Historic Preservation Committee

Historic Preservation Committee - May 11 2026 Agenda Monday, May 11, 2026 at 5:30 PM Planning Department - Haueser Room, 829 Sawyer Street, South Portland, ME 04106 Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qqv-pzrv-jfy Or dial: (US) +1 650-597-0052 PIN: 370 790 512# Page A. Opening of the Meeting 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Adoption of Minutes 3 April 13, 2026 Meeting Minutes Draft HPCMinutes 04.13.26.pdf B. Old Business 1. Staff Updates  Committee City Council Budget Hearing - April 28, 2026 deferred to Parking Lot on Tues., May 12, 2026  Greater Portland Landmarks Preservation Achievement Awards. Nominations are due May 15th. 2. Discussion HPC Budget Request in the Parking Lot Budget Workshop May 12, 2026  Committee to discuss the presentation for HPC FY 26/26 Budget Requests and nominate a speaker to present at the meeting. 3. Committee Recommendations for National Registry of Historic Places Properties  Committee Updates on List of Properties under consideration for the National Park Service National Registry of Historic Places designation.  List of properties under consideration include: o 46 Pillsbury St. o 23 Angell Ave. o 45 Mitchell Rd. o 143 Scamman St. o 667 Sawyer Rd. o 913 Sawyer Rd. o 12 Richards St. Page 1 of 7  4. Central Fire Station Listing on the South Portland Inventory of Archaeological and 7 Historical Resources  Committee to discuss letter to City Council to request listing the Central Fire Station (684 Broadway) on the South Portland Inventory of Archaeological and Historical Resources. Fire Station_May 2026 2.docx 5. Review Draft Homeowner letter for National Register of Historic Places inclusion  Update on draft letter to property owners to add their properties to the National Register of Historic Places . 6. Committee Membership  Committee to discuss recruiting new members and channels to promote open committee positions. C. New Business 1. Committee to provide non-binding comments on potential Historic Preservation review projects:  None 2. Committee to provide non-binding comments on potential Historic Preservation review projects:  None D. Public Comment E. Future Agenda Items 1. Permit Review Ordinance Language Review  Committee to review revised permit review ordinance language from Planning Director when available. 2. Discuss status of South Portland Historical Society Building (55 Bug Light) on Inventory  Committee to review status of the South Portland Historical Society Building (55 Bug Light) on the inventory. F. Adjournment 1. Adjourn Page 2 of 7 ​CITY OF SOUTH PORTLAND​ ​HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE​ ​MEETING MINUTES​ ​April 13, 2026​ ​A. Opening of the Meeting​ ​The meeting of the South Portland Historic Preservation Committee was called to order on April​ ​13, 2026.​ ​1. Call to Order​ ​2. Roll Call​ ​Present:​ ​●​ ​Nicole Reagan, Seat 1​ ​●​ ​Peter Cullinan, Seat 2​ ​●​ ​Erin Van Den Berghe, Seat 4​ ​●​ ​Kathryn DiPhilippo, South Portland Historical Society​ ​●​ ​Mike O’Flinn, At-Large​ ​●​ ​Marin Stephens, Staff​ ​Absent/Vacant:​ ​●​ ​Seat 3, Vacant​ ​●​ ​Seat 5, Vacant​ ​3. Approval of Minutes​ ​The Committee reviewed the minutes of January 12, 2026, and February 9, 2026.​ ​Motion:​​To approve the minutes of January 12, 2026,​​and February 9, 2026.​ ​Vote:​​Unanimous in favor.​ ​B. Old Business​ ​1. Staff Updates​ ​Staff noted that the Committee’s City Council budget hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2026.​ ​Nicole Reagan was selected to speak on behalf of the Committee at the budget hearing.​ ​Vote:​​Unanimous in favor.​ Page 3 of 7 ​2. Central Fire Station City Council Workshop Update​ ​The Committee discussed the results of the March 3, 2026, City Council workshop concerning​ ​the recommendation to nominate the Central Fire Station, located at 684 Broadway, to the​ ​Inventory of Archaeological and Historical Resources.​ ​Members expressed interest in remaining involved in future discussions, particularly during the​ ​programming stage. The Committee also discussed possible revisions to Chapter 2 site review​ l​anguage to allow for greater Committee involvement during earlier planning stages.​ ​The Committee agreed to submit a letter to the City Council requesting that the Central Fire​ ​Station be placed on the inventory. Kathryn DiPhilippo will prepare a draft letter for Committee​ ​review, and Nicole Reagan will transmit the final version following Committee approval.​ ​3. Properties Under Consideration for National Register of Historic Places Designation​ ​The Committee received an update regarding properties under consideration for National​ ​Register of Historic Places designation.​ ​Properties discussed included:​ ​●​ ​46 Pillsbury Street​ ​●​ ​23 Angell Avenue​ ​●​ ​45 Mitchell Road​ ​●​ ​61 Mitchell Road​ ​●​ ​143 Scamman Street​ ​●​ ​24 Mosher Street (City property)​ ​●​ ​667 Sawyer Road​ ​●​ ​913 Sawyer Road​ ​●​ ​12 Richards Street​ ​It was noted that 29 Angell Avenue had previously been listed in error and should be corrected​ ​to 23 Angell Avenue. It was also noted that 45 Mitchell Road is currently under contract, which​ ​may explain the lack of response from the property owner.