HomeMy Public PortalAbout2023-03-14 minutesCity of Jefferson Historic Preservation
Regular Meeting – March 14, 2023
Council Chambers – John G. Christy Municipal Building
320 E. McCarty Street/Virtual WebEx Meeting
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Commission Members Present Attendance Record
Alan Wheat, Chair 3 of 3
Dr. Debra Foster Greene, Vice Chair 3 of 3
Tiffany Patterson 3 of 3
Brad Schaefer 3 of 3
Dr. Christine Boston 2 of 3
Amanda Burke Williams 2 of 3
Donna Deetz 2 of 3
Brian Warren 1 of 3
Staff Present
Laura Ward, City Council Liaison
Rachel Senzee, Neighborhood Services Supervisor
Dawn Kirchner, Neighborhood Services Specialist
Guests Present
None
Call to Order
Mr. Wheat called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He proceeded to introduce the new
member, Brian Warren. Mr. Warren gave a brief introduction – He has lived in JC
approximately ten years. He is originally from the state of California. He works in software. He
lived in Fulton for a couple of years, prior to moving to Jefferson City. He was on the board of
the Daniel Boone Regional Library, the Callaway Tourism Board, and the Chamber of Commerce
during his time in Fulton.
Adoption of Agenda
Ms. Patterson moved and Ms. Deetz seconded to adopt the agenda as printed. The motion
passed unanimously.
Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes
Ms. Patterson moved and Ms. Deetz seconded to approve the minutes from February 15, 2023
regular meeting as written. The motion passed unanimously.
Old Business
Mr. Wheat verified that there is no old business to be covered.
New Business
Landmark Awards – 1431 Greenberry Road. The Commission has had two applications for this
award, this one and one on Moreland Avenue. We are prepared to move this one forward
through the process. This property is part of the recently named Frank Miller National Historic
District. This designation was approved by the National Park Service and is officially listed on the
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National Register of Historic Places. The property owner then sent in his application for a
Landmark Award. The research was not difficult since it was already completed for the Frank
Miller National Historic District. This property, otherwise known as The Dewey House, was
designed by Frank Miller. One of the tasks of the Historic Preservation Commission is responsible
for, according to Section 8-44, is to identify ongoing efforts for neighborhoods, sites, structures,
objects that have historical, cultural, archeological, architectural or aesthetic importance to the
City.
Mr. Brondel submitted an application for the property at 1431 Greenberry Road. This property
was unanimously approved by the Historic Preservation Commission for National Register
nomination. It was determined by staff that 1431 Greenberry Road meets criteria A & B, which
state that the potential landmark is in an identifiable neighborhood or distinct geographical area
which has historic and/or cultural significance to the City and the potential landmark is associated
with a particular prominent person, significant event or historical event. The potential landmark
exhibits a particular architectural stye and is associated with a particular architect who is Frank
Miller.
Ms. Patterson asked about how outbuildings are addressed by the Code. Rachel explained that
the current code does not address it. In the draft code, it addresses whether the outbuildings are
contributing or non-contributing. At present there is a gap. Tiffany next asked if the owner
indicated what their feelings were about the outbuildings. Rachel stated that she did not ask
them because it was not relevant to this process. She stated that, if the code is adopted as it
stands, staff may have to go back to the owners and work out some details.
Rachel presented a staff recommendation that this property be approved as a local Landmark. If
the HPC makes and passes a motion to approve, the next step would be to take it to Public Works
and Planning. If Public Works and Planning approves, then it would go to Council. It would go to
Council as an ordinance and would be presented at two meetings for a bill to be approved.
Ms. Patterson moved to approve the application of 1431 Greenberry Road for Local Landmark
Designation status. Ms. Deetz seconded. Mr. Wheat then proceeded with a role call vote.
Dr. Foster Greene: Aye
Ms. Deetz: Aye
Ms. Patterson: Aye
Mr. Schaefer: Aye
Dr. Boston: Aye
Ms. Burke Williams: Aye
Mr. Warren: Aye
Mr. Wheat: Aye
The motion was passed unanimously.
Invitation to Consult – Department of Energy – The Grain Belt Express
The City received an invitation to consult under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act. The project is The Grainbelt Express. It is a transmission line. The letter and a map of the
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area were included in the packet. The project begins in Kansas and extends into Monroe County.
It continues down to Callaway County. The reason we were asked to consult is because of the
height of the transmission lines, so what we are looking at is the view from Jefferson City going
to impact historic resources. After some discussion, the Commission decided that, due to the
distance from Jefferson City, the height of the towers would not affect the view from the city.
Rachel proposed the following options – send a letter with comments, or not respond.
Ms. Deetz moved that the commission send a letter indicating that any location, short of five
miles of Jefferson City, come back before the commission. Dr. Foster Greene seconded the
motion. The motion was passed unanimously.
