This meeting of the Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission was held on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC. The commission considered seven agenda items, including evidentiary hearings for after-the-fact alterations, new construction, and renovations within the city's historic districts. Key decisions included approval of a rear addition at 219 S 3rd Street, denial of after-the-fact vinyl window installation at 1615 Grace Street and 618 Grace Street, approval of an elevator addition at 401 S 4th Street, and withdrawal of one application.
Okay, we're gonna get started. Good evening and welcome to the December 8th, 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 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 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 to address the commission will be sworn in as witnesses to present material and substantial evidence. The chair will recognize each witness who wishes to address the commission during the evidentiary portion. 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. It is important that the commission deliberate the merits of each request in a manner that provides a record of the basis for our decisions. Please remember that our deliberation should be centered on how a project meets the Wilmington design standards and whether the changes are congruent. Commissioners, if you have received or been made aware of any information outside this evidentiary hearing related to any agenda item before the commission, please recuse yourself from that agenda item. Before the meeting begins, please ensure that all cell phones are in silent mode or turned off. At this point, I'd like to introduce the city staff, Miss Melissa Huffman, who is the assistant city attorney, Ms. Linda Painter, our planning director, Ms. Jessica Baldwin, the historic preservation planner, Megan Basick, Associate Planner, and Ms. A. B. Amy Bradshaw, our planning coordinator. We'll begin with the administrative portion of the meeting. Ross Thomas Ellie. Ashley Wilson. Christopher Yermal. Thank you. And next we will swear in our newest commission member, Ross Thomasini. And um and after that, then we'll swear in those present who wish to present evidence on an agenda item. All right. I will obey the laws of the ordinances of the city of Wilmington and faithfully discharge the duties of the office to which I have been appointed. So help me, God. I do. Thank you. All right, and now if I can get all members, um, applicants, staff, and members of the public who wish to speak tonight to please stand up and raise your right hand. In order to speak this evening, you will need to be sworn in and stand up to be sworn in. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. Thank you. All right, we have been provided with uh two months of minutes, and we've had an opportunity to review them. Um there any suggested edits or corrections to the draft of the minutes we've received. Okay. Um go ahead and make a motion. I motion to accept the minutes. I'll second. All in favor? Aye. All opposed.