Russellville Historic District Commission

RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting – Thursday, May 25, 2017 City Hall – Council Chamber Commissioners Present Greg Barborek – Chair Suzanne Alford-Hodges – Vice Chair Judy Galloway – Secretary Kathy Keenan Price Steve Newby Linda Carnahan Polly Hardin Steve Hubbard Commissioners Absent Beverly Hooten Staff Present Kurt Jones - City Engineer / HPO Advisors Present Betsy McGuire, MSR Director, Trey Smith – City Attorney Advisors Absent Brian Holstein - Director City Development, Kirk Sloan – Fire Chief Call to Order & Welcome @ 5:00PM: Greg Barborek – Chair, called the May 27, 2017 meeting of the Russellville Historic District Commission to order at 5:00PM and a quorum was established. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Barborek asked if everyone had read the minutes of the March 23, 2017 meeting. Motion was made by Ms. Alford-Hodges to accept the minutes as written. Mr. Hubbard made the second and the minutes were approved unanimously by voice vote. Staff Report: None Agenda: The single item on the agenda was review of the COA submitted by Silver Peak (Matt White). This COA was for blade sign framework at 114 S. Commerce Ave. and 116 S. Commerce Ave, awnings over the two entry doors and replacement of the aluminum window frames on the east elevation of the building with more historically accurate wood trim as shown in a photo from the 1940’s. This project is a federal and state tax credit project and the applicant must meet the NPS Standards. Mr. Barborek brought a drawing, with a slight adjustment in placement of the over door awnings. He suggested RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting of May 27, 2017 Page 2 to the applicant that the awnings be moved below the soldier brick course and into the vertical edge of the door frame so as not to interrupt this architectural feature and to prevent a view of the awning frame from the interior of the building. Ms. Galloway asked the applicant to understand that the commission was reviewing the sign structure only and that when tenants composed a design for their particular sign, the sign would need a COA and to be reviewed by the commission. Signs will be placed in the space between the soldier brick courses and anchored in the brick. No lighting is planned for the signs at this time. There were no questions about the window trim replacement. Mr. Barborek made the motion to approve the COA with the proposed changes. Ms. Alford-Hodges seconded the motion. The COA was approved by a voice vote. Old Business: Ms. Galloway reemphasized that the legislature passed and Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law an increase in the per project cap for income producing properties from $125,000 to $400,000, effective July 2017. This is a great incentive for eligible property owners to make improvements to their buildings in the Downtown Historic District. Second item for discussion was the $5000 grant for historical signs for the downtown. Mr. Jones did not think that the commission would be able to spend the money by the grant deadline in September. He was not sure of the exact date of the deadline. Ms. McGuire encouraged the commission to try to complete the sign purchase by the deadline. She indicated that bronze plaques had been purchased for the Russellville Depot from McGee Monument in Morrilton in a relatively short period of time. A committee was appointed to look into completion of the project by the deadline. Members are Steven Newby, Linda Carnahan, Betsy McGuire and Judy Galloway. Ms. Galloway volunteered to look up National Register nominations for building information. The updated list of downtown property owners was discussed. Ms. Price will have those for the next meeting. The updated COA being prepared by Mr. Barborek was discussed. He plans to send that out to commissioners for review before the next meeting. Mr. Jones was asked if he had applied for membership for commissioners in the National Association of Preservation Commissions as agreed upon in the January 26th, 2017 meeting. There are many member benefits that include a quarterly publication, discussion groups, technical seminars, reduced registration at meetings, resources for our work as a commission, etc. Ms. Galloway will resend the application information to Mr. Jones so that our commission will have more resources available to assist in our work. New Business: Ms. Price will get updated addresses for the property owners. Adjournment: Ms. Price made the motion to adjourn at 5:15PM. Ms. Hooten made the second. Motion approved by a voice vote. Greg Barborek, RHDC Chair Date