The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers at Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC. Chair Christopher Yermal presided. The meeting included approval of the July 9, 2026 minutes, ten evidentiary hearings (one old business, nine new business), and other business. All votes were unanimous with one recusal.
The minutes of the July 9, 2026 meeting were approved by a vote of 7–0.
1. 1812 Grace St. – Alterations to front porch, addition, and new windows. This project, continued from July 9, 2026, involved replacing the front door and light fixture, constructing a glass solarium and a rear addition, and reconfiguring windows. Chair Yermal recused himself; Vice-Chair Keston chaired. The commission approved the request (6–0) with staff conditions.
2. 12 N. 6th St. – Expansion of Ash Garden at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The applicant proposed extending the garden 17 feet, adding a patio, low wall, fence, lighting, and landscaping. Motion to approve passed 7–0.
3. 206 Orange St. – Driveway, gates, and retaining wall improvements. The project involved widening the east gate, replacing concrete driveways with pervious pavers, and reconstructing a retaining wall and stairs. Commissioners favored brick stairs to match the historic character. Motion to approve with an additional condition for brick stairs passed 7–0.
4. 1619 Chestnut St. – Fence on corner lot. The applicant proposed a 6‑foot wood privacy fence along the alley and raising an existing brick wall along 17th Street. The commission approved 7–0 with conditions.
5. 312 S. Front St. – Driveway expansion and window replacement. The driveway would be widened and the concrete replaced with a chevron pattern. The windows, previously recommended for repair, were proposed for in‑kind wood replacement. After discussion, the commission approved 7–0 with staff conditions. Staff and legal counsel clarified that wood‑for‑wood window replacement is generally permissible.
6–8. 23 N. Front St., 27 N. Front St., and 35 N. Front St. – All three items were continued at the applicant’s request. The continuance motion passed 7–0.
9. 1403 Market St. (Trinity Methodist Church) – Window replacement with change of material. The applicant sought to replace 93 double‑hung wood windows with fiberglass‑clad wood windows as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation. The commission approved 7–0, citing the institutional nature, the large number of windows, the 1948 construction date of the affected portion, and its non‑contributing status as grounds for deviation from the design standards.
10. 613 Orange St. – Chimney removal. The chimney was causing water infiltration. The commission approved removal to the roofline (7–0).
Good evening. Welcome to the Historic Preservation Commission meeting on this Thursday, August 13th, 2006. Hearings before the historic preservation commission are quasi-judicial in nature. This is a design review process to determine if the proposed project is congruous 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 Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. Evidence submitted to the commission for review becomes part of the record. Appeals of commission decisions are made to the Wilmington Board of Adjustment and then 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 front here. Um maybe adjust the microphone if you need to adjust the commission, state your name and address, and speak clearly. Members of the Historic Preservation Commission are appointed by the city council and serve at its discretion. Our responsibility is to protect and preserve properties within the city's designated historic districts. We adhere to the Wilmington design standards for historic districts and landmarks as well as applicable North Carolina state law to assess whether exterior changes align with the unique 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 of the basis for our decisions. Please remember that our deliberation should center on how a project meets the design standards and whether the proposed change is congruous or not. Commissioners, if you have been uh made aware or received any outside evidence related to any of the matters, please recuse yourself. And if you would also please turn off your cell phones or set to silent mode. Thank you for that. And I would like to introduce staff starting at my left over here, Brian Chambers, Gina Essie. Is that I'm sorry. Uh another staff member. I'm sorry. Oh, it's a dog. Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. Gina's daughter. Future future staff. Okay, Gina Essie. Um Alden Filnholm, uh, Ben Regal, and then to my right is Amy Bradshaw. And then if commissioners could please introduce themselves from my left, starting there. I'm Paul Lerler. I'm Christopher Yermal. Ashley Wilson. Um staff will now swear in any witnesses over facing this way toward Amy, swearing any witnesses who will speak tonight. Um, if you will stand for that oath and face that direction, please toward Amy. If anyone who wishes to speak this evening, if you have an item on the agenda or you plan to speak towards an item on the agenda, please stand up and raise your right hand. Please note you must stand up and be sworn in in order to speak this evening. 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. Uh first order of business tonight. Well, first of all, before that, uh just want to announce that there are uh Wilmington Police Department and a uh uh SWAT team associated with the department are doing some trainings tonight. So they're starting in upper floors and they'll be working their way down here. But if you see uh a fleet outside of vehicles of that nature or inside, don't be alarmed, it's just a a typical training that's being done. Um also want to note that we're gonna well actually let's do this first. Approval of minutes. Can someone make a motion about are there any adjustments or can we go ahead and approve uh someone make a motion to approve the minutes from last month?