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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-99 HLC Minutes0 The December 13, 1999, Historic Landmark Commission meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Dale Hallmark Commission members present: Commission members absent: Acting Chairman Dale Hallmark Commissioner Marie Broussard Commissioner Julia Levy Commissioner Denise Shelton Commissioner Shaheen Farah Commissioner Leonie Bodin Commissioner Janie Credle Commissioner Philip Long Chairman Tracy Richardson Commissioner Terrence Holmes Commissioner Cathy Belt Commissioner Michael O'Rear Staff present: Stephen Richardson, Secretary; Nancy Nicholas, Recording Secretary; Cheryl Robinson, Senior Planner and Adina Abshire, Planning Technician. Also present: Councilman -at -Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember Dr. Lulu Smith APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Acting Chairman Dale Hallmark asked for an approval of minutes of the November 8, 1999 meeting. Commissioner Levy made a motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner Shelton seconded the motion. Motion carried 8:0 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION December 13, 1999 PUBLIC HEARING 1) 99-TE-13: Request for approval of a partial tax exemption. Location: 232-275 Crockett Street and 373-375 Pearl Applicant: Crockett Street Development, Ltd. Mr. Richardson requested the meeting be temporarily adjourned so the Commission could tour the subject property. The meeting was temporarily adjourned and the Commission met Ann Burgon on site for a tour. Acting Chairman Dale Hallmark reconvened the Historic Landmark Commission at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. Crockett Street Development, Ltd. has requested a partial historical tax exemption for 232-275 Crockett Street and 373-375 Pearl Street. These properties are included in the National Register Beaumont Commercial Historic District and have been identified in the 1977 SPARE surveys as contributing structures to the Downtown District. Crockett Street Development, Ltd, has agreed to pay the City of Beaumont taxes based on an assessed value on the buildings of $1,800,000. Any taxes due to the City of Beaumont above the $1,800,000 assessed value will be abated. The historical tax exemption is for a ten-year period. In the event the buildings are assessed at less than $1,800,000, Crockett Street Development, Ltd. will guarantee the City of Beaumont a payment for taxes in the amount of $50,000. The Crockett Street Development, Ltd. is renovating these five buildings for use as an "entertainment center" consisting of various entertainment venues. The properties are currently appraised at $184,760. The buildings will be rehabilitated in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. More than $5.7 million will be spent to renovate the buildings. The City of Beaumont is planning to borrow between $1,000,000 - $1,200,000 from local banks to finance public works improvements in the downtown area, of which $650,000 will complement the Crockett Street Project. A tax payment based on an assessed value of $1,800,000 or a payment of $50,000 from the Crockett Street Development along with current funds will provide for the repayment of the loan. 2 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Domnber 13, 1999 } Mr. Richardson stated that Kyle Hayes, Assistant to the City Manager and Ms. Anne Burgon, Consultant to the Crockett Street Project, were in the audience to answer questions. Acting Chairman Dale Hallmark asked Mr. Hayes if the property was based on fair market value as the buildings stood at present. Mr. Hayes replied that the buildings are now valued at $185,000. Once the project is complete, the assessed value will not be known. The figure of $1,800,000 was arrived at because the buildings are located in a tax increment financing district or reinvestment zone. Ms. Burgon stated that an opening date for the fall of 2001 was proposed and several leases have been signed. Commissioner Shelton asked how long the leases would be. Ms.Burgon stated she did not have that information at the present time. Commissioner Long stated that he was glad to see the buildings being refurbished. He also suggested checking with the Fire Marshall early on regarding fire codes. Ms. Burgon stated that she would check to see if the Fire Marshall had been contacted. Acting Chairman Hallmark opened the public hearing and asked if anyone would like to address the Commission. Mr. Allen Lee, 5595 Maddox spoke in favor of the project. With no further comments, Acting Chairman Hallmark closed the public hearing and asked for a motion. Commissioner Broussard made a motion to approve 99-TE-13 as requested. Commissioner Farah seconded the motion. The motion was approved 8:0. REGULAR MEETING 1) CA-452: Request for approval of a certificate of appropriateness to demolish a residential structure. Location: 2211 Ashley Applicant: City of Beaumont Clean Community Department Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The City of Beaumont Clean Community Department has tagged the t 3 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION December 13, 1999 residential structure at 2211 Ashley as substandard and in need of demolition. The structure was inspected and found to be in violation of the city of Beaumont Code of Ordinances pertaining to dangerous structures The Clean Community Department is asking that the Historic Landmark Commission grant permission to demolish this structure. The structure is not listed in SPARE Beaumont. The structure was tagged in December, 1998. It had been severely damaged by fire. In January, 1999, the property owner entered into a work repair program. That work repair program expired in May, 1999. No work has been done and the structure has not been brought into compliance. Numerous complaints about the burned structure have been received by the Neighborhood Services Division. The City determined that needed repairs exceed 50% of the appraised value. The Historic Landmark Commission was asked to review this structure for historical significance and if it should be demolished. Slides were presented of the subject property. Mr. Richardson stated that Ms. Pam Loiacano was in the audience to answer questions Acting Chairman Hallmark asked if any contact had been made with the owner. Ms. Loiacano replied that no contact had been made with the property owner since the work program had been implemented. Ms. Loiacano also stated that letters had been sent to the property owner, but no response had been received. Discussion centered around the damage to the property and the number of animals inhabitating the structure. Acting Chairman Hallmark asked if there was anyone who would like to address the Commission. Mr. George Bullington, 1822 Broadway, addressed the Commission. He stated his concern for the excessive number of cats that inhabit the property and asked for any help that the Commission could provide. Discussion followed regarding the situation. With no further discussion, Acting Chairman Hallmark asked for a motion. HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Decanber 13. 