Historic Preservation Commission

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES September 16, 2020 The Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission met and considered the following items at a public meeting on Wednesday, September 16th, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting, hosted via WebEx, was held at 120 W. Dougherty Street, Athens, Georgia. MEMBERS PRESENT: Jeff Bishop, Heather Fletcher, Bobbie Epting, Worth VanLinden, Ellen Walker, Thomas White, Missy Brandt Wilson (voice poll) MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Sandy Beasley, Amber Eskew, Bruce Lonnee (host), Michael Petty CALL TO ORDER: 1. Determination of Quorum: Quorum present 2. Introduction of staff reports and all other documents submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission at this meeting into the official record: Motion to receive all documents into the official record passed unanimously (rollcall vote.) 3. Adoption of the minutes of the August 19, 2020 meeting: Motion to adopt the minutes as written. The motion passed unanimously (rollcall vote.) 4. Ex-Parte Communications: None CONSENT AGENDA: None OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: 1. 383 Milledge Circle COA-2020-08-2259 Petitioner: Jake and Marisa Grant Request: Add Window Information: 124D2 A012, Milledge Circle, RS-15 Ms. Eskew presented the staff report with a recommendation to deny the application. Agent / Owner: Jake Grant In Favor: David Matheny, Peter Rice Opposed: none Motion: Ms. Wilson moved to approve the application as submitted with the condition that wood be used as the window material. Ms. Fletcher seconded. Mr. White questioned approval outside the guidelines. The motion carried 4 – 3 with a rollcall vote (Bishop, Epting, White.) 1 2. 445 Milledge Circle COA-2020-08-2347 Petitioner: David Matheny / AMT for Chris Cunningham Request: Rear and Rooftop Additions Information: 124D2 A020, Milledge Circle, RS-15 Ms. Eskew presented the staff report with a recommendation to approve the application with conditions. Agent / Owner: Chris Cunningham, Owner In Favor: none Opposed: none Motion:  Ms. Epting moved to table the application for up to six months. Mr. Matheny agreed to table the application. Mr. White seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (rollcall vote.)  Mr. Matheny then rejected the motion to table. After discussion with Ms. Eskew, Mr. Matheny rescinded his rejection to the motion. Mr. Petty advised that, for clarity, the Commission should restate the original motion.  Ms. Epting moved to table the application for up to six months. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed unanimously (rollcall vote.) Mr. Bishop authorized Ms. Eskew to sign the table agreement. Mr. Matheny also authorized Ms. Eskew to note “verbal agreement at the WebEx meeting.” CONCEPTUAL PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW: 1. 0 Waddell Street COA-2020-09-2578 Withdrawn by Applicant OTHER BUSINESS: 1. Proposed Oakland Avenue Historic District – Discussion and Comments Only Ms. Eskew stated that there are 18 parcels in the proposed district and 17 of these parcels are contributing. She provided a history of the designation request process. This proposal is anticipated to be on the October agenda for the HPC’s official recommendation. It will then go before the Mayor and Commission at their November 3rd meeting. Public Comments: Dorothy O’Neill shared that a preliminary application for determination of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places was recently submitted to the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The application includes the proposed expansion of the boundaries of the existing Milledge Circle National Register Historic District. The reasons for filing are to add those areas of Milledge Circle and Castalia Avenue that were parts of the local districts designated in July, 2018 but are not presently a part of the Milledge Circle National District. Some of the surrounding streets were also included. Most of the properties are on a 1913 plat of Milledge Park. She provided a history of the area and surrounding areas starting with 2  discussion of a 1909 Oakland Avenue plat. She expressed concern that the proposed designation process timeframe is only two months long. Mr. Lonnee said that some property owners and residents included in the Oakland Avenue Historic District study area have expressed concerns about the process and what it means. They have circulated a petition that is in opposition to the designation. Mr. Lonnee has forwarded the petition forms via email to the HPC for information. Also, an email from ACC Manager Blaine Williams forwarded the following items to the HPC: 1. A letter received by ACC Planning Director Brad Griffin from Mr. Thomas Rogers, a property owner in the study area, raising a number of concerns regarding the process. He is also seeking certain information. 2. Planning staff’s response to Mr. Rogers’ letter. 3. A recording of the October 15 Open House. Mr. Lonnee described the advantages and drawbacks of using the WebEx events platform for an Open House. There is no easy way for an attendee to speak; participation in the platform is set up most easily for attendees to type questions in a chat box. It is noted that staff responded to every question submitted in the chat box. Mr. Lonnee pointed out that even if a designation does not make it to the point of being approved by the M&C, an academic study of the area and creating documentation is an advancement in our understanding of the history of the community. 2. Designation Committee Report This Committee did not meet this month. 3. Education Committee Report This Committee met this month. Next month’s agenda will include initial discussions of developing the annual report. 4. Miscellaneous Announcements In response to a Mayor & Commission request, Planning staff will host another public input meeting via WebEx on Sept. 28th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Information garnered will be passed on to the Commissioners to assist in their decision making. The timeline now is to place the Western Downtown Designation before the M&C at the Nov. 3rd meeting. Depending on proceedings with HPC at the October meeting, Oakland Avenue will be heard Nov. 3rd at the earliest. With no other business, the meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m. 3