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Record of Proceedings

Historic and Architectural Preservation Board Meeting – February 12, 2026

City Council & Boards — Thursday, February 12, 2026
BodyVenice, Florida
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateThursday, February 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:36:39

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0:25

All right, thank you very much.

0:27

Um we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order.

0:31

This is the Historic and Architectural Preservation Board, February 12th, 2026.

0:36

9 a.m.

0:37

So we'll get started.

0:38

Uh have a um a roll call attendance, please.

0:43

Yes, Chair Beebe.

0:45

Here, Miss Trammell, present, Miss Moore, here, Mr.

0:49

Stecketty.

0:50

Here, Mr.

0:51

Watkins, Mr.

0:53

Green, here, and Mr.

0:55

Barrick.

0:56

Here thank you.

0:58

Uh, we'd like to welcome Helen Moore.

1:00

She's uh our new member for today.

1:02

She's very uh been involved with the architectural review board and now the historic uh preservation board and architectural review board.

1:11

So we're really glad to have you.

1:12

Welcome.

1:13

So um just wanted to say that.

1:16

Um before you have a set of minutes uh from January 8th meeting.

1:22

Uh please review those.

1:24

I'm sure you've had time to look at those.

1:26

If there's any corrections or additions, please let us know.

1:30

Otherwise, the chair will accept a motion.

1:34

I'll move to accept the minutes.

1:37

Do we have a second?

1:38

House seconds.

1:40

All right, second.

1:42

All in favor.

1:43

Aye.

1:44

Opposed.

1:46

All right.

1:46

The motion, the meeting minutes of this of the eighth uh are approved.

1:52

All right, we'll go ahead and open the public hearing.

1:55

Um chair, just for the record.

1:57

Um, we're next to audience participation, but I do not have anyone signed up to speak.

2:01

Thank you.

2:01

Thank you very much.

2:02

No one signed up to speak.

2:04

All right.

2:05

Um we'll go ahead and um and start.

2:08

This is uh a seeking a uh applicant is seeking a certificate of architectural compliance for a new carport in the historic Venice Architectural Control District.

2:19

Uh this is PLAR 26-00012 at 326 Pedro Street.

2:27

Our staff member is uh Nicole Trembley, an applicant is Charlotte Melcher and Tuger Smith, Revocable Trust.

2:38

Um go ahead and read this memorandum.

2:45

The advertisement of public hearing to seek certificate of architectural compliance for a new carport in the historic architectural Venice Control District, PLA 000 uh 12 on February 12th.

2:57

This is to certify the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on January 24th, 2026, as required by the City of Venice Land Development Code.

3:08

Proof of publication is on file in the planning and zoning office.

3:18

Speaker cards, anyone who wishes to speak on this particular uh needs to sign a speaker card and uh uh Mr.

3:26

Lewis could query the board, please.

3:28

Yes, sir.

3:29

Does anyone on the this uh board here today have had any ex parte communication that they need to disclose about this application?

3:37

Okay, sir.

3:38

Could you please turn on your microphone?

3:42

Uh right at the bottom there, Craig.

3:44

There you go.

3:46

Yes, uh, my name's Greg Watkins and uh Tugar and Charlotte, the applicants for the today's uh hearing uh are in my next door neighbors one house away.

3:55

Okay, a brief conversation about a carport that he's applying for.

3:59

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████72%
Procedural█████████14%
Public Engagement███4%
Land Development Code██3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██3%
Grant Management█2%
Accessibility█1%
Records Management█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Historic and Architectural Preservation Board Meeting – February 12, 2026

