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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Historic Preservation Commission - 9/25/2006 MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11000 NORTH LA CANADA DRIVE CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 PM PRESENT: CHAIR PAMELA SARPALIUS VICE CHAIR ROBERT BAUGHMAN COMMISSIONER JIM KRIEGH COMMISSIONER SYBIL NEEDHAM ALSO PRESENT: AL KUNISCH, COUNCIL LIAISON BRENT SINCLAIR, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JENNIFER JONES, RECORDING SECRETARY EMILY GRAVES. STUDENT LIAISON ABSENT: MARGOT HURST, PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD CALL TO AUDIENCE Opened and closed with no comment. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 14, 2006 MEETING MOTION: Vice Chair Baughman MOVED to approve the minutes as submitted, Commissioner Kriegh SECONDED the motion. Motion carried (4-0). II. HISTORY READING BY JIM KRIEGH Commissioner Kriegh read another portion from last months article dated April 1982: "Across Oracle Road is the newly annexed and now being developed by the Atlas Glenex Corporation as a resort hotel called El Conquistador. Working toward a completion date of December 1982, El Conquistador is well on its way. Already in operation under professional Ed Francese are nine holes of what will be an 18 hole golf course. Some of the buildings of the hotel are complete to the point where you can, from above, already see the roofs of the lower levels. In addition to the hotel proper, the resort, when finished, will contain 250 townhouses, 150 three room casitas, a convention center with a capacity of 1500-2000, tennis courts, swimming pools, a small shopping center housing craft shops and a "western town," sort of a mini Old Tucson, including a theater. And across Oro Valley proper on La Canada the developers are building another 18 hole golf course. A totally fascinating aspect of the development is the way in which it adheres to the objectives of the town's General Plan. The buildings nestle into the hillsides. Natural contours remain. Vegetation which has had to be removed has been carefully stored in a nursery and will be replanted. Water is reclaimed and purified. All in all, El Conquistador shows every promise of becoming a textbook case of proper land usage and environmental protection. So this is Oro Valley, of now and of the immediate future. The long range, because of the excellent beginning, projects a bright a bright and promising vista. And not only for Oro Valley itself. The town is a landmark, a precursor perhaps of similar communities in Arizona. Its legal problems and court success have strong impact on the state's laws on new towns. It has now been established that petitions for incorporation can not be denied simply on the grounds that a compact community does not exist; that when a governmental body ignores certain facts which would compel approval of incorporation it can be properly taken to court; and that once a court acquires a neighbor city cannot "oust court of t hat jurisdiction by annexation of territory within six miles of the new town." III. REPORT FROM THE ORO VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Commissioner Kriegh reported the following: • The last meeting was held on September 21, 2006 and the guest speakers were Richard Fe Tom, Harris Sobin and Christopher Anderson. Mr. Sobin talked about Steam Pump building and Steam Pump Ranch and did an architectural review of it for the person that was proposing the commercial development at that location. Mr. Sobin also had a Power Point picture of what the old Steam Pump building would look like restored. Mr. Anderson talked about making the adobe in adobe blocks and what they could be made from and finding materials to make them look like just like the original blocks. Mr. Fe Tom had a presentation on historic structures. • On November 16, 2006, Desert Archaeology will sponsor some programs, which will include a talk by Henry Wallace, Field Director of Desert Archaeology speaking on new insights on Honey Bee Village results and current excavations. • A tour five individual classes were recently held. These classes were conducted by six students. • The Oro Valley Historical Society should have all of the equipment necessary to record interviews. They plan to go out and speak to people about the history of the area. The first interview will be from a gentleman that went to school in the little white school house on Tangerine Road. IV. REPORT FROM THE STUDENT LIAISON Emily Graves reported that Mr. Moser, the teacher that she was working with is no longer working at Painted Sky Elementary, her goal this year is to branch out to other elementary schools teachers. V. REPORT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD No report. • VI. REPORT FROM THE SANTA CRUZ NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ALLIANCE LIAISON Brent Sinclair stated that he hopes that when the Commission has all vacancies filled that someone will be selected to be the new liaison. Mr. Sinclair did state that the Santa Cruz National Heritage Area Alliance is still having meetings, but he did not have any new news in terms of the final role in getting the area designated. Mr. Sinclair stated that the last that he heard from them was that they were waiting on a bill to go through Congress that would change the way Heritage Areas are approved. Mr. Sinclair stated that currently to get a heritage area approved; it takes an Act of Congress, but with the new legislation would simplify it through an Administrative Act. Chair Sarpalius inquired if there were minutes from these meetings and if so could they be forwarded to the Commission. VII. REPORT FROM THE HONEY BEE VILLAGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PLANNING GROUP LIAISON Vice Chair Baughman stated that it is the intention of the Planning Group to appear before the Historic Preservation Commission in two weeks and present the recommendation of the consultants for the amenities of the archaeological preserve. Mr. Baughman stated that the Planning Group has not met in a while because they had been meeting every other week for some time, building a set of recommendations to give to the Planning Group and they are going to digest all of that and get it back to them at a meeting early next month. Chair Sarpalius requested that the Honey Bee Village Archaeological Planning Group be put on the October 9, 2006 agenda. VIII. