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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-8-10 HLC MinutesREGULAR MEETING HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION February 8, 2010 Civic Center A Regular Meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission was held on January 11, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. with the following members present: Conunission memb ers present: Chairman Paula Blazek Vice Chairman Ralph Jordan Commissioner Bill Yoes Commissioner Marie Broussard Commissioner Judy Linsley Commissioner Norris Turner Conunissioncr Darlene Chodzinski Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Ethelyn Jenkins Commissioner Barbara Perrot Commissioner Dohn LaBiche (was present and left) Councihnembers absent: Mayor Pro-Tem Gethrei Wright Councihncrnber Alan Coleman Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Manager; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Adina Ward, Planner; Anna Varela, Historic District Code Enforcement Officer; Pam Loiacano, Demolitions Coordinator APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Commissioner Yoes made a motion to approve the January It, 2010 minutes. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 10:0. REGULAR MEETING 1) CA- 1778: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the placement of a four (4) foot tall wall of limestone bricks around (lie base of a house. Location: 2280 Laurel Applicant: Flor Escamilla Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. Flor Escarnilla, the property owner, has had work done to the foundation of the house. The house has a stucco finish and Historic Landmark Conunissiou February 8, 2010 approximately four feet of the stucco, at the bottom of the walls, had to be torn away in order to repair the foundation. Section 30-21.2 of the Zoning Ordinance states that all facade treatments must be done in a manner so as not to change the character of the building or irreversibly damage or obscure the architectural features and trim of the building. Existing facades must be preserved to appear in a manner for which they were originally intended. Mr. Richardson recommended denial of the request. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Blazek asked for comments. The owner was notpresent. Vice -Chairman Jordan made a motion to deny a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the placement of a four (4) foot tall wall of limestone bricks around the base of a house at 2280 Laurel as requested in CA-1778. Commissioner Yoes seconded the motion. Motion to deny carried 10:0. 2) CA-1780: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the demolition of a substandard structure. Location: 2105 South Applicant: City of Beaumont Building Codes Division Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. Pamela Loiacano states that the structure was inspected and found to be in violation of the City of Beaumont Code of Ordinances pertaining to dangerous structures. The owner enrolled in a work repair program in August, 2009 but no permits nor work has been done. The structure has 50% or more damage of non -supporting members. Ms. Loiacano stated that the structure is suitable for rehabilitation. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the reques C. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Blazek asked for comments. Ms. Loiacano made comments and distributed additional photos. Commissioner Broussard made a motion to deny a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the demolition of a substandard structure at 2105 South as requested in CA- 1780. Commissioner Chodzinski seconded the motion. Motion to deny carried 10:0. 3) CA-1781: Request for a inside window trim. Location: 2602 Harrison Applicant: Deana Santos Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the painting of 2 Historic Landmark Commission February S, 2010 t ) Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. Dearra Santos would like to paint the window frames and mullions on her white, traditional style house Sherwin Williams "Bunglehouse Gray". Staff has approved paint colors for the front door and shudders. These colors are part of the Sherwin Williams' Arts and Crafts color palette. Section 30-21.2 of the Zoning Ordinance states that trim colors must complement the dominant color of the structure and be appropriate to and compatible with the structure. Mr. Richardson recormnend denial of the request and stated his opinion was that the window trim should relnain white. Slides of the property were shown. Chairman Blazek asked for comments. Ms. Santos addressed the Commission. Commissioner Chodzinski made a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the painting of inside window trim at 2602 Harrison as requested in CA-1781. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 10:0. 4) CA-1782: Request a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow a C to 8' high chain link fence in the front yard. Location: 1224 Hazel Applicant. Leticia Torres Mr. Richardson stated that the applicant withdrew her request. 5) 54-HC: Request for an HC-L (Historic Cultural Landinark Preservation Designation). Location: 480 Magazine Applicant: John Leggett Mr. Richards on presented the staff report. The property owner, .John Leggett, states that the single family residence was originally two houses built in Port Arthur dating back to the Civil War era. These houses were later moved to the current location in Beaumont and were combined to make one house between 1889 and 1984. The Sanborn Map shows that the house has been at 480 Magazine since 1894. Mr. Leggett states that the house contains architectural characteristics typical of a working class home during the Victorian Age. The house is built with cypress sills, floor joists, exterior siding, molding and thin. The flooring is East Texas Curly Pine. Within the house is a hand -carved stair case. The front door is hand carved with an oval, beveled glass window. There are what appears to be possible hidden entrance doors in the floor and pantry ceiling that could be connected to the Civil War era in Port Arthur. Much of the hardware in the house is circa 1850. There were two carriage houses on thepropelty, one of which is still standing. Historic Landinark Commission February 8, 2010 In addition to the many historical features of the house, the house is located near many historic sites -in Beaumont. Approximately one block away is the historic Westminster Presbyterian Church. Nearby is the Fire Museum which is the site where the first fire department hook and ladder company started. The house sits approximately 3 blocks from Tevis Bluff, home to Noah Tevis, the first legal land owner in Beaumont. Mr. Leggett states that the house has historical value because of its existence during the Civil War era in Port Arthur and because it was part of Beaumont during the City's earliest days. According to the demolition office, the house was tagged on October 22, 2008. On June 2, 2009, the house was on the City Council agenda when a raze or repair was issued. On June 9, a new work program was agreed upon, allowing an additional 150 days to repair the house. During that tune, a partial roof was installed. Mr. Leggett entered into two work repair programs of 150 days each. On November 13, final notice before demolition was sent to Mr. Leggett for not complying with City Council's order or the work program. On that same date, a disconnect order was issued for utilities. On January 19, 2010, the City received a letter form Kelly Little with the Texas Historical Comnssion stating that she had determined that the house had historical value. A temporary restraining order has been granted to allow time for the City to consider the HC-L designation. The recommendation for the administration's denial is due to failure to follow City Council's order to make substantial repairs within the allotted 150 days. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Blazek asked for comments. Tracy Richardson with Strong Pipkin Law Firm addressed the Commission on behalf of the applicant. Mr. Richardson gave a brief history of the home and reviewed the City's guidelines as to how they pertain to the subject house. Mr. Leggett addressed the Commission. Ryan Sinith addressed the Commission in approval of the request. Mr. Smith is Mr. Leggett's employer and testified to his character and integrity. Carolyn Howard addressed the Commission in favor of the request. Ambrosia Miller spoke in favor of the request. Ms. Miller and her children lived in the house at one tune. Commissioner Jordan made a motion to approve a request for an HC-L (Historic Cultural -Landmark Preservation Designation) at 480 Magazine as requested in 54- HC. Conunissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 10:0. Historic Landmark Comm fission February 8, 2010 6) Historic Preservation Loan Report Mr. Richardson stated that there was $119,929.65 available. 6) Director's Report Commissioner Chodzinski updated t11e Commission on the Visionaries in Preservation program. 7) Historic District Code Enforcement Report Ms. Varela distributed her report to the Commission. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:55 P. M. W