kristina Jones, Long Range Planning Technician, would serve as staff for the Commission. II. Approval of the Minutes MOTION to approve the minutes of September 13, 2007 with an amendment to the dates of the Historic Preservation Alliance Conference from November 10-12 to November 8-10: Cheri Coley SECOND: Leslie Belden VOTE: The vote was unanimous to approve the minutes from the September 13, 2007 meeting, 4-0-0. III. Identification of Key Standards for Dickson Street District Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree began by recapping information from previous meetings, stating that Staff had provided the Commission with the Downtown Design Overlay District Standards as well as the local ordinance district standards in Rogers to give commissioners a frame of reference. She added that they should step into the waters of design guidelines carefully and they might start by thinking about what their district is—no superstar buildings, but a lot of background buildings. She emphasized that the design standards would have to be carefully crafted in order to keep a sense of place. She shared photos of aerials that were approximately one-year old, which she said gave a sense of what happens when the scale of the buildings is manipulated. She pointed out the tight streetscape from the former Brew Pub east. Commissioner Belden pointed out that Dickson Street has never been a traditional main street. 3 Historic District Commission October 11, 2007 Page 4 Commissioner Coley added that the area has been unique. Commissioner Belden said that the Uark Bowl is the most distinctive building, but still not particularly distinctive or glamorous. Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree said that the Commission would have to think about how to address open space. Commissioner Belden said that she was torn mentally because what she liked about Dickson Street and what would keep contributing buildings contributing were not necessarily the same. Commissioner Reese said that what she found so charming was the tightly spaced row of buildings. Commissioner Coley added that each building is unique to the one next to it; yet, they all worked together. Plus, there is a unique mix of retail and churches. Commissioner Belden said that one thing not to forget were the trees because they have a human scale. Commissioner Reese said that parts of the streetscape look like an old Western town from the old Brew Pub to the Gypsy. She added that these buildings define Dickson. Commissioner Belden added that she didn't want the on -street parking to disappear. Commissioner Coley added that trees needed to be addressed at some point. Commissioner Reese said both new and existing trees. Commissioner Belden said that the allowing existing buildings to be taller, given their scale, would change the character and not be the same. Commissioner Coley asked about new buildings. Minkel reminded the Commission of its previous decision to allow the Downtown Design Overlay District to regulate infill. Commissioner Belden said that the variety of differing heights contributes to the character. She added that she would hate to lose this variety with one monolithic structure. Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree asked what kind of language they had to prevent someone from demolishing these buildings. Commissioner Belden asked whether they were only talking about contributing buildings when they discussed protection from alteration and demolition. 11 Historic District Commission October 11, 2007 Page S Minkel clarified that the Commission can regulate any building that the commission deems significant. Commissioner Reese said the shopping center with the old campus bookstore was an example. Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree asked if the Commission were discussing maintaining what truly has historic value could there be a hierarchy in the ordinance. Minkel responded that that decision would up to the Commission. Commissioner Belden said that she thought it would be easier to deal with contributing structures. Alternatives to these structures would need to conform to historicity, whereas with non-contributing buildings, it is more about whether the building contributes to the overall ambiance. She asked if the Commission wanted to treat them all the same. Commissioner Reese said she thought they should all be treated the same or the Commission would end up with owners who wanted to opt out but had contributing buildings. Commissioner Belden responded that if space gets filled, it becomes part of the district and then the new building would be frozen. Some of the funkiness was because of differences, and if the Commission disallowed new differences... Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree interjected that she didn't think they were disallowing new differences. Commissioner Reese said that if they were creating a local ordinance district, it would seem that the purpose is preservation. If there were holes to be filled, the Downtown Master Plan would take care of it. If the Commission wanted to preserve this area and building owners wanted to maximize height and go to six stories, then did the Commission have a fight on its hands? This would have to be approved by City Council. Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree said it would be a test of whether there was a commitment to preservation. She thought that the public did not see of the benefit of a local ordinance district to help control the character they were fighting for during the passage of the Downtown Master Plan. Commissioner Belden asked whether a lot that was partially building on could be added to and whether it would be considered infill. Minkel responded that it would be an addition unless the lot was split. Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree said that you could not make it something it's not. E Historic District Commission October 11, 2007 Page 6 Commissioner Belden said that she heard the Commission saying that an owner could not do what she was describing even if it were a noncontributing building. Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree cautioned that it was a delicate balance that could get misplaced by a neo -traditionalist who wanted to make it Savannah or what have you. Commissioner Belden said that George's was noncontributing. Would the Commission say it could not change ever? Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree said she thought that preference should be given to the streetscape. No building could be pulled out individually because it is in the context of the block that it gains historical significance. The goal in Rogers was to ensure continuity of streetscape. For example, if Common Grounds decided to build on the back patio, it wouldn't bother her, but if it's a six -story sliver building, that's another story. Commissioner Belden clarified whether they could have language that specifically addresses the streetscape. Commissioner Coley asked that if the most important point is to preserve the streetscape, what would happen in a case where a building burnt down. Commissioner Belden said that you would typically not try to build a building back exactly unless it had some type of cultural significance. Commissioner Goodstein-Murphree agreed to take the ideas and synthesize them for the next meeting. MEETING ADJOURNED: 6:49 P.M. 0