Historic Preservation Commission

630 East Hopkins San Marcos, TX 78666 CITY OF SAN MARCOS Meeting Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Thursday, September 3, 2020 5:45 PM Virtual Meeting Due to COVID-19, this was a virtual meeting. For more information on how to observe the virtual meeting, please visit: https://sanmarcostx.gov/2861/Historic-Preservation-Commission-VideosA I. Call To Order With a quorum present the regular meeting of the San Marcos Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 5:46 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2020. II. Roll Call Present 6 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Holder, Commissioner Arlinghaus, Commissioner Meyer, and Commissioner Kennedy Absent 0 III. 30 Minute Citizen Comment Period: Rick Haas’, 603 Blanco Street, response was read into record. Dr. Mario Garza, Elder Chair of the Indigenous Cultures Institute, stated that the Miakan-Garza Band was seeking support in their efforts to reclaim native remains, found in Hays County, from the University of Texas at Austin. He stated that they have their own repatriation burial ground and are working towards reclaiming the remains to rebury them there. Chair Perkins closed the Citizen Comment Period. MINUTES 1. Consider approval, by motion, of the August 6, 2020 regular meeting minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Arlinghaus, seconded by Commissioner Meyer to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion carried by the following vote: For: 6 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Holder, Commissioner Arlinghaus, Commissioner Kennedy, and Commissioner Meyer Against: 0  2 Historic Preservation Commission September 3, 2020 Regular PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. HPC-20-22 (552 Rogers Street) Hold a public hearing and consider a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Lisa Prewitt, on behalf of Mike Olstad, to allow the installation of two sixteen-inch rock faced retaining walls in the front yard of the property. Alison Brake gave a presentation outlining the request. She concluded while the installation of the retaining walls will not have a negative effect on the property, the removal of the concrete entrance steps will affect the historic integrity of the property and the request for the installation of the retaining walls is consistent with the Historic District Design Guidelines [Section C.3.4.3(A) and Section C.3.4.3(B)(5)], the San Marcos Development Code [Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(g), Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(i)] and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation [Standards 9 and 10] but the removal of the concrete steps is not consistent with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation [Standard 2]. Staff recommended approval with the following condition: 1. The concrete entrance steps located at street level, identified in My Historic SMTX as landscape features, are reconstructed. No one spoke in favor nor in opposition. The applicant was available for questions. There were no further questions and Chair Perkins closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Arlinghaus to approve the installation of the retaining walls with the following condition: 1. The concrete entrance steps located at street level, identified in My Historic SMTX as landscape features, are reconstructed. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to amend his motion to include that the reconstructed stairs would be located starting at Wall #1. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Dake. For:5 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Meyer, Commissioner Arlinghaus, and Commissioner Kennedy Against: 0 Abstain: 1 – Commissioner Holder Discussion between the applicant and the Commission ensued. A short recess followed for staff to contact the applicant; the applicant had disappeared from the virtual meeting. Following the recess, the Commission discussed postponement of the request in order to get the applicant back before the Commission to answer their questions as well as to have renderings produced that show the retaining walls and the reconstructed stairs. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to postpone the request to the next available meeting of the Commission. Commissioner Arlinghaus seconded. The motion carried by the following vote:  3 Historic Preservation Commission September 3, 2020 Regular For: 6 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Holder, Commissioner Arlinghaus, Commissioner Meyer and Commissioner Kennedy Against: 0 DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Consider approval of a special meeting date to hold public hearings and render decisions regarding Case Numbers HPC-20-19 (317 Scott Street) and HPC-20- 21 (1114 West Hopkins Street) which were previously postponed. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to set a special meeting for September 24, 2020 for the public hearings of these cases as well as HPC-20-22. Commissioner Holder seconded. The motion carried by the following vote: For: 6 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Holder, Commissioner Arlinghaus, Commissioner Meyer and Commissioner Kennedy Against: 0 4. Reburial of the Coahuiltecan people and provide direction to staff. Dr. Mario Garza of the Indigenous Cultures Institute was invited to speak by the Commission. Discussion between Dr. Garza and the Commission on the history of the reburial process followed. The Commission directed staff to bring a Recommendation Resolution for consideration at the October meeting regarding supporting Dr. Garza and the Miakan- Garza tribe in their efforts for the reburial of the Coahuiltecan people in Hays County. 5. Update regarding the Downtown Design Guidelines and Architectural Standards project. Staff gave an update on the project and the Commission asked to be kept updated on it. 6. Update on 627 McKie Street and discussion on current demolition delay ordinance, Ordinance 2019-41 and provide direction to staff. Staff gave an update on the property. Staff explained that the expiration date for the demolition delay was September 6, 2020, after which the demolition permit would be issued. Staff did not receive alternatives to demolition or methods for the potential preservation of historic character of the property. The Commission discussed their disappointment that no one, or group, had come forward to help with the preservation of the property at 627 McKie Street. Commissioner Perkins discussed his concern that the cultural landscape was diminishing and stated he would like to explore different preservation options such as Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCD). Staff explained that a NCD would first have to be codified in order for the City to enforce.  4 Historic Preservation Commission September 3, 2020 Regular 7. Potential future local historic landmarks and provide direction to staff. The Commission postponed discussion of this item to the October 1, 2020 regular meeting. 8. Commission’s Vision statement and provide direction to staff. The Commission directed staff to add the following vision to the 2020-2021 Annual Report: “Using the power of preservation to save our cultural landscape and living heritage, create a sense of place, and protect and promote the unique identity of San Marcos.” Staff stated that the language would be added to the annual report and the draft of the report would be presented to the Commission at their October meeting. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Perkins and Commissioner Holder requested the following items on a future agenda: 1. Discussion on the demolition of potential historic resources and a pathway forward working with Texas State University. 2. Discussion of the Federal Section 106 Review process. 3. Recommendation Resolution to City Council regarding supporting Dr. Garza and the Miakan-Garza tribe in their efforts for the reburial of the Coahuiltecan people in Hays County. 4. Discussion of the Texas Historical Commission’s Undertold Marker Program. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS CHAIR PERKINS DECLARED THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:42 P.M. ______________________________ Ryan Patrick Perkins, Chair ATTEST: _____________________________ Alison Brake, Historic Preservation Officer and Planner