HRC Action Summary
10-18-2007
Page 3 of 17
ITEM NO. 4: L-09-02-07 Public hearing for consideration of
placing the structure located at
STAFF PRESENTATION
Ms. Zollner Braddock presented the item.
Commissioner Antle recited the criteria for placing a structure on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. He commented that the property was currently listed on the National and State Registers.
APPLICANT PRESENTATION
Tom
Harper stated the home was one of the most important home in
Randy Masten stated he understood people in the neighborhood were not happy with the home but he had not heard their reasoning. He said the home was remarkable and he and his wife plan on preserving it. He said it was a marvelous home and it deserved to be recognized as such.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Arley Allen stated he was a member of the Centennial Neighborhood Association and submitted a petition against adopting the house onto the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. He said under the terms of the ordinance the home should have never been built. He said the home owners were only hoping to increase the value of their home by receiving state and federal money to improve their home with no cost to them. Mr. Allen stated he and the neighbors object to Mr. Masten placing liens on their property and they object to the extra burden this would put on their homes. He said the home was a radical design, unlike the homes in the area, which made this an unacceptable standard by which their homes should be judged. He said such power over the neighbor’s property, was like a lien, and devalued the neighbor’s homes. He asked the Commission to reject adding this home to the Lawrence Register of Historic Places.
Mr.
Masten asked how many homes on the petition were outside the preexisting circle.
Commissioner
Antle stated there were no new burdens placed on the surrounding property
owners. He said the home at
Mr. Allen said the neighbors did not know the home was on the State and National Registers. He asked the Commission to please not enforce liens on the neighbor’s homes. He said there was nothing about this structure that was like the homes that surround it and there was no reason to put the house on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places.
Commissioner
Veatch said the Commission would not hold the neighbors to the standards of the
unique house at
Mr. Allen said the neighbors would probably be ok with placing the home on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places if they could be sure about Commissioner Veatch’s statement. He said when this home was built there was no such thing as a National, State, or Local register.
Commissioner Meyer stated if the property was not placed on the local register, it would still be on the National and State registers so an environs review would still be needed.
Mr. Allen asked if the Commission was stating the neighbors had no choice in the matter.
Commissioner Marvin said the Commission only reviewed items that required a City permit.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
Commissioner Antle said he had sympathy for the neighbors because this would seem to be scary, but most people would view this as a positive thing for the neighborhood.
ACTION TAKEN
Motioned
by Commissioner Antle, seconded by Commissioner Veatch, to approve placing the
structure located at
Motion carried unanimously, 6-0.
Motioned by Commissioner Antle, seconded by Commissioner Veatch, to adopt the environs definition as detailed in the Staff Report.
Motion carried unanimously, 6-0.