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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - August 13, 2025

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, August 13, 2025

BodyTuscaloosa, Alabama

SessionCity Council Meetings

DateWednesday, August 13, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:01:23

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:12

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this month's hearing of the Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission.

0:19

I am Kathy Pagani.

0:20

I chair the commission.

0:21

Uh today's date is August 13th, 2025, and the time is 5 o'clock PM.

0:26

I would like to invite my fellow commission members to introduce themselves to you, beginning on my right, please.

0:32

I'm Matt McCool.

0:34

Why am I already Trisha Stone?

0:38

Cooper Shattock.

0:40

Thank you very much.

0:40

And joining us from city staff, we have Mr.

0:43

Hudson Cheshire, the associate city attorney, Mr.

0:46

Jonathan Bowen, Zoning Administrator, and Mr.

0:49

Liam O'Leary Planner.

0:51

Kevin Jones is assisting with audiovisual support for this evening.

0:56

Before we hear our cases this this evening, I would like to go over the purpose and the procedures for tonight's hearing.

1:03

The general purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission is that we serve to preserve and protect the buildings, sites, and structures of historic significance and interest in Tuscaloosa's historic neighborhoods.

1:15

We are governed by our Chapter 20, Article 2 of the Code of Tuscaloosa, which includes design guidelines that are posted on the city's website.

1:24

Our decisions are based on these design guidelines and do not consider use or occupancy.

1:30

We do consider such factors as architectural style, appropriateness of materials, and how the structure relates to other structures in the immediate neighborhood in determining the appropriateness of the application.

1:43

An approval of an application requires five affirmative votes.

1:48

If the certificate is approved, please be aware that there will be a final inspection by city staff of approved applications to ensure compliance with what the commission has approved this evening.

1:59

Let me go over the procedure for tonight just briefly.

2:02

This is a public hearing.

2:04

It is televised live on local cable, streamed online through Facebook, and is being recorded to be posted on the city's website.

2:11

We ask proper decorum, civility, and respect for others at all times.

2:16

Prior to this meeting, notice was sent to adjacent property owners, and the public has been notified of the applications presented tonight.

2:24

This hearing is a chance for the applicant to present their case, for the public to make their views known about the project, and for the commission members to gather relevant facts about the application before making its decision.

2:37

City staff will introduce the application.

2:40

The applicant will then have a chance to make any comments.

2:43

The commissioners will then have the opportunity to ask the applicant questions about the application.

2:49

I will then open the hearing to public comment.

2:52

At the close of public comment, the commission will then discuss the matter and vote on the application.

2:59

A notarized designation of agent form should have been provided to city staff or any representatives of an application that are not the property owner or immediate family member of the owner prior tonight's hearing.

3:11

Immediate family members, and we define that as a spouse, a parent, or child.

3:15

Do not have to provide such written authorization when speaking on behalf of another immediate family member.

3:22

And we ask that you please leave the signs in your yard.

3:25

City staff will be around in the next couple of days to pick them up.

3:30

Okay, so moving on to business for tonight.

3:33

As the Historic Preservation Commission members have received synopses of the May 2025, June 2025, and July 2025 meetings, I move that we dispense with the reading of the synopses of the same unless there are any deletions, additions, or corrections.

3:52

Hearing none.

3:54

Do I have a motion to move motion a second to move the dispensing of the reading of those synopses?

4:01

So moved.

4:01

I have a motion.

4:02

Do I have a second?

4:03

Second.

4:04

Thank you.

4:05

And we'll vote beginning on my right, please, Mr.

4:08

McCool.

4:09

Yes.

4:09

Dr.

4:09

Yarbrough?

4:10

Yes.

4:11

Ms.

4:11

Stone?

4:12

Yes.

4:12

Mr.

4:12

Shatdock?

4:13

Yes.

4:13

And I vote yes.

4:15

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████79%

Zoning Regulations██████11%

Procedural███6%

Technology and Innovation█2%

Zoning And Land Use█2%

Summary of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - August 13, 2025

The Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission met on August 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM, chaired by Kathy Pagani. Commissioners Matt McCool, Dr. Yarbrough, Trisha Stone, Cooper Shattock, and later Dr. Nelson were present. City staff included Hudson Cheshire, Jonathan Bowen, Liam O'Leary, and Kevin Jones. The commission approved synopses of previous meetings and heard four applications for certificates of appropriateness. One written public comment was received in support of a porch replacement.

Consent Calendar

Synopses of May, June, and July 2025 meetings: Approved unanimously after a motion and second. All commissioners voted yes.
Expedited reviews: Staff reported 15 expedited review approvals since the previous meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

One written comment in support of HPC 4325 (Scott Seawright) was received. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.