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CODE Mr. Sinclair reported that Pat Spoerl approached him about some possible changes that she had. The working group did look at some changes and did incorporate some changes. Mr. Sinclair stated that he is satisfied with the way the code is and if there are any amendments they can be done later. The item is on the October 4, 2006 Council agenda. Mr. Baughman and Mr. Kriegh stated that they would be at the October 4, 2006 Town Council meeting. IX. STATUS REPORT ON THE STEAM PUMP RANCH ACQUISITION Mr. Sinclair presented an aerial photograph of the acquired Steam Pump Ranch site. Mr. Sinclair stated that it is a 15.2 acre piece of property. Mr. Sinclair pointed out that there is some construction going on north of the property and it is the Steam Pump Village Shopping Center with three buildings going up. Mr. Sinclair stated that the Town should have title to the property by the end of this calendar year. Mr. Sinclair informed the Commission that part of the agreement was to allow Mr. Leiber to stay on the property for another year; he would rent it out and take care of the property for a while. This would give Mr. Leiber time to find another site and relocate all of his operations. Mr. Sinclair stated that he has heard that Mr. Leiber is looking for another site and may depart quickly so there may not be any renters on the site, which would means that the Town will take possession sooner and have to start taking care of the property. Mr. Sinclair stated that there is an item on the October 4, 2006 Town Council to start a Master Plan Process for the entire site. Mr. Sinclair stated that once the Town takes possession of the site, a building assessment will needed to be conducted. Mr. Sinclair stated that whoever does the assessment will be an expert in structural engineering and historical architecture. Mr. Sinclair stated that the long term goal is restoration and making sure that the main buildings are structurally sound. Vice Chair Baughman inquired when the Town would have physical access to the property. Mr. Sinclair replied that should occur by mid October. Mr. Sinclair stated that there can be tours and site visits to the property. Vice Chair Baughman inquired if there have been any thoughts about security. Mr. Sinclair stated that the main thought is to secure the buildings, but the Town will look at options. Vice Chair Baughman inquired if there was a budget for the security of the site. Mr. Sinclair stated that the left over bond funds is $400,000, which is not much for restoration. Commissioner Kriegh informed the Commission that the Oro Valley Historical Society will start raising funds and donations that they can write off, in helping the Town with restoring the Steam Pump Ranch. Mr. Kriegh stated that the OV Historical Society is a 501 3(c), so they can donate and deduct as a legitimate tax deduction. Mr. Sinclair stated that this is the reason they are doing the Preservation Code, so the Town can use the History District Designation and can use the National Registry as well, which will also qualify the Town for the Certified Local Government program in the State of Arizona, which will also qualify the Town for the grant program. Mr. Sinclair stated that the Town's priorities are as follows: 1. Secure the site and buildings and follow the appropriate guidelines in doing so; Mr. Sinclair stated that the Town should have title to the property by the end of this calendar year. Mr. Sinclair informed the Commission that part of the agreement was to allow Mr. Leiber to stay on the property for another year; he would rent it out and take care of the property for a while. This would give Mr. Leiber time to find another site and relocate all of his operations. Mr. Sinclair stated that he has heard that Mr. Leiber is looking for another site and may depart quickly so there may not be any renters on the site, which would means that the Town will take possession sooner and have to start taking care of the property. Mr. Sinclair stated that there is an item on the October 4, 2006 Town Council to start a Master Plan Process for the entire site. Mr. Sinclair stated that once the Town takes possession of the site, a building assessment will needed to be conducted. Mr. Sinclair stated that whoever does the assessment will be an expert in structural engineering and historical architecture. Mr. Sinclair stated that the long term goal is restoration and making sure that the main buildings are structurally sound. Vice Chair Baughman inquired when the Town would have physical access to the property. Mr. Sinclair replied that should occur by mid October. Mr. Sinclair stated that there can be tours and site visits to the property. Vice Chair Baughman inquired if there have been any thoughts about security. Mr. Sinclair stated that the main thought is to secure the buildings, but the Town will look at options. Vice Chair Baughman inquired if there was a budget for the security of the site. Mr. Sinclair stated that the left over bond funds is $400,000, which is not much for restoration. Commissioner Kriegh informed the Commission that the Oro Valley Historical Society will start raising funds and donations that they can write off, in helping the Town with restoring the Steam Pump Ranch. Mr. Kriegh stated that the OV Historical Society is a 501 3(c), so they can donate and deduct as a legitimate tax deduction. Mr. Sinclair stated that this is the reason they are doing the Preservation Code, so the Town can use the History District Designation and can use the National Registry as well, which will also qualify the Town for the Certified Local Government program in the State of Arizona, which will also qualify the Town for the grant program. Mr. Sinclair stated that the Town's priorities are as follows: 1. Secure the site and buildings and follow the appropriate guidelines in doing so; 2. Engage in a full assessment of what needs to happen for restoration or rehabilitation; 3. The working group comes together through site planning for the entire site. Mr. Sinclair stated that nothing has been decided by the Town Council as to what is going to go on this site. Mr. Sinclair stated that he thinks the Town Council is going to ask that a Master Plan Process be commenced and work through all of the different ideas and come up with a coherent idea that provides complimentary uses. Mr. Sinclair stated that there are more ideas than property right now. Mr. Sinclair stated that they need to find what is rational and complimentary to the historic site. Vice Chair Baughman complimented Mr. Sinclair on this process and hopes that the Town Council approves and supports it. Mr. Baughman stated that it does seem rational and logical and it is a great way to develop a historic site and it is a real asset to the community. Commissioner Kriegh informed the Commission that he spoke with Bob Shelton and he is still very interested in doing something on the site. Chair Sarpalius pointed out that between Steam Pump Ranch and Honey Bee Village, the Town of Oro Valley can take great pride in these two main areas. X. ADJOURN MOTION: Commissioner Needham MOVED to adjourn the Historic Preservation Commission at 6:40 p.m. Vice Chair Baughman SECONDED the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Prepared by: Jennifer Jones Recording Secretary