The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a regular meeting on Thursday, March 11, 2021, at 5:32 p.m. in the Wilmington Convention Center (though the agenda listed City Council Chambers). Chair Rob Romero presided with eight members present (one absent). All witnesses were sworn in. The commission considered four new business items, approved prior minutes, and discussed a remanded case concerning a mural at the Pour House. All votes were 8‑0.
Welcome everybody to this Wilmington Store Preservation Commission meeting for Thursday, March eleventh, twenty twenty-one. Hearings before the Storic Preservation Commission are quasi-judicial in nature. Decisions of the Commission are based on the record of these proceedings, Wilmington Design Standards for Storic Districts and Landmarks, and Secretary of Material Standards for Rehabilitation. Evidence submitted to the commission for review becomes part of the record. Appeals of commission decisions are to the Wilmington Board of Adjustment and then the Superior Court and are based on the record. Appeals must be filed within thirty days of the date of the commission's action. Evidence is received is received during the evidentiary hearing portion of an agenda item. Those who want to address the commissioners sworn as witnesses, present material, and substantial evidence to the commission. The chair recognizes those who want to submit such evidence during the evidentiary hearing. Evidence should be directed to the commission to ensure that the evidence is properly recorded, please come to the podium in the hall to address the commission. State your name and address and speak clearly. At this time, we'd like to request it all cell phones be either turned off or silence mode. And I'd like our folks to start into introducing themselves. Christopher Yermal. Michael Smith. Ashley Wilson. Kathleen Egan. Ron Wilson. Jeff Walton, Amy Bradshaw, City, Christine Hughes, and Ivy Try Tag. Jeff Walton, Amy Bradshaw, City Christine Hughes, and Ivy Frytag as uh staff members and great commission center tech guy. All right, we'd like to swear in the witness witnesses. If Amy's ready. If everyone who wishes to speak, all applicants and anyone who's here from the public who intends to present evidence, could please stand up and raise your right hand. Do you affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Thank you. Thanks, Andy. Thanks. Good evening, everyone. All right. So the Bell House was constructed uh circa 1890, and it is a contributing resource within the historic district. The property is located at 313 Church Street and is within the historic district residential. In this district, alterations to all facades of a building and the entire site are subject to design review review, regardless of whether it can be seen from the public right of way. The application before you today involves the front porch balustrade, floor, and gates, as well as the construction of a rear building edition, deck, and side screened porch. Here's the front elevation of the house. There are three images. One of what the front porch used to look like, one as it exists now, and one of the proposed new design. The applicant is seeking approval to replace the front porch balustrade and concrete floor. A new wood balustrade is proposed on the sides and on the left of the porch. The applicant also seeks approval for new metal operable gates for the top of the front porch steps. On the left is a photo taken February 23rd of this year with the porch floor missing. On the right is a photo that was provided by the applicant to show that there was a concrete slab for floor there previously. They propose to replace that with a new concrete slab. Here are the elevations of the proposal. On the top is what used to exist, and on the bottom is the proposed new design. The applicant is seeking approval after the fact for removal of the rear deck circled in green and the side covered porch, which is in purple. Um looks blue, but uh the applicant requests approval for a new rear building edition and deck and a side screen porch. Here's the east elevation. It's a little bit easier on the bottom drawing to see how the rear of the house will be bumped out to accommodate a larger den and bathroom and a new mechanical room. Here's the rear elevation. The top left are drawings submitted by the applicant showing the existing conditions.