Historic Preservation Commission

City of MEETING MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 8, 2024 6:30 PM 4 E. Lockwood Ave Webster Groves City Hall Members Present: Carol Duenke, Vice Chair; Dr. Brian Bergfeld; Dr. Jason Vasser-Elong; Susanne Indelicato; Hilary Perkins; John Pierce; and Jean Spurr Members Absent: Doug Stanley; Angela Thompson, Chair Others present: Karen Alexander, City Council Liaison; Robert Myers, Planning and Development Director; Michael Blaes, applicant’s representative; Sounsiri Chanvipha, Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative 1. Roll Call. The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM by Vice Chair Carol Duenke. The meeting was held in person and not televised remotely. 2. Approval of minutes -- August 13, 2024 – A motion was made by Commissioner Bergfeld and seconded by Commissioner Perkins to approve the August 13, 2024 minutes with a minor correction noted. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. 3. Public Hearings 231 S. Gore Ave: Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish a detached wood-frame garage. Michael Blaes, AIA, Blaes Architects, provided an overview of the application to demolish a wood-frame detached garage constructed in 1906. The house was constructed in 1898. The original garage measured 18 feet by 18 feet and was afterward extended three feet in depth (and four feet tall) along the back of the garage to allow automobile parking. Mr. Blaes stated that the garage is functionally obsolete for automobile parking and the garage walls are  racking due to its construction. It was his opinion that the structure is not salvageable and should be removed. Robert Myers referred to the factors to be used by the Historic Preservation Commission for proposed demolitions. The property is located in the City’s locally-designated Central Webster Historic District. This property is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property in the Central Webster Historic District, but the National Register description of the property does not mention the accessory structure. Vice Chair Duenke asked if anyone from the public wished to speak about this application. No one did so. After closing the public hearing, Vice Chair Duenke asked for any comments by Commissioners. Brief comments were shared. Vice Chair Duenke asked for a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish this accessory structure. A motion was made, and seconded by Commissioner Bergfeld, to approve the application. Upon a vote the motion was approved seven in favor and zero against. 4. Visitor Comments none 5. New Business Commissioners requested that at the next meeting City staff provide an update on the status of the new Comprehensive Plan being drafted. Additionally, the Commission would like to discuss conservation districts and the possibility of forming a subcommittee to research and develop ideas about conservation districts. In terms of future meeting agendas, it was agreed upon that City staff would draft an agenda and contact the Chair to review and confirm or revise the agenda. Any Commissioners with an item to add to the agenda would make the request to the Chair and copy City staff. 6. Historic Preservation Commission staffing The Mayor and City Manager met with all the City’s board and commission chairs and vicechairs to discuss board roles and responsibilities. The City in September issued a Board and Commission Member Handbook which is available on the City’s website. In order to assist with commission operations, commissions are being asked if a commissioner would volunteer to prepare meeting minutes. Robert Myers will share a template for preparing minutes. Provisions for subcommittees was discussed. Notice of subcommittee meetings must be posted at least 24 hours in advance. The subcommittee’s report to the full commission  would substitute for minutes. A Historic Preservation Commission subcommittee might allow collaboration and information sharing about properties under a delayed demolition permit as well as researching and preparing alternatives about conservation districts. 7. Meeting adjournment A motion was made, and seconded by Commissioner Indelicato, to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved unanimously by acclimation. The meeting adjourned at 8:15PM. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission is Tuesday, November 12, 2024.