The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, January 9, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m. to conduct evidentiary hearings on three certificates of appropriateness requests. All seven commissioners were present, and a quorum was confirmed. The agenda listed the meeting at City Council Chambers, Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, while the approved minutes state the meeting was held at City Council Chambers, City Hall, 102 North 3rd Street. Witnesses were sworn in, and the chair read the procedures for quasi-judicial review.
307 South 5th Street (MJW-35-2501)
414 South 2nd Street (MJW-36-2501)
217 South 6th Street (MJW-37-2501)
No members of the public spoke for or against any of the three requests.
Good evening and welcome to the January 9th meeting of 2025 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. 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. The commission is held to the requirements of the Wilmington Design Standards for Historic Districts and Lmarks, as well as applicable North Carolina state law. We are to determine whether exterior changes to a building are congruent 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 for the basis of our decision. Please remember that our deliberation should be centered on how our 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 with the introduction of city staff who help us every month to do our meeting the way we're supposed to. We have a Jeanette Essey, who was the assistant city attorney, Ben Riggle, the planning manager, Monica Davis, our planner, Brian Chambers, Assistant Planning Director, and Amy Bradshaw, our planning coordinator. I am Kathleen Egan, the Commission Chair, and my fellow commissioners will now introduce themselves. Ross Thomas Selly. Stephen Sulkey. Ashley Wilson. Christopher Urbal. John Keston. Thank you. We will now swear in those present who wish to present evidence related to any agenda item. If I can have all staff applicants and members of the public, please stand up and raise your right hand. Do you swear that the Everybody needs to stand up who's going to be has an item tonight? 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. We've each received a copy of the draft of the minutes from the last meeting. Were there any corrections? Yes. Um the first application says it carried seven to zero. I believe we only had six commissioners here that night. That change will be noted. Thank you. Thank you. Any other corrections or changes? Then I move to accept the uh draft minutes with the correction mentioned by Mr. Sulkey. May I have a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Motion passes.