Lawrence historic resources Commission

Agenda Meeting september 15, 2016 6:30 pM

Action summary

Commissioners present: Arp, Buchanan, Evans, Fry, Hernly, Quillin

Staff present:  Cargill, Simmons, Zollner

 

 

ITEM NO. 1:         CoMMUNICATIONS

A.    No communications from other commissions, State Historic Preservation Officer, and the general public.

B.    No ex-parte communications.

C.    Commissioner Hernly abstained from administrative agenda item DR-16-00346.

D.   No Committee Reports

 

ITEM NO. 2:         Consent agenda

A.    July 21, 2016 & August 18, 2016 Action Summaries

B.    Administrative Approvals

1.          DR-16-00303  1304 Vermont Street;  Deck; Certificate of Appropriateness.

2.          DR-16-00327  643 Massachusetts Street; Sign; Certificate of Appropriateness and Downtown Design Guidelines Review

3.          DR-16-00346  637 Tennessee Street; Porch Enclosure; State Law Review and Certificate of Appropriateness.

4.          DR-16-00348 1144 Louisiana Street; Second Exit; State Law Review and Certificate of Appropriateness.

5.          DR-16-00324 1940 Haskell Avenue; Sign; Certificate of Appropriateness.

6.          DR-16-00321  732 & 732 1/2 Massachusetts Street; Interior Alteration; State Law Review.

7.          DR-16-00352  1320 Haskell Avenue; Rehabilitation and Porch Addition; Certificate of Appropriateness.

8.          DR-16-00322   734 Massachusetts Street; Sign; Certificate of Appropriateness and Downtown Design Guidelines Review.

ACTION TAKEN

Motioned by Commissioner Fry, seconded by Commissioner Arp, to approve the Consent Agenda minus DR-16-00346, pulled for separate vote.

 

     Unanimously approved 6-0.

 

Motioned by Commissioner Fry, seconded by Commissioner Arp, to approve DR-16-00346.

 

     Motion carried 5-0-1.

 

ITEM NO. 3:       PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Mr. Dennis Brown, Lawrence Preservation Alliance (LPA) detailed several upcoming community events.

 

 

ITEM NO. 4:        L-16-00295  Public hearing for consideration of placing the property, Parnham House, located at 1028 Rhode Island Street, on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. Submitted by Lawrence Preservation Alliance on behalf of Bradley and Heather Eldridge, the property owners of record.  Adopt Resolution 2016-12, if appropriate.

 

STAFF PRESENTATION

Ms. Zollner presented the item.

 

APPLICANT PRESENTATION

Mr. Dennis Brown, LPA, said this property was part of their initiative to get more properties listed locally.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Ms. KT Walsh, East Lawrence Neighborhood Association (ELNA), said they spoke in favor of the 2012-2013 rehabilitation of the property and they fully support the Landmark nomination.

 

ACTION TAKEN

Motioned by Commissioner Hernly, seconded by Commissioner Quillin, to recommend the designation of 1028 Rhode Island Street as a Landmark on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places pursuant to Criterion #1 and #6 as described in Section 22-403, and to adopt Resolution 2016-12.

 

Unanimously approved 6-0.

 

Motioned by Commissioner Hernly, seconded by Commissioner Arp, to adopt the environs definition as provided in the staff report.

 

Unanimously approved 6-0.

 

ITEM NO. 5:        DR-16-00344  1011 Tennessee Street; Accessory Structure Demolition; State Law Review and Certificate of Appropriateness. The accessory structure is listed as non-contributing to the Oread Historic District, National Register of Historic Places and the Oread Neighborhood Historic District, Lawrence Register of Historic Places.  Submitted by Joe L. Harness, the property owner of record.

 

STAFF PRESENTATION

Ms. Zollner presented the item.

 

Commissioner Buchanan asked if the size of the proposed parking pad would allow the property owner to double-park.

 

Ms. Zollner said no, and if they decide to pour something different that would require a permit and review.

 

APPLICANT PRESENTATION

Mr. Landon Harness said he recently purchased the property and plans to rehabilitate the house. He also plans to donate pieces of the accessory structure to the neighborhood and to Struct/Restruct.

 

COMMISSION DISCUSSION

Commissioner Fry said he supports the request.

 

Commissioner Quillin said she agrees they should consider these requests for demolition on a case-by-case basis.

 

Commissioner Buchanan said she appreciates the applicant’s efforts to repurpose the materials.

 

Commissioner Hernly encouraged the property owner to meet with staff prior to starting work on any new structure.  

 

ACTION TAKEN

Motioned by Commissioner Arp, seconded by Commissioner Quillin, to approve the project and make the determination that the project does not encroach upon, damage, or destroy one or more listed historic properties due to the lack of integrity of the structure.

 

Unanimously approved 6-0.

 

Motioned by Commissioner Arp, seconded by Commissioner Quillin, to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and make the determination that the proposed project does not encroach upon, damage, or destroy the environs of the listed historic property.

 

Unanimously approved 6-0.

 

 

ITEM NO. 6:        DR-16-00355  331 Indiana Street;  Accessory Structure Demolition;  State Law Review and Certificate of Appropriateness.  The accessory structure is listed as non-contributing to the Pinckney II Historic District, National Register of Historic Places and is located in the environs of 304 Indiana Street.  Submitted by the Department of Utilities, City of Lawrence on behalf of Ryan and Lissa Beckland, property owners of record.

 

STAFF PRESENTATION

Ms. Zollner presented the item.

 

Commissioner Arp asked about the Chapter 22 review.

 

Ms. Zollner said that review is still in the works and will provide for better standards.

 

Commissioner Arp asked how the problem was discovered.

 

Ms. Zollner said the property owner called.

 

Commissioner Arp asked about staff’s aforementioned angst about this process.

 

Ms. Zollner said staff’s frustration is due to how many accessory structure demolitions they’ve seen in the last six months.

 

Commissioner Buchanan stressed the importance these structures have in telling a story.

 

Commissioner Arp asked if there is a code enforcement component to this.

 

Ms. Zollner said code enforcement is complaint driven, although there has been discussion with their staff to stay ahead of this type of deterioration.

 

Commissioner Buchanan asked if there is any grant funding for this type of rehabilitation.

 

Ms. Zollner said yes, if it’s a listed property. She said no action is required this evening.

 

Commissioner Arp asked if they could have reviewed this item by email.

 

Ms. Zollner explained that they would still be required to publish the item in the newspaper.

 

ITEM NO. 7:         MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 

 

A.            No comment on Zoning Amendments, Special Use Permits, and Zoning Variances received since August 18, 2016.

 

B.            Review of any demolition permits received since August 18, 2016.

 

Ms. Zollner informed commissioners of an accessory structure demolition at 2201 Rhode Island Street.

 

C.            Miscellaneous matters from City staff and Commission members.

 

Commissioner Hernly mentioned the Kansas Preservation Conference is coming up in two weeks with a terrific keynote speaker.

 

Commissioner Buchanan welcomed Commissioner Evans.

 

Ms. Zollner reminded commissioners of training on October 1st. She also mentioned the Comprehensive Plan Update and noted that it will be discussed at their October training session. She explained details of the Parks & Recreation comprehensive plan that recommends a downtown plaza.

 

Commissioner Buchanan asked when comments need to be submitted for that plan.

 

Ms. Zollner said Tuesday.

 

Commissioner Hernly asked if the training session is open to the public.

 

Ms. Zollner said yes but they can’t participate in the dialogue.

 

ADJOURN 7:19 PM