HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015-11-12 minutesCity of Jefferson Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Thursday, November 12, 2015
City Annex, 427 Monroe Street
Jefferson City MO
Commission Members Present Attendance Record
Bill Case 9 of 9
Mary Schantz 8 of 9
Kevin Kelly 9 of 9
Terri Rademan 4 of 9
Jane Moore 7 of 9
Brent Hemphill 4 of 9
Art Hernandez 8 of 9
Sarah Hoeller 2 of 9
Doug Record 7 of 9
Commission Members Absent
None
Council Liaison Present
Laura Ward
Staff Present
Jayme Abbott
Janice McMillan
Guests
Carolyn Bening, Historic City of Jefferson
Brian Bernskoetter, Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors
Tammy Boeschen, Historic City of Jefferson
Cathy Bordner, Historic City of Jefferson
Michelle Brooks, News Tribune
Fred Brown, Historic City of Jefferson
Heath Clarkston, Home Builders Association
Peter DeSimone
Paul Graham, Historic City of Jefferson
Lois Hildenbrand, Historic City of Jefferson
Jim Kreider, MRTA
Kevin McHugh, Historic City of Jefferson
Janet Maurer, Historic City of Jefferson
Rick Mihalevich, City Council
Jim Penfold, , Historic City of Jefferson
Mark Schreiber, City Council
Jenny Smith, Historic City of Jefferson
Kay Snartellaro, Historic City of Jefferson
Pam Taylor, Historic City of Jefferson
Steve Veile, Historic City of Jefferson
Jim Wisch, WAVCO
Call to Order:
Vice Chair Bill Case called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm.
Approval of Agenda:
Bill Case asked the Commissioners to review the amended agenda and to
recommend any changes needed. Kevin Kelly moved the amended agenda be
approved as printed. Terri Rademan seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes:
Bill Case asked the Commissioners to review the September 17, 2015 Special
Meeting minutes and offer corrections if needed. Jane Moore moved the minutes
be approved. Sarah Hoeller seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Old Business
a. Historic City of Jefferson Proposed Demolition Ordinance – Jayme Abbott began
by providing the Commission and public a general overview of the process for
the proposal and timeline for the proposal’s proceeding after the Commission has
completed its work on the draft proposal. Presentations were made by members
of the Historic City of Jefferson (HCJ). The presenters included: Steve Veile,
Past President of HCJ; Paul Graham, HCJ attorney; Cathy Bordner, HCJ
member; and, Tammy Boeschen, President of HCJ. Steve Veile presented a
slide show entitled: Local Living Landmarks. He discussed HCJ’s involvement
with historic preservation in the past and their continued interest in the issue. Mr.
Veile asked the Commission to vote tonight to approve the concept of the
proposal. Paul Graham provided an overview of the proposed flowchart outlining
how applications for complete demolition would be handled. Mr. Graham
discussed the concept of the proposal and the attempt on the part of HCJ to
protect property owner’s rights and to assure that at the end of the process there
was clear title for the property. His testimony focused on the two major
provisions or changes of this proposal which were giving the Commission the
power to say no to an application for demolition and the “no” would have teeth
and secondly to give everyone (owner, public and stakeholders) an opportunity to
have their say. Related to the addition of the word “complete” before demolition,
and what HCJ felt the definition of “complete” should be, Mr. Graham said that
was up to others to decide. When asked by the Commission about the increased
cost for the Commission to carry out the public notice requirements of the
proposal Mr. Graham indicated that HCJ wrote the proposal in a way as to not
increase costs or requirements beyond other already existing code r equirements.
The new section of the ordinance, the “purpose” section added the word “and
structures”. HCJ was not aware of what this was referring to or if a structure is
different that a building. No definition was recommended. Cathy Bordne r
provided the Commission with statistics from the past five years about the
number of demolition applications the Commission had considered, the number
approved or denied and the number of denied applications that were demolished
anyway. Tammy Boeschen described the value of historic preservation on MO
cities like St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve, Hannibal and others. She discussed
HCJs review of other city demolition ordinances as they drafted this proposal.
Tammy discussed ordinances that use a historical district designation to
determine what building must go through a process for review prior to demolition.
All speakers for HCJ reiterated their goal was to give the Commission the power
to say no to an application and that “no” had strength of law behind it.
Mr. Case asked if there were others wanting to testify on the proposal. Brian
Bernskoetter, representing the Board of Realtors testified that they had issues
with the wording of the proposal, the additional time that will be required for home
owners to take action on their property and the concept. He testified that it was
the Board of Realtors belief that this proposal creates uncertainty and that
owners will be more likely to simply take no action and allow a home to
deteriorate. He questioned if the Commission members had the qualifications to
carry out their functions required in the proposal. Mr. Bernskoetter
recommended that the Commission/City Council develop a set of criteria for a
property to be considered historic and then allow for voluntary regist ration on a
list of such properties. Such a list would give a potential buyer knowledge up
front that the property is historic and any plans to demolish the building would
require additional expense and time on the part of the owner. He cited the
Columbia MO ordinance indicating that the Columbia Commission had an
“advisory” role and decisions were made at the City Council level. In addition,
the qualifications of Commission members were spelled out.
