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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-29-2007 CHPC MINUTES , ' � 1 CALDWELL HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 29, 2007 CALDWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY Idaho Room '��'����'�r �� 1 , :,c � �' o d�e I. Call to Order Elaine Carpenter Chair called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. II. Roll Call Present: : Elaine Carpenter. Chuck Randolph, Elaine Leppert, Gina Lujack, ' Steven Maughan, Jan Boles, Eileen Davidson, Lorene Oates, Ron Blakley (arrived about 7 pm), City staff Brian Billingsley and Dave Richey. . _ Members Absent: Anita Shore. - '� ..� I -'= III `� Approval of Agenda: After an addition of `Blaine and Cleveland Curb and G�tttet" to '' (X) For the Good of the Commission, the agenda was approved (motion, Randolph, second, I Boles, unanimous affirmative vote). Subsequently, this agenda item was combined with "Rails" under (VIII) Old Business. IV. Approval of Minutes: With the correction of one typographical error (section VI, line 14—"Do we need to publish an application and have a public meeting?"--- the minutes were approved (motion Randolph, second Leppert, unanimous vote in the affirmative. V. Certificate of Appropriateness Interview C of A number CA-96-07: 1208 Blaine (special use as an office) Owing to a clerical oversight, this application and associated packet of exhibits were not distributed in the mailing. After a delay while commissioners reviewed these materials, Jim Rice, being sworn, spoke to his application. [The attached narrative submitted by Mr. Rice contains many details which will not be repeated here.] Mr. Rice purchased the property with the intention of making it the corporate office of Greensprings Fellowship Trust (of which is he is both vice-president and a director). This is a charitable organization that aids autistic children via equine therapy. The therapy center is in Denver; another director resides in California; Caldwell was chosen as corporate headquarters for its central location. [Hereafter Greensprings Fellowship Trust is referred to as "GFT," and the Steunenberg Residential Historic District is called "the District."] � . � ��I The property was purchased and needed repairs were commenced in advance of the C of A ' process. (Roof repairs, already completed, were approved by means of the expedited process handled by Commissioner Randolph.) Mr. Rice, an attorney, testified that his application should be approved in spite of it being a non-residential use. He stated that GFT would abide by an extensive list of restrictions that would guarantee no negative impact on the District. He said that in the event GFT sells or leases the property it would revert to residential use. Discussion continued for the better part of an hour. Although Commissioner Boles raised the possibility that a dwelling conscientiously used as a business could be a better neighbor than a shabby residence, Mr. Rice, was faced with firm opposition by the balance of the commission. Chair Carpenter cited the precedent of the commission's denial of the application to convert the two-storey cinder block apartment in the 1500 block of Cleveland into an insurance agency. Mr. R ice a sserted t hat unde r o ur o rdinance C HPC c ould no t de ny an a pplication f or a no n- residential use without being "arbitrary and capricious."_ He said•. that, from the standpoint of establishing a precedent, CHPC would be better off approving his application. In support of his argument that the ordinance did not clearly describe a residence-only district, he submitted p. 6 of the "Step-by-Step" guide, specifically the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for restoration of historic structures (this was identified as "exhibit C"). Commissianers Lujack and Oates questioned Mr. Rice as to why he had not shopped for suitable ,,;� property in the commercial district. He replied that at the time, there was a poor selection of listings. When asked if he was not made aware by his real estate agent that the District is residential, he replied that his agent had phoned the "Building Department" and was told that there would be no zoning issues in the District. P&Z Director Billingsley responded that Building Department personnel are not authorized to comment on zoning questions. Commissioner R andolph m oved t o c lose t he p ublic he aring o n t he application ( seconded b y Commissioner Davidson; unanimous vote in favor). During the discussion period, Randolph stated that under the findings of fact, CHPC had the basis to decide on the application. He said the merits of the application were not in question but that he would vote to deny solely on the issue of use. Commissioner Boles described a recent inquiry about home occupation by a party interested in purchasing the P.G. Batt residence. The proposed use described, operating a photo studio, was deemed to be inappropriate. (The party did not make the purchase.) Boles pointed out that had Mr. Rice made such advance inquiry, he would have probably received a similar opinion. To clarify the question of home occupation, Commissioner Maughan asked, "What percentage of a home may be devoted to such use?" Director Billingsley answered, "Up to 25 per cent." Chair Carpenter reiterated the will of the commission to prevent any erosion to the residential nature of the District. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to deny the application. Vote was unanimous, although the original "nay" votes had to be recast as "aye" to reflect the intent of the motion. Mr. Rice departed after shaking hands all around. The rest of the audience also departed, leaving only the members of the commission present. A"post-vote" discussion let to the following consensus: A compromise on the weakest block in the district would be as damaging to the integrity of the district as a compromise on the most attractive block in the district. ' ' . ., VI Audience participation: .There was no audience participation. VII Action Since Last Meeting: Orchids and Onions: Chair Carpenter and Commissioners Oates and Randolph reported that both Mary and Shelton Ensley appreciated the posthumous Orchid Award to late Commissioner Tom Ensley. Discussion of the Orchid Award included the suggestion that CHPC consider broadening categories for our annual award. The Christian Science Society building on 16th, non-residential, is a textbook example of excellent restoration and should be eligible for recognition. Outstanding residential restoration projects within the District include 1515 Dearborn. Also, the manager of the Acapulco Restaurant reports having discovered the 1983 poster describing the building's history. There was a suggestion of a$500 project. Chair Carpenter suggested that this project could be funded under the next C.LG granting periad. �: .... _:: Gulley Museum: Commissioner Davidson attended the opening of the latest addition to the Canyon County Historical Society's program and was favorably impressed. Her mother may volunteer as a docent. The former yard-sale atmosphere has been replaced by smaller, organized -- rotating exhibits and the manikins are mostly gone. At present the facility is open three days a .. week; the goal is to attain full-time hours by this fall. VII. OLD BUSINESS: The Hat at ACI: Commissioner Boles reported that Keith Jones of AHJ Engineers had made his structural inspection of the Hat. His informal conclusion was that it is sound. A written report will follow. The cost of this report (as well as a set of drawings and a materials list by architect Fred Waters) will be picked up b y the Idaho H eritage Trust under their technical assistance category. If CHPC's current grant application to IHT is approved, the recent $5,000 donation obtained by Commissioner Randolph will serve as match and we will be much closer to funding the restoration. Commissioner Blakley and Councilman Wells suggested that the question of using the Job Corps to help save on construction labor costs may not be advisable, but should still be investigated. Commissioner Lujack requested copies of the documentary photographs so she can report to the Caldwell Board of Realtors, contributors of $5,000 to the project. City Website: Commissioner Oates and Director Billingsley reported progress. Councilman Wells said that a webmaster may be hired, either an individual employee or a service. Some application forms are now available on-line. Press Release: no action. Code enforcement: no action. Chair Carpenter r aised the question, is this a city level issue? Commissioner Randolph stated that we need to persist on issues applicable to the District. Councilman Wells commented on the ongoing nature of the total code enforcement question. Fence information: Chair Carpenter and Director Billingsley will discuss Boise ordinances as possible guidelines for Caldwell. CAMP: Commissioners Oates, Blakley, and Davidson plan to attend and understand that they may have to share a single information packet. ♦ • 1 r ► Trolley Rails/Curb and Gutter: Commissioner Maughan recounted a saga of coping with bureaucratic ina ction b y 1 eading a c adre o f v olunteers a rmed w ith a r ented j ackhainmer a nd diamond blade saw to trim the rails displayed at 20�' and Cleveland to proper length. This action should allow needed clearance to preserve the display as the curb and gutter project relentlessly marches onward. Maughan has saved the cut off rail stubs. Commissioner Oates then presented a standup-grade account of getting the runaround while attempting to discover the agency/individuals responsible for the Blaine/Cleveland Curb and Gutter project. (Initial conclusion: the go-to person is an extraterrestrial.) However, persistent inquiry led Oates to both facts and actual identities: the IDT on-site representative is named Jim Darling; the stakes located along the parking strip delineate the actual right of way; Dan Everhart, known to CHPC through his work with Preservation Idaho, is an architectural historian with ITD and tries to keep track of cultural factors encountered by ITD power shovels. Cruel fact: the plan presented to CHPG in March, 2005 _by_Toothr�an-Orten, is no longer operative. Thus, we can kiss bye-bye to any des�gn elements= faixhfu�: to .the District's historic quality. Conclusion: we should call city -- forester Paul Nelson and request that he intercede to safe the trees that appear to be at risk. - Commissioner Rudolph said he would do this. Signage: The first complete District sign (with both front graphics and back narrative panel) was r.ecently added to the pole at the intersection of 16� and Dearborn. This event was chronicled by : the Idaho Press-Tribune. Commissioner Randolph expects additional completed panels to be installed as the summer progresses. IX New Business: Montana Subdivision (as regards the Oregon Trail on Canyon Hill). Commissioner Lujack and Director Billingsley reported on the almost miraculous turn of events on this issue. After a public meeting at the site in April, and efforts by retired Idaho State Historian Larry Jones, the developers agreed to redraw the plat to allow a 45-foot-wide strip to preserve the Trail. There is to be a public access easement as well as signage and adjacent open fencing. Councilman Wells reported that the city may acquire property along Plymouth Street (at the base of Canyon Hill) for park use; this may tie in with plans to acquire the old steel bridge in Weiser as part of the Curtis Park project. There is to be a public meeting (the date was uncertain—mid- I June) that Commissioners Lujack and Davidson want to attend. � This was a marathon meeting. After a motion and second, Chairman Carpenter declared I adjournment. Next meeting: June 25. Submitted by Commissioner Jan Boles, acting Secretary.