Historic District Commission

Town Hall TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Historic District Commission Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Meeting Minutes Chair Brian Daniels Josh Gurlitz Vice-Chair Polly van de Velde Duncan Lascelles Deputy Vice-Chair Nancy McCormick Clarke Martin Michael Booth David Schwartz Monday, June 17, 2024 1:00 PM RM 110 | Council Chamber Language Access Statement Virtual Meeting Notification Board members will attend and participate in this meeting remotely, through internet access, and will not physically attend. The Town will not provide a physical location for viewing the meeting. The public is invited to attend the Zoom webinar directly online or by phone. Register for this webinar: URL After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar in listen-only mode. Phone: 301-715-8592, Meeting ID: ###-####-#### Opening Roll Call Anya Grahn-Federmack, Staff Liaison, Charnika Harrell, Staff Liaison, Kevin Hornik, Counsel to the Commission Present 7 - Chair Brian Daniels , Vice-Chair Polly van de Velde, Deputy Vice-Chair Nancy McCormick, Michael Booth, Josh Gurlitz, Clarke Martin, and David Schwartz Absent 1 - Duncan Lascelles Secretary reads procedures into the record Page 1 of 5 Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 17, 2024 Commission Chair reads the Public Charge Approval of Agenda Announcements Petitions Approval of Minutes 1. May 14, 2024 Action Minutes [24-0365] Old Business 2. 118 Cameron Court Written Decision [24-0366] 3. 218 Wilson Street Written Decision [24-0367] 4. 211 Hillsborough Street Written Decision [24-0368] 5. 214 Glenburnie Street Written Decision [24-0369] Chair Daniels asked if anyone had any concerns with the May 14, 2024, draft meeting minutes or the written decisions for 118 Cameron Court, 218 Wilson Street, 211 Hillsborough Street, or 214 Glenburnie Street. There were no questions or concerns. Commissioner van de Velde moved, seconded by Booth, to approve the May 14, 2024 meeting minutes and approve the written decisions for 118 Cameron Court, 218 Wilson Street, 211 Hillsborough Street, and 214 Glenburnie Street. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Aye: 7 - Chair Brian Daniels , Vice-Chair Polly van de Velde, Deputy Vice-Chair Nancy McCormick, Michael Booth, Josh Gurlitz, Clarke Martin, and David Schwartz Absent: 1 - Duncan Lascelles Discussion 6. Committee Update on the LUMO Project [24-0309] Chair Daniels discussed the five recommendations the subcommittee proposed. He explained that the first topic was to ensure that the Design Principles and Standards would still apply to properties in the local historic districts. Page 2 of 5 Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 17, 2024 Daniels explained that the second and third recommendations related to creating a transition zone in areas next to the three historic districts. He mentioned this transition zone would be like the transition required for new development adjacent to the Northside neighborhood. Commissioner Martin asked if the commission could discuss or express preferences for properties outside the historic districts. Commissioner Gurlitz explained that the commission’s role would not be reviewing applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness for projects in the transition zones. There was interest in pursuing transitions for both building height and density in the areas adjacent to the historic districts. Counsel Hornik explained that changing dimensional standards for properties outside the historic districts would likely require a zoning map amendment or the creation of another overlay district. He said that the town may need to obtain consent from all property owners affected by a ‘transition’ overlay zone. Hornik questioned how practical it would be for the town to undergo that process. Gurlitz asked how the process was done for Northside. Commissioner Schwartz said that the commissioners may be referring to the West Rosemary Street Design Guidelines. He reiterated that the information contained in that document was just guidelines. Chair Daniels said that he understood that the new Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) would encourage higher density downtown and they wanted to make sure that building heights transitioned near the historic districts. Daniels said the committee asked for more information on the Complete Community Strategy so they could understand how the changes would impact density in historic districts. Daniels said that the last recommendation was for the town to sponsor a “Housing Examples Project” that identified examples of compatible in-fill structures in historic districts. Schwartz pointed out that cottages and other smaller housing units had been demolished in the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District. Daniels explained that the subcommittee would refine the recommendations and draft a letter that would be shared with the commissioners and then the Town Council. Page 3 of 5 Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 17, 2024 Commissioner Schwartz asked if any commissioners had a chance to review Bob Epting’s 2019 memo that had been distributed via email. Hornik said he could review the memo and give the commissioners an update at the next meeting to discuss any regulatory restrictions with implementing Epting’s recommendations. Recruitment Chair Daniels thanked Commissioner Schwartz for his service on the commission. The commissioners also discussed ways to recruit new members. Daniels encouraged commissioners to share with their networks that there were two vacancies on the HDC currently. Adjournment Next Meeting - To be Determined Order of Consideration of Agenda Items: 1. Staff Presentation 2. Applicant’s Presentation 3. Public Comment 4. Board Discussion 5. Motion 6. Restatement of Motion by Chair 7. Vote 8. Announcement of Vote by Chair Public Charge: The Advisory Body pledges its respect to the public. The Body asks the public to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner, both with the Body and with fellow members of the public. Should any member of the Body or any member of the public fail to observe this charge at any time, the Chair will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control. Should decorum fail to be restored, the Chair will recess the meeting until a genuine commitment to this public charge is observed. Unless otherwise noted, please contact the Planning Department at 919-968-2728; planning@townofchapelhill.org for more information on the above referenced applications. Page 4 of 5 Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 17, 2024 See the Advisory Boards page http://www.townofchapelhill.org/boards for background information on this Board. Page 5 of 5