Historic Landmarks Commission Packets

City of Suffolk HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION September 9, 2021 THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION WILL BE HELD AT 9:00 A.M. IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL BUILDING Note: If You Cannot Attend This Meeting, Please Notify the Planning Division by 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, September 8, 2021 (757) 514-4060 PREPARED BY THE CITY OF SUFFOLK DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF PLANNING  AGENDA Historic Landmarks Commission Meeting Thursday, September 9, 2021 9:00 a.m. I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Approval of the Minutes IV. New Business Request for Certificate of Appropriateness HLC2021-00027, submitted by Weimin Zhang, Wzhang Holdings LLC, applicant and property owner, for exterior alterations at property located at 127 Clay Street. The property is further identified as Zoning Map 34G18, Block A, Parcel 354, Suffolk Voting Borough, zoned CBD, Central Business District zoning district, and HC, Historic Conservation Overlay District. V. Staff Reports 1. Enforcement Updates a. Property Maintenance b. Zoning 2. Administrative Approvals VI. Adjournment  MINUTES HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION August 12, 2021 9:00 A.M. The regular meeting of the Historic Landmarks Commission was held on Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers of Suffolk City Hall, 442 W. Washington Street, Suffolk, Virginia, with the following persons present: MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF: George Bailey Alexis Baker, Principal Planner William Bissell Grace Braziel, Planner II Susan Coley Susan Dillard, Property Maintenance Official Mary Austin Darden Jennifer Cobb, Zoning Administrator Merritt Draper Marion Riddick, Planning Technician Oliver Hobbs Edward King Vivian Turner The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hobbs. The roll was called by Grace Braziel, and the Chairman was informed that a quorum was present. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as presented. NEW BUSINESS: The public hearing item was introduced by Chairman Hobbs, followed by a staff report from Alexis Baker, Principal Planner. The subject property is located at 120 Linden Avenue. This property is part of the West End Historic District of the Suffolk Historic Conservation Overlay District and is located in the Residential Medium Density zoning district. The majority of adjacent buildings to the subject property are historic structures built in the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries. Request for Certificate of Appropriateness HLC2021-00017, submitted by Brandon Clements, applicant and property owner, for exterior and site alterations at property located at 120 Linden Avenue. The property is further identified as Zoning Map 34G17, Block A, Parcel 274*275, Suffolk Voting Borough, zoned RM, Residential Medium Density zoning district, and HC, Historic Conservation Overlay District. The purpose of this application is to request an after-the-fact certificate of appropriateness for a 6 ft privacy fence at 120 Linden Avenue. As a driveway and most of the privacy fence were constructed since the submission of the initial certificate of appropriateness application, the initial public hearing for this application was tabled at the June 10, 2021 meeting until satisfactory completion of zoning enforcement. Since the application was tabled, staff administratively approved a residential driveway which was part of the original application, and the front yard setbacks were reduced by the Board of Zoning Appeals. The 6-foot-tall privacy fence and a fence gate is being reviewed today for HLC approval. In the RM zoning district, the front yard setback is 25 feet from the right-of-way. Privacy fences are permitted in the back and side yards, however, this fence was installed in the front yard setback, approximately 22.5 feet from the right-of-way. The applicant received a stop work order on June 1, 2021 for constructing the driveway and a majority of the fence without permits. On June 10, 2021, a letter was sent to the applicant citing the fence for being erected without proper permits, encroaching in the front yard setbacks, and being installed with the unfinished side of the fence facing outwards. Staff approved the after-the-fact COA for the concrete driveway on June 16, 2021. The applicant applied for a variance for a reduction for the front yard setbacks from the Board of Zoning appeal. A variance was approved by the Board of Zoning Appeal on July 30, 2021 to reduce the front setbacks to 21.9 feet, which would allow for the fence to be installed at the current location. Based on this evaluation and previous findings-of-fact, staff recommends approval for Certificate of Appropriateness, HLC2021-00017, with the conditions noted in Staff’s report. The public hearing was open. No one spoke in favor or in opposition to the application. The public hearing was closed to the public. A motion was made by Commissioner Bailey to accept the recommendation of staff and to approve the application. