Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

MINUTES CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Monday, April 15, 2013 Special Meeting City Hall, 511 Mercer Street Dripping Springs, Texas I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Ted Lehr calls the meeting to order at 5:30 pm and takes roll call. Present: Commissioner Ted Lehr, Chair; Commissioner Charlie Haydon; Commissioner John McIntosh, Vice Chair; Commissioner Karl Seelbach; and Commissioner Gwen Tao. Also present are City Administrator Michelle Fischer and Keenan Smith, the City’s Exterior Design and Land Planning Consultant. Absent: Commissioner Kathryn Chandler and Commissioner John Holdridge. II. BUSINESS Discussion and Possible action regarding: A. Application for Certificate of Appropriateness for Miss Kitty’s on Mercer, located at 381 Mercer Street, Chad Halverson & Samantha Kennedy 1. Presentation-Samantha Kennedy gives an overview of the application which includes redoing the building façade to make it look like an old salon. The materials include reclaimed cypress wood, limestone rock, and tin. 2. Staff Report-Keenan Smith recommends denying the application or approving it with modifications. Approving it with modifications includes approval of the application for the tin, limestone and wood, but not including the façade above the existing roofline. His report is on file. 3. Public Hearing-Oran “Pug” Rippy, who owns the property, states that he supports the application submitted. 4. Certificate of Appropriateness-Commissioner Seelbach makes a motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness and grant a variance to allow the proposed parapet because the building is noncontributing to the historic district and the improvements can be removed, also contingent on the stone being from a local source or in conformance with other stone work on Mercer Street, and the paint colors being neutral in color, but not brown. No one seconds the motion, so it dies. Commissioner Tao states that granting the variance would be muddying things and could be a problem for the National Register of Historic Places nomination and grants for Mercer Street. Commissioner Haydon makes a motion to approve everything in Karl’s pervious motion except for allowing the parapet, seconded by Commissioner Tao. Commissioner Tao states that she likes the applicant’s idea, is glad they are opening a business in this location, but she struggles in her decision because she is bound by the ordinance.  Commissioner McIntosh states that he is fearful of creating a false sense of history and it leading to proposed changes to other non- contributing buildings and then the scope of the street will be changed. VOTE: all in favor, the motion is carried. B. Construction Plans for City of Dripping Springs STP MM CAMPO Project CSJ: 0914-33-065: Mercer Street Pedestrian Improvement Project-Ms. Fischer gives a status report on the project. C. Proposal from Klotz Associates for Additional Services Associated with the Mercer Street Pedestrian Improvements Project-Commissioner Tao makes a motion to approve the proposal, seconded by Commissioner Haydon. VOTE: all in favor, the motion is carried. III. ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Regular City Council Meeting, April 16, 2013, 5:30 p.m. B. Regular Historic Preservation Commission Meeting, May 6, 2013, 5:30 p.m. IV. ADJOURN-Commissioner Haydon makes a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Tao. VOTE: all in favor, the motion is carried. The meeting is adjourned at 6:39 pm.