Historic District Commission

CITY OF LACONIA HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION 6:30 PM City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Accepted March 31, 2021 2/23/2021 - Minutes 1. Call to order Chair Tara Shore called the meeting to order at 6:31 PM 2. Roll call Members present: Sonya Misiaszek, Karl Reitz, Charlie St. Clair, Hillary Martin, Tara Shore Absent: Mark Haynes, Laurel Briere 3. Recording secretary Kalena Graham 4. Staff in attendance Planning Director Dean Trefethen 5. Acceptance of Minutes from previous meeting 5.I. Acceptance of Minutes from January 26 With no objections the minutes were accepted as submitted. 6. Public comment 7. New business 8. Other business 8.I. Discussion of the form-based code presentation from January 26 S. Misiaszek is very interested in form-based code and thinks the City should consider implementing because it can work with the City’s goals, desires and objectives in conjunction with the Master Plan. This would also put more on the owner/developer to work on ways to improve a property that will work for the community. K. Reitz is impressed with the concept and feels it would give the City more latitude and efficiency with eh change to combine commissions and boards under a general format. Holy Trinity school was brought up as an example. H. Martin is concerned with the he said she said and C. St. Clair noted it would be a case by case basis. S. Misiaszek explained how other communities use the code. Planning Director D. Trefethen mentioned an advisory path would need to be created if this was implemented and discussed the difference between the form-based code and the performance zoning overlay. He also noted that it could be done in a large or small scale throughout the City. Chair T. Shore asked how this would have affected the 76 Lakeside Ave application and was it would not have. She asked where and how to move it forward and Planning Director D. Trefethen said they could vote to pursue the code. Chair T. Shore felt it be better to make that kind of decision with a full Commission and it should be brought up at the next meeting. 8.II. Update on education plan H. Martin gave the draft PowerPoint presentation for ideas from the Commission. The Commission  not have. She asked where and how to move it forward and Planning Director D. Trefethen said they could vote to pursue the code. Chair T. Shore felt it be better to make that kind of decision with a full Commission and it should be brought up at the next meeting. 8.II. Update on education plan H. Martin gave the draft PowerPoint presentation for ideas from the Commission. The Commission discussed possible ways to get that to the public and not just the children. Chair T. Shore would like to see a plan of how this education of the Commission can move forward and likes the ideas of the presentation and pamphlet the first to be shared. She asked the members to have some ideas on where the plan will go. For example: Rotary, Council, schools, etc. H. Martin will work on the PowerPoint to have it finalized before the next meeting. 8.III. Finalize Rules and Procedures Planning Director D. Trefethen noted the document looks good but at some point, after experience with applications, section VIII will need to be clearer. Motion to adopt the rules and procedures made by S. Misiaszek, H. Martin seconded. All voted in favor. 8.IV. Presentation preparation on the expansion of the Historic Overlay District Chair T. Shore handed out her draft presentation for the expansion of the Historic Overlay District for the members to look over. She asked that they give her feedback and any changes, so at the next Commission meeting on March 30 so it can be finalized for presentation at the April 6 Planning Board. K. Reitz showed the calendar of very detailed drawings of buildings around the City and S. Misiaszek passed around drawings she had for the Commission to look at. It was suggested to use the drawings on the Facebook page as well. The Commission will continue to gather information on local artists for the rendering of the map. 9. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:34 PM Respectfully, K. Graham