Discussion Items

HPC 4025 – Kim Roberts, 46 Sherwood Drive (Sherwood Drive Historic District)

Applicant requested a design change to a previously approved certificate of appropriateness and modifications to the driveway. Changes included relocation of a bridge and Koi Pond, resurfacing the existing concrete driveway with stamped concrete, and adding stamped concrete stairs. Much of the work was completed without prior approval. The applicant cited tree root preservation as the reason for changes. Commissioners discussed the importance of prior approval but noted the new design was similar in intent. Approved 5-0.

HPC 4125 – Starship Parton, 1003 Queen City Avenue (Druid City Historic District)

Applicant (Vance Ballard, contractor) proposed replacing windows with vinyl-clad wood (Anderson 400 series), replacing siding with 1x6 wood lap, refurbishing existing shutters, and installing a synthetic slate roof. A sample of Anderson 100 series (Fibrex) was presented for consideration, but the commission determined those windows are not appropriate due to vinyl composition. The applicant agreed to use the Anderson 400 series (vinyl-clad wood). Discussion included porch handrails, column consistency, and copper chimney caps. Approved 5-0 with the understanding that the Anderson 400 windows would be used.

HPC 4225 – James McCool, 15 Audubon Place (Audubon Place Historic District)

Applicant proposed replacing an existing chain-link fence with an 8-foot-tall wooden shadow box fence in the same footprint. No questions or public comment. Approved 5-0.

HPC 4325 – Scott Seawright, 1914 7th Street (Druid City Historic District)

Applicant proposed replacing wooden porch boards with cellular PVC planks (AZEC decking) that mimic wood and are pre-colored. The current wood porch, replaced in 2020, had deteriorated due to modern wood quality. Approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

HPC 4025: Approved unanimously. Applicant reminded to contact staff before making any further changes.
HPC 4125: Approved unanimously. Staff to guide on porch handrails, column changes, and chimney caps as separate items.
HPC 4225: Approved unanimously. Note: Commissioner McCool recused himself earlier for case 42-25 but later voted on all cases; he stepped out briefly before this item but returned.
HPC 4325: Approved unanimously. One written public comment in support noted.
All applicants were reminded to contact city staff before proceeding with changes not covered by the approved applications.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this month's hearing of the Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission. I am Kathy Pagani. I chair the commission. Uh today's date is August 13th, 2025, and the time is 5 o'clock PM. I would like to invite my fellow commission members to introduce themselves to you, beginning on my right, please. I'm Matt McCool. Why am I already Trisha Stone? Cooper Shattock. Thank you very much. And joining us from city staff, we have Mr. Hudson Cheshire, the associate city attorney, Mr. Jonathan Bowen, Zoning Administrator, and Mr. Liam O'Leary Planner. Kevin Jones is assisting with audiovisual support for this evening. Before we hear our cases this this evening, I would like to go over the purpose and the procedures for tonight's hearing. The general purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission is that we serve to preserve and protect the buildings, sites, and structures of historic significance and interest in Tuscaloosa's historic neighborhoods. We are governed by our Chapter 20, Article 2 of the Code of Tuscaloosa, which includes design guidelines that are posted on the city's website. Our decisions are based on these design guidelines and do not consider use or occupancy. We do consider such factors as architectural style, appropriateness of materials, and how the structure relates to other structures in the immediate neighborhood in determining the appropriateness of the application. An approval of an application requires five affirmative votes. If the certificate is approved, please be aware that there will be a final inspection by city staff of approved applications to ensure compliance with what the commission has approved this evening. Let me go over the procedure for tonight just briefly. This is a public hearing. It is televised live on local cable, streamed online through Facebook, and is being recorded to be posted on the city's website. We ask proper decorum, civility, and respect for others at all times. Prior to this meeting, notice was sent to adjacent property owners, and the public has been notified of the applications presented tonight. This hearing is a chance for the applicant to present their case, for the public to make their views known about the project, and for the commission members to gather relevant facts about the application before making its decision. City staff will introduce the application. The applicant will then have a chance to make any comments. The commissioners will then have the opportunity to ask the applicant questions about the application. I will then open the hearing to public comment. At the close of public comment, the commission will then discuss the matter and vote on the application. A notarized designation of agent form should have been provided to city staff or any representatives of an application that are not the property owner or immediate family member of the owner prior tonight's hearing. Immediate family members, and we define that as a spouse, a parent, or child. Do not have to provide such written authorization when speaking on behalf of another immediate family member. And we ask that you please leave the signs in your yard. City staff will be around in the next couple of days to pick them up. Okay, so moving on to business for tonight. As the Historic Preservation Commission members have received synopses of the May 2025, June 2025, and July 2025 meetings, I move that we dispense with the reading of the synopses of the same unless there are any deletions, additions, or corrections. Hearing none. Do I have a motion to move motion a second to move the dispensing of the reading of those synopses? So moved. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you. And we'll vote beginning on my right, please, Mr. McCool. Yes. Dr.

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