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Home My WebLink About09-11-23 HLC Minutes * M I N U T E S * HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION September 11, 2023 Council Chambers, City Hall, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas \] A Regular Meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission was held on September 11, 2023 and called to order at 3:31 p.m. with the following members present: Chairman Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Yolanda Nan Avery *arrived at 3:34 pm Commissioner Hester Bell Commissioner John Berube Commissioner Christina Crawford *arrived at 3:38 pm Commissioner Theresa Goodness Commissioner Ronald Kelley Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin Commissioner Janelle Templeton Commission Members absent : Commissioner Marva Provo Commissioner Thomas Sigee Also present: Elayna Luckey, Planner I Susan Smith, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Makin moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on August 14, 2023. Commissioner Goodness seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 7:0. Commissioner Avery and Commissioner Crawford not yet present. REGULAR MEETING 1)PZ2023-340 : A request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new multi-family development Applicant: Cornell Price Location: 2490 Liberty Avenue Chairman LaBiche stated that this item has been tabled. He then opened the floor to citizens wishing to speak about the item in order that they do no need to return when the item is placed on the agenda for Commission consideration. Historic Landmark Commission $$ September 11, 2023 $ Mrs. Luckey described the specifics of the requested item and noted that the Developer requested that the item be tabled in order to make design changes to the proposed six-unit apartment development. Marjorie Schultz, 2497 Liberty Avenue, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. She stated that she is opposed to the proposed multi-family development. She also stated that an apartment complex will change her property value, along with the quality of life on the block in which it would be constructed. Brief discussion followed relating to zoning and permitted use of the property district in which the proposed development would be constructed. Mrs. Luckey explained that the design of the project will be presented to the Historic Landmark Commission for design concept consideration and then presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for consideration of the request to construct the complex. Ross Williams, 2606 North Street, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. He suggested that citizens residing on the block in which the multi-family development will be constructed have the opportunity to approve or deny the request. Brief discussion followed concerning the steps in which the requested item will be processed and the notification process for citizens residing within the area of the proposed development. Christy Williams, 2485 Liberty Avenue, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. She stated that surrounding neighbors are not in favor of the proposed development. Chairman LaBiche thanked those that addressed the Commission. 2)PZ2023-350 : A request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to eliminate windows. Applicant: Luis Mancilla Location: 2630 Hazel Avenue Mrs. Luckey presented the staff report. Luis Mancilla is requesting permission to remove windows from the home at 2630 Hazel Avenue. This structure has been tagged for property maintenance by the Demolition Department, requiring a number of repairs to bring the property into compliance with current codes. The request is to remove one window on the east side, and two windows from the front of the structure. Mr. Mancilla intends to replace the windows with siding to match the home. The property is listed in the 1991 SPARE Beaumont Survey, built circa 1910 and classified as a Vernacular Victorian H(?=@@!60194%!0@>709A!@78<694!?==5%!58@7!@2094!@78<694@!0<3! \]^cX\]V!Xclb! louvered vent in gable, wood siding, numerous one over The buildings =<4!@0@7!D8<3=D@GI an example of upper class Victorian house. The house does not fit into bXV\]XUXRP\]RT!Xb!\[XbcTS!Pb!j the neighborhood with its date or style. It is possible that it might have been moved. If it is original to the site, it sho B93!14!0!7867!>?4@4?C0A8=<!>?8=?8AF&I 6$ $ Historic Landmark Commission $$ September 11, 2023 $ Examples of Victorian architecture details can be seen in A Field Guide to American Houses (McAlester et al., pgs. 255-264). Examples of Victorian structures similar to the subject property can be seen in A Field Guide to American Houses (McAlester et al., pgs.268-277) Staff recommended denial of the request. Slides of the subject property were shown. The applicant was present. Luis Mancilla, 2630 Hazel Avenue, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. He stated that he purchased the home approximately one year ago knowing that it was in need of work. Mr. Mancilla also stated that one window to be eliminated is located in the kitchen and the other window is in an area in which his Electrician recommends relocation due to electrical code regulations. Brief discussion followed concerning specifics of renovations to the home, its prior layout, and the proposed layout. Prior placement and proposed placement of utility meters/poles were also discussed, as well as specifics of the request relating to the kitchen window. Commissioner Makin moved to deny the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to eliminate windows, as requested in PZ2023-350. Commissioner Goodness seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman LaBiche-Aye; Commissioner Avery-Aye; Commissioner Bell-Aye; Commissioner Berube-Aye; Commissioner Crawford-Aye; Commissioner Goodness- Aye; Commissioner Kelley-Aye Commissioner Makin-Aye; Commissioner Templeton-Aye. The motion to deny the request carried 9:0. 