​ ​4. Draft Homeowner Letter Regarding National Register Inclusion​ ​The Committee reviewed a draft letter to property owners concerning possible inclusion of their​ ​properties on the National Register of Historic Places.​ ​The draft was revised to clarify that the Committee is available to assist homeowners with​ ​eligibility assessment, should they wish to pursue designation.​ ​Motion:​​To authorize the Chair to send letters to​​the property owners identified on the​ ​Committee’s list.​ ​Vote:​​Unanimous in favor.​ Page 4 of 7 ​E. New Business​ ​1. 12 Richards Street​ ​The Committee discussed assisting the owner of 12 Richards Street with the process of​ ​applying for National Register of Historic Places designation.​ ​Property owner Julia McCue participated remotely via Zoom. The Committee discussed​ ​available resources and the general process for pursuing designation. Ms. McCue also​ ​expressed interest in having Sylvan sites, including 12 Richards Street, added to the City’s​ i​nventory. She indicated that she intends to proceed with the required paperwork.​ ​2. Non-Binding Comments on Potential Historic Preservation Review Projects​ ​No new projects were presented for review.​ ​3. Historical Placards Program​ ​The Committee discussed the potential establishment of a historical placards program, including​ ​possible City Council budget support and grant opportunities.​ ​Potential locations identified for further consideration included:​ ​●​ ​Cape Elizabeth Depot, behind Domino’s​ ​●​ ​Thomas Knight Park​ ​●​ ​Greenbelt views behind Broadway Bowl​ ​●​ ​Hinckley Park, in coordination with the Parks Department​ ​4. Fall Historic Neighborhood Walk​ ​The Committee discussed the possibility of hosting a fall historic neighborhood walk and​ ​participating in Jane’s Walk ME.​ ​It was noted that the applicable deadline had passed. No further action was taken.​ ​5. Committee Membership​ ​The Committee discussed recruitment of new members and possible channels for promoting​ ​current vacancies.​ ​Members noted that the Committee is not currently meeting its membership requirements with​ ​respect to historic preservation expertise. It was further noted that historic preservation experts​ ​appointed to the Committee are not required to reside in South Portland.​ ​Nicole Reagan will prepare a letter to the City Council regarding the current membership​ ​deficiency.​ Page 5 of 7  ​Motion:​​To authorize drafting of a letter to the City Council regarding Committee membership​ ​requirements.​ ​Vote:​​Four in favor (Reagan, Cullinan, Van Den Berghe,​​O’Flinn); one abstention (DiPhilippo).​ ​F. Public Comment​ ​There was no public comment.​ ​G. Future Agenda Items​ ​1. Permit Review Ordinance Language Review​ ​The Committee will review revised permit review ordinance language from the Planning Director​ ​when such language becomes available.​ ​2. Status of South Portland Historical Society Building on Inventory​ ​The Committee will review the status of the South Portland Historical Society Building, located​ ​at 55 Bug Light, on the City’s inventory.​ ​H. Adjournment​ ​There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.​ Page 6 of 7 Dear Mayor and City Council Members, The Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) is writing to formally request that the City Council and the South Portland Fire Department reconsider the current plans for the demolition of the Central Fire Station on Broadway. While we recognize the necessity of modernizing city facilities, it is the committee’s view that the current planning process has not yet fully accounted for the building’s significance as a civic landmark. In recognition of the historical importance of this structure, the Historic Preservation Committee would like to move forward with adding the South Portland Central Fire Station, 684 Broadway, to the City of South Portland Inventory of Archeological and Historical Resources. This formal recognition underscores several key considerations for the Council: ● Architectural Integrity: Completed in 1955, this masonry structure was designed for longevity. Its prominent position overlooking Mill Creek and attractive exterior makes it a visual anchor for the community and a landmark that has contributed to the "sense of place" for South Portland residents for over seven decades. ● Operational Viability: With the upcoming relocation of the Police Department, the site offers a unique opportunity for adaptive expansion. We suggest that the existing structure could continue to serve as a garage for emergency vehicles, while a modern addition to the rear could satisfy the department's evolving space and technology requirements. ● Sustainability and Stewardship: Prioritizing the rehabilitation and expansion of existing assets aligns with modern sustainability goals. We encourage the City to adopt a proactive approach to building maintenance that maximizes the service life of our municipal structures. A building of this caliber is a finite resource. Once removed, the historical character it lends to the Broadway corridor cannot be recovered. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to the balanced growth of our city. Sincerely, South Portland Historic Preservation Committee Page 7 of 7