The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Skyline Center. The meeting included approval of minutes, a fencing proposal at 502 Red Cross Street, and a study list application for New Hanover High School. The commission also re-elected officers and reviewed the annual report.
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 landmarks, as well as the applicable North Carolina state law. 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 for the basis of 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. We will begin the meeting with the introduction of city staff who assist us with these meetings. And Gina Esse, who is our assistant city attorney. Wait a second. Ben Riggles, who is our planning manager, and Amy Bradshaw. All right, let's see. Amy Bradshaw, who is our planning coordinator. We will begin with the administrative portion of the meeting. I am Kathleen Egan, the Commission Chair. And my fellow commissioners will introduce themselves. And the other commissioners attending the meeting tonight are Joan Keston. Stephen Sulkey. Ashley Wilson. Chris Herbal. Allison Watts. 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, if you will be speaking this evening, you need to please stand up and raise your right hand. You must be sworn in in order to speak. You have to stand. Sorry. 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 received a draft of the minutes from the January 9th meeting. If there are any suggested edits or corrections to the draft minutes from our last meeting, please bring them to our attention now. No, we're good. Okay, could I have a motion then to approve the minutes of the presentation? I motion to approve. Second. All in favor. Aye. We will now begin the evidentiary portion of the meeting. And we will move to new business. And the first order of new business is 502 Red Cross Street. Um the applicant proposes to install a black metal fence around the boundary of St.