HomeMy Public PortalAbout2010-02-11 HPC MINUTES Village of Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission Record of Minutes Date: February 11, 2010 Location: Village Hall Chairman Lambert called the mee ting to order at 7:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Allen, Bright, Olsen, Bo rtel, Wright, Derrick, Chairman Lambert Absent: Commissioner Spangler Also present: Michael Garrigan –Village Planner PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Bortel a motion to approve the minutes for January 14, 2010 as presented. Commissioner Bright seconded the motion. Voice vote. All Commissioners were in favor. Motion carried. CHAIR’S COMMENTS: Chairman Lambert stated a new book The Future of the Past will be presented on March 4 th at 12 noon in Chicago. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: PUBLIC COMMENT: (Items not on the Agenda) No one approached the microphone. STAFF REPORT Planner Garrigan stated there were no new Landmark or District applications and there were no pre-application meetings since the last commission meeting. There have been no new demolition permits received and none approved. The preservation watch list remains the same. OLD BUSINESS: East Side District Signage Planner Garrigan stated he has been working with Commissioner Bortel on the signage. They have a consensus and we have requested Plainfield Sign to pr oceed with the actual fabrication of the signage. There was discussion to modify the street signage to be consistent with the proposed East Side District signage and we are working with Plainfield Sign. Commissioner Bortel indicated the 3 locations would be at Bar tlett and Lockport (northwest corner); at Amboy and Bartlett (northeast corner); and at Center and Amboy (northwest corner.) Commissioner Olsen asked if the signs have been ordered. Planne r Garrigan indicated we are waiting for the fabrication of the street signage and then we will work with Public Works with the proposed change. Planner Garrigan indicated an email would be sent to the commissioners when the final decision was made regarding the street signage. Chairman Lambert mentioned that other communities have the street sign a different color than the historic signage. Downtown District
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes February 11, 2010 Page 2 of 3 Planner Garrigan stated the Village Board voted at their last meeting directing the village attorney to draft the ordinance for the downtown district. This should come back to Village Board at their March 1 st meeting for their consideration. Commissioner Derrick reviewed the material she presented. The first is Heritage Tourism, how people tend to stay longer and spend more money per visit; the next section is about investment in Historic Preservation programs, whether it is state tax credits, federal tax credits, studies on rehabilitation work, and how that money leverages a greater return on investments; nex t is the Preserve America community status which is a George Bush administration program; then her summarization of the material. She stated we are putting together all the pieces, we have our CLG status; we have our Preserve America Community Status; if we can pull it all together we can make things ava ilable to the property owners and leverage this uniqueness of Plainfield into a launch pad for economic development and continue growth. Planner Garrigan said we have applied for a matching grant of approximately $71,000.00. He indicated a couple of projects that could be eligible are historical signage; marketing signage; walking tour; maps and brochures with DVD and a self guided tour; workshops and continued education endeavors. Chairman Lambert indicated this would be a two year commi tment which would allow us time to high quality pieces of education and marketing information. There is also the ability to identify and fine tune the projects. HPC Goals Planner Garrigan stated the priorities and goals need to be revi ewed in the work plan for 2010-2011 due to the reduction in staff and budget. He stated continued Land marking, a new district, and some of the projects outlined in the Preserve Americ a grant will be priorities. He stated if we can find an unpaid in tern or volunteer to prepare the mid-century survey this projec t probably will not take place. Commissioner Bortel said there is extra rese arch material that he has already search ed out when properties were being land marked that can be added to the surveys. Commissioner Olsen asked if we could add additional information to the current surveys. Planner Garrigan indicated we could. Chairman Lambert stated surveys are intended to be brief. He stated we would need to go through the information to see what information should go on the survey and what information should belong in a file with the survey form. Commissioner Wright asked if Staff would have time to work with an unpaid intern. Planner Garrigan indicated this would depend on the ability of the intern. Chairman Lambert said some colleges and programs are requiring unpaid internship so the students are doing the work for the experience. Commissioner Olsen stated it could be architectural also. Planner Garrigan said we would need assist ance on the survey forms. He stated we would continue to maintain the watch list; drafting certain articles for the village pape rs; recognize owners of landmarks with plaques; work on the special brochures; compile library of resources; proclaim May as Historic Pres ervation Month; and continue to work with commissioners with ongoing education. He outlined the century survey as one item that could be streamlined. Chairman Lambert said holding “Great Unveilings” (due to the restraints of the budget) and state wide conference can be removed from the list (there is no longer a state wide conf erence.) He also mentioned the rehabilitation grants would be streamlined as well. Planner Garrigan stated staff could continue to work with the various sub-committees on continued education, public outreach, future land marking, and future districts. Commissioner Wright said we may be able to eliminate some meetings. Planner Garrigan agreed if there is no discussion or actual business items those meetings could be cancelled as the wishes of the commission. Chairman Lambert suggested keeping items on the first meeting of the month as much as possible but keeping the second meeting kept as a potential. Preservation Month Activities Planner Garrigan asked if there were any specific ideas, workshops, or events which would highlight Preservation Month in May. Chairman Lambert stated typically they have made a plaque presentation in that month. The question is do we want to do this at HPC level or Village Board level to present the plaque. There will be the Darr Gaylord house. Chairman Lambert stated the Hist orical Society and District 202 schools have been working together to write the local history chapters for third grade level. He stated one of the activitie s suggested would be a study of early architecture and the outco me
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes February 11, 2010 Page 3 of 3 is to have each class build a representativ e building from that period. He said th is is modeling off from the National Trust Historical Building Parade. He said this could possibly be 40 buildings and it would be interesting to integrate that into Historic Preservation Committee meeting during May to have th e buildings presented here and maybe display the buildings here at village hall. Commissioner Derrick said she heard about letter boxing and knows about geocaching and wondered if we could hold a scavenger hunt to historic sites in Plainfield. She understands there could be issues with private property but it might be ki nd of fun. Commissioner Olsen asked about the age for the letter boxing. Commissioner Derrick said her neighbor takes her children. Chairman Lambert suggested it is something they could sponsor; however if it is government sponsored they would have to follow all guidelines for accessibility and publication. Chairman Lambert summarized as follows – we are looking at a plaque presen tation at a Board meeting and maybe something in Settler’s Park. Planner Garrigan indicated he would get the Proclamation for the Village Board packet. COMMITTEE REPORTS : Commissioner Bortel said LDDC has talked about working for downtown and he is doing research on the Green-Lutter property and he has a couple more houses he will be working on. Mr. Hendricksen has volunteered to serve on the Public Outreach Committee if they would be interest ed and also on LDDC. Chairman Lamb ert said this was a good suggestion and could be beneficial as long as they are no t in any violation of any regulation aspect. DISCUSSION: None ADJOURN: Commissioner Bortel made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Wright seconded the motion. Voice vote. All the Commissioners were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p. m. __________________________ Respectfully submitted, Merrilee Trotz - Recording Secretary