Bluffdale Historic Preservation Commission

BLUFFDALE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA October 10, 2019 Notice is hereby given that the Bluffdale City Historic Preservation Commission will hold a public meeting Thursday October 10, 2019 at 6:30 PM at the Bluffdale City Hall located at 2222 West 14400 South. Notice is further given that access to this meeting by members of the Historic Preservation Commission may be by electronic means via telephonic conference call. The agenda for this meeting is listed below. Please note that the meeting start time is approximate and subject to change. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING 6:30 PM 1. Invocation* and Pledge of Allegiance*. 2. Approval of September 12, 2019 Meeting Minutes. Business Items 3. Historic Preservation Commission Business (planning session for upcoming items, follow up, etc.). 4. Adjournment. Dated: October 8, 2019 Caitlyn Miller, AICP Senior Planner, City of Bluffdale In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, individuals needing assistance or other services or accommodation for this meeting should contact Bluffdale City at least 24 hours in advance of this meeting at (801)-254-2200. TTY 7-1-1. *Contact Caitlyn Miller at (801)-254-2200*422 if you desire to give the Invocation or Pledge of Allegiance.  DRAFT – FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY BLUFFDALE CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September 12, 2019 1 Present: Mark Hales, Chair 2 Ross Jones 3 Mel Spencer 4 Sheila Spencer 5 Arlene Parry 6 Rhonda Pilcher 7 8 Absent: Robin Thraen 9 Andrea Hales 10 Kory Luker 11 John Roberts 12 13 Staff: Caitlyn Miller, Senior City Planner 14 15 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING 16 17 Chair Mark Hales called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. 18 19 1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. 20 21 Rhonda Pilcher offered the Invocation. Ross Jones led the Pledge of Allegiance. 22 23 2. Approval of the July 11, 2019, Meeting Minutes. 24 25 Ross Jones moved to approve the minutes of the July 11, 2019, Historic Preservation Commission 26 Meeting, as written. Sheila Spencer seconded the motion. Vote on motion: Ross Jones-Aye, Mel 27 Spencer-Aye, Sheila Spencer-Aye, Arlene Parry-Aye, Rhonda Pilcher-Aye, Mark Hales-Aye. The 28 motion passed unanimously. 29 30 Business Items 31 32 3. Historic Preservation Business (Planning Session for Upcoming Items, Follow-up, etc.). 33 34 Commissioner Jones addressed the Booster Station at Bringhurst Station, which had been part of the Salt 35 Lake Rail Line. He examined the toilets that were on the train. One appeared to be too modern. The 36 other looked old. Discussion ensued on whether it would fit in the display case. Ms. Miller stated that 37 the pipe would definitely fit in, but she did not know about the toilets. She remarked that the City has 38 two six-foot-long display cabinets, which are located in the room next to the meeting room. The 39 Commissioners briefly adjourned to examine the new display cases. Upon their return, Ms. Miller 1  DRAFT – FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY BLUFFDALE CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September 12, 2019 1 indicated that items could be placed in the cabinet at the discretion of the Commissioners. Chair Hales 2 requested that staff begin placing items in the cabinet as time permits. For items that are on loan, 3 Ms. Miller stated that a check-in and check-out sheet would be prepared and kept in a secure location to 4 ensure that the correct items are returned to the correct owners. People would also have the option of 5 donating items to the City. 6 7 Ms. Miller noted that both display cabinets were purchased at a total cost of $300. Consequently, the 8 Commission still has $700 in its annual budget to make any needed upgrades. In response to 9 Commissioner Parry’s question regarding whether the budgeted funds could be used to purchase picture 10 frames for hanging items on the wall, Ms. Miller replied in the affirmative. Chair Hales reiterated the 11 importance of having pictures adequately labeled. 12 13 There was additional discussion regarding the Booster Station and the former rail line that ran through 14 Bluffdale. It was a significant part of the history of this part of the Valley. There was a cinder block 15 building that was once the caretaker’s home. It was located to the north of the station. 16 17 Chair Hales expressed concern over the need to generate more interest within the community about the 18 history and heritage of Bluffdale. He noted that the newsletter generated no responses. Ms. Miller 19 stated that information was posted on the City’s social media accounts and website. Word of mouth was 20 usually the best way to generate interest in City historical events. Fliers could be printed for the 21 Commissioners to distribute to friends and neighbors. Commissioner Jones offered to take fliers to those 22 living on 14600 South. He did not think there were very many historic buildings left in Bluffdale. Chair 23 Hales stated that the definition of “historic” is quite broad. Ms. Miller indicated that she would make 24 fliers for the Commissioners to distribute. 25 26 Chair Hales stated that gathering pictures would be helpful. He noted that Robin and Art Thraen 27 purchased the Old Store Building and the house next to it on 1690 West. They plan to turn it into an 28 antique shop and rent the house out. Commissioner Parry suggested that senior residents be contacted 29 about providing old photographs or relics to display. 30 2  DRAFT – FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY BLUFFDALE CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September 12, 2019 1 With regard to the Bringhurst Station Building, Ms. Miller stated that the Demolition Permit had been 2 issued. Commissioner Jones stated that about 10 days prior, seven people from the Utah State Historical 3 Commission, including the State Historical Architect, brought in several cameras and drawing boards. 4 They spent several hours there, during which time they made a computer version of the building so that 5 a person could take a virtual tour of the building. Commissioner Jones stated that it was the best 6 documentation he had seen on a structure. They also had standard architectural drawings of the building 7 prepared. 