Historic Preservation Committee

Historic Preservation Committee - Jul 13 2026 Agenda Monday, July 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM Planning Department - Haueser Room, 829 Sawyer Street 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 Adoption of the May 11, 2026 Meeting Minutes. To note: There was no June 2026 meeting. South Portland HPC Meeting Minutes 2026.05.11.pdf B. Old Business 1. Staff Updates  Committee City Council Budget Hearing Updates  Distribution of Letter to Property Owners for interest in pursuing National Registry of Historic Places  Email sent to City Council & City Manager re: Central Fire Station response.  Maine Statewide Historic Preservation Plan public comment period open until July 17th. Plan here. Survey here. 2. 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 8 C. New Business 1. Architectural Historic Services  Committee to select subcommittee members to work on assisting City with finding potential bids for architectural historian services in FY 27. 2. Historical Marker Locations  Committee will select sub committee members to work on Historical Marker program in FY 27. 3. 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. 4. Discuss adding South Portland Main Library (482 Broadway) on the Inventory 7  Committee to review if South Portland Public Library at 482 Broadway should be requested to be put on the local inventory and previous research done on the building. South Portland Library Initial Research Memo.pdf 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. F. Adjournment 1. Adjourn Page 2 of 8 CITY OF SOUTH PORTLAND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2026 A. Opening of the Meeting The meeting of the South Portland Historic Preservation Committee was called to order on May 11, 2026. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call Present: • Nicole Regan, 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 April 13, 2026. Motion: To approve the minutes of April 13, 2026. Vote: Unanimous in favor. B. Old Business 1. Staff Updates Staff reported that the Committee’s City Council budget hearing, originally scheduled for April 28, 2026, had been deferred to the Parking Lot Budget Workshop on May 12, 2026. Staff noted that budget items were expected to be voted on following that workshop. The Committee also discussed the Greater Portland Landmarks Preservation Achievement Awards. Nominations are due May 15, 2026. Members noted that any person or project may Page 3 of 8 be nominated and agreed to consider potential nominations in a future year for work related to the history or culture of the community. 2. Discussion of HPC Budget Request in the Parking Lot Budget Workshop The Committee discussed the presentation for the HPC FY 2026 budget request and possible approaches for use of requested funds. Two possible approaches were discussed: • Continuing to identify eligible properties and property owners, with the Committee using funds to identify projects and assist with the process. • Establishing a grant program through which interested property owners could apply for grant funds to support preparation of applications. The Committee discussed that, under either approach, participating property owners would agree to have their properties brought forward for inclusion on the City’s inventory. Motion: To have Nicole Regan speak on behalf of the Committee at the May 12, 2026, Parking Lot Budget Workshop. Vote: Four in favor; one abstention (Regan). 3. Committee Recommendations for National Register of Historic Places Properties The Committee discussed updates to the list of properties under consideration for National Park Service National Register of Historic Places designation. Members discussed sending letters to prospective property owners and agreed that the Committee should not wait for the budget process to conclude before sending the letters. Properties under consideration include: • 46 Pillsbury Street • 23 Angell Avenue • 45 Mitchell Road • 143 Scamman Street • 667 Sawyer Road • 913 Sawyer Road • 12 Richards Street The Committee also discussed the possibility of inviting a preservation professional to attend a future meeting if multiple property owners express interest in pursuing designation. 4. Central Fire Station Listing on the South Portland Inventory of Archaeological and Historical Resources The Committee discussed the draft letter to the City Council requesting that the Central Fire Station, located at 684 Broadway, be listed on the South Portland Inventory of Page 4 of 8 Archaeological and Historical Resources. Members discussed making a few final edits to the letter. Motion: To send the letter to the City Council requesting listing of the Central Fire Station on the South Portland Inventory of Archaeological and Historical Resources. Vote: Four in favor; one opposed (Regan). 5. Review Draft Homeowner Letter for National Register of Historic Places Inclusion The Committee discussed the draft homeowner letter in connection with the National Register property discussion and agreed that the letter should be sent to prospective property owners without waiting for the budget process to conclude. 6. Committee Membership The Mayor will be asked to reach out to potential members on the Committee’s behalf. Kathryn DiPhilippo will reach out to Mark Wesinburger regarding potential interest or assistance. C. New Business 1. Non-Binding Comments on Potential Historic Preservation Review Projects No new projects were presented for review. 2. Permit Review Ordinance Language This item will move up in priority once the new ordinance language is available. D. Public Comment There was no public comment. E. 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. Page 5 of 8 F. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Page 6 of 8 The South Portland Library is an International style building designed by John Leasure, a Maine based architect who would become known for his modernist designs. Leasure designed many of Greater Portland’s mid-century commercial, municipal, and public buildings, as well as several residential buildings, including Franklin Towers which was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other notable designs in include the Cumberland County Jail (Portland), the Bramhall Fire Station (Portland), the swimming pool structure at the South Portland Community Center and the demolished Cash Corner Fire Station, which was a rare and distinctive example of a mid-century modernist municipal building. Other Maine designs include the Maine State Veterans Cemetery Chapel in Augusta, Saint Batholomew Catholic Church in Cape Elizabeth. The South Portland Library possesses a high level of integrity of its historic location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The building has served as a public library since its opening in December of 1966 and has undergone minimal alterations. Character defining features include glazed curtain walls, lack of formal ornamentation, and an emphasis on simple geometries and horizontal orientation. The open plan layout in the interior depicts the heightened importance placed on the visitor during the design process, as well as the full-height curtain walls which provide natural light. Efforts made in 2007-08 to preserve the building proved successful and library patrons increased. The removal of the rhododendrons that prevented sunlight and obstructed visibility of exterior design were removed, and the character defining concrete walls restored, among other cosmetic updates. Library Director Kevin Davis referenced historic photographs to appropriately match the original color scheme and font type on the exterior signage. When Greater Portland Landmarks interviewed Davis, he stated, “These buildings should be the image of who we are to the community. That is worth investing in.” This opinion is widely shared among South Portland residents. The South Portland Library is significant as a rare example of a modernist municipal building in Maine and as an excellent example of functional modernism. Prominently located at the intersection of Broadway and Cottage Road, the juxtaposition of the library and the adjacent Holy Cross Church, which was completed in 1958, create an interesting grouping of mid-century architecture. In 2018 the Maine Historic Preservation Commission surveyed the building and determined that the South Portland Library was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Page 7 of 8 Page 8 of 8