Historic Zoning Commission

COOKEVILLE HISTORIC ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2017 5:00 P.M. The Cookeville Historic Zoning Commission met on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 45 East Broad Street, Cookeville, TN 38501. MEMBERS PRESENT: Lee Carney, Calvin Dickinson, Cathy Lamb, Chris Wakefield, and Julia Woodford. MEMBERS ABSENT: Alma Anderson and Greg Stamps. STAFF PRESENT: Ken Young and Jayne Barns. STAFF ABSENT: James Mills and Jon Ward. OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Woodford and Lindsay McReynolds. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2016. Lee Carney made the motion to approve the minutes of September 13, 2016. Cathy Lamb seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL SUPPORTING THE NOMINATION OF PLACEMENT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER, THE SCIENCE BUILDING (T. J. FARR BUILDING), LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY IN COOKEVILLE TENNESSEE. REQUEST SUBMITTED BY STAFF ON BEHALF OF THE TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION. Ken Young stated that the Tennessee Historical Commission has submitted a National Register draft nomination for the T. J. Farr Science Building located on the campus of Tennessee Technological University for consideration by the City of Cookeville Certified Local Government (CLG). The CLG program requires that the Historic Zoning Commission and the chief local elected official review all National Register Nominations within the city before they are presented to the National Register State Review Board. The nomination is scheduled to be presented at the January 25, 2017 State Review Board meeting. The Tennessee Historical Commission submission states that the T. J. Farr Science Building is eligible for the National Register for the following reasons: “The Science Building (T.J. Farr Building) is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for its local significance under criterion B for its association with educator T. J. Farr, for whom the building was named. Farr is historically significant as an important educator within the small, rural community of Cookeville, Tennessee and was the first Education Department administrator for the state-authorized four year college. His research and publications that were developed within his career within this building encouraged literacy and teacher effectiveness in rural schools, most notably during his HISTORIC ZONING COMMISSION 2 JANUARY 10, 2017 efforts in conjunction with associations he was affiliated with such as the Tennessee Folklore Society. The period of significance begins in 1929 when Farr began his tenure in the Education Department, and ends in 1962 with Farr’s retirement. The property is the one site chiefly associated with T. J. Farr as it has continued to be utilized as an education building and it served as Farr’s workspace for 33 years as he successfully thrived within his career.” In the opinion of the Planning Department Staff, the CLG request as submitted for the nomination of the T.J. Farr Science Building to the National Register is appropriate and it is recommended that the City of Cookeville Historic Zoning Commission fully endorse the nomination and in addition, request that Mayor Ricky Shelton as chief executive officer of the City of Cookeville offer his endorsement as well. Calvin Dickinson stated that the T. J. Farr was the Dean of Education and Founder of the Tennessee Folklore Society and the building was used for the Education Department after it was a Science Building. Mr. Dickinson added that Henderson Hall located to the right of the T. J. Farr Building is already on the Historic Register and that he submitted the application for the Historic Register for that building in 1985. Both buildings were built in the 1920’s. There is a brass plaque inside the front lobby that designates Henderson Hall as being placed on the Historic Register. Mr. Dickinson stated that the exterior of the building cannot be changde once it is on the Historic Register, but buildings can be torn down and are not protected by the designation, Cathy Lamb made the motion to support and endorse the nomination of the T. J. Farr Science Building to the National Register. Julia Woodford seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. STAFF REPORT: Ken Young reported that a Certificate of Appropriateness for 605 North Dixie Avenue was approved administratively for the removal of canopy tree that was in danger of falling. Jeff Fitzpatrick recommended the removal of the tree as soon as possible and that it be replaced with 40’-50’ canopy tree such as oak or sugar maple in the spring. ADJOURNMENT: 5:20 P.M. SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL SUBMITTED FOR RECORDING ___________________________ __________________________________ JAYNE BARNS CPS CALVIN DICKINSON, CHAIRMAN PLANNING ASSISTANT COOKEVILLE HISTORIC ZONING