Historic & Architectural Preservation Board Meeting – November 13, 2025
Historic & Architectural Preservation Board Meeting – November 13, 2025
The Historic and Architectural Preservation Board (HAPB) of Venice, Florida, met on November 13, 2025, at 9:00 AM. The meeting included a continued public hearing for a proposed mixed-use building, review of a draft historic preservation brochure, approval of funding for a local designation plaque, and board discussion on updating the color palette. All actions were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the October 9, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously (motion by Greg Watkins, second by Ruth Ann Dareberry).
- Excused Absence: Board member Steckity was granted an excused absence.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up for audience participation or submitted speaker cards for the public hearing.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing – 256 Nokomis Avenue South (PLAR25-00193): Continued from September 25 and October 9, 2025. Planner Brittany Smith clarified that the code requires a minimum of 90% stucco on the front elevation, but a maximum of 10% secondary materials is permissive, not mandatory. Applicant Beka Saldadze presented revisions including pushed-back balconies, added cornices, and lighter colors (off-white/white). Board members discussed moldings, roof tile (metal coated to resemble clay, sample approved), and the south elevation center roof (a non-required suggestion to lower it for better visibility of roof tile). The board voted unanimously (6-0) to approve the application, with staff-level review of remaining design details and consultation with the board chair if issues arise.
- Review of Historic Preservation Brochure (25-0298): Historical Resources Manager Harry Klinkhamer presented two versions of a draft brochure for public distribution. The board preferred the round/oval cover option, suggesting enlarging the oval, using the beach pavilion to show mid-century architecture, and justifying the text. No formal vote; staff will finalize based on input.
- Request for Nassau House Plaque (25-0413): Harry Klinkhamer requested $635 from the Centennial Fund to purchase a bronze local designation plaque for 500 Nassau Street South (the Nassau House). The board unanimously approved the expenditure.
- Board Discussion: Chair Bebe announced plans to update the color palette for design guidelines, with Sherwin Williams assisting. Staff updates included the centennial celebration kickoff at the Christmas parade, Heigel House opening, holiday open house at the Venice Museum on December 13, and that no Venice properties are on the 2025 Sarasota 6 to Save list.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (6-0): PLAR25-00193 – New three-story mixed-use building at 256 Nokomis Avenue South, with staff authorized to handle remaining design details in consultation with the board chair.
- Approved (unanimous): Expenditure of $635 from the Centennial Fund for a local designation plaque for the Nassau House at 500 Nassau Street South.
- Brochure direction: Staff will finalize the historic preservation brochure using the round cover option, incorporate suggested changes (larger oval, include beach pavilion image, justify text), and aim for completion by end of 2025.
- Upcoming meeting: Next HAPB meeting scheduled for December 11, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
All right, seeing that it's nine o'clock, we'll go ahead and open the historic and architectural preservation board uh November 13th, 2025. Um we'll start off with uh a consensus. Um steckity is not able to attend today, and if we can have a board approval of his absence excused absence. All in favor. Opposed? No. All right, Johnny. And then Chair, I just need to do the rest of the roll call. Okay. Um Chair Bebe? Yes, Miss Trammell. Present. Ms. Dariberry? Yes, Mr. Watkins. Mr. Green? Here. Mr. Barrick. Here. Thank you. All right, we'll move on to approval of the minutes before you have the minutes of last previous meeting. Uh if you would review that, uh, let me know if there's any changes, modifications, or we'll accept a uh a motion. I move reapproof. Greg uh moves that to approve and second. Second. Ruth Ann Derryberry approves the second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed. All right. Approval of the minutes. How do we um general audience participation? Signed up. No, we do not. All right, great. Thank you. All right, we'll go ahead and uh move to the public hearing. This is uh continuation from September 25th and October 9th for a proposed new three-story mixed-use building in the Venetian theme architectural control district. It's PLAR 25-00193 at 256 Nekomas Avenue South. Our staff uh steph planner is Britney Smith, and uh just want to uh let you know that this is uh this is a quasi judicial hearing and it has been properly advertised. This is to certify the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on September 6th, 2025 as required by the City of Venice Land Development Code. Proof of publication is on file in the planning and zoning office. All right, we'll go ahead and continue this public hearing. Um yes, uh since the last meeting has I want to confirm that has anyone come across a uh conflict of interest uh with hearing this uh application uh since the last hearing. Please let the record reflect that there is no conflict of interest. And since this last hearing, uh has anyone on this board uh had any ex parte communication regarding this um this application?
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