Historic District Commission

CITY OF BATTLE CREEK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION 10 North Division, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Minutes for Monday, February 13, 2023 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Chairperson Newman at 4:00 p.m. This meeting was held in-person. ATTENDANCE: Comm. Newman asked that attendance be noted. A roll call was taken: Comm. Drozdowski, Present Comm. Newman, Present Comm. Simpson, Present Comm. Davis, Present Comm. Sallee, Present Comm. Thornton, Present Comm. Steinbrunner, Absent Staff Present: Susan Cronander, Planner and Zoning Administrator, Melody Carlsen, Administrative Assistant, Marcel Stoetzel, Deputy City Attorney, Marcie Gillette, Community Services Director. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA: None. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of January 9, 2023 minutes. MOTION MADE BY COMM. DROZDOWSKI TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR JANUARY 9, 2023 MEETING, SECONDED BY COMM. SIMPSON A vote was taken and all those in favor to say “aye”: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. CORRESPONDENCE: None. OLD BUSINESS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS/DELIBERATIONS: A. H01-23: (51 W Michigan Ave) The petition, filed by Burkett Signs, Inc. on behalf of Kellogg Community Credit Union is for a Certificate of Appropriateness for installation of a new blade sign located at 51 W Michigan Ave. Application Presentation: None. Staff Presentation: Susan Cronander gave a description of the Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of new blade sign located at 51 W Michigan Ave. 1  Comments from commission members: None. Public Comment: None. MOTION MADE BY COMM. DROZDOWSKI TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED SIGN, SECONDED BY COMM. SIMPSON. A vote was taken: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. B. H02-23: (10 N DIVISION STREET) The petition, filed by Katie Norton on behalf of the City of Battle Creek, is for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a new ADA ramp at the south (main) entrance of City Hall. Applicant Presentation: Katie Norton was available to answer questions. Staff Presentation: The item was presented by Susan Cronander. Comments from commission members: Discussion among Commissioners to whether the proposed ADA ramp matched the esthetics and current retaining wall features of City Hall. Commissioner Thornton presented a drawing for consideration. Marcie Gillette was available for questions. MOTION MADE BY COMM. DROZDOWSKI TO ADJOURN THIS DISCUSSION UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. WOULD LIKE STAFF TO CONSIDER SOMETHING MORE APPROPRIATE AND RESPONSIVE TO CONCERNS PRESENTED BY THE BODY, SOMETHING MORE INLINE WITH THE HISTORIC FEATURES OF CITY HALL. SECONDED BY, COMM. THORNTON. A vote was taken: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. C. Paint Color Regulation Discussion Near the conclusion of the November 2022 regular meeting of the Historic District Commission, Commissioners inquired as to whether or not the City of Battle Creek’s Historic Preservation Ordinance provides for the regulation of paint colors within the local historic districts. Staff informed the Commission that at present, the ordinance does not regulate paint colors. Staff researched this topic and presented the Commission with some examples from other cities and recommends that the Historic District Commission conduct a discussion of potential options for dealing with paint colors within the local districts in the future. Staff presentation: The item was presented by Susan Cronander. Comments from commission members: There was some discussion among Commission members regarding paint regulations and whether to continue with this discussion. MOTION MADE BY COMM. SIMPSON TO CARRY THE DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEET. SECONDED BY COMM. DROZDOWSKI. A vote was taken: Three in favor, three denied. Tie vote, motion denied. 2 COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None. COMMENTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF: None. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Newman adjourned the meeting at 4:50 p.m. Submitted by: Melody Carlsen, Planning and Zoning Administrative Assistant 3