HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-11-19HLCminutes
* M I N U T E S *
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION
February 11, 2019
City Hall, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas
A Regular Meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission was held on February 11, 2019 and
called to order at 3:30 p.m. with the following members present:
Chairman Paula Blazek
Vice-Chairman Dohn LaBiche
Commissioner Carol Fernandez
Commissioner Thomas Sigee
Commissioner Marty Craig
Commissioner Janelle Templeton
Commissioner Jefferson Fisher
Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin
Commissioner Theresa Goodness
Commissioner Dennis Kiel
Commission Members absent : Commissioner Marie Broussard
Commissioner Thomas Sigee
Councilmembers present: None
Also present: Adina Josey, Senior Planner
Demi Laney, Planner I
Fran Malvo, Recording Secretary
Elayna Luckey, Historic Code Enforcement Officer
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on
December 10, 2018. Commissioner Makin seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried
8:0.*Chairman LaBiche arrived after the minutes had been approved*.
REGULAR MEETING
1) CA-3007: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install solar panels on a roof.
Applicant: Greg Busceme, Sr.
Location: 2495 McFaddin Avenue
Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Greg Busceme, Sr. would like to add solar panels on
the south side of his home located at 2495 McFaddin Avenue. Mr. Busceme plans to attach
Historic Landmark Commission
February 11, 2019
the panels to the roof of his home. The property is a corner lot and the rear yard would be
visible from the side street. Solar panels would be installed on every portion of the roof
except that part facing the front yard. As discussed in an attached article, the National Trust
seems to be in favor of solar panels as long as they are not visible from the street.
Staff recommended approval of the solar panels being placed on the east side of the rear
gable, where they will not be visible from an abutting street.
The house is not listed in the SPARE survey.
Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Blazek asked was this the first request
for solar panels. Mrs. Josey stated that the panels would be visible from the street. Vice-
Chairman LaBiche added that a bracket would be built on the roof so that the panels can face
south of the home. The applicant was present. Greg Busceme, Jr., 2495 McFaddin Avenue,
addressed the Commission. Mr. Busceme referred to a law that would prevent the
Commission from regulating his solar panels. A discussion ensued regarding where the
panels will be installed. Mrs. Josey stated that the City Attorney, Tyrone Cooper and Chris
Boone would need to be consulted before moving forward with the project. Chairman Blazek
stated to Mr. Busceme that they would have to have the research complete within sixty (60)
days of the date of the application. The Commission came to the agreement to table the
request pending a report from the City Attorney. Commissioner Makin made a motion to
table the request. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to table the request
carried 9:0.
2) CA-3009: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace an awning with a new
front porch.
Applicant: Amy Elliott
Location: 2150 Harrison Avenue
Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Amy Elliott would like to replace a fabric awning on
her home located at 2150 Harrison Avenue, with a new front porch. The house is clearly
Colonial Revival, see pages 331-333 in a Field Guide to American Houses (Virginia & Lee
McAlester, 1984). The requested porch would either fall into a Stick Victorian or Craftsman
style; see pages 260 and 456-463 in a Field Guide to American Houses (Virginia & Lee
McAlester, 1984).
City of Beaumont Ordinance states, “Architectural detail. Materials, colors, structural and
decorative elements, and the manner in which they are used, applied, or joined together must
be typical of the style and period of the other buildings…”
Therefore, staff recommended approval of the new porch without the porch braces.
Removing the braces will remove that characteristic which is not typical of a Colonial
Revival structure.
The house is not listed in the SPARE survey.
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February 11, 2019
Exhibits are attached.
Slides of the subject property were shown. A brief discussion followed with the style of the
home. The applicant was present. Amy Elliott, 2150 Harrison addressed the Commission.
Mrs. Elliott stated that she and her spouse purchased the home six (6) months ago. Mrs.
Elliott passed around a sketch to the Commission. Discussion followed regarding whether or
not corbels should be used. Mrs. Elliot stated that the roof is not a shed roof. Mrs. Elliott
asked if her plans were not approved would she need to revisit the Commission with another
set of plans and a new proposal. Chairman Blazek responded that modifications can be made
to the plans that she has already presented or if the Commission does not approve the plans,
she would need to present another style. The Commission decided to give Mrs. Elliot a
moment to speak with her spouse to discuss what style they would decide to go with.
