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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-13-22 HLC Minutes * M I N U T E S * HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION June 13, 2022 City Hall, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas … A Regular Meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission was held on June 13, 2022 and called to order at 3:35 p.m. with the following members present: Chairman Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Yolanda Nan Avery Commissioner Hester Bell Commissioner Christina Crawford Commissioner Theresa Goodness Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin Commissioner Marva Provo Commissioner Thomas Sigee Commission Members absent : Commissioner John Berube Commissioner Hajrah Javed Commissioner Janelle Templeton Also present: Demi Engman, Senior Planner Pashae Randle, Oaks Historic Code Enforcement Officer Delancy Wood, Demolition Coordinator Miles Haynes, Management Assistant Cindy Aviles, Permit Processing Clerk Catherine Allen, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Makin moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on May 9, 2022. Commissioner Bell seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 8:0. REGULAR MEETING 1) PZ2022-172: A request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a hog wire fence. Applicant: Joel Mendiola Location: 2615 Gladys Avenue Mrs. Engman presented the staff report. Applicant and contractor, Joel Mendiola, requests permission to install a hog wire fence to the property located at 2615 Gladys. The work of fence installation began without the benefit of an approved Certificate of Appropriateness. The hog wire fence has been constructed to be 50 inches in height with 8 Historic Landmark Commission June 13, 2022 x 8 posts, 2 x 4 trim cattle fencing and is situated along the east property line, visible from 10th Street. Mr. Alto Watson, property owner, wished to disclose extra photos of properties with existing fence types. The property is in the 1991 SPARE Beaumont Survey. SPARE states the house was built c. 1942. The property was listed as an example of a common two story house form built since the 1930's. Staff recommended approval of the request. Slides of the subject property and fence were shown. The property owner was present. Alto Watson, 2615 Gladys Avenue, addressed the Commission. He stated that he and his wife have been remodeling the home, which had been in poor shape and that they have invested a lot of money into the project. He added that the previous fence was dilapidated and that the McFaddin-Ward House has a very similar fence to the one requested for his home. Mr. Watson stated that they intend to grow jasmine on the fence so that it will be similar in appearance to a fence at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. He apologized for not having a permit for the fence and stated that he did not realize that the permit was not obtained. Finally, he stated that they intend to return the home to its previous glory and requested approval from the Commission. Commissioner Bell asked about there being an apartment on the back of the property and Mr. Watson stated that the apartment had fallen down to termite damage. Chairman LaBiche asked Mrs. Engman to review the fencing requirements from the City ordinance and Mrs. Engman reviewed the requirements for the Commission. She added that because the fence did have a wood frame, staff decided it should go before the Commission for a decision. Chairman LaBiche and Commissioner Crawford commented that they liked the idea of the vine covered fence. Mrs. Engman pointed out that once the stop work order was posted, work on the fence was halted pending the decision of the Commission. Commissioner Makin moved to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a hog wire fence, as requested in file PZ2022-172. Commissioner Sigee seconded the motion. The motion to approve the request carried 8:0. 2) PZ2022-209: A request for a Certificate of Demolition to demolish a house. Applicant: City of Beaumont Location: 2250 Rusk Street 2 Historic Landmark Commission June 13, 2022 Mrs. Engman presented the staff report. Boyd Meier, Building Official, requests a Certificate of Demolition for the house located at 2250 Rusk Street. According to the inspection report, this structure was originally tagged on January 26, 2022 and a reinspection was completed May 23, 2022. The structure has foundation issues, rotting window frames, missing windows, and overgrowth consisting of vines and tree branches, which hang off of the roof. The owner's guardian has signed a demolition consent form and does not owe taxes. The house is in the 1990 SPARE Beaumont Survey. Based on the extensive repairs needed for this structure, the Building Codes Staff is recommending a raze order. Planning staff recommends approval of this request. Slides of the subject property’s exterior and interior were shown. Notices were mailed to property owners within two hundred (200) feet of the subject property. No responses were received in favor or in opposition of the demolition. Commissioner Makin asked how long the property had been in its current state and Ms. Wood stated that the City received a complaint about it in January. A representative for the property owner was present. Arnez Jenkins Washington, 8850 Forrest Hollow, Houston, Texas addressed the Commission. She stated that she is the guardian and caregiver for her brother Darnell Jenkins, who is the property owner. She stated that they are unable to afford the needed repairs to the home. She added that it had suffered hurricane and termite damage and that they had hired a contractor who did not perform the work requested. Commissioner Sigee moved to approve the request for a Certificate of Demolition to demolish a house, as requested in file PZ2022-209. Commissioner Makin seconded the motion. The motion to approve the request carried 8:0. Brief discussion was had to inform Ms. Washington about the process of demolition now that the item has been approved. 