The Historic and Architectural Preservation Board (HAPB) met on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a public hearing on a carport application that was continued, a pre-application discussion for a major renovation, training sessions on CLG programs and parliamentary procedures, and finalization of the board’s annual report to City Council.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the January 8, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public signed up to speak during the Audience Participation portion of the meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing – 326 Pedro Street (PLAR26-0001): Applicant Tooger Smith (co-owner) sought a Certificate of Architectural Compliance (CAC) for a new carport in the Historic Venice Architectural Control District. Staff (Brittany Smith, planner) presented the application; the applicant showed only a conceptual sketch. Board members noted that detailed drawings, site plans, elevations, material specifications, and dimensions were required. The applicant explained drawings were not yet completed. The board provided guidance on design (e.g., preferring a shed/flat roof to minimize visual impact, using columns that match the house, and considering operable shutters). After discussion, the board voted to continue the hearing to March 12, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers, with the applicant to return with complete drawings.
  • Pre-Application – 408 Venezia Parkway: Matt Marovich (general contractor, Lair Homes) and Bill Fey (project manager) presented preliminary plans for a multi-structure renovation on a historic estate. The project involves extending the main house, rebuilding a garage with an art studio, adding a covered porch to a guest house, and possibly constructing a new garage near an orchid house. The board offered comments: ensure window proportions are historic (e.g., avoid overly tall windows), consider operable shutters rather than fixed, use clay tile roofing throughout, and minimize the massing of new structures so they remain subservient to the main house. The board encouraged the applicant to pursue local historic designation to qualify for ad valorem tax exemptions. The applicant will refine plans and return for a formal CAC application in a future meeting, likely April or May.
  • Certified Local Government (CLG) Training – Presentation by Tyler J. Smith: Tyler Smith, CLG Coordinator for the Florida Division of Historical Resources, provided an overview of the CLG program, benefits (match‑waived grants up to $50,000, technical assistance, priority reviews), and economic impacts of historic preservation in Florida ($4.2 billion annually, 123,000 jobs). He reviewed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and best practices for board review, emphasizing careful motion crafting, objectivity, and reliance on design guidelines. He also discussed available grants (small matching, special category up to $1M) and upcoming webinars.
  • Parliamentary Procedures and Meeting Procedures Refresher – Presented by Tony Gregory (Deputy Clerk): Tony Gregory reviewed Robert’s Rules of Order basics, proper motion wording, handling ex parte communications, and new technology in chambers (electronic voting and request‑to‑speak systems). Board members were reminded to check city email, avoid side conversations, and arrive 10 minutes early.
  • Discussion – HAPB Annual Report to City Council: Roger (staff) presented a draft annual report summarizing the past year’s achievements (five CAC decisions, two local register nominations, one ad valorem recommendation, a successful local register forum in May). The board discussed proposed priorities for the coming year: continue CAC review, maintain the Legacy Awards program (general consensus to continue), conduct community education seminars, encourage local register applications from surveyed properties, and finalize an update to the approved color palette. The board also discussed the impact of Senate Bill 180 on reviewing non‑Nolen local register properties. Chairman Beebe will present the report to City Council on February 24, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Carport Hearing Continued: The application for 326 Pedro Street was continued to March 12, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers, with the applicant instructed to provide complete architectural drawings.
  • Pre‑Application Guidance Provided: The board offered design recommendations for 408 Venezia Parkway. The applicant will return with detailed plans for a formal CAC review in a future meeting (likely April or May).
  • Annual Report Finalized: The board agreed on the content of the annual report to City Council; Chairman Beebe will present it on February 24, 2026.
  • Legacy Awards Program to Continue: The board expressed support for continuing the annual Legacy Awards, with possible refinements to criteria.
  • Future Grant Opportunities: The CLG training highlighted that grant applications open April 1, 2026. The board may consider prioritizing survey or preservation planning projects for the match‑waived $50,000 small matching grant.
  • Next Local Register Forum: Scheduled for May 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM at the library; staff will circulate a recap of last year’s forum for board input.

Meeting Transcript

All right, thank you very much. Um we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. This is the Historic and Architectural Preservation Board, February 12th, 2026. 9 a.m. So we'll get started. Uh have a um a roll call attendance, please. Yes, Chair Beebe. Here, Miss Trammell, present, Miss Moore, here, Mr. Stecketty. Here, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Green, here, and Mr. Barrick. Here thank you. Uh, we'd like to welcome Helen Moore. She's uh our new member for today. She's very uh been involved with the architectural review board and now the historic uh preservation board and architectural review board. So we're really glad to have you. Welcome. So um just wanted to say that. Um before you have a set of minutes uh from January 8th meeting. Uh please review those. I'm sure you've had time to look at those. If there's any corrections or additions, please let us know. Otherwise, the chair will accept a motion. I'll move to accept the minutes. Do we have a second? House seconds. All right, second. All in favor. Aye. Opposed. All right. The motion, the meeting minutes of this of the eighth uh are approved. All right, we'll go ahead and open the public hearing. Um chair, just for the record. Um, we're next to audience participation, but I do not have anyone signed up to speak. Thank you. Thank you very much. No one signed up to speak. All right. Um we'll go ahead and um and start. This is uh a seeking a uh applicant is seeking a certificate of architectural compliance for a new carport in the historic Venice Architectural Control District. Uh this is PLAR 26-00012 at 326 Pedro Street. Our staff member is uh Nicole Trembley, an applicant is Charlotte Melcher and Tuger Smith, Revocable Trust. Um go ahead and read this memorandum. The advertisement of public hearing to seek certificate of architectural compliance for a new carport in the historic architectural Venice Control District, PLA 000 uh 12 on February 12th. This is to certify the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on January 24th, 2026, as required by the City of Venice Land Development Code. Proof of publication is on file in the planning and zoning office. Speaker cards, anyone who wishes to speak on this particular uh needs to sign a speaker card and uh uh Mr.

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