Chairman Blazek stated the Commission would readdress the request after all the other
requests had been heard. Mrs. Elliot stated she spoke with her husband and they decided to
go with the gable type style porch. Commissioner Templeton made a motion to approve the
request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to change the roof to a gable, eliminate the
corbels and make the columns flutted. Commissioner Makin seconded the motion. Motion to
approve carried 9:0.
3) CA-3010: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to keep a concrete parking space in
the front yard.
Applicant: Reginald Cook
Location: 2070 Ashley Avenue
Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Reginald Cook poured a concrete pad in his front yard
to be used for parking at 2070 Ashley Avenue. No Certificate of Appropriateness or permit
was issued for this construction. Mr. Cook is requesting permission to keep the concrete
parking space.
Staffs recommended denial of the request.
The house is not listed in the SPARE survey.
Slides of the subject property were shown. The applicant was present. Mr. Cook owns a
separate empty lot. A discussion ensued regarding the property and the empty lot. Mrs. Josey
stated the two properties were combined. Chairman Blazek stated she was concerned about
Mr. Cook being in violation of the side lot setback rules. Mrs. Josey stated that Mr. Cook is
in good standing. Discussion continued regarding whether the concrete pad is a driveway or a
parking space. Reginald Cook, 2070 Ashley Avenue, addressed the Commission. Mr. Cook
has had problems with illegal parking issues. Mrs. Josey stated he would need to extend the
parking space further down the side of the home. Mr. Cook stated he poured the concrete in
December. Mr. Cook did not obtain permission from the Commission. No other discussion.
Vice-Chairman LaBiche made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness to keep
the concrete parking pad in the front yard as requested for CA-3010 with condition, that an
extension is added to the driveway that is a minimum of fifteen feet beyond the front of the
home. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 9:0.
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Historic Landmark Commission
February 11, 2019
4) CA-3013: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to build a new house on a vacant lot.
Applicant: Albert LeBlanc
Location: 2250 Angelina Street
Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Albert LeBlanc would like to build a new house at 2250
Angelina Street. Plans are to build a three bedroom, 2 baths, 2 car garage, and 1,667 square
foot house on slab. The home will be similar to those being constructed in newer
subdivisions in the Beaumont area. None of the surrounding houses are slab on grade and the
majority of the houses in the immediate area are of the Craftsman style.
Staff would like to recommend approval of the request to construct a new house, however,
the structure should somewhat resemble the type of construction present in the neighborhood.
Submittal of a house design that is pier and beam with Craftsman style elements would be
preferred.
Slides of the subject property were shown. A brief discussion followed what the style of the
home should be. The applicant was present. Albert LeBlanc, 2250 Angelina Street addressed
the Commission. Mr. LeBlanc stated that he emailed pictures to Mrs. Josey. He also stated
that he looked at homes within the neighborhood to get some ideas. Discussion followed
regarding what the style of the home should be. The Commission suggested to Mr. LeBlanc
to alter the outside of the home to be similar to the homes in the neighborhood. More
discussion followed. Mr. LeBlanc stated that it would be more cost effective to pour a slab
instead of using pier and beam. Vice-Chairman LaBiche agreed that it would be more costs
involved if Mr. LeBlanc chose to use pier and beam. Mr. LeBlanc also stated that he is
willing to cater to the neighborhood and to adhere to the policies in Old Town District. No
further discussion. Chairman Blazek made a motion to approve the request for a Certificate
of Appropriateness to build a house on a vacant lot as requested for CA-3013 with the
following conditions:
1. Windows are six white top, single white bottoms.
2. The 2x2 window over the garage is square.
3. The vent over the garage is square.
4. The front elevation windows over the garage have shutters.
5. The garage door is a craftsman style.
6. Home is built with hardi or hardi and brick combination.
7. The front elevation pillar must contain an additional architectural element added such as
a corbel.
8. The front door is a craftsman style door.
9. The elevation of the slab is raised without impacting surrounding flood and drainage
fields around the subject property.
Commissioner Fisher seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 9:0.
5) Historic District Code Enforcement Report
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February 11, 2019
Elayna Luckey presented the Historic District Code Enforcement report. Mrs. Luckey stated
that food trucks are not allowed to be parked at any residential area within the City of
Beaumont. Discussion followed regarding food truck storages. Commissioner Fernandez
asked was there any updates for the Hinchey house. Discussion followed regarding
preservation of the Hinchey house. Vice-Chairman LaBiche stated he will be involved with
the renovations. Chairman Blazek asked were there any updates regarding Tyrrell Park.
OTHER BUSINESS
THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 5:16
P.M.
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