3) PZ2022-211: A request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install an air conditioning unit into side wall, enclose and replace windows, replace front door and paint house. Applicant: Martin Galvan Valdez Location: 231 5th Street Mrs. Engman presented the staff report. Martin Galvan Valdez, homeowner, is seeking permission to reduce windows on the left and right façade, replace windows, replace front door, paint, and install an air conditioning unit into the south side of the house located at 3 Historic Landmark Commission June 13, 2022 251 5th Street. All proposed work has been completed without the benefit of a Certificate of Appropriateness (CA) or a building permit. Originally, the south side of the house had five (5) windows and now remaining are three (3). The north side of the house had four (4) windows and now remaining are three (3). Mr. Valdez originally had 1/1 pane windows and requests to install 6/6 pane windows. Mr. Valdez wishes to keep the front door he installed, with the Commission’s permission. He began painting his house blue, but has yet to finish due to the stop work order that was posted May 16, 2022. Lastly, the homeowner seeks permission to keep the air conditioning unit that has been installed, which protrudes through the wall of the home and is visible from the street right- of-way. He explained that due to the encampment at 2197 Laurel, he needs to place his units higher from the ground to prevent future theft of units, as it has happened to him. This home is categorized as a Craftsman house. Examples for this style of home are located in A Field Guide to American Houses (McAlester et al., pgs. 456-461). The request to reduce amount of windows, 6 over 6 pane windows, AC units in the wall and front door choice does not seem appropriate for a craftsman style home within this era when referencing A Field Guide to American Houses. This house is not listed in the SPARE Beaumont Survey. Staff recommends denial of this request. Staff encourages options to be discussed for Mr. Valdez's renovations. Slides of the subject property were shown. Commissioner Makin asked about the air conditioning units and Mrs. Engman clarified the specifics. th The applicant was present. Martin Galvan Valdez, 231 5 Street, addressed the Commission. He stated that he replaced the windows with better windows and that he had to close in the windows because he needed a place to place the bed. He added that he had to move the air conditioning units because he was unable to open the windows. Chairman LaBiche requested a translator to ensure the applicant and Commission had full understanding. Cindy Aviles joined the meeting to translate for Mr. Galvan Valdez. Discussion followed concerning the notification process for buying a home in the district. With translation assistance from Ms. Aviles, the applicant stated that he had to have the window units because without being able to open the windows, the home gets very humid. He added that he had to close in the windows for furniture placement inside the home. 4 Historic Landmark Commission June 13, 2022 Finally, he added that he did not feel safe with too many windows in the house due to vagrants in the area. Chairman LaBiche informed Mr. Galvan Valdez about the permitting requirements for work in the district and the applicant stated that he is now aware of this and will make sure any work is done correctly. Further discussion followed concerning the details of the case and past cast examples. The Commission appreciated the work to remodel the home, but also expressed the need to balance adherence to the requirements of the historic district. Commissioner Makin moved to deny the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install an air conditioning unit into side wall, enclose and replace windows, replace front door and paint house, as requested in file PZ2022-211. Commissioner Goodness seconded the motion. Further discussion was had about the implications of a denial with respect to the closed in windows and the air conditioning units. Commissioner Makin made a new motion to partially approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for file PZ2022-211 to approve the enclosure of the windows, the installation of the air conditioning units and the painting of the house, but deny the request to replace the front east facing windows and the front door. Commissioner Crawford seconded the motion. The motion to partially approve the request carried 8:0. HISTORIC DISTRICT CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT Officer Randle presented the Historic District Code Enforcement Report, including information about current violations and inspections. The Commission thanked her for her work in the District. OTHER BUSINESS None. THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:28 P.M. 5