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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-06-2021 Minutes HDC Regular Meeting 101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-732-1270 | www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 1 of 12 Minutes HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Remote regular meeting 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 2021 Virtual meeting via YouTube Live Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel Present: Vice Chair Virginia Smith, Eric Altman, Elizabeth Dicker, Max Dowdle, Megan Kimball, Will Senner and William Spoon Staff: Town Attorney Bob Hornik and Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood 1. Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum Vice Chair Virginia Smith called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. Smith read the Historic District Commission’s public charge. Smith called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. 2. Commission’s mission statement Due to Smith having low Internet bandwidth, Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood read the statement. 3. Agenda changes There were no changes. The agenda stood as presented. 4. Minutes review and approval Minutes from regular meeting on Sept. 1, 2021. Motion: Smith moved approval of the Sept. 1, 2021, minutes as submitted. Member Eric Altman seconded. Smith called the roll for voting. Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Altman, Elizabeth Dicker, Max Dowdle, Megan Kimball, Will Senner, Smith and William Spoon. Nays: None. 5. New business A. Certificate of Appropriateness Application: 109 E. King St. – Applicant Shannan Campbell, planning and economic development manager for the Town of Hillsborough, on behalf of Womack Publishing is requesting to install a painted mural on the previously painted, stucco, exterior wall on the east elevation of the building. (PIN 9874-06-6373) 
 Applicant and Hillsborough Planning and Economic Development Manager Shannan Campbell and Dale Edwards of The News of Orange were sworn in. Motion: Kimball moved to open the public hearing. Senner seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 2 of 12 Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Senner, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Trueblood summarized the staff report and entered it into the record. She gave a description of the building, which houses The News of Orange. Trueblood said the applicant proposes to install a painted mural on the previously painted, stucco, exterior east wall, which faces a public alley. Trueblood said the mural would be completed using Behr exterior-grade paint and a clear top coat would be applied to minimize fading, wear and tear. She said the artist is responsible for maintenance for three years from the date of completion. Trueblood called attention to the application materials included in the agenda packet, including a narrative describing the project, photos of the wall and a rendering of the proposed mural. The project narrative states that the Hillsborough Tourism Development Authority initiated the mural project with The News of Orange (Womack Publishing) and the Orange County Arts Commission. The project is intended to bring another outdoor artistic attraction to town and also to bring additional vibrancy and visitation to the east side of King Street, where the Hillsborough Visitors Center also is located. A panel selected the mural artist and design as part of a competitive process and chose artist Richard Nickel’s design because of its features representing community unity. Trueblood showed photographs of the building’s east wall and of the proposed mural. She said the applicable Historic District Design Standards are Exterior Walls and Art. Smith asked Campbell and Edwards if they had any information to add. Campbell said the mural location was carefully considered. She said it is very similar to the mural painted a few years ago at Volume Records, noting this mural also will be on an alley-facing façade and on a previously painted wall. Campbell said the applicants worked with the artist to create a design compatible with the scale and massing of the surrounding area. She said the mural would be visible to pedestrians from the right of way, noting the mural would be on a private building. Campbell said the mural would not conceal any architectural features of building. She said the panel appreciated the mural’s unifying features of dogwood, cardinal and landscape, which she said bring the community together as North Carolinians. She added the building’s longtime tenant, The News of Orange, also brings the community together. Edwards said that he is attending the meeting to listen and has nothing to add. Smith asked what would happen to the mural’s maintenance plan after the required three years have elapsed. Campbell said either the building owner could paint over the mural or the mural could be allowed to age with a fine patina, as many murals do across the state. Spoon asked if the maintenance plan would cover graffiti or defacement. Campbell confirmed it would unless the mural is deemed damaged beyond repair. Spoon said he would not want to see vulgar graffiti stay in place for a long time and asked if there is a plan for a quick remedy in such a situation. Campbell confirmed any such graffiti could be covered with cardboard while the damage is assessed. Kimball asked if the building’s east-facing door would be painted as part of the mural. Campbell said she believes the artist plans to incorporate the door into the design. When asked, Campbell confirmed that the door is a non-historic, previously painted metal door. Campbell confirmed the wooden parts of the windows would not be painted. Smith observed there is a tree that brushes quite close to the mural wall. She asked would happen to the tree during the painting process. Trueblood said the tree could be pruned fairly easily. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 3 of 12 Smith noted that the terra cotta coping across top of the wall should not be painted. Campbell confirmed it is not the artist’s intention to paint the terra cotta coping. When asked, Campbell confirmed that the wall’s material is painted stucco. Spoon said that he likes the design and think it is appropriate. He said he appreciates these projects that liven up the town. Regarding the three-year maintenance plan, Kimball asked if the building owner would need to come back to the commission in three years in order to paint over the mural. Trueblood clarified that painting over the mural would qualify as a minor work that staff could approve without the need for another Certificate of Appropriateness. The commission members briefly discussed what conditions to add to the Certificate of Appropriateness. The commission closed the public hearing without a vote. Motion: Spoon moved to find as fact that the Campbell/Hillsborough Tourism Development Authority application is in keeping with the overall character of the Historic District and complies with all relevant standards of evaluation based on the commission’s discussion of the application and the standards of evaluation in Section 3.12.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance because the plans are consistent with the Historic District Design Standards: Art and Exterior Walls. Smith seconded. Smith called the roll for voting. Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Senner, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Motion: Spoon moved to approve the application with conditions. Kimball seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Senner, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Conditions: The window muntins and trim shall not be painted. The terra cotta roof tiles shall not be painted. B. Certificate of Appropriateness Application: 306 N. Churton St. – Applicants Charles Martenstein and Rachael Price are requesting to construct a 1,162-square-foot house with a 163-square-foot rear screen porch, a 196- square-foot front porch, and a 126-square-foot rear deck on the vacant lot. Additionally proposed is a 384- square-foot guest house, a 144-square-foot shed/greenhouse, a rear stone patio, brick and gravel walkways and pea gravel driveway and parking pad. (PIN 9874-07-6891) 
 Motion: Kimball moved to open the public hearing. Spoon seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Senner, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 4 of 12 Smith introduced applicants Charles Martenstein and Rachael Price and architect David Cates. Martenstein, Price and Cates were sworn in. Contractors Charles Woods and Will Perschau also were sworn in. Senner disclosed that he is a neighbor and in-law of the applicants. Senner said he did not think he would have any issues reviewing the application without bias based on the standards. Trueblood clarified that Senner shares a property line with the applicants, noting that in the past commission members have recused themselves in such situations. Smith recalled she had recused herself when her neighbors came before the commission. Kimball said that the North Carolina judicial code of conduct precludes people from deciding family members’ cases, saying that Senner’s in-law relationship might be viewed as a conflict. Senner said he is comfortable being excused. Motion: Smith moved to excuse Senner from the Martenstein/Price application for conflict of interest due to sharing a property line. Kimball seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Trueblood summarized the staff report and entered it into the record. She said the property at 306 N. Churton St. currently is a vacant lot that previously was attached to the 103 E. Queen St. property. She said the applicants are proposing to construct a new 1,162-square-foot cottage-style house with a 163-square-foot rear screen porch, a 196-square-foot front porch and a 126-square-foot rear deck. Additionally proposed is a 384-square-foot guest house, a 144-square-foot shed/greenhouse, a rear stone patio, brick and gravel walkways and a pea gravel driveway and parking pad. Trueblood said the applicant is requesting to remove two crepe myrtles for the driveway and one walnut and one hackberry tree for the parking pad. Trueblood called attention to the application materials included in the agenda packet, including the project narrative with proposed exterior materials, photos of the existing site, details for the doors and light fixtures, a site plan with setbacks noted, a tree inventory and elevations of the primary house, guest house and outbuilding. She said the applicable Historic District Design Standards are New Construction of Primary Residential Buildings, New Construction of Outbuildings and Garages, New Construction of Accessory Dwelling Units, Decks, Site Features and Plantings, Fences and Walls, Walkways and Driveways and Off-Street Parking. Trueblood displayed photographs of the current site, the materials list and the site plan. Kimball asked if the existing picket fence would remain. Cates clarified the fence would remain. Trueblood displayed the elevation views of the house, guest house and shed/greenhouse. She said all neighbors were notified about the proposed plan and said staff received no questions about the application. Smith asked if the applicants had any information to add. Cates said the applicants had decided not to install any shutters on the house’s side windows. He said the side elevations in tonight’s agenda packet show shutters on some side windows but not others, which the applicants decided looked awkward. Smith asked if the commissioners had any comments or questions regarding the site plan. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 5 of 12 Spoon asked if the applicants had committed to using tree protection fencing for the property’s mature trees. He noted the presence of a 56-inch beech. Smith clarified that construction projects in the Historic District often involve placing temporary protective fencing around trees to protect their roots from heavy equipment. Woods confirmed they would use tree protection for any trees that are in danger of damage. Spoon asked Woods to double-check that the workers trenching for utilities stay out of the tree protection area. Woods agreed. Town Attorney Bob Hornik suggested Woods consult with the Hillsborough Public Works Division and Utilities Department before running utility lines to ensure all are on the same page regarding where connections are placed. Woods agreed. Smith noted that the application narrative says six boxwoods would screen the HVAC unit. She said many boxwoods in town have been getting sick and suggested the applicants check in with Trueblood before committing to boxwoods. Trueblood confirmed there are several boxwood species resistant to blight but said no boxwoods are resistant to nematodes. Trueblood suggested the applicants commit to screening the HVAC unit with evergreen screening shrubs for more flexibility. Spoon said he could support an evergreen screen shrub of a general size large enough to screen the HVAC unit. Smith agreed the selected shrubs should be ones that would grow tall enough to obscure the HVAC unit. Regarding the parking area, Smith noted the standards say the parking area must be screened from view from the street. She said plantings could be used for such a screen. Cates noted there is a magnolia, crepe myrtles, and a fence between the parking area and the street, and he asked if that would provide sufficient screening. Smith said she thinks additional screening is required because crepe myrtles lose their leaves in winter and because she does not feel the magnolia is a very dense tree. Regarding the two mature crepe myrtles to be removed, Smith asked if it is possible to move them to another place on the site. Woods said moving mature crepe myrtles would be difficult and the trees probably could not be saved. Front elevation Regarding the front elevation, Spoon noted three lantern-type lights proposed in the materials list. Spoon asked if any floodlighting is proposed. Cates confirmed no floodlights are proposed. Regarding the front fiberglass columns, Smith noted the standards call for no seams to be visible. Woods confirmed no seams would be visible. When asked, the applicants confirmed the front steps would be brick. Smith asked of what material the porch floor would be made. Cates and Woods said they are proposing AZEK porch flooring. Smith noted that the standards and materials list do not allow AZEK for flooring on porches. Woods, Cates and the commission members discussed AZEK versus wood porch flooring. Smith said both the Historic District Design Standards and the Historic District Compatibility Matrix had just been revised and that the porch flooring would need to be of an approved material. Kimball added that the commission members specifically discussed materials for front porch floors and agreed AZEK is not an appropriate material. Cates agreed to use wood for the front porch floor. Price asked why the Historic District Design Standards disallow AZEK for porch floors. Smith said the commission generally does not approve anything that is fake or that mimics a historic feature without actually being historic. Kimball added that the commission must be fair in applying the standards equally to all HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 6 of 12 applications in the Historic District. Woods asked who determines the Historic District Design Standards. Hornik said the Historic District Commission established the standard after substantial discussion. Hornik said the standard in the ordinance disallows AZEK for porch flooring and not adhering to it is basis for denial of the Certificate of Appropriateness. Woods said he understands. Trueblood clarified that the Historic District Compatibility Matrix specifically does not allow AZEK for porch floors but does allow Trex, a recycled plastic project, on side and rear porches. Trueblood said the commission members had a lengthy discussion about AZEK and Trex on porches a couple of months ago. She said wood is the standard for front porch flooring, while Trex can be used on side and rear porches. Hornik recalled that the commission members had specifically said they did not want AZEK on front porches. Trueblood said that many historic districts do not include PVC and composite materials in their standards because those materials do not age as wood does and are not paintable and stainable. Cates agreed to use wood flooring for the front porch. When asked, Trueblood confirmed the applicants have the option of using Trex flooring on the rear deck and porch. The applicants agreed and said they would use Trex in the rear. Spoon said he thinks the overall design is very nice and appropriate. He said he thinks the house would be a nice addition that would complement the neighboring historic properties. He thanked the applicants for the thorough application. Smith agreed that the design is very pleasant and inviting. Dicker said that the image of the front door in the application appears to include frosted glass, noting that the standards allow frosted glass on a case-by-case basis. The applicants clarified that they do not want frosted glass in the front door. Price confirmed the front door’s glass would be clear. When asked, Cates confirmed that the siding labeled shiplap elsewhere in the application would be lap siding. Regarding the foundation, Smith asked what color the bricks would be and in what kind of bond they would be laid. Cates and Woods confirmed the foundation bricks would be laid in a standard running bond. Woods said the applicants had not yet chosen the brick color but said