Other Business
A. Preservation Month Activities
Comments to post on the Facebook page have been received from Dr. Boston. Ms. Senzee asked
that commissioners send their comments in prior to the April 11, 2023 meeting.
Since staff are having difficulties getting the Historic Preservation page updated, staff will start a
brand new page.
At the last meeting a historic bike tour was discussed. David Bange, City Engineer, has agreed to
help plan the route. He is going to look at grades of the route. We should be able to have the
route by next meeting. The tour will have several stops where narrative on the properties will be
given.
Amanda Burke Williams asked for ideas for Facebook posts. These posts can be historic write ups
or pictures. Ms. Senzee explained that if commissioners send Staff content, staff would create
the posts. Staff just need content drivers for this.
B. E. Capitol Avenue Update
Rachel explained that there are not a lot of updates at present. There has been a lot of
demolition. There are a few properties that are hanging on. 413 and 419 Capitol Avenue were
awarded to Kampeters and they are actively rehabbing those structures. There are three other
properties that are still under ownership of Barbara Buescher, but earnest money was received
for those, so we are holding off on demolition until we can go through the condemnation process
through the courts.
A question was asked about whether or not the City is finished with the demos on Capitol Avenue.
Rachel stated that they are completed for the most part. There are still a couple of Ms. Buescher’s
properties on Adams that the City is still working on. If it is there now, it either has a bid on it or
has been sold. On the four hundred block, on the four corners, there is an Italianate, funeral
home, the one next door to the funeral home and the quad with the mansard. These properties
are staying. She also stated that the ones on Jackson are almost all down.
On a related note, 126 East Dunklin, which is in Old Munichberg, had some imploded floors and
the roof was caving in. We were working with Old Munichberg and the Southside CDC, and they
were able to find someone to use the Missouri Abandoned Housing Act, through chapter 353 of
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the Missouri State Statutes, which states that a non-profit, that sees an abandoned structure,
they can petition the courts, stating that the property is abandoned and they are willing to go in
and put in the funding to take it back to being stable, or completely restored or rehabbed. The
court can grant that non-profit the ability to access. After that process occurred with 126 East
Dunklin, the court awarded the Southside CDC with the Conservatorship of 126 East Dunklin.
They have a developer that is going in to stabilize the structure. At the end of that process, the
owner has the option to, either repay the funds invested, or, the non-profit gets the structure.
This tool has been used a lot in Kansas City and a little in St. Louis. This is the first time we have
used it here and it seems to have worked successfully in this instance, so far.
C. Historic Preservation Code Revision Update
Rachel explained that, right now, the ball is in her court. She has been working with the planners
and internal staff to work on the code draft. Sent it to legal. They sent it back to her and she is
working on it. At that point, the Historic Preservation Code Revision committee will come back
to the table and can approve it one more time and then it will move to the stakeholders and the
comment period. Although there have been a few setbacks, hopefully this will enable us to put
forth the best product for approval.
D. 415 Monroe Street
415 Monroe Street is the church that sits across from the alleyway from City Hall. It is owned by
the City. The conversation right now is to have it demolished. It would not have to go through
the Historic Preservation process because it is owned by the City. The background is, we think a
pipe burst around last Christmas and it was not found until the end of January. There was
standing water in the basement. There were conversations about demolishing this building in
the past and this was the next step. There have been conversations about architectural salvage
and Ryan Moehlman is working on this.
Rachel mentioned, that after staff put out the agenda, one more item came up regarding the
Missouri State Penitentiary. The City is working on the programmatic agreement and will be
having a public meeting in May. She requested that that public meeting be run through the
Historic Preservation Commission. The conversations will be about the demolitions we are
undertaking through the EDA grant, which would include housing unit five, the saddletree
factory, and part of the corridor. This would also include conversations about the wall. In the
Master Redevelopment Plan, most of the wall is called to be demolished. Since we have started
these meetings with the state, DNR has been in the room and there have been conversations
about it becoming a State Historic Site. They aren’t sure about the wall. So, one of the things we
can do to help them is to hold a public engagement process. This satisfies one of the exercises
that you are supposed to go through for the programmatic agreement, but also to inform the
public about the site and what the next steps will be. We want to give the public every
opportunity to comment.
Rachel explained that this can be run through the regularly scheduled HPC meeting or a special
meeting could be called. This would make it a formal process where it is recorded, minutes taken
and document the comments.
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There was discussion about when this could happen. Rachel explained that the timing is up in
the air right now and we still do not know exactly what this document looks like. We do not want
to put it out to the general public for comment until we get it worked out internally.
Public Comment
No public comments were received.
Dates to Remember
The next Regular Meeting is Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Wheat reminded commissioners that May is Historic Preservation Month. He requested that
content for posts be sent to Dawn prior to the April meeting.
Adjournment
Ms. Patterson moved and Dr. Greene seconded to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 p.m. The motion
passed unanimously.