Architectural Review Board

Architectural Review Board City of Petersburg, Virginia Minutes of the Regular Meeting August 13, 2014 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers, City Hall 135 N. Union Street, Petersburg VA 23803 Members Present: Chair, Joe Battiston Vice-Chair, Isaac Ward Mitchell Pradia Theresa Booty Celeste Wynn Members Absent: Gibson Worsham Phillip Arnold Staff: Secretary to the ARB, Kathleen Morgan 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Joe Battiston called to order a regular meeting of the City of Petersburg Architectural Review Board on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at Council Chambers, City Hall, 135 N. Union Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23803. 2. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. REVIEW OF MINUTES Mr. Pradia moved to accept the May 14, 2014 minutes, followed by a second from Ms. Booty. The motion passed unanimously. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Ward made a motion to move item (g) to the consent agenda and in effect approve the consent agenda, followed by a second from Ms. Booty, and Mr. Pradia obstained. The motion passed unanimously. 5. PUBLIC INFORMATION PERIOD Chair Battiston opened the Public Information Period to anyone who wished to speak on any subject not on the agenda. With there being no comments, Chair Battiston closed the Public Information Period. 6. REQUEST(S) FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS Consent Agenda: See Approval of Agenda. a. 517 High Street: Regular Agenda: b. 234 S. Jones Street: The applicant, Robert Pryor, was present. Staff recommended approval of the proposed application. The applicant asked if vinyl siding would be appropriate; Chair Battiston stated that wood would be the preferred material. Ms. Booty moved to approve the application as submitted, followed by a second from Mr. Ward. The motion passed unanimously. c. 207 Liberty Street: The applicant, Marie Lewis, was present. Staff recommended approval of the proposed application. Chair Battiston reminded the applicant that she will need to come back to the board for anything she does not gain approval for. Ms. Wynn asked if the roof was in good condition; the applicant stated that it is in good condition but flashing around the chimney does need to be repaired. Chair Battiston asked if the downspouts were metal; the applicant stated they were vinyl. Ms. Wynn moved to approved the application as submitted, followed by a second from Ms. Booty. The motion passed unanimously. d. 308-310 N. West Street: The applicant, Amy Wilson, was present. Staff recommended denial of the proposed application. Ms. Booty asked if the recommendation from the structural engineer was that it was not a financially viable to restore the property; staff read the engineer’s recommendation which ultimately states, “...it is not a sound or reasonable investment.” Ms. Booty asked if he crawled under the house; staff stated he did not crawl under the house. Mr. Ward asked how long Ms. Wilson has owned the property; she stated a year and a half. Mr. Ward then asked what the applicant’s intention was in buying the property; Ms. Wilson states she was hoping to restore and rehab the property. Mr. Ward asked if the house was in the same condition it is now when the applicant purchased the property; the applicant stated it was in marginally better condition. Mr. Ward asked the applicant what has changed her mind; the applicant stated receiving the Notice of Violation that stated it was a blighted property.  Mr. Ward asked what the next step after demolition would be; the applicant stated to maintain the lot until she is granted approval to rebuild. Mr. Ward asked if the applicant believes she has followed the guidelines; the applicant stated that a structural engineer’s report is required in the guidelines. Mr. Ward asked if the property has been put on the market; the applicant stated it has not. Ms. Booty stated that the report should have been focused on the structure and not the financial feasibility. Chair Battiston asked the applicant if she’d be willing to sell it. Ms. Wilson stated that she’d need to disclose the houses condition. Mr. Ward stated many historic buildings are in the same condition. Chair Battiston asked staff what is the period of time that the property must be on the market; staff replied the specific time period is listed in the zoning ordinance. Ms. Booty stated that the applicant can appeal the decision of the board, although the property is still salvageable. Mr. Ward stated the engineer’s report is not condemning and does not justify the request to demolish the property. Mr. Ward moved to deny the request in that the requirements listed in the ordinance have not been met to demolish the property, followed by a second from Ms. Booty. The motion passed 4-1, with Chair Battiston opposing. e. 115 N. Sycamore Street: The applicant, Orisegun Bennett-Olomidun, was present. Staff recommended approval of the proposed application with the exception of the power washing and cementious coating. Chair Battiston asked how large the mural would be; the applicant stated it would be 40’x20’. Ms. Booty moved to approve based on staff’s recommendation, followed by a second from Mr. Ward. The motion passed unanimously. f. 7 E. Old Street: The applicant, Preservation Planner Kathleen Morgan, was present. Staff did not provide a formal recommendation. Mr. Ward asked if the number of anchors could be doubled so the panel could be anchored into the mortar; staff replied the issue is the strength of the mortar.  Mr. Pradia moved to approve the application as submitted, followed by a second from Ms. Booty. The motion passed unanimously. g. 132-136 N. Sycamore Street, 123 N. Union: The applicant, Isaac Ward, was present and recused himself. Staff recommended approval of the proposed application with the exception of the halo lighting. Mr. Ward showed examples from different localities that support halo lighting. He also clarified that the Butterworth’s sign would not have the halo lighting. Mr. Pradia moved to approve the application as submitted, followed by a second from Ms. Booty. The motion passed unanimously. 7. OLD BUSINESS 8. NEW BUSINESS 9. WORK SESSION a. Vote for Chair and Vice-Chair: Mr. Ward nominated Joe Battiston as Chair. There were no other nominations for Chair. Ms. Booty nominated Mr. Ward for Vice-Chair. There were no other nominations for Vice-Chair. Staff read the votes out loud, resulting in Joe Battiston as Chair and Isaac Ward as Vice-Chair. Mr. Pradia asked if there was a Second Vice-Chair; staff stated it would be looked into. 10. ADJOURNMENT With there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by a motion from Mr. Ward and a second by Ms. Booty. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.