Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – June 13, 2024
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – June 13, 2024
The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC (meeting minutes note City Hall, 102 N 3rd St as the location, creating a discrepancy with the agenda). Chair Kathleen Egan presided. The meeting included approval of minutes, nine evidentiary hearings (two continued from May, seven new), and staff updates. The meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes – May 9, 2024: Approved unanimously (7-0) as presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- 410 Orange Street (Item 1): Sharon Dennen, speaking on behalf of neighbor Gold Walker, expressed concern that the proposed accessory structure would be too close to the neighbor's carriage house.
- 402 S 3rd Street (Item 3): Lisa Sager (318 S 3rd St) spoke in support of the applicant's project.
- No public comments were made on other items.
Discussion Items
Old Business
- 410 Orange Street – Construction of Accessory Structure: Applicant Bruce Urban proposed a two-story accessory structure (approx. 1,406 sq ft) with a parking pad. Discussion centered on roof panel texture (striated vs. flat). Approved with conditions, including flat roof panels.
- 111 Ann Street – Rear Porch Enclosure with Roof Deck: Applicant Carlos Gonzalez returned with additional information (SketchUp elevations) after a May continuance. Approved with conditions unanimously.
New Business 3. 402 S 3rd Street – After-the-Fact Exterior Alterations, Fence, Driveway: Applicant Scott Burns. Commission noted missing materials and dimensions. Continued to August 8, 2024 (7-0). 4. 401 S Front Street – Landscaping and Driveway: Applicant David Moore. Detailed plan including removal of walls, brick pavers, and plantings. Approved with conditions (7-0). 5. 311 McRae Street – New Residential Infill Construction: Applicants Nick and Libby Beccarino. Discussion on window style (1-over-1 vs. 2-over-2) and design creativity. Approved 5-2 (Vice-Chair Yermal and Ms. Wilson dissenting) with 14 conditions. 6. 416 N 5th Avenue – Driveway Installation: Applicant Ben Miller. Concerns over massive concrete scale and lack of landscaping. Continued to July 11, 2024 (7-0) to explore alternative materials and a landscape plan. 7. 1941 Amphitheater Drive (Greenfield Lake Amphitheater) – Exterior Alterations including Landscaping: Applicants Ryan Beljer and Ed Massey. Approved with conditions, including an 8-ft fence and synthetic lawn installation (7-0). 8. 415 N 7th Street – Exterior Alterations: Siding: Applicant absent. Proposed PVC board and batten over existing wood siding. Commission denied (7-0) citing incompatibility with design standards. 9. 323 S 4th Street – Major Landscaping and Fence on Corner Lot: Applicant Ben Moores. Proposed picket fence atop existing boundary wall and native landscaping. Approved with conditions (7-0).
Key Outcomes
- Approved (7-0): Minutes; 410 Orange St (conditional); 111 Ann St (conditional); 401 S Front St (conditional); 1941 Amphitheater Dr (conditional); 323 S 4th St (conditional).
- Approved (5-2): 311 McRae St (conditional; Yermal and Wilson opposed).
- Denied (7-0): 415 N 7th St.
- Continued to July 11, 2024: 416 N 5th Ave.
- Continued to August 8, 2024: 402 S 3rd St.
- Staff Announcements: Historic Preservation Planner Jessica Baldwin announced her departure; Megan Bacik and Brian Chambers will serve as interim. The National Register inventory survey contract is under negotiation, with fieldwork expected to begin fall 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, good evening, everybody, and welcome to the June 13th 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's action. And 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 assess the commission 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. We are to determine whether exterior changes to a building are congruous with the special character of the city's 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 our deliberation should be centered on how a project meets the Wilmington design standards and whether the changes are congruous. 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. I will begin the meeting by introduction of the city staff who are there to assist us this evening. We have Brian Chambers, who is an assistant planning director, Whitley Stavish, who is an assistant city attorney, Jessica Baldwin, Historic Preservation Planner, Megan Basick, Associate Planner, and Amy Broadsh Bradshaw, Planning Coordinator. I'm Kathleen Egan, the Commission Chair, and my fellow commissioners will now introduce themselves. Ross Thomaselli. Steven Solkey. Ashley Wilson. Christopher Yermal. Alison Watts. Joan Keston. Thank you. We will now swear in those present who wish to present evidence related to an agenda item. If I could please have all applicants, staff, and members of the public who wish to speak tonight, you must be stand up and be sworn in if you intend to speak this evening. Please stand up and 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? Thank you. Thank you. I would just like to remind members of the public that this is a quasi-judicial proceeding, and any testimony you provide needs to be relevant to the application that's being sought. We have received a copy of the minutes from last from May 9th. Are there any suggested edits or corrections to the draft minutes from our last meeting? Um, if so, please bring them to our attention now. Then could I have a motion to accept the minutes? I move to approve the minutes is drawn. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? No. So that motion passes. All right, we have a very long agenda tonight, so we are going to try and move as quickly as we can. We will move uh to the evidentiary part of the meeting, and we will begin with the first agenda item, which is old business.
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