they likely would be red bricks with a buff mortar. Smith suggested Price could investigate brick possibilities and run their choice by Trueblood. Trueblood clarified that the applicants could commit tonight to red brick with a buff mortar and that staff could still approve a color change later as a change deemed not substantial. Martenstein and Price agreed to commit to red brick with buff mortar. There were no further questions or comments regarding the front elevation. Rear elevation Regarding the rear elevation, Trueblood pointed out the lap siding used in the rear gable. Cates and Woods confirmed the siding would be lap siding, not shiplap as indicated in the elevation. Regarding the French doors on the right side of the rear elevation, Smith asked if they would be the same doors as front door and the door leading onto the porch. Woods confirmed the doors would be the same. When asked, Woods confirmed the rear steps leading down from the porch would be Trex. Woods confirmed the steps leading down from the screen porch would be brick. When asked, Cates confirmed the wooden steps on the right side would not have a railing. Cates confirmed no railing is required. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 7 of 12 Spoon said he appreciated that the decision to remove the shutters from the side windows, observing that shutters would not have worked on the rear windows. When asked, Cates explained the diamond shape on the back doors indicates the direction in which the doors swing. Woods clarified that the pointed side of each half of the diamond indicate on which side the hinges are located. Woods confirmed the back door would be a double screen door. There were no further questions or comments regarding the rear elevation. Left elevation Regarding the left elevation, Spoon asked if all of the columns would be the same diameter, noting that the front left column appears smaller than the front right column. Woods confirmed the front left column is a half-column, which Cates confirmed is a standard arrangement. There were no further questions or comments regarding the left elevation. Right elevation Regarding the right elevation, Kimball asked what type of metal the roof the house would have. Cates confirmed the metal roof would be standing seam and would have no striations. Dicker asked what color the metal roof would be. Cates and Woods confirmed the roof would be silver Galvalume. When asked, Woods confirmed the Trex porch flooring would be gray. Smith noted the colors of the porch and roof will echo each other. Guest house, patio and walkways Regarding the guest house, Kimball asked if the steps would be wood. Woods and Cates confirmed the guest house steps would be wood and would be painted gray. Dicker noted the materials list provided in the application lists brick steps leading into the guest house. Cates said that was a mistake and the guest house steps would be wooden. Woods, Price and Martenstein agreed. Regarding the patio, Smith asked whether the patio is stone or brick, noting there is conflicting information in the application. Price and Cates confirmed the back patio would be stone. Price said the front walkway would be brick, while the small side walkways would be gravel. Trueblood clarified that the site plan is correct, while the inset box on the elevation contains older information. Kimball asked how tall the guest house would be compared to the main house. Cates confirmed the guest house would be shorter than the main house, clarifying the guest house would be 16 feet, 11 inches tall, while the house would be 25 feet tall. When asked, Cates confirmed the guest house’s foundation would be red brick. Smith said she appreciates that the guest house is set so far back from the main house. Shed/Greenhouse When asked, Cates clarified the roof of the shed/greenhouse would be the same material and color as the main house. Smith asked if there would be a step up into the shed/greenhouse. Cates said the shed/greenhouse would be built very close to the ground. Woods said the bottom of the door would be about 6 inches from the ground. Cates said the foundation essentially would be the step. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 8 of 12 When asked, Cates said the greenhouse section’s aluminum framework would be aluminum in color. There were no further questions or comments regarding the shed/greenhouse. Trueblood briefly summarized the items that had been clarified and which could become conditions for approval. Kimball noted that earlier Smith had brought up the issue of screening the parking area, which had not been resolved. Smith said that the standards require parking areas to be screened and that in spite of the existing vegetation the parking area needs more screening vegetation, such as a hedge. Price and Martenstein said they do not want to encroach on the magnolia or its roots and asked if screening shrubs could be planted closer to the fence or toward the front of the property. Cates agreed it would be difficult to grow shrubs underneath the magnolia. When asked, Smith confirmed the parking screen could be a fence. Kimball said she thinks screening shrubs could be planted closer to the road. Kimball asked the applicants to describe what section of the fence would be removed for the driveway. Price described where the driveway would go, noting that new fencing would be installed along the right of the driveway. Woods noted that planting screening vegetation further down the hill would require installing taller plants to shield the parking area. Cates suggested moving the northern section of fencing along Churton Street to the side of the parking area, noting that it sounds like Price and Martenstein were talking about removing the fence north of the driveway. Price said the fence north of the driveway could be retained, and Cates said he thought that would look better. Price and Martenstein