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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – January 13, 2022

Historic Preservation Commission — Thursday, January 13, 2022

BodyWilmington, North Carolina

SessionHistoric Preservation Commission

DateThursday, January 13, 2022

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:47:59

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

0:14

Good evening, everyone.

0:16

Um, this is the uh meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission today, January 13th, 2022.

0:23

Uh my name is Joan Keston.

0:25

I'm the acting chairman for the Historic Preservation Commission.

0:29

Um, hearings before the Historic Preservation Commission are quasi-judicial in nature.

0:33

This is a design review process to determine if the proposed project is congruous with the special character of the storic district or landmark.

0:41

Decisions of the commission are based on the record of these proceedings.

0:44

The Wilmington Design Standards for Historic Districts and Landmarks and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.

0:50

Evidence submitted to the Commission for review becomes part of the record.

0:54

Appeals of commission decisions are to the Wilmington Board of Adjustment and then to the Superior Court and are based on the record.

1:02

Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date of the Commission's action.

1:06

Evidence is received during the evidentiary portion of an agenda item.

1:10

Those who want to address the commission are sworn as witnesses to present material and substantial evidence to the commission.

1:16

The chair recognizes those who want to submit such evidence during the evidentiary hearing.

1:21

Evidence should be directed to the commission.

1:23

To ensure that evidence is properly recorded, please come to the podium, state your name and address, and speak clearly.

1:31

A brief reminder that members of the HBC are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the City Council.

1:36

Our charge is with respect to the perfection and preservation of properties in the city's designated historic districts.

1:45

We are held to the standards of the Wilmington 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.

1:58

It is important that we deliberate the merits of each request in a manner that provides a record as to the basis for our decisions.

2:04

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.

2:13

Commissioners, if you have received or been made aware of any outside evidence related to any of the matters, please recuse yourself.

2:20

At this time, I would like to request that all cell phones be either turned off or put on silent mode.

2:25

Thank you.

2:25

And if the staff of commission staff would introduce themselves.

2:29

Commissioners.

2:31

Stephen?

2:32

Stephen Sulkey.

2:35

Ron Wilson.

2:37

Michael Smith.

2:38

Ashley Wilson.

2:39

We also have in attendance Melissa Hoffman, who's the assistant city attorney, Christine Hughes, the senior planner, and Amy Bradshaw, the planning coordinator.

2:48

If anyone wishes to present some evidence this evening, if they would please stand and Amy will swear you in.

2:56

All applicants need to stand in anyone who intends to speak.

3:07

Is that everybody?

3:08

Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

3:14

Thank you.

3:23

We're gonna do the minutes.

3:29

I'm sorry.

3:30

We're gonna do them at the end.

3:31

Oh, okay.

3:41

Good evening.

4:10

Thank you.

4:15

The proposal before you at 226 South Fourth Street is to change the roofing materials from slate tiles to architectural asphalt shingles on the main portion of the house.

4:23

The existing standing seam metal roof on the porch would also be replaced with snap-lock architectural metal roof panels.

4:31

Built circum 1910, the house is a side passage, four-square house with wide eaves, wraparound porch, tuskin columns, and a hipped roof dormer.

4:38

The house is a contributing resource in the historic district residential.

4:43

Revisions to all facades of buildings in the entire site are subject to design review in this district.

4:53

The applicant requests approval to replace the existing slate tile on the main portion of the roof with asphalt shingle, asphalt shingles, and to replace the existing standing seam metal roof with a new metal roof.

5:04

The asphalt shingles will be certainty, Belmont, shingles, and Stonegate Gray.

5:08

And the lower porch with standing seam metal roof materials would be re-roofed with metal roofing system 1000 snaplock aluminum roof panels, 16-inch wide, flat with no ribs or striations in the colored dark bronze.

5:24

The roof is a character defining feature.

5:26

The texture depth and form of a slate tile roof are physical elements that contribute to its defining features.

5:32

The roof on the subject property is visible from both South Forth and Ann Streets.

5:38

No new gutters, downspouts, or vents are proposed on as part of this project.

5:44

The small shed style roof over the back door is not proposed to be changed at this time.

5:50

The design standards note the diversity and variety of Wilmington's roof types.

5:54

Technological advancements allowed for other roof materials beyond the original wood shingles, such as standing sea metal, polychrome slate and clay tiles.

6:02

The design standards recommend retaining and preserving character-defining roof materials that contribute to the historic character of the building.

6:09

If a portion of the roof needs replacement to replace it with materials that match the original or historically appropriate features in design pattern color and scale.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████51%

Property Maintenance██████████████████████25%

Procedural███████8%

Zoning And Land Use██████7%

Engineering And Infrastructure██████7%

Personnel Matters██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – January 13, 2022

A regular meeting of the Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission was held on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC. The Commission considered three new business items, received the annual report, approved minutes, and elected officers for 2022.

