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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Historic Preservation Commission - 4/16/2007 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION APRIL 16, 2007 ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11000 NORTH LA CANADA DRIVE CALL TO ORDER: 6:03 PM PRESENT: CHAIR PAMELA SARPALIUS VICE CHAIR ROBERT BAUGHMAN COMMISSIONER PATRICIA SPOERL COMMISSIONER JIM KRIEGH COMMISSIONER SALETTE LATAS COMMISSIONER MARILYN COOK COMMISSIONER SYBIL NEEDHAM ALSO PRESENT: AL KUNISCH, COUNCIL LIAISON BAYER VELLA, PLANNING DIRECTOR JENNIFER JONES, RECORDING SECRETARY ABSENT: EMILY GRAVES, STUDENT LIAISON MARGOT HURST, PARKS AND RECREATION LIAISON CALL TO AUDIENCE Opened and closed with no comment. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2007 MEETING MOTION: Vice Chair Baughman MOVED to approve the minutes as submitted, Commissioner Kriegh SECONDED the motion. Motion carried (7-0). II. PROGRESS REPORT ON STEAM PUMP RANCH ACQUISITION AND PLANNING Commissioner Spoerl reported that the review panel conducted interviews today and there were 2 candidates that replied to the request for qualifications. The two firms were Poster Frost and the Architecture Company. Ms. Spoerl stated that both candidates did an excellent job and both have good qualifications, interest and enthusiasm for the project. Ms. Spoerl mentioned that in the request for qualifications in terms of the scope of the project there were 5 items that each firm addressed: 1. Architecture and landscape documentation and plans, which is identification of the emergency stabilization needs of construction. What needs to be done to the original ranch house and steam pump building prior to monsoon season. Part of that is doing a building condition assessment report for the other buildings on site and a landscape review and assessment. Ms. Spoerl stated that particularly for the emergency stabilization that is the primary focus for the project. 2. Cultural Resource Inventory to validate that there are no physical remains other than structures evident on the surface such as trash deposits that were not identified during the first survey. 3. Nomination of the site to the National Register of Historic Places. 4. Environmental Assessment. 5. Master Site Plan Facilitation, design and documentation. Ms. Spoerl stated that the review team was looking at capability to do the emergency stabilization and work that needs to be done immediately upon award of contract before monsoon season arrives. The other thing the review team looked at was the longer term process of the master planning and the skills and expertise that the firms have in dealing with a community like Oro Valley. The review panel ranked the 2 candidates and the information has gone to Bayer and it will go to the May 16th Town Council meeting with the idea being that things will happen immediately after that. Bayer Vella, Principal Planner stated that the next two steps, which will occur this week, is to sit down with the preferred consultant, to start working with the actual cross-figures for each one of the line items that Commissioner Spoerl described. Mr. Vella stated that if staff and the committee come to an agreement in terms of those negotiations then there will be a recommendation forwarded to the Town Council to approve a specific consultant with the idea that it will be on the Council agenda for May 16th. Mr. Vella stated that time is of the essence and both consultants that participated understand that on May 17th they need to have their staff on site to start evaluating buildings for emergency stabilization. Mr. Vella stated that staff is going to be very focused to make that happen. Mr. Vella stated that beyond the consultant interviews, which was a major step, there are a couple other major steps that he wanted to briefly describe. Mr. Vella informed the Commission that the northern portion of the site has been secured by the Town, the settlement agreement has been signed by Mr. Leiber and the Town is going through the steps in recording the documents. Mr. Vella stated that with the acquisition of the northern half the Town will be able to be able to move very rapidly to implement the Site Security Plan, which the main ingredient will be to establish temporary fencing as well as scheduling regular police patrols, documenting all of the buildings and the building fixtures. Mr. Vella also informed the Commission that the Town is actively negotiating with the property owner of the southern half of the site and stated that it looks likely that the Town will be able to move forward with acquisition and the two property owners with issues over money, it appears that the court is accepting the fact that the Town has nothing to do with the dispute. Mr. Vella stated that the Town's hope is that in the next month the Town will have acquired the southern half as well. Mr. Vella stated that this will not delay the planning process or the building assessment process as the current owner is willing to let the amenable to allowing the Town to going out on site and establishing fencing for site security. Chair Sarpalius inquired if Mr. Vella could arrange for a site tour for the Commission in the month of May, perhaps a Saturday morning. Mr. Vella stated that he would be happy to arrange a tour. Commissioner Kriegh inquired if Mr. John Leiber was moving out or is he going to take his year to move out. Mr. Vella stated that in the settlement agreement it enables Mr. Leiber to stay for 12 months. Mr. Vella stated that his understanding is that he is actively working on building a house out west of town and as soon as his house is ready he is moving. Mr. Leiber has been very cooperative throughout the process and has allowed the Town access to the property and has kept the Town up to date on any issues with the property. Vice Chair Baughman inquired if both candidates have Historic Preservation experience. Commissioner Spoerl replied that both applicants are very well qualified and have considerable experience in adobe stabilization and preservation as well as master planning. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he does not hear the full study groups name any where in the process. Mr. Baughman stated that the full study group is not involved until after the Council approves the consultant. Mr. Vella stated that the consultant selection process is a technical review process and the idea is to have a consultant go to Council for approval and the task force focus is going to be on the master site plan process, they will be meeting roughly twice a month for a year and a half specifically working on the master site plan. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he vaguely remembers from the last meeting that we need to find ways to make the process appear as inclusive as possible and feels this is one of those opportunities that have been missed. Mr. Vella stated that he agrees with making the process transparent and suggested that Mr. Baughman was not aware that there was dual representation as Commissioner Spoerl was invited to be on the selection committee, representing the Historic Preservation Commission and the Task Force. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he is not finding fault in the path that staff has gone, he feels that Commissioner Spoerl is a good choice to be in that role and could make a much more intelligent judgment than he, but it feels that the opportunity to make it appear more inclusive and feels that they should look more for those opportunities. Commissioner Cook inquired if the Town has bought the northern half that still leaves the steam pump and what about emergency covering of that structure. Mr. Vella stated that the main candidates for emergency stabilization on the northern half. There is an expectation that the 1930's building on the northern half is ok. The owners on the southern half have made it clear that they will permit emergency stabilization to proceed. Mr. Vella stated that the Town is very confident that they will own the site; it is just a matter of time. III. DISCUSSION OF IDEAS FOR MAY AS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH Chair Sarpalius suggested setting up at the Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning. Ms. Sarpalius stated that the date for the Commission to set up at the Farmer's Market will be determined after there is a date set for the Steam Pump Ranch site tour, all Commissioners will be notified via email of the date, the dates being considered are May 5, 12 or 26. Ms. Sarpalius requested that the following be provided at the Farmers Market: • Tables • Banner for table • Informal handouts— Commissioner Latas will work on these handouts. Ms. Sarpalius suggested setting up a subcommittee next February to come up with activities for May as Historic Preservation month. Ms. Sarpalius stated that the Historical Society will also be invited to have a table next to the Historic Preservation Commission. Vice Chair Baughman suggested that Mr. Vella work with Bob Kovitz to develop a story about Steam Pump Ranch and the Historic Preservation Commission. IV. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION CODE Vice Chair Baughman reviewed the Historic Preservation Code from the beginning. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he is going to recommend at some point that an amendment to the Ordinance be prepared for the Council's approval this fall. Mr. Baughman gave an example of items that need to be amended include the definition of Director under Definitions is now incorrect as there is no longer a Community Development Director. Vice Chair Baughman asked if Mr. Vella could look into whether the Commission terms have been reordered. Vice Chair Baughman touched on the following from the Historic Preservation Code: • Historic Landmark Designation/Criteria • Historic District Designation/Criteria • Certificate of Appropriateness In regards to the Historic District Designation criteria, Vice Chair Baughman stated that with each Historic District a district is designated a district for some reason or another. Mr. Baughman stated that the ordinance requires the Commission to put criteria in place for each historic district because the reasons for that district may differ from the reasons for another district; this is a little different from a Historic Landmark. Vice Chair Baughman stated that the designation of the historic district is a complicated process, once the Commission decides to designate a landmark, it is done unless someone appeals to the Town Council. The Commission designating a district is only the first step the next step is that it has to go to Planning and Zoning Commission, because this a zoning change. Mr. Baughman stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission has to make its judgment on whether or not to adopt the historic designation and then forward its recommendation and the Historic Preservation Commissions recommendation to the Town Council. Vice Chair Baughman stated that the Commissions third action concerning designation is the Commission issuing a Certificate of Appropriateness, which gives authorization to allow someone to proceed to make some alteration in a historic landmark or property on a historic district. Mr. Baughman stated that as long as it does not destroy the integrity, then the Commission will approve it. Commissioner Spoerl stated that the Steam Pump Ranch will most likely be nominated as a Historic District rather than a single site and that the Spoerl stated that Planning and Zoning will need to become involved at some point in that process or once a nomination is made will need to review it. Vice Chair Baughman stated that the process is for local designation and nomination to the National Registry is independent to this and does not require any recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Spoerl inquired if the consultant is going to be preparing a nomination to the National Register; Ms. Spoerl asked if there is a point to doing a local historic district designation. Vice Chair Baughman replied yes, that there is no sense of urgency that would be done as a completely separate process. Mr. Vella stated that the local Historic designation is about zoning, which establishes things like setbacks, allowed building heights, different development standards for that specific zoning district. Mr. Vella informed the Commission that staff's thinking is that once the master site planning process is complete and there is public input about types of uses, the arrangement of buildings etc., then staff would craft the zoning district, not only historic, but also what was done on the master site plan in terms of developments. Commissioner Spoerl stated that in terms of the process, it seems that the Commission/Town would not want to proceed until the local designation is done, because the boundaries become so critical from a local standpoint with zoning, but you wouldn't want to define those at a National level because you would want to be done with it at a local level, because there could be some major conflicts. Vice Chair Baughman stated that sounds logical, but does not necessarily apply. Mr. Baughman stated that the two could stand independently. The purpose for the National Landmark designation may be a little different than the purpose of the local designation. Mr. Baughman stated that the local designation is heavily tied up with in the zoning process and really they are both called Historical Landmark Designations, but they serve two different purposes. Commissioner Spoerl stated that she was thinking of the consultant and the time frames for the work being done. Chair Sarpalius stated that she agreed with Commissioner Spoerl and feels that getting the ducks in a row gives more credibility to the Commission. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he had hoped that the Commission would have an opportunity for a lot more discussion before the Commission settles on the process and it is a fairly complicated process and to do the first designation as a district rather than a landmark is a big jump. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he would like to generate a conversation about the Powers and Duties. Chair Sarpalius stated that she felt the discussion for the Powers and Duties should be discussed at next month's meeting as it is one of the most important parts of the ordinance. Ms. Sarpalius instructed the Commission to read over the Powers and Duties again and it will be discussed at the next meeting. V. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Sarpalius stated that the date for the site tour and the Farmers Market will be sent via email. VI. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS No other items. X. ADJOURN MOTION: Vice Chair Baughman MOVED to adjourn the Historic Preservation Commission at 7:10 p.m. Commissioner Spoerl SECONDED the motion. Motion carried 7-0. Prepared by: Jennifer Jones Recording Secretary