agreed. Spoon asked Trueblood to display the standard regarding screening parking areas. Spoon said most magnolias have leaves all the way to the ground and are pretty dense. He said he thought the parking area seems well- screened. The applicants and the commission members discussed screening options. Cates noted there is a good picture of the magnolia on Page 7 of the application. Cates noted that while the magnolia’s branches do not go all the way to the ground, the lot slopes upward and obscures part of the view. Trueblood read Standard 11 under Walkways, Driveways and Off-Street Parking, which reads, “Screen new off‐street parking areas in residential and commercial areas of the district from view and minimize their visual impact on adjacent properties through the use of perimeter plantings, fences, walls or hedges.” Cates noted that the existing fence obscures some of the lower view of the parking area, while the upper canopy of the magnolia screens the view from 4 or 5 feet up, leaving a small slit between the two. Trueblood suggested taking stock of the members’ opinions regarding the parking screening, noting that consensus is not required. When asked, Price and Martenstein confirmed that they are willing to retain the white fencing on either side of the driveway entrance. Smith said in that case the fence to the left of the driveway would obscure the lower 3 feet of the view of the parking area, while the magnolia would obscure the upper part of the view. Smith said she is satisfied with that scenario. Spoon agreed. When asked, Cates confirmed that the fence would be maintained except where the driveway would go. Kimball said she appreciated that, noting that the fence contributes to the historic character of the property. When asked, Cates confirmed that the new fencing along the driveway and the parking area would match the existing fence. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 9 of 12 The commission members agreed they are comfortable with the existing fence and magnolia screening the parking area. Spoon said he would like to add as a condition for approval that the applicants share the utility trenching plans and tree protection areas with staff and avoid damaging tree root zones. Trueblood agreed and asked the applicants to keep staff apprised of the meter box’s location. Smith asked if the applicants had chosen door hardware for the front and back doors. Price said she had not yet chosen door hardware but was considering black or bronze hardware. Cates said they are committed to matching any existing hardware, such as on the black hardware on the gates. Price agreed to commit to black door hardware to match the black iron gate hardware. There were no other questions or comments. Motion: Kimball moved to close the public hearing. Spoon seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Motion: Kimball moved to find as fact that the Martenstein/Price application is in keeping with the overall character of the Historic District and complies with all relevant standards of evaluation based on the commission’s discussion of the application and the standards of evaluation in Section 3.12.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance because the plans are consistent with the Historic District Design Standards: New Construction of Primary Residential Buildings, New Construction of Outbuildings and Garages, New Construction of Accessory Dwelling Units, Decks, Site Features and Plantings, Fences and Walls, Walkways and Driveways and Off-Street Parking. Altman seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Motion: Kimball moved to approve the application with conditions. Smith seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Conditions: The applicants shall install tree protection fencing during construction; share utility trenching plans with staff and avoid damaging tree root zones; plant evergreen shrubs of sufficient height to screen the HVAC unit; use wood decking on the front porch, guesthouse porch and guesthouse steps; use gray Trex decking on the side and rear porches; use clear glass in the front and rear doors; use red brick with buff mortar for the foundation and steps; and use lap siding on the rear gable. The applicants shall not install shutters on the right or left elevations. The metal roof shall be standing seam with no striations and shall be silver Galvalume. The patio shall be stone as shown on the site plan. The existing fence shall remain except where the HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 10 of 12 driveway is installed. New fencing and gates will match the existing fencing and gates. The door hardware shall be black. C. Annual election of officers Trueblood described the process for the annual election of officers, saying that every year the commission elects a chair and a vice chair. She said the chair runs the meetings, and the vice chair runs the meetings when the chair is unavailable. Both positions sometimes do additional work with staff. Chair Jill Heilman’s term expired recently, while Smith’s term expires in February. Trueblood noted that Dicker and Senner are both new commission members. Trueblood asked Kimball to speak about her term. Kimball said she and her husband are expecting twins in February. She said she had planned to continue serving on the commission when she was expecting one baby, but with two babies expected she would resign from the commission early. Kimball said she would resign once a replacement is found, noting tonight might be her last meeting. Kimball said she has enjoyed serving on the commission and she hopes to rejoin an advisory board once her two daughters are older. Trueblood described the process for nominating and voting on a new chair and vice chair. She said the new officers would begin serving at the Nov. 3, 2021, meeting. Dowdle nominated Spoon to be chair, saying he is always impressed with the breadth of Spoon’s