The historic preservation commission meeting on May 7th, 2025.

Hearings before the Historic Preservation Commission are quasi judicial in nature.

This is a design review process to determine if the proposed project is congruent with the special character of the historic district or landmark.

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 the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.

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

Appeals of commission decisions are to the Wilmington Board of Adjustment and then to the Superior Court and are based on the record.

Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date of the Commission's action.

Evidence is received during the evidentiary hearing portion of an agenda item.

Those who want to address the commission are sworn as witnesses to present material and substantial evidence to the commission.

The chair recognizes those who want to submit such evidence during the evidentiary hearing.

Evidence should be directed to the commission.

To ensure that evidence is properly recorded, please come to the podium in the hall to address the commission, set your name and address, and speak clearly.

Members of the HPC are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the city council.

Our charges with respect to the protection and preservation of properties in the city's designated as historic district.

We are held to the standards of the Wilmington Design Standards for Historic Districts and Landmarks and per applicable North Carolina state law to determine if exterior changes are congruous with the special character of the city's historic districts.

It is important that we deliberate the merits of each request in a manner that provides a record as to the basis for our decisions.

Please remember that our double deliberation should be centered on how a project meets the design standards and whether the proposed change is congruous or is not congruous.

Commissioners, if you have received or been made aware of any outside evidence to related to any of the matters, please recuse yourself.

At this time, I would like to request that all cell phones be turned off or put in silent mode.

Thank you.

Um staff present tonight.

Gina Essay is our assistant city attorney.

Brian Chambers, Assistant Planning Director, Ben Riggle, Planning Manager, Monica Davis, Historic Preservation Planner, and Amy Bradshaw, Planning Coordinator.

Now will the commissioners please introduce themselves?

Stephen Sulkey.

Ashley Wilson.

Allison Watts.

At this time, staff will swear in witnesses that will be speaking at this evening.

So anyone who will be speaking, please stand to be sworn in.

Everyone could please stand and raise your right hand.

If you wish to speak 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.

So we can get started.

At this time, we'd like to have a motion or any uh comments about the minutes from April 10th last month's meeting.

Um the only thing is the misspelling on Gina's name.

It's SB on the minutes, it should be S instead of a P.

That's it.

Anything else?

Can we have a motion to approve with that change?

I approve I have a motion to approve.

Second, anyone?

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Thank you.

So we'll proceed to um the evidentiary hearing for new business.

Um, the first item is agenda on the agenda is item number one, 121 North Eighth Street.

Evening Commissioners.

Um, case one is for of the proposed project is to remove the rear porch uh and deck area, expand the existing concrete parking driveway with additional parking area, and install a new concrete patio at 121 Northeast Street.

The house at 121 North Eighth Street was constructed circa 1990 and is a non-contributing resource located within the historic district residential.

As such, all facades of the dwelling and parcel are subject to design review.

The subject property is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Northeast Street and Chestnut Street.

The applicant proposes to remove the existing deck and rear porch area to allow for the enlargement of the concrete concrete parking area by 98 square feet.

The existing seven-foot by 12-foot wood deck and porch will be removed and the steps and handrails salvaged to be reinstalled to re allow access to the rear entrance.

An additional two-foot by seven foot area extending from the deck area towards Chestnut Street will be infilled with concrete to complete the parking area expansion.

The applicant also proposes to construct a 14-foot by 11-foot, 154 square foot concrete patio off the south end of the driveway in the proposed expanded concrete parking area.

The concrete will be four inches thick and will be standard gray matching the existing driveway.

The proposed expanded concrete parking area and patio will be located approximately two feet west from the foundation of the house.