3) PZ2023-366 : A request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a driveway. Applicant: Christy Williams Location: 2485 Liberty Avenue Mrs. Luckey presented the staff report. Christy Williams is requesting permission to construct a driveway at her home located at 2485 Liberty Avenue. Ms. Williams provided a letter and a number of examples of other drives within the district, along with her proposed plans B, C and Z. Plan B, is a proposed circle drive that would be eight (8) feet wide with a small landscaping strip separating it from the existing four (4) foot sidewalk located along Liberty. Speaking with our Engineering department, they do not feel Plan B is feasible for construction with the space available in the front yard. Plan C, is a proposed second drive to the property that features a hammer head in front of the previously approved new entry, which would allow for a vehicle to turn exiting the property in a forward motion. Speaking with our Engineering department this plan is feasible for construction. 7$ $ Historic Landmark Commission $$ September 11, 2023 $ Plan Z, is a proposed hammer head, directly off the existing driveway with a walkway tying into the previously approved entry and existing City sidewalk. This would allow for a vehicle to make a turn exiting the property in a forward motion. Speaking with our Engineering department this plan is also feasible for construction. While it should be noted that Liberty and Laurel are one-way and tend to have high speed traffic, most, if not all, circular drives predate the ordinance. In the last ten (10) years, the commission has heard six (6) requests for circular drives. All were denied except for one on Rusk Street where the new drive extended through a side yard, and not in front of the structure. Additionally, a number of hammer heads have been requested in the past most recently in 2017 on Liberty that was denied for the proposed pad being in front of the home. The house is not listed in the SPARE Beaumont Survey. Staff recommended approval of the proposed driveway plan C as the proposed driveway and hammer head could meet the requirements of engineering and the existing landscaping on the property would screen the hammer head from the right-of-way minimally disturbing visibility of the property, with the following condition: 1. All applicable permits and inspections be obtained through the Building Codes Department. Slides of the subject property were shown. The applicant was present. Christy Williams, 2485 Liberty Avenue, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. She stated that Liberty Avenue is a busy street and she wishes to exit her driveway in a forward manner rather than backing into the street. Ms. Williams also stated that she approves of Plan C. Brief discussion followed concerning placement of the driveway on the property and feasibility of each submitted Plan. Mrs. Luckey read the Ordinance relating to the request. Additional discussion followed concerning each submitted Plan, leading to Commissioner Templeton making a motion. Commissioner Templeton moved to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a driveway, as requested in file PZ2023-366 Plan C, with the following conditions: 1. All applicable permits and inspections be obtained through the Building Codes Department. 2. The 20' parking pad and hammer head not to extend past the front of the house. Commissioner Makin seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman LaBiche-Aye; Commissioner Avery-Aye; Commissioner Bell-Aye; Commissioner Berube-Nay; Commissioner Crawford-Nay; Commissioner Goodness- 8$ $ Historic Landmark Commission $$ September 11, 2023 $ Aye; Commissioner Kelley-Nay; Commissioner Makin-Aye; Commissioner Templeton-Aye. The motion to approve the request carried 6:3. (Berube, Crawford and Templeton) HISTORIC DISTRICT CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT On behalf of Mrs. Randle, Mrs. Luckey presented the Historic District Code Enforcement Report, including information about current violations and inspections. The Commission thanked Mrs. Randle for her work and expressed appreciation for all that she does for the Commission and City. OTHER BUSINESS 1) Discuss security presence for future public hearings. Discussion was had relating to public hearing security measures. The Commission requested that hot topic agenda items. The Commission also requested the following: bTRdaXch!Xb!_aTbT\]c!U^a!P\]h!jk Protocol be established enabling Staff to notify security as needed; ( Amend the ordinance to include a three minute time limit in which citizens may ( address the Commission. THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:34 P.M. 9$ $