Historic Preservation Commission

802-223-9506 phone 39 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 802-262-6080 fax www.montpelier-vt.org Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Meeting Minutes Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 6:30 PM City Council Chambers HPC Members Present: Eric Gilbertson, Elizabeth Peebles, Jamie Duggan, David Carris Staff: Sarah McShane (Zoning Administrator), Michael Miller (Planning Director) Others Present: Lyssa Papazian, Devin Coleman, Kirk Gardner, Jon Anderson, Susan Abdo Bandfield, Kim Cheney, Dot Heiling, Paula Smyrski, Barbara Conrey, Liz Pritchett, Dona Bate, Paul Somerset, Seth Mitchell. Posted Agenda: 1. Call to Order 2. Public Comments (For items not on the agenda) 3. Approval of the Agenda 4. Comments from the Chair 5. Review and Approve Minutes from July 11, 2017 6. Presentation from Consultant Lyssa Papazian- Amended Montpelier Historic District as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 7. Presentation from State Architectural Historian Devin Coleman- National Register Program 8. Comments from the Historic Preservation Commission 9. Public Comments/ Questions & Answers 10. Complete CLG NR Recommendation Form 11. Other Business • Next Meeting Date – Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 6:30 PM. 12. Adjournment 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM with a quorum present. 2. Public Comments There were no public comments. 3. Approval of the Agenda Members agreed to move the review of minutes to the end of the agenda and switch agenda items 6 & 7 so the National Register Program could be presented first. 4. Comments from the Chair – Chair Gilbertson welcomed the public and provided a brief overview of the project and the importance of historic preservation. 5. Presentation from State Architectural Historian Devin Coleman- National Register Program  Devin Coleman, State Architectural Historian, was present to provide an overview of the National Register Program. Mr. Coleman noted that in his position he coordinates with municipalities, the state, and the National Park Service. Mr. Coleman discussed the National Register Program and results of listing on the National Register, including tax credits for qualified rehabilitation projects. 6. Presentation from Consultant Lyssa Papazian- Amended Montpelier Historic District as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lyssa Papazian, consultant for the project, was in attendance to provide an overview of the project. Ms. Papazian provided an overview of the project and noted that it originally started in 2005 and was recently completed in 2016. The Montpelier National Register Historic District is one of the earliest and largest districts in the state. She reported that the project intent was to update the existing district with new information and fill in the “donut holes” to meet current National Park Service standards. Chair Gilberston noted that the project was never intended to expand the boundaries of the district and that the Commission plans on defining other neighborhoods and making additional nominations to the National Register in the future. Ms. Papazian and Commission members discussed the difference between a contributing and noncontributing property and noted that contributing properties retain their historic integrity. Ms. Papazian’s presentation provided a general overview of the history of Montpelier and the different architectural styles evident throughout the city. 7. Comments from the Historic Preservation Commission Commission member Peebles thanked Ms. Papazian for her ongoing work on the project. Chair Gilbertson noted that the Certified Local Government (CLG) program funded the project through multiple grants. 8. Public Comments/ Questions & Answers Chair Gilbertson asked for public comments. Kurt Gardiner (11 Cross Street) provided comments and asked the Commission to include five additional properties on Cross Street (6, 8, 10, 11, and 13) within the district. The Commission and staff noted and read written comments received from Justin Turcotte and Jane Lendway.  Jon Anderson provided comments and encouraged the City to continue inventorying properties and neighborhoods. He noted that he has received tax credits for 4 or 5 projects. Susan Abdo provided comments. Ms. Abdo inquired how to correct inappropriate alterations and have a noncontributing structure be listed as contributing. She asked if there were funding opportunities for such projects. Mr. Coleman noted that a property owner could document the work to restore and uncover historic features and request that the property be reevaluated. A woman who did not introduce herself inquired about the difference between the National Register and Design Control District and whether the National Register nomination could influence future decisions on design review. Chair Gilbertson noted that it is possible, but the Commission has not started the project to evaluate the Design Control District. Donna Bate asked of the Historic Preservation Commission would be providing a recommendation on the design review district. She also noted that the map of the Historic District on the City’s website should be clarified to specify the National Register Historic District. Staff will ensure the correction is made. Kim Cheney inquired when the Commission would be undertaking the project to evaluate the Design Control District. Staff noted that the City sent out an RFP earlier this summer for a consultant to assist in the project, but did not receive any bids from consultants. The project will be revisited this fall. 9. Complete CLG NR Recommendation Form Members reviewed the CLG recommendation form. It was discussed completing two separate forms, one for the 2016 Boundary Increase (Montpelier Historic District), and one for Montpelier Historic District (Amended). Members discussed adding the properties on Cross Street as requested earlier in the meeting. Ms. Papazian noted that it is hard to draw boundary lines and that the intent of the project was not to re-evaluate the 1978 district boundaries. Chair Gilbertson noted that the Commission will be creating a work program for future districts and should consider adding the properties in future districts to be nominated. Commission members  agreed to include the Cross Street properties as a priority in the Commission’s work program. Chair Gilbertson read and reviewed the CLG recommendation form. It was noted that both nominations are significant at the state level and retain their historical integrity. Chair Gilbertson noted that the nominations meet both Criteria A and C for the National Register. Commission member Peebles made a motion, seconded by Commission member Duggan, to approve the nominations for the boundary increase and amended Montpelier Historic District. The motion passed unanimously 4-0. 10. Review and Approve Minutes from July 11, 2017 Commission member Carris made a motion, seconded by Mr. Duggan, to approve the 7/11/2017 minutes. The motion passed, 4-0. 11. Other Business • Commission members Peebles noted possibly having a Community Survey Day. • Michael Miller provided an update on the proposed zoning and Master Plan process. • Staff McShane noted that the September agenda will include discussion of the CLG project to analyze the Design Control District and developing a future work program. 12. Next Meeting Date – Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 6:30 PM. 13. Adjournment Chair Gilbertson called adjournment at 8:05 PM. Respectfully submitted, Sarah McShane Zoning Administrator ***These minutes are unofficial until formally accepted by the HPC.*** These minutes were read and accepted by the Historic Preservation Commission on September 12, 2017.