1999 Commissioner Credle made a motion to approve CA452 and Commissioner Long seconded the motion. The motion was approved 8:0. 2) CA-453: Request for approval of a certificate of appropriateness to demolish a residential structure. Location: 2495 Angelina Applicant: City of Beaumont Clean Community Department Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The City of Beaumont Clean Community Department has tagged the residential structure at 2495 Angelina as substandard and in need of demolition. The structure was inspected and found to be in violation of the City of Beaumont Code of Ordinances pertaining to dangerous structures. The Clean Community Department is asking that the Historic Landmark Commission grant permission to demolish this structure. The structure is not listed in SPARE Beaumont. The Texas Historical Commission conducted a review of the property and concluded that it is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The City determined that needed repairs exceed 50% of the appraised value and improvements. The Historic Landmark Commission was asked to review this structure for historical significance and it should be demolished. Slides were shown of the subject property. Mr. Richardson stated that Ms. Pam Loiacano was in the audience to answer questions. Ms.Loiacano addressed the Commission and stated that the property is open and accessible. She also stated that there is significant damage from the ceiling to the foundation. The owner was placed on a work program, but did not follow through. It was determined that the owner could qualify for the Historic Loan Program and will be contacted to see if he is interested. With no further discussion, Acting Chairman Hallmark asked for a motion on CA-453. Commissioner Shelton made a motion to approve postponement on any action on File# CA-453 for a period of thirty days. Commissioner Broussard seconded the motion. The motion to approve postponment of J HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION December 13, 1999 y CA-453 carried 8:0. 3) CA-455: Request for approval of a certificate of appropriateness for the installation of air conditioning ducts and vinyl siding over the ducts on the exterior of a commercial structure. Location: 797 N 5th Street Applicant: Bryan Lee Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The property owner has installed air conditioning ducts to the exterior of the restaurant structure at 797 N. 5th. The property owner states that the duct work was necessary to centrally air condition the structure. He also states that broken and unsightly window units were removed upstairs and that floor ducts that were hazardous to people walking were removed downstairs. The vinyl siding that is being used to cover up the exterior ducts will match the existing vinyl siding on the structure. Slides were presented of the subject property. The Planning Manager recommended approval of the request only if the boxing in of the ducts on the north side of the building can be made to look { } like a room extension. Mr. Richardson stated that Mr. Lee was not in the audience. Discussion followed regarding the appearance of the building. Acting Chairman Hallmark asked if anyone would like to comment on CA- 455. Mr. George Bullington, 1822 Broadway, addressed the Commission. He stated that he was in favor of the air conditioning ducts being installed in the proper way. With no further discussion, Acting Chairman Hallmark asked for a motion on CA455. Commissioner Broussard made a motion to deny approval of CA- 455. Commissioner Shelton seconded the motion. The motion to deny approval of CA-455 carried 8:0. It was also recommended that Mr. Buddy Stone, owner of the building, be contacted. 6 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Deoanber 13, 1999 4) Revolving Loan Fund. (Financial Report) Mr. Richardson -stated that approximately $36,000 was available in the loan fund. He also stated that at the present time, two citizens are delinquent with their payments. They have been notified and if a response is not received by the end of December, 1999, the accounts will be forwarded to the Cash Management Department for further action. 5) Chairman's Report Mr. Richardson reported that the annual CLG Conference will be held in Beaumont on October 12 - 14, 2000. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Allen Lee, 5595 Maddox, asked to address the Commission as a concerned citizen regarding a chain link fence at 2425 Angelina, which is owned by Ms. Rhonda McMullen. He stated that he came to the Commission with an olive branch and mistletoe to offer a compromise with regards to the chain link fence that is currently on Ms. McMullen's property. Mr. Lee also stated that he would like to arrange a meeting to discuss the compromise. The compromise, as stated, would involve installing a wooden fence with a wooden gate bolted to the front side of the existing chain link fence. Acting Chairman Hallmark stated that the proposed solution should be placed on the agenda for resolution at the next meeting. Acting Chairman Hallmark asked Mr. Lee to. provide plans of the proposed solution for presentation to the Commission. Commissioner Long made a motion to place the request on the January 10, 2000 agenda. Commissioner Farah seconded the motion. The motion carried 8:0. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.