Historic Review Board

AGENDA Meeting Location: Phone: 541-682-5481 Atrium Building – Sloat Room th www.eugene-or.gov/hrb 99 West 10 Avenue Eugene’s Historic Review Board welcomes your interest in these agenda items. Feel free to come and go as you please at any of the meetings. This meeting location is wheelchair-accessible. For the hearing impaired, FM assistive-listening devices are available or an interpreter can be provided with 48 hours of notice prior to the meeting. Spanish-language interpretation can also be provided. To arrange for these services, please contact the receptionist at (541) 682-5481. THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 – 8:30-10:30 A.M. I. Public Comment Up to 10 minutes will be reserved for public comment regarding historic preservation issues, except for any items scheduled for public hearing. II. 2015 HRB Work Plan Update The HRB will review progress and discuss potential updates to the existing approved work plan for the City’s Historic Preservation program. See attached staff memorandum for more information. III. Info Share/Updates Time-permitting, HRB members are encouraged to provide any brief informational updates to staff and the board. BOARD MEMBERS Heather Kliever (Chair), Ellen Currier (Vice-Chair), Andrew Fisher, Steven Baker, Barbara Perrin, Kay Porter and Sarah Shmigelsky MEMORANDUM Date: April 2, 2015 To: Eugene Historic Review Board From: Gabe Flock, Senior Planner Subject: 2015 Work Plan Recommendations Meeting Objective To continue review of the Historic Review Board’s (HRB) 2015-2017 work plan. The work plan update was first introduced to the HRB at their February 19, 2015 meeting; this memo highlights the primary issues discussed at this meeting, and also introduces new work plan ideas that are a product of HRB discussion and direction. Staff will be asking the board to make decisions regarding updates to the work plan. Overview of February 19th, 2015 Meeting At their February 19th, 2015 meeting, the HRB discussed work items and projects that should be prioritized in the 2015-2017 HRB work plan. Staff distilled the following themes from this discussion: • Explore and work toward developing more powerful incentives that would encourage property nominations and discourage demolition of historically significant structures • Continue to strengthen the online presence of historic resource information and make the website more user-friendly • Consider work for the next grant cycle and develop a specific project (or multiple projects) that could be used in State and Federal grant proposals • Build stronger relationships and partnerships within the community (e.g. the University of Oregon and neighborhood groups) • Educate the public about the City’s Historic Preservation Program and continue to pursue training opportunities for HRB members • Leverage limited resources by: (1) increasing the participation level of individual board members; (2) involving neighborhood groups in work efforts; and (3) hiring interns dedicated to historic preservation work Historic Review Board 2015 Work Plan Update 1 2015 Work Plan Update As discussed at the previous HRB meeting, the City is facing serious budgetary and staffing limitations. As a result of these constraints, we will not be able to take on any major new initiatives or significant expansion of the program. Staff proposes three major work tasks (below) to be included in the 2015-2017 HRB work plan. Staff believes that these tasks are an efficient use of resources and have the potential to significantly improve the City’s long-term success in historic resource preservation. Task 1: Develop a specific project for funding in the next grant cycle. This could include an inventory of at-risk historic properties in high priority neighborhoods, pursuit of new nominations, or other projects which the Board and staff prioritize. • 2015: Develop the project and scope of work. • 2016: Submit the grant request and initiate project. Lead Role: Staff, with HRB and consultant input/assistance. Task 2: Develop additional incentives to increase the number of landmark nominations, and decrease the number of historic resource demolitions. • 2015: Seek volunteers from the HRB to research incentive opportunities. This could include interviews with other jurisdictions, developing partnerships with other agencies/professional organizations, and general research of potential funding sources. HRB members would report findings to the full board and staff at quarterly meeting(s). • 2015-2016: Based on findings, prioritize potential incentive options to focus on. Lead Role: Individual HRB members, with staff/consultant assistance. Task 3: Develop a “Historic Resource Education Program” that would serve to inform the public about Eugene’s historic properties and how they are regulated. Public awareness of these issues could serve to be an important step towards impactful policy changes. The program would be focused on two issues: (1) heightening public awareness of the neglect (and eventual demolition) that many historic properties might face in coming years; and (2) educating the public about past landmark designation applications that have been processed over the last few years (e.g. Skinner Rental Bungalow could be used as an example case). This might help answer the question, “Why would I want to designate my property as a