Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting, October 14, 2021
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Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting, October 14, 2021
The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC. Vice-Chair Joan Keston presided. All seven members present (Kathleen Egan, Mary Ann Keiser, Michael Smith, Stephen Sulkey, Ashley Wilson, Christopher Yermal) except Ron Wilson. Assistant City Attorney Melissa Huffman and planning staff (Christine Hughes, Ivy Freitag, Amy Bradshaw) attended. The meeting began with a certificate of appreciation for former chair Rob Romero and approval of the September 9, 2021 minutes (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Yolanda Markel, neighbor at 414 Church Street, spoke in support of the applicant's restoration of 412 Church Street, noting the house had been in disrepair and encouraging timely and considerate work.
Discussion Items
- 124 S. Front Street (Old Business): Request to remove contributing building status to retain full allowable building height in the Central Business District. Staff and applicant's experts (engineer Tim Hines, architect David Lyle, owner Erik Hemingway) presented evidence that the building had little significance in four categories (structural integrity, cultural significance, architectural integrity, style). The commission voted 6-0 (Yermal recused) to approve the removal of contributing status.
- 412 Church Street: After-the-fact application for removal of siding, windows, doors and proposed replacement. Staff found work without a COA. Applicant Blake Brown acknowledged miscommunication with contractor. Commission approved with 10 conditions, including wood materials and final design review. Vote 7-0.
- 312 South 6th Street: Window and door alterations on rear elevation. Proposed replacement with pine windows and doors. Approved with 4 conditions, including clear glass. Vote 6-0 (Yermal recused).
- 314 Orange Street: Replace two exterior doors on west side. Proposed pine 4-panel doors. Approved with 4 conditions, including salvage of existing doors. Vote 7-0.
- 113 Dock Street: Exterior alterations: add balcony, convert window to door, remove faux stone siding, add shutters. Proposed black steel balcony, stucco finish, PVC shutters. Approved with 4 conditions. Vote 7-0.
- 812 Macumber Alley: Waive 365-day stay of demolition for rear deck and construct rear addition. Applicant Anthony Demings submitted wood windows (6/6, JELD-WEN). Approved with 8 conditions. Vote 7-0.
- 21 Market Street: Restore upper story windows on front elevation. Replace with Sturgis aluminum single hung 15/1 windows, restore brick sills. Approved with 4 conditions. Vote 7-0.
- Other Business – Rules of Procedure: Approved 7-0 as updated for new Land Development Code.
- 2022 Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines: Approved 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- All seven evidentiary hearings were approved with conditions, with votes ranging from 6-0 to 7-0.
- Commission approved updated Rules of Procedure and the 2022 meeting schedule.
- Staff announced retirement of Planning Director Glenn Harbeck, appointment of interim director Ron Satterfield, and a search for a second historic preservation planner.
- Staff will present to the City Council Governance Committee regarding special enabling legislation for demolitions outside historic districts; the item is tentatively scheduled for the November 3 City Council business meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Hello? Okay. Good evening. Welcome to the Historic Preservation Commission meeting today, October 14th. My name is Joan Keston, and I'm the acting chairman for the Commission. Hearings before the Historic Preservation Commission are quasi judicial in nature. This is a design review process to determine if the proposed project is congruous with the special character of the historic district or landmark. Decisions of the Commission are based on the record of these proceedings. The Wilmington Design Standards for Historic Districts and Landmarks and the Secretary of the Interior 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 to Superior Court and are based on the record record. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date of the Commission's action. Evidence is received during the evidentiary hearing portion of an agenda item. Those who want to address the commission are sworn as witnesses to 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 evidence is properly recorded, please come to the podium to address the commission, state your name and address, and speak clearly. A brief reminder that members of the HBC are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the City Council. Our charge is to respect to the protection and preservation of properties in the city's designated historic district. We are held to the standards of the Wellington Design Standards for historic districts and landmarks and per applicable North Carolina state law to determine if exterior changes are congruous with the special character of the city's historic districts. It is important that we deliberate at the at the merits of each request in a manner that provides a record as to the basis for our decisions. Please remember that our deliberation should be centered on how a project meets the design standards and whether the proposed change is congruous or is not congruous. Commissioners, if you have received or been aware of any outside evidence related to any of the matters, please recuse yourself. At this time, I would like to request that you all that all cell phones be either turned off or in silent mode. Thank you. Please would like to introduce the commissioners. Kathleen Egan. Stephen Salke. Christopher Yermel. Michael Smith. Mary Ann Casner. Also present as Amy Bradshaw, Planning Coordinator, Christine Hughes, Senior Planner, Melissa Huffman, Assistant City Attorney, Ivy Frytag Preservation Planner. And is Jeff here? No. Okay. If everyone who wishes to speak could please stand. Raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. All right, thank you. First, on the agenda, we'll approve the minutes from the September 9th meeting. Does anybody have any comments to make? I just have one. Page three. It is the third paragraph in the bottom. I think it should say cast iron planters and not cast iron plants. It is? Uh-huh. Oh, I well. Begg to beg your pardon. I was wrong on that one.
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