Mr. Heath Clarkston, representing the Home Builders Association, testified that
they liked the concept of having historic districts with an overlay of enhanced
demolition requirements. He felt taking a city wide approach added burden and
time to owners that clearly do not have an historic property but have one that is
50 years old or older. He felt there was a middle ground that could be reached
and encouraged the Commission to look closely at definitions.
With no others wishing to testify, Mr. Case asked the Commission for their
thoughts. Terri Rademan began by making a motion to approve the concept and
move the proposal forward to the next step. This motion generated discussion
about the process, and the role for the city attorney’s, the City Council and the
Public Works and Planning Committee. Art Hernandez stated for the record that
he felt the information provided was informative and he agrees with the HCJ that
the HPC’s ordinance has no teeth. However, as a property owner and attorney
he has concerns that this proposal oversteps an individual property owners
rights. He felt that the Commission had the right and obligation to continue
discussion about the proposal. After lengthy discussions between the
Commission and staff, Art Hernandez moved that the vote on this proposal be
tabled until a work session of the HPC has determined how it plans to move
forward with this proposal as provided to the Commission by HCJ. Motion was
seconded by Brent Hemphill. Motion carried.
Demolition Applications
a. 806 Jefferson – This property is owned by Riversong. Art Hernandez moved that
the Commission determined that there will be no historic properties affected by
the demolition and the permit is approved. Jane Moore seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
b. 623-625 W McCarty – This property is owned by Gene Schneider. The
Commission discussed what appeared from the picture to be evidence that the
owner had already begun the process of demolition, the possibility that the house
could be considered of a type period or method of construction that would make
it historic. Brent Hemphill moved that there will be no historic properties affected
by the demolition and the permit be approved. Art seconded the motion. Motion
carried with three no votes from; Terri Rademan, Doug Record and Sarah
Hoeller
c. 1119 Jefferson St.- This property is owned by the Memorial Baptist Church and
had been given a permit to demolish in 2009. However, the church did not act
upon that demolition permit and continued to utilize the building. After discussion
Art Hernandez moved that there will be no historic properties affected by the
demolition and the permit is approved by the commission. Brent Hemphill
seconded the motion. The motion failed by a vote of three yes and six no. Votes
in the affirmative were from Art Hernandez, Brent Hemphill and Mary Schantz.
d. 1108 Oak St. – This property is owned by Capitol Region Medical Center. Doug
Record moved that there will be historic properties affected by the demolition and
the permit is approved by the commission. Motion was seconded by Kevin Kelly.
Motion carried with one no vote by Art Hernandez.
e. 1110 Oak St. - This property is owned by Capitol Region Medical Center. Terri
Rademan moved that there will be historic properties affected by the demolition
and the permit is approved by the commission. Motion was seconded by Doug
Record. Motion carried with one no vote by Art Hernandez.
f. 1112 Oak St. - This property is owned by Capitol Region Medical Center. Jane
Moore moved that there will be historic properties affected by the demolition and
the permit is approved by the commission. Motion was seconded by Mary
Schantz. Motion carried with one no vote by Art Hernandez.
g. 1114 Oak St. - This property is owned by Capitol Region Medical Center. Mary
Schantz moved that there will be historic properties affected by the demolition
and the permit is approved by the commission. Motion was seconded by Jane
Moore. Motion carried with one no vote by Art Hernandez.
h. 1120 Oak St. - This property is owned by Capitol Region Medical Center. Art
Hernandez moved that there will be historic properties affected by the demolition
and the permit is approved by the commission. Motion was seconded by Doug
Record. Motion carried with one no vote by Art Hernandez.
HPC Business
a. CLG Report – Jayme presented the Annual Report of the Activities of the Historic
Preservation Commission between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015.
The Commissioners reviewed the report. Terri Rademan moved the report be
approved. Kevin Kelly seconded the motion. Motion carried.
b. Adoption of 2016 Calendar – Jayme presented a draft meeting schedule to the
Commission. Art Hernandez moved that the schedule as presented by approved
with the change of beginning time from 6:30 to 6:00 pm. Terri Rademan
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
c. Election of officers – Jayme reminded the Commissioners that Ed Meyers had
resigned and Bill Case had been filling the role as Vice Chairman. All offices are
up for election for terms beginning in January. According to Jayme a few
members of the Commission had expressed interest in filling officer positions.
She asked if there was anyone on the Commission who had not already
expressed interest and wanted to be considered. No additional members
responded. After a vote by ballot the following officers were elected. Chair, Art
Hernandez and Vice Chairman, Jane Moore. Mary Schantz was reaffirmed for
the position of Secretary.
d. Working session for the Demolition Proposal – Commission member’s comments
and suggestions are to be sent to Jayme by November 25 th. Jayme will provide
the Commission with a document that contains all of the comments by November
30th. The Commission will meet for a Special Meeting on Wednesday, December
9th at 5:30 pm for the purpose of working on this proposal. Appropriate city staff
will be at the meeting or will have provided the Commission with information
requested.
Dates to Remember:
a. Next Regular Meeting January 12, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Adjournment:
Terri Rademan moved the meeting be adjourned at 8:55 pm. Sarah Hoeller
seconded the motion. Motion carried.