historic landmark?” • 2015: Provide direction to staff regarding the desired content of educational materials. When draft materials are created staff will request HRB review/comments. The City could enlist an intern to take the lead on developing the educational materials. • 2016: Finalize informational brochures, update the City’s website, and train staff to educate home owners and developers at the front counter. Work with Staff, the University of Oregon, and neighborhood groups to pursue marketing and distribution strategies for the educational materials. Lead Role: Staff, with HRB input/assistance. Historic Review Board 2015 Work Plan Update 2 The goal of this work planning effort will be to finalize a feasible work plan for the next two years. While the final work plan won’t be able to accommodate all of the potential projects identified, it will hopefully prioritize projects and work items the HRB find most important. Attachment A: Historic Preservation Program - 2015-2017 Work Plan Draft Historic Review Board 2015 Work Plan Update 3  Historic Preservation Program 2015-2017 Work Plan Draft Mandated Tasks Work Plan Task Description Lead Role Pursue grants that maintain Certified Grants would focus on delivering services necessary to maintain Staff, with input 1 Local Government the city’s CLG status. from HRB (CLG) status requirements. Planning staff process historic property alteration applications as Historic Property Staff. HRB serves as 2 required by the city’s land use code. The Historic Review Board Alterations appeals body (HRB) serves as the appeals body. Historic Property Planning staff process historic structure demolition applications Staff. HRB serves as 3 Demolition as required by the city’s land use code. HRB serve as the appeals appeals body applications body. Historic Property Planning staff process historic property moving applications as Staff. HRB serves as 4 Moving required by the city’s land use code. HRB serve as the appeals appeals body applications body. Nominations for HRB. Staff provides The HRB reviews and make recommendations to the State Listing in the supporting analysis 5 regarding requests for listing on the National Register, pursuant National Register of and to the city’s CLG status. Historic Places recommendation Ensure compliance with other applicable state laws related to 6 Oregon State Law HRB and Staff historic preservation. HRB. Staff provides City of Eugene The HRB processes requests for listing of properties as city supporting analysis 7 Historic Landmark historic landmarks, as required by code. and Applications recommendation Staff process requests to create special historic zones which City Council. Staff require planning commission and city council action. Such provides supporting 8 Historic Zoning requests begin with the HRB via applications to designate analysis and properties as a city and/or national register landmark. recommendation Response to public Staff provides information and guidance to the public regarding 9 Staff inquiries historic preservation issues.  Historic Preservation Program 2015-2017 Work Plan Draft Additional Tasks Included in the Work Plan Work Plan Task Description Lead Role Develop a grant project such as completing an inventory of at- risk historic properties in high priority neighborhoods, pursuit of Develop a specific Staff, with HRB and new nominations, or other project which the Board and staff project for funding consultant 1 prioritize. in the next grant input/assistance cycle. • 2015: Develop the project and scope of work. • 2016: Submit the grant request and initiate project. Develop additional incentives to increase the number of landmark nominations, and decrease the number of historic resource demolitions. Incentivize the • 2015: Seek volunteers from the HRB to research incentive Individual HRB preservation of opportunities. This could include interviews with other members, with 2 important historic jurisdictions, developing partnerships with other staff/consultant resources. agencies/professional organizations, and general research of assistance potential funding sources. HRB members would report findings to the full board and staff at quarterly meeting(s). • 2015-2016: Based on findings, prioritize potential incentive options to focus on. The program would be focused on two issues: (1) heightening public awareness of the neglect (and eventual demolition) that many historic properties might face in coming years; and (2) educating the public about past landmark designation applications that have been processed over the last few years (e.g. Skinner Rental House could be used as an example case). This might help answer the question, “Why would I want to designate my property as a historic landmark?” • 2015: Provide direction to staff regarding the desired Develop a “Historic content of educational materials. When draft materials are Staff, with HRB 3 Resource Education created staff will request HRB review/comments. The City input/assistance Program.” could enlist an intern to take the lead on developing the educational materials. • 2016: Finalize informational brochures, update the City’s website, and train staff to educate home owners and developers at the front counter. Work with Staff, the University of Oregon, and neighborhood groups to pursue marketing and distribution strategies for the educational materials.