Historic District Commission

CITY OF BATTLE CREEK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING 10 North Division, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Minutes for Monday, September 9, 2024 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Chairperson Simpson at 4:00 p.m. ATTENDANCE: Roll call was taken: Comm. Simpson, Present Comm. Drozdowski, Present Comm. Davis, Present Comm. Sallee, Present Comm. Thornton, Present Comm. Steinbrunner, Present Comm. Case, Present Staff Present: Darcy Schmitt, Planning Supervisor, CJ Sivak-Schwennesen, Planner, Melody Carlsen, Administrative Assistant, Marcel Stoetzel, Deputy City Attorney. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the August 12, 2024 meeting minutes. COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 12, 2024 MEETING MINUTES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DAVIS. A ROLL VOTE WAS TAKEN. ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. Commissioner Steinbrunner and Commissioner Sallee not present for vote. CORRESPONDENCE: None. OLD BUSINESS: A. H10-24 (111 W Manchester Street) A petition for a Notice to Proceed, filed by Maria de los angeles Patino, for the demolition of a residential structure at 111 W Manchester Street that will comply with zoning and historic district commission requirements. The subject parcel is located within the Old Advent Town local historic district. Parcel #5020-00-111-0. Staff Presentation: CJ Sivak-Schwennesen gave the staff report for item H10-24, for the property located at 111 W Manchester Street. Applicant Presentation: Maria de los angeles Patino was present to speak with Vanessa Hernandez, of the City of Battle Creek Community Development Department, interpreting. APPLICATION WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT, MARIA DE LOS ANGELES PATINO. NO ACTION NEEDED. 1 NEW BUSINESS: A. H13-24 (32 W Michigan Avenue) Petition, filed by Andrew Scibbe for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a new sign at the property located at 32 W Michigan Avenue Parcel #0252-00-045-0. Staff Presentation: CJ Sivak-Schwennesen gave the staff report for item H13-24, for the property located at 32 W Michigan Ave. Applicant Presentation: Andrew Scibbe was present to speak and answer questions from Commissioners. Commissioner Question: Commissioner Case inquired to if the sign size meets the City of Battle Creek’s Sign Ordinance. Commissioner Simpson asked what type of sign is currently in place, if the new sign would be the same shape as the current sign and about the color of the new sign. Commissioner Stienbrunner asked if the current sign would be replaced and if the new sign would have lighting. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI TO APPROVE H13-24 WITH THE CONDITIONS NOTED IN THE STAFF REPORT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER THORNTON. A roll vote was taken: ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED, MOTION APPROVED. B. H14-24 (170 Oaklawn Avenue) Petition, filed by Ricky Lincoln, on behalf of owner, Melissa McNichols, for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a carport for the property located at 170 Oaklawn Avenue Parcel #3550-00-068-0. Staff Presentation: CJ Sivak-Schwennesen gave the staff report for H11-24 for the property located at 170 Oaklawn Avenue. Applicant Presentation: Applicant was not present. Questions from Commissioners: Commissioner Stienbrunner asked if you could see the carport from the street or will it be tucked behind the house and if the carport will match the house in anyway. Questioned the side panels and what they would look like. Also asked if the Commission has governance over the front of the building, whole building or just what you can see from the street. Commissioner Simpson asked if a previous carport was still present on the property, if other accessory structures on the property will be removed, if it would be open above the side panels. Commissioner Case inquired to the placement of the carport, what material the struts were made of. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER CASE TO DENY THE PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI. MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN BY COMMISSIONER CASE. 2  MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER STIENBRUNNER TO APPROVE ITEM H14-24, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI. A roll vote was taken: ALL OPPOSED. MOTION DENIED. C. H15-24 (29 Orin Street) Petition, filed by the City of Battle Creek Planning and Zoning Division, for a Notice to Proceed to demolish the residential structure at 29 Orin Street Parcel #8810-00-120-0. Staff Presentation: CJ Sivak-Schwennesen gave the staff report for H15-24 for the property located at 29 Orin Street. Questions from Commissioners: Commissioner Simpson inquired if the owner has been contacted, who ends up being the owner if the owner is deceased, has the City checked with the County to see if the taxes were paid. What happens if the City tears down the house and the owner comes back and asks “what happened to my house?”. Who receives the property when the City tears down a house and is there any recourse against neglectful owners. Commissioner Stienbrunner asked if the taxes were up to date, what the cost of demolishing is, asked if the City has approached the owner for the sale of the property. Is the house completely inhabitable? Commissioner Drozdowski asked if the house in question has any historical significance, commented that the house has been in disrepair for 23 years and poses a threat to the health and safety to neighborhood and possible a greater area. Commissioner Case asked if there was any information of the owners who build the house. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI TO APPROVE ITEM H15-24, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER THORNTON. A roll vote was taken: SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED, MOTION APPROVED. D. Work Session Discussion Staff Presentation: Darcy Schmitt went over grant opportunities that could help with future Historic District projects, Design Guidelines, economic feasibility and financial hardships and the possibility of a new historic boundary review and study for the City of Battle Creek. DISCUSSION ITEM ONLY, NO ACTION NEEDED. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None. COMMENTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF: Commissioner Thornton asked a question about an item on last month’s agenda. Commissioner Simpson discussed the establishment of a new historic district. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Simpson adjourned the meeting at 5:45 pm. Submitted by: Melody Carlsen, Planning and Zoning Administrative Assistant 3