Historic District Commission Meeting

City of Norman, OK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, September 17, 2020 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. WORK SESSION 201 W. Gray – Building A, Conference Room D Discussion of Historic District Guidelines pertaining to garages.  Possibility of requiring new garages be built out of sight which can allow for larger structures, or if they are in view they must be closer to the traditional size of 500 square feet.  Guidelines should rely on the Secretary of Interior Standards – does it impact the historic structure?  The new guidelines should be more precise and clear, so that decisions are consistent  It was suggested there be different rules for the Southridge District since the garages there are larger and often attached  The language in the San Antonio guidelines is very helpful – garages should not overwhelm the primary structure  The guidelines should include maintaining historic trees  Do our guidelines need a rule regarding the percentage of lot coverage for accessory structures?  New garages can use new compatible materials (example: hardiboard) but when repairing historic structures in-kind materials should be used.  There should be room for flexibility regarding materials as long as the structure follows a historic design, and the guidelines should clearly state which materials have flexibility.  Garage doors should be clear as to what is acceptable – illustrations would be good to explain metal garage doors with the application of smart trim.  Want to make sure new structures maintain an atmosphere of authenticinty- no mimicry.