8 9 The State Historic Preservation Chair spoke with the developer of the Edge Homes project. The goal 10 was to preserve the identity of the building by reinforcing it in order to preserve it as a historical artifact, 11 which was determined to be unfeasible. The Chair stressed the importance of having an active member 12 of the Planning Commission also serve on the Historic Preservation Commission (“HPC”). Chair Hales 13 noted that Kory Luker serves on both the Planning Commission and the HPC. In response to Mel 14 Spencer’s question as to whether the building had been torn down already, it was noted that the 15 Demolition Permit had been issued. If demolition had not yet taken place, it was imminent. 16 Commissioner Jones commented that historical structures serve as an important reminder of the former 17 way of life in Bluffdale. He believes that history has a lot to teach citizens. 18 19 In response to a question raised by Chair Hales, Ms. Miller stated that if a building is listed on the City’s 20 Landmarks Register, a developer is required to meet with the Historic Preservation Commission before 21 applying for a Demolition Permit. Chair Hales observed that that was the reason it was important to list 22 as many properties as possible in a timely manner. Unfortunately, the Bringhurst Station project was 23 approved before the ordinance was enacted. 24 25 Commissioner Jones clarified that the developers’ meeting with the HPC was non-binding, but it 26 provided the Commission an opportunity to make a case for historic building preservation or 27 documentation. Chair Hales noted the irony that the project was called the Bringhurst Station Special 28 Development Project, but the Bringhurst Station itself was not preserved within the project. 29 Commissioner Jones commented that the State Historic Preservation Chair is an effective communicator 30 and advocate for historic structures. Commissioner Jones reported that he alerted the Utah State 31 Historical Commission of the upcoming demolition of the Bringhurst Station Building. 3  DRAFT – FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY BLUFFDALE CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September 12, 2019 1 2 Commissioner Jones noted that the building was made of Utah quarried and made bricks. Commissioner 3 Jones thought it was very likely that the developer would give the City some of the bricks. Chair Hales 4 commented that it was important that the City obtain some bricks in a legal manner. 5 6 In response to Commissioner Jones’ question about the Historic Preservation Grant, Ms. Miller stated 7 that it is due February 2020. If the Commission wants to apply for a grant, they would have to 8 determine how much of the remaining budget they would like to use as a match. She pointed out that a 9 50-50 match would be required. Commissioner Jones noted that preservation grants for renovating 10 homes or buildings have specific requirements. Ms. Miller stated that for Certified Local Government 11 (“CLG”) grants, the City would have to be a participant or supporter. Chair Hales commented that 12 notice could be sent to residents who meet the criteria to apply for a home renovation grant for up to 13 $10,000. Commissioner Jones stated that if he were to apply for a grant, he would recuse himself from 14 the discussion and vote. Chair Hales asked that an announcement go out in the next City newsletter. 15 Ms. Miller agreed to ensure that that is done and ensure that the application process is clear and accurate. 16 The grant application will be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. It was suggested that 17 work on applications begin no later than December. 18 19 In response to Mel Spencer’s question regarding deed restrictions that might be attached to a home that 20 is improved using grant funds, Ms. Miller explained that whatever improvements are made to a home 21 would have to remain untouched for a minimum of five years. The property owner could sell the 22 property, but the restrictions would still apply to the property. Chair Hales commented that it would be 23 up to the Historic Preservation Commission to vet the motives and plans of the person applying for the 24 grant. 25 26 In response to the status of the Historic Preservation Commission Ordinance, Ms. Miller reported that it 27 had not yet gone to the City Council for approval. It was on the City Council’s September 25 agenda. 28 Ms. Miller described the process for applying for budget adjustments in the middle of a budget cycle, 29 which ends on June 30. Chair Hales reported that he would be unable to attend the September 25 City 30 Council Meeting. 31 4  DRAFT – FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY BLUFFDALE CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September 12, 2019 1 Commissioner Pilcher addressed the social media aspects of reaching out to members of the community 2 and noted that social media can be a useful way of eliciting comments from the public. Ms. Miller 3 pointed out that Bluffdale has one official Facebook page. The City Council is discouraging groups 4 from creating their own Facebook pages and would prefer to have everything under one single City 5 umbrella. She offered to visit with Natalie Hall, the City’s Information Officer, to ensure that the 6 Historic Preservation Commission has a more noticeable presence on the City’s webpage or Facebook 7 page. She explained that Ms. Hall is the only person with the authority to post items on the City’s 8 webpage. The consensus of the Commission was to submit old pictures to Ms. Hall for posting on the 9 City’s social media sites. 10 11 Commissioner Parry reported that Earl Webb is 104 years old and is the oldest man in Utah. An 12 interview with him would be immensely valuable to conduct and record. Discussion ensued on other 13 people who could be interviewed. 14 15 The next Historic Preservation Commission Meeting was scheduled for October 10, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. 16 17 6. Adjournment. 18 19 The Historic Preservation Commission Meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m. 20 21 22 __________________________________ 23 Caitlyn Miller, AICP 24 Senior Planner, City of Bluffdale 25 26 Approved: _________________________ 5