HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-09 - Minutes -CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE MEETING MINUTES
%PF ARKANSAS
Meeting of the Historic District Commission
March 9, 2023 5:30 PM
RM 111 City Hall & Zoom
NOTE: The March 9, 2023 Historic District Commission meeting was held virtually and in
person, with commissioners attending virtually and in person. Staff were present in
person.
Members: Christine Myres — Chair, Meredith Mahan — Vice Chair, Alex Lee, Mark Harper,
Joann Goodley, Tommie Flowers Davis, Julie Preddy
City Staff: Britin Bostick - Long Range Planning & Special Projects Manager, Sherry Marie
Smith — Long Range & Preservation Planner
Call to Order: 5:54pm
In Attendance: Christine Myres, Meredith Mahan, Alex Lee, Mark Harper, Tommie Flowers
Davis, Britin Bostick, and Sherry Marie Smith
Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve by Commissioner Lee, second by Commissioner
Mahan. Motion approved (5-0-0).
Announcements: None
Unfinished Business
1. Heritage & Historic Preservation Master Plan: Bostick shared details of the
preservation plan review and input schedule. Staff will need to return comments on the
draft to the project consultant by March 21 and would like to collect comments from the
commissioners by March 20. Staff asked for feedback on the photos in the document
and whether this represents Fayetteville and noted there is not currently much
representation of African American history. Staff also asked for feedback on the work
plan, titled "Implementation Matrices" toward the end of the document. Commissioners
noted they would prefer a timeline of the Square similar to that in the Square Book,
would prefer more historic photos as there are many current photos, and would like the
photo opacity on the cover to be 100% so that the colors are brighter and more
distinct. Commissioners also recommended checking with Jerry Hogan, Tony Wappel,
and Charlie Allison on photos. Additional comments included that the wood bridge at
Wilson Park is better than a closeup of the Wilson Park Castle, that a before and after
of the Ellis Building would be better than a before and after example of a project in
Little Rock, and that the restoration of the Lafayette St. overpass, the marker and
fence at the Oaks Cemetery, and Woolsey would be good to show. Need to feature a
balance of contributions to this town, including Hispanic, Jewish Italian, and Native
American histories. Commissioners and staff discussed how to handle private photos
that are contributed to the document, and staff offered to write a permissions form and
work with community members who may want to share photos but who may need
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
digital scans or assistance. Staff would want to give proper credit to the owners and
correctly identify the places or people represented. Staff can be available to assist with
that process. Staff will continue to work on additional photos for the plan given the
commissioners' feedback and will plan for that to have that research completed by the
end of the April draft period. Commissioners would also like to see the work plan
categorized and ranked or prioritized. A 3-year timeline or bundle for projects would be
helpful. This work plan could be turned into a pamphlet or handout and the community
could be surveyed on what work they would like to see prioritized. This is a good input
item for the Farmer's Market and public meetings. Photos may also be available from
online groups with a focus on Fayetteville history.
2. Mural on Archibald Yell Blvd./Nelson Hackett Blvd.: Bostick shared that the
Fayetteville Arts Council is interested in coordinating with the Black Heritage
Preservation Commission and Historic District Commission on plans for a series of
murals for the retaining wall along what is presently Archibald Yell Blvd., which will be
Nelson Hackett Blvd. in June. Arts Council will be asking for HDC input on the artist
call or prompt for the murals and the first mural is tentatively planned for completion by
June of next year. More details to come.
3. Ordinance Proposal for Local Historic Districts: Bostick presented the state
requirements for a local ordinance district, what other cities in Arkansas have adopted,
and what Tulsa, OK has adopted. Texarkana, AR has an example of an ordinance with
more than just a copy of the state law and Tulsa has public notification requirements
for historic districts. Commissioners expressed a preference for the Texarkana and
Tulsa examples in a way that fits Fayetteville. Staff to bring proposed language to the
next meeting based on this feedback.
4. City Historic Marker Template: Bostick presented the historic marker ideas provided
by the Commissioners, pausing for some time on the designs provided by
Commissioner Mahan, who had worked with a local architect on design concepts and
with her daughter on a design illustration. The Commissioners and staff were
impressed by the designs and will continue to consider design specifics at their next
meeting, including color options and whether to include the stream, etc.
5. National Historic Preservation Month (May): After considering the total cost of a
banner across Block Street Commissioners decided to hold that option for next year
and focus resources on more direct engagement and events. Staff is working to
coordinate a Farmer's Market table in May, a proclamation at Woolsey at 2:OOpm on
May 8, bike tours for Downtown with Experience Fayetteville and on a portion of the
Butterfield Trail, and any other options the Commissioners would like to consider. Staff
will coordinate table needs for the Farmer's Market and how to use that as an
opportunity for input on the work plan in the Heritage & Historic Preservation Master
Plan.
New Business
Historic Preservation Awards: Staff has received requests to bring back the annual
historic preservation awards, which have not happened for the last couple of years. In
2020 there were two award categories but in 2011 /2012 there were more categories.
Staff requested feedback from the Commissioners on bringing back the awards,
timing, the award categories, and how the award nominations should be submitted.
Commissioners were in support of the awards returning, previously there were acrylic
plaques for winners, categories were not needed as much as general guidance on
criteria for submittals, the timeline will be oriented to Preservation Month and
submittals can be in person or online. Staff to coordinate on getting the web page and
application revised and be ready to receive nominations for next month, as well as get
word out.
Other Business: None
Adjourned: 8:03pm
