Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – November 10, 2022
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Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – November 10, 2022
The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 102 North 3rd Street, Wilmington, NC. Chair Kathleen Egan presided with six members present (one absent) and staff in attendance. The meeting was quasi-judicial in nature and focused on four evidentiary hearings for properties in the Historic District. The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (314 S 6th St): Applicant John Bagwell stated he was unaware of the need for a Certificate of Appropriateness and believed his improvements increased neighborhood value. A letter from a neighbor was entered into the record but given less weight as it was not provided under oath.
- Item 2 (2 Church St): Applicants Rachel and Jay Larson expressed intent to restore the dilapidated property. Jay Larson confirmed the chimney had been removed for safety reasons and offered to rebuild a faux chimney if required. They explained material choices, including a tugboat porthole window and aluminum-clad doors.
- Item 3 (8 S 7th St): Applicant William Groves acknowledged his error in installing a striated metal roof instead of the original flat panel, stating it was an oversight. He offered to accept the commission's decision.
- Item 4 (219 S 3rd St): Applicant Shawn McGeoghegan explained the need for roof replacement due to leaks, and stated he would remove the request for a rooftop deck if it was not congruous with the district. He also expressed flexibility regarding the carport and exterior stairs.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: 314 S 6th Street – After-the-Fact Exterior Alterations (Hardie Board siding and vinyl windows). Staff noted the property is listed as contributing in the National Register but was previously considered non-contributing in city archives. The design standards do not differentiate. The commission found the materials (vinyl windows and Hardie Board) inappropriate for the district and inconsistent with previous denials.
- Item 2: 2 Church Street – Exterior Alterations and New Deck. Staff highlighted significant discrepancies among submitted plans, emails, and testimony. The chimney had been removed after the application was submitted. The commission found the plans unusable and contradictory, making it impossible to determine the exact scope of work. Concerns included commercial appearance, stucco over brick, cable railings, and striated metal roof.
- Item 3: 8 S 7th Street – After-the-Fact Roof Replacement. The applicant replaced a flat-panel standing seam metal roof with a 16-inch striated panel roof. The commission noted they had consistently denied striated roofs in the past and emphasized the need for consistency. The roof line and vents were unchanged.
- Item 4: 219 S 3rd Street – Site Improvement, Addition, Exterior Alterations, and After-the-Fact Exterior Alterations. The proposal included a rear two-story addition, a carport with rooftop deck, exterior stairs, and site fencing. The commission expressed concerns about the congruity of the rooftop deck, the carport design, and visible exterior stairs. The applicant indicated willingness to modify these elements.
Other Business
- Travis Gilbert of the Historic Wilmington Foundation announced a free slate repair workshop on Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Legacy Architectural Salvage.
- Commissioner Stephen Sulkey commended staff for their thorough case summaries and preparation.
- Commissioner Christopher Yermal proposed exploring a state-wide historic district addendum for real estate transactions to reduce after-the-fact violations and inform buyers.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (314 S 6th St): Motion to deny the request for after-the-fact exterior alterations (Hardie Board siding and vinyl windows) passed 6-0.
- Item 2 (2 Church St): Motion to deny the request for exterior alterations and new deck passed 5-0 (Commissioner Ron Wilson recused himself).
- Item 3 (8 S 7th St): Motion to deny the after-the-fact roof replacement passed 6-0.
- Item 4 (219 S 3rd St): Motion to continue the item to the December 8, 2022 meeting (to allow the applicant to revise the carport, rooftop deck, and stair design) passed 6-0.
Meeting Transcript
Come on, you start a lot of rain and all that. So we should get more and I'll just go over there and say we'll be back on here. That's wrong. Okay, great. Um yeah, which is fine. Yeah. No, I think we need to be there, but actually. No, but don't everything again there's a fight. But it's okay. But it's okay where you know. Anyway, that's what we're doing. Wait for like drainage or something, maybe? Oh, maybe getting a new water line. See if you're must be a big need of the water line if I'm gonna walk. To get a building permit, they have to do a meters, a water meter sizing form to see a fee way and see if you are looking for any reason to tell people to upgrade their their water pipe and their money. You know, it's like anywhere from it's usually for residential, it's usually like a ten to twenty thousand dollar fee. See if we doesn't do anything. Okay. Okay. Good evening and welcome to the November 10th 2022 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission. Hearings before this commission are quasi-judicial in nature. This is a design review process to determine whether a proposed project is congruous with the special character of the historic district or landmark in which it is located. 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 Interior's standards for rehabilitation. Evidence submitted to the commission for review will become part of the record. Appeal of a commission decision must be submitted to the Wilmington Board of Adjustment within 30 days of the date of the commission's action. Further appeal must be submitted to Superior Court. Evidence pertaining to an agenda item must be presented during the evidentiary portion of that item. Individuals who wish wish to address the commission will be sworn in as witnesses to present material and substantial evidence. In order to ensure that witness evidence is properly recorded, each individual should come to the podium and clearly state their name and address before addressing the commission. As a brief reminder, members of the commission are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of City Council. Our charge is with respect to the protection and preservation of properties located within the city's designated historic districts. The commission is held to the requirements of the Wilmington design standards for historic districts and landmarks, as well as the applicable North Carolina state law. Miss Melissa Huffman, who's our assistant city attorney, Miss Maegan Basick, associate planner, is Jessica Baldwin, Historic Preservation Planner, and Amy Brad Miss Ad Amy Bradshaw, planning coordinator. We'll begin with the administrative portion of the meeting. Stephen Sulke. Ashley Wilson. Christopher Yermel. Ron Wilson. Alison Watts. Thank you. We will now swear in those present who wish to present evidence related to an agenda item. If I could have all staff applicants and members of the public who wish to speak tonight, please stand up and raise your right hand. Do you affirm that the evidence you're about to present is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. Thank you. We'll next move to the minutes if there are any suggested edits or correction to the draft minutes from our last meeting. If you would bring them to our attention now. There are no minutes from the last meeting. Oh. Okay, then.
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