knowledge and how Spoon comports himself during meetings. Kimball seconded. Altman said he agreed that Spoon would be a great chair. Spoon noted that the two people he would have nominated soon would no longer be on the commission. Spoon asked Trueblood how much longer his term runs. Trueblood said she believes Spoon has at least a year left of his term. Trueblood noted that the chair and vice chair roles are each for one year, with new elections each October. She said that if the terms of the chair or vice chair run out midway through the year, a new election would be held at that time. Kimball said Trueblood discussed the length of Spoon’s term, and Trueblood clarified that commission members can serve two consecutive terms. Dowdle volunteered to be vice chair if Spoon becomes chair. Spoon agreed. Motion: Dowdle moved to appoint Spoon as chair. Kimball seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Senner, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Motion: Dowdle moved to appoint himself as vice chair. Smith seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Senner, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. 6. Updates A. Staff Updates: Planner position and code enforcement updates Regarding the open planner position that supports the commission, Trueblood said the Planning and Economic Development Division has interviewed candidates and staff are negotiating with their top choice candidate. She said she believes the new planner will be hired shortly. Trueblood said she would support that HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 11 of 12 person while the person is trained. She said she would update the commission members when the new person is hired. When asked, Trueblood reviewed several recent and upcoming staff changes. She said Assistant Town Manager Margaret Hauth is no longer the planning director, while Shannan Campbell is the planning and economic development manager and is running the Planning and Economic Development Division. Trueblood said the new planner position supporting the commission is in the Planning and Economic Development Division. Trueblood said the division recently hired a planning technician, who will field questions and help with minor works and zoning permits, freeing up the new planner to support the Historic District Commission, follow up on code enforcement cases, handle general site plan review and perhaps handle some Planning Board items. Trueblood updated the commission regarding code enforcement of the Axelbank project at 330 W. King St. She said the town has sent the Axelbanks another certified letter expressing that the current configuration of the second-floor doors is a zoning violation. She said a certain amount of time must pass before the next step, which likely would be assessment of fines. Trueblood said Hauth is handling the Axelbank code enforcement case, and she does not think Hauth has yet heard back from the Axelbanks. Trueblood said she would update the commission members when she hears of new developments. Kimball asked what had happened with the Osbunn Theater building where Nomad restaurant is located, noting that the owners had wanted to replace some of the exterior stucco. Trueblood said her understanding is that the building currently does not meet the Certificate of Appropriateness requirements and that the owners are planning to return to the commission once in-person meetings resume to ask permission to keep the building as it currently is. Kimball said she understood that the owners had wanted to keep some of the stucco on the building but the commission had refused that request; the owners then removed the stucco but had intended to return to the commission to ask permission to replace some of the stucco. Trueblood said the last time she spoke to the applicant, Jim Parker, he said he is waiting until the commission is meeting in person to file that application. Trueblood briefly updated the commission regarding the new Historic District Design Standards document. She said after the commission adopted the standards at the Sept. 1, 2021, meeting, Hillsborough Public Information Officer Catherine Wright reviewed the document’s grammar. She said Hauth currently is integrating Wright’s changes into the document, and Trueblood plans to present the finalized document to the commission for final adoption at the Nov. 3, 2021, meeting. She noted a few wording changes were made in the Site Features and Plantings section to fit the text on the page. She said after the commission adopts the final version in November, it will be posted officially on the commission’s website. When asked, Trueblood clarified that the town board does not need to adopt the new standards because general statute designates the Historic District Commission as the board that sets and adopts the design standards for Certificate of Appropriateness applications. Kimball said the commission members forgot to tell tonight’s applicants that they should stop digging and notify the town if they find any archeological artifacts. Trueblood agreed to convey that information to the contractor. When asked, Trueblood clarified that Smith’s final meeting is in February, while Spoon would begin chairing meetings in November. The commission members briefly discussed ways to quickly navigate the new standards document. Trueblood offered to print hard copies of the new standards document for any commission members. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES | 12 of 12 7. Adjournment Motion: Dowdle moved to adjourn at 8:39 p.m. Spoon seconded. Trueblood called the roll for voting. Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Altman, Dicker, Dowdle, Kimball, Senner, Smith and Spoon. Nays: None. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Trueblood Public Space and Sustainability Manager Staff support to the Historic District Commission Approved: November 3, 2021