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Darden and approved by a recorded vote of 8-0. STAFF REPORTS: Enforcement Update: Susan Dillard, Property Maintenance Official, reported on the following properties: • 342 N. Main Street – The owner went to court and was fined $400 for failing to comply with the repairs. • 179 E. Washington Street –The property is still in maintenance violations. A court hearing is scheduled for September 2, 2021 for failure to repair the structure. • 130 S. Saratoga Street – The property was damaged during the hurricane last year. It has been approved for a Conditional Use Permit to build apartments and an office. • 239 W. Washington Street – The property was damaged during the hurricane last year. The new windows were ordered and will be back sometime in October. An extension to comply was granted. • 219 W. Washington Street – The property was damaged during the hurricane last year. The property has a new owner, and the property maintenance case was closed for the previous owner. The City of Suffolk now owns the property. 2  • 251-253 W. Washington Street – Exterior violations; there was a court hearing last week, and the case was continued until September 2, 2021. • 388 E. Washington Street – There was damage to the exterior wall, and the owner is waiting for the architecture design to submit. • 205 Grace Street (6 units) – Property maintenance violations; repairs are in progress. • 223 Bank Street – Property has been vacant for several years; a title search has been ordered. • 219 Clay Street – Fire damage property. The structure has been vacant for several years. The property was sold on May 7, 2021. Summons was issued for the owner to appear in court next week. • 181 N. Main Street (27 units) – Property maintenance due to fire. Owner has asked for a sixty-day extension. • 118 Pinner Street –Property maintenance, the structure has been condemned, owner to demolish. Zoning Update: Melvion Knight, Assistant Zoning Administrator, reported on the following properties: • 128 Brewer Avenue – Working without a Certificate of Appropriateness • 129 Brewer Avenue – Working without a Certificate of Appropriateness • 156 W. Washington Street – Working without a Certificate of Appropriateness Administrative Approvals: There were ten (10) administrative approvals since the last meeting on June 10, 2021 HLC2021-00017 – 120 Linden Avenue HLC2021-00018 - 515 N. Main Street HLC2021-00021 – 119 Linden Avenue HLC2021-00022 – 251 N. Main Street HLC2021-00023 – 253 W. Washington Street HLC2021-00024 – 509 W. Washington Street HLC2021-00025 – 127 Clay Street HLC2021-00026 – 128 Oakdale Terrace HLC2021-00028 – 321 N. Main Street HLC2021-00029 – 201 N. Main Street Ms. Baker briefly spoke concerning 219 W. Washington Street (formerly the Brandon House) and 118 Pinner Street. These properties are being condemned by the city and will not require Certificates of Appropriateness. At this time, those buildings are still there until the permits for demolition are submitted. She also spoke on the Board Training Opportunities scheduled for August 24 & 25th in which the Commissioners can watch a live webinar or have up to 60 days to complete it. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 3  HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION Motion: To support staff ‘s recommendation for approval 1st: Bailey 2nd: Darden August 12, 2021 Vote: 8-0 HLC2021-00017 ATTENDANCE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT ABSENT YES NO Bailey, George X X Bissell, William N. X X Coley, Susan X X Darden, Mary Austin, Vice Chairman X X Draper, Merritt X X Hobbs, Oliver, Chairman X X King, Edward L. X X Riddick, Larry X Turner, Vivian X X  HLC PROPERTY MAINTENCE CODE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2021 ADDRESS CODE VIOLATION(S) STATUS 342 N MAIN ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE WILL BE PLACED ON DECEMBER • PEELING PAINT COURT DOCKET IF NOT REPAIRED • DETERIORATED ROOF • DETERIORATED PORCH - 6TH COURT HEARING • DETERIORATED EXT WALLS 179 E WASHINGTON ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 COURT • DETERIORATED EXT WALLS NO REPAIRS • DETERIORATED WINDOWS AND DOORS 239 W WASHINGTON ST HURRICAN ISAIAS DAMAGE OCTOBER 7,2021 COURT NEW • WINDOWS DAMAGE WINDOWS ORDERED 162 S. MAIN ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 COURT • DETERIORATED EXT WALLS CASE TO BE DISMISSED • DETERIORATED WINDOWS PROPERTY IN COMPLIANCE AND DOORS 251-253 W WASHINGTON PROPERTY MAINTENANCE REPAIRS AND PAINTING COMPLETE ST • FLAKING/PEELING PAINT PROPERTY IN COMPLIANCE • EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE 388 E WASHINGTON ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE OCTOBER 7, 2021 COURT • DAMAGE TO EXT WALL 205 GRACE ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE REPAIRS IN PROGRESS (6 UNITS) • MISSING EXHAUST FANS • MISSING SMOKE DETECTORS 223 BANK ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE NOV ISSUED • WINDOWS DAMAGE • ROOF DAMAGE • DETERIORATED EXTERIOR WALL • INTERIOR SURFACE DAMAGE • DETERIORATED PORCH 219 CLAY ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 COURT • ROOF DAMAGE NO REPAIRS • EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE • BROKEN WINDOWS • INTERIOR DAMAGE 181 N MAIN ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VACANT STRUCTURE – OWNER (27 UNITS) • MISSING SMOKE DETECTORS ASKED FOR EXTENSION TO REPAIR • INTERIOR DOOR DAMAGE • BROKEN WINDOWS 118 PINNER ST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN CONDEMNED • ROOF DAMAGE OWNER TO DEMOLISH • EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE • BROKEN WINDOWS • INTERIOR FLOOR COLLASPE • INTERIOR CEILING COLLASPE  ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS September 9, 2021 FILE NUMBER ADDRESS CONDITIONS APPROVAL DATE HLC2021-00030 351 N. Main Street Paint exterior trim and add wall sign 8/18/2021