Discussion Items

226 South 4th Street (MJW-22-27): Change of roofing materials – The applicant requested to replace the original slate tile roof with architectural asphalt shingles and to replace the existing standing seam metal porch roof with new snap-lock metal panels. Several commissioners expressed concern that the slate roof appeared repairable and requested additional evidence (e.g., contractor or engineer report documenting irreparable condition, photographs of interior water damage) before allowing removal of the character‑defining original roof. The applicant stated the slate roof was leaking in multiple places but had no written documentation from a contractor.
1922 Chestnut Street (MJW-22-28): Demolish rear accessory building and construct new accessory dwelling unit (ADU) – The applicant proposed to demolish a small shed and build a two‑story ADU behind the house. The new building would be slightly shorter than the house, use natural cedar shake siding on the second story, and be minimally visible from public streets. Commissioners found the design compatible with the alley context.
214 Church Street (MJW-22-29): After‑the‑fact demolition of rear porch, construction of new rear porch and addition – The applicant had demolished the rear porch and started construction without certificates of appropriateness or building permits. The project also included a shed, fencing changes, an HVAC unit, and metal curtain rods on the front porch. Commissioners expressed concern about inadequate setbacks, inconsistent drawings, lack of a survey, and unresolved building code compliance. The applicant agreed to remove the proposed room addition and bring professional drawings.

Key Outcomes

226 South 4th Street: Motion to continue the item to the February 10, 2022 meeting to allow the applicant to provide evidence of the roof’s condition (e.g., contractor/engineer report, photos of interior leaks). Carried 6‑1 (Vice‑Chair Keston voted no).
1922 Chestnut Street: Motion to approve the waiver of the stay of demolition, demolition of the existing shed, and construction of the new ADU with six conditions (including natural cedar shake siding, maximum height below the house’s peak, and clear glass). Carried 7‑0.
214 Church Street: Motion to approve (after‑the‑fact) the installation of the shed, fencing changes, and the HVAC unit, and to refer the curtain rods to an administrative bypass application. All other elements (setbacks, rear porch, and addition) were continued to the March 10, 2022 meeting. Carried 6‑1 (Commissioner Smith voted no).
Annual Report (FY2021): Staff reported 54 major cases processed, 9 new demolition‑by‑neglect (DBN) cases identified, 33 DBN cases brought into compliance, and 49 DBN cases still under monitoring. The report was received and discussed.
Minutes Approval: The minutes of the November 18, 2021 and December 9, 2021 meetings were approved unanimously (7‑0).
Election of Officers: Kathleen Egan was elected Chair and Christopher Yermal was elected Vice‑Chair for 2022, both by unanimous vote.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Um, this is the uh meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission today, January 13th, 2022. Uh my name is Joan Keston. I'm the acting chairman for the Historic Preservation Commission. Um, 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 storic 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 the Superior Court and are based on the record. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date of the Commission's action. Evidence is received during the evidentiary 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, 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 with respect to the perfection and preservation of properties in the city's designated historic districts. We are held to the standards of the Wilmington 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 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 made aware of any outside evidence related to any of the matters, please recuse yourself. At this time, I would like to request that all cell phones be either turned off or put on silent mode. Thank you. And if the staff of commission staff would introduce themselves. Commissioners. Stephen? Stephen Sulkey. Ron Wilson. Michael Smith. Ashley Wilson. We also have in attendance Melissa Hoffman, who's the assistant city attorney, Christine Hughes, the senior planner, and Amy Bradshaw, the planning coordinator. If anyone wishes to present some evidence this evening, if they would please stand and Amy will swear you in. All applicants need to stand in anyone who intends to speak. Is that everybody? Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. We're gonna do the minutes. I'm sorry. We're gonna do them at the end. Oh, okay. Good evening. Thank you. The proposal before you at 226 South Fourth Street is to change the roofing materials from slate tiles to architectural asphalt shingles on the main portion of the house. The existing standing seam metal roof on the porch would also be replaced with snap-lock architectural metal roof panels. Built circum 1910, the house is a side passage, four-square house with wide eaves, wraparound porch, tuskin columns, and a hipped roof dormer. The house is a contributing resource in the historic district residential. Revisions to all facades of buildings in the entire site are subject to design review in this district. The applicant requests approval to replace the existing slate tile on the main portion of the roof with asphalt shingle, asphalt shingles, and to replace the existing standing seam metal roof with a new metal roof. The asphalt shingles will be certainty, Belmont, shingles, and Stonegate Gray.

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