OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - January 9, 2025

Historic Preservation Commission — Thursday, January 9, 2025
BodyWilmington, North Carolina
SessionHistoric Preservation Commission
DateThursday, January 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:31

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening and welcome to the January 9th meeting of 2025 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission.

0:10

Hearings before this commission are quasi judicial in nature.

0:14

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.

0:26

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.

0:38

Evidence submitted to the Commission for review will become part of the record.

0:43

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.

0:51

Further appeal must be submitted to Superior Court.

0:55

Evidence pertaining to an agenda item must be presented during the evidentiary portion of that item.

1:01

Individuals who wish to address the commission will be sworn in as witnesses to present material and substantial evidence.

1:08

The chair will recognize each witness who wishes to address the commission during the evidentiary portion.

1:14

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.

1:25

As a brief reminder, members of the commission are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of city council.

1:31

Our charge is with respect to the protection and preservation of properties located within the city's designated historic districts.

1:40

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.

1:50

We are to determine whether exterior changes to a building are congruent with the special character of the city's historic districts.

1:58

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.

2:06

Please remember that our deliberation should be centered on how our project meets the Wilmington design standards and whether the changes are congruous.

2:15

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.

2:29

Before the meeting begins, please ensure that all cell phones are in silent mode or turned off.

2:36

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.

2:48

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.

3:07

I am Kathleen Egan, the Commission Chair, and my fellow commissioners will now introduce themselves.

3:13

Ross Thomas Selly.

3:14

Stephen Sulkey.

3:16

Ashley Wilson.

3:18

Christopher Urbal.

3:21

John Keston.

3:22

Thank you.

3:23

We will now swear in those present who wish to present evidence related to any agenda item.

3:30

If I can have all staff applicants and members of the public, please stand up and raise your right hand.

3:40

Do you swear that the Everybody needs to stand up who's going to be has an item tonight?

3:48

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

3:53

Thank you.

3:54

Thank you.

3:57

We've each received a copy of the draft of the minutes from the last meeting.

4:03

Were there any corrections?

4:05

Yes.

4:05

Um the first application says it carried seven to zero.

4:10

I believe we only had six commissioners here that night.

4:17

That change will be noted.

4:19

Thank you.

4:19

Thank you.

4:20

Any other corrections or changes?

4:24

Then I move to accept the uh draft minutes with the correction mentioned by Mr.

4:32

Sulkey.

4:34

May I have a second?

4:35

Second.

4:36

All in favor?

4:37

Aye.

4:38

Motion passes.

4:40

The evidentiary portion of the meeting will now begin with the first agenda item, and we will have the staff report for 307 South 5th.

4:54

Good evening, Commission members.

4:57

Um the first case tonight is the property at 307 South Fifth Street.

5:00

The first case tonight is the property at 307 South Fifth Street, is located on the east side of South Fifth, three parcels south of its intersection with Ann Street.

5:07

The house contributes to the historic district, historic district residential HDR, and as such, all facades of the building are subject to review.

5:14

The house was described in the Wilmington Historic Boundary Expansion, an additional documentation report dated 2023 and originally listed in 1974 as the Jackson Pfeiffer House constructed circa 1895.

5:27

The house is a one-story cross-gable cottage with tuskin columns supported by a hipped roof porch.

5:37

The first portion of the proposed project is a second-story dormer edition on the rear of east elevation of the pro of the house.

5:44

This addition is similar to one granted in uh COA in March of 2022 for but for our previous owner, but has since expired.

5:51

The design has been updated to no longer include the balcony.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████78%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████11%
Procedural███6%
Public Engagement███5%
Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - January 9, 2025

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.

Approval of Minutes

  • The commission approved the December 12, 2024 minutes as amended after Commissioner Sulkey noted that one application was recorded as carrying 7-0 when only six commissioners were present. The motion passed 7-0.

Evidentiary Hearings

307 South 5th Street (MJW-35-2501)

  • Staff: Ben Riggle summarized a proposal for a rear second-story addition/dormer, replacement of a deteriorating rear deck with a one-story enclosed sunporch using eight reclaimed wood windows, and construction of a 20-foot by 12-foot garden shed with matching wood siding, shingle roof, and salvaged doors/windows.
  • Applicant Charlie Connor said the dormer might no longer be needed because an alternative stair design and skylights could provide access and light to the attic bedroom; previous owner had begun work under an expired COA.
  • The commission approved the project as originally proposed, including the dormer, to allow flexibility if the North Carolina Building Code requires it, with seven conditions: dormer gable at/below ridgeline; sunporch one story same footprint as non-historic deck; no removal of mature trees/historic landscaping; materials match house; clear no-tint windows; code compliance; review of changes. Motion carried 7-0.

414 South 2nd Street (MJW-36-2501)

  • Staff: Ben Riggle presented a proposal to enclose an existing covered rear porch, adding 121 square feet of livable space, retaining the existing foundation and roof, reusing a 15-light wood door and screen door, and preserving/reinstalling a two-over-two wood window.
  • Applicant Steve O'Connor said the small square footage would allow interior layout changes to make the house livable, including a powder room and expanded primary bedroom/bath/kitchen.
  • Vice-Chair Yermal advised that the New Hanover County inspections department may object to reusing the old window, so the commission allowed staff to approve a substitute wood two-over-two window with putty glazing via administrative bypass. Conditions also required salvaging/reusing siding/trim and offering unused materials to Legacy Architectural Salvage. Motion carried 7-0.

217 South 6th Street (MJW-37-2501)

  • Staff: Monica Davis presented a proposal to add two windows for bathroom renovations: a 30-inch by 12-inch fixed picture window on the upper north elevation and a 12-inch by 12-inch diamond-shaped fixed picture window on the lower south elevation. The house was relocated in 1985 from 609 Ann Street and remains contributing.
  • Applicant Mark Sumner explained the exterior trim would make the upper window align with the lower window, and the diamond shape matched neighborhood examples and the angled bathroom ceiling.
  • Commissioners expressed concern that Pella traditional aluminum-clad windows would set a precedent for non-wood windows in the original house. The commission approved the request with conditions requiring Pella Reserve Traditional Wood Windows, low-e no-tint glazing, wood trim, and standard code/compliance/review conditions. Motion carried 7-0.

No members of the public spoke for or against any of the three requests.

Other Business

  • Vice-Chair Yermal highlighted the Public Archaeology Corps excavation at 10 South Front Street, active for about four years and now reaching early 1700s layers. The site is open to the public Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the next several weeks. Artifacts include a millstone, bar shot, coins, pottery, pipe stems, and evidence of a 1762 hurricane.
  • Commissioner Sulkey asked whether approved projects that are never built are tracked. Brian Chambers said there is no formal tracking list, but Certificates of Appropriateness expire after 12 months.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved December 12, 2024 minutes as amended (7-0).
  • Approved 307 South 5th Street project with conditions (7-0).
  • Approved 414 South 2nd Street porch enclosure with conditions (7-0).
  • Approved 217 South 6th Street window additions with conditions requiring wood windows (7-0).
  • Meeting adjourned at 6:11 p.m.; next regular meeting is Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

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.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com