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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Historic Preservation Commission - 5/8/2006 MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MAY 8, 2006 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM 11000 NORTH LA CANADA DRIVE CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 PM PRESENT: CHAIR PAMELA SARPALIUS VICE CHAIR ROBERT BAUGHMAN COMMISSIONER NANCY MAGER COMMISSIONER JIM KRIEGH COMMISSIONER PATRICIA STURMON COMMISSIONER SYBIL NEEDHAM ALSO PRESENT: BOB KOVTIZ, GOVERNMENTAL & COMMUNITY RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR JENNIFER JONES, RECORDING SECRETARY ABSENT: COMMISSIONER AL KUNISCH BRENT SINCLAIR, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARGOT H U RST, PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD STUDENT LIAISON, EMILY GRAVES CALL TO AUDIENCE Opened and closed with no comment. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 12, 2006 MEETING MOTION: Vice Chair Baughman MOVED to approve the minutes as submitted, Commissioner Kriegh SECONDED the motion. Motion carried (6-0). II. HISTORY READING BY JIM KRIEGH History reading continued to the next scheduled meeting due to the showing of the DVD at the end of the meeting. III. REPORT FROM THE ORO VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Commissioner Kriegh reported the following: • The Historical Society has a one million dollar liability insurance. • About 70 people attended the May 6th fund raising event at the White Stallion Ranch. Mr. Kriegh stated that the Oro Valley Magazine and the Northwest Explorer were there interviewing and taking pictures. Mr. Kriegh stated that everyone was real pleased at how the event turned out. • The next Historical Society meeting will be May 18th at the Oro Valley Library meeting room and Connie Allen Bacon will be there to show a video of a 30 minute program that was done for television. (This video is about Romero Canyon). X. PRESENTATION BY BOB KOVITZ— HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ORO VALLEY DVD Due to a schedule conflict, Chair Sarpalius moved agenda item X to be heard before item IV. Bob Kovitz, Governmental and Community Relations Administrator started off by thanking Commissioner Kriegh and Vice Chair Baughman for agreeing to be on the Government Connection Oro Valley program. Mr. Kovitz stated that four or five months ago they started a project to get onto DVD and get into electronic form a history of Oro Valley. Mr. Kovitz stated that he had the opportunity to view a video tape that was made about ten years ago and noticed the sound quality was bad and it was also the kind of tape that would disintegrate over time. Mr. Kovitz felt that it was a great opportunity to start this project, especially since Mr. Kriegh was busy with cataloging all of the material that had been given to him, to get this onto a DVD and to start putting it into circulation so that people could have an opportunity to see it. Mr. Kovitz stated that they worked with Epic Productions in order to produce the DVD. Mr. Kovitz stated that they wanted to get past the idea of having "talking heads", because it really is about Jim Kreigh memories of starting the town and Henry Zipfs memories of growing up in the Steam Pump Ranch area. Mr. Kovitz stated that the challenge was not only to get what they had to say, but also to get some supporting material that people could look at. Mr. Kovitz stated that they ended up with something that he was shooting for, which was a Ken Burns type of documentary. Mr. Kovitz stated that a copy has already been presented to go into the Historic Preservation Commission file and two or three copies will be given to the Oro Valley Public Library in honor of Historic Preservation month. Chair Sarpalius asked if a copy of the DVD could be given to the Sun City library. Mr. Kovitz replied that she could purchase a copy from Epic Productions. Chair Sarpalius inquired if the Farmer's Market times were 8am to Noon and how the Commission would get tables. Mr. Kovitz stated that he will have to talk to her about that. Chair Sarpalius also inquired about what they would use to show the DVD. Mr. Kovtiz replied that they would also have to discuss that and they would have to locate the electrical outlets. Mr. Kovitz also stated that if someone had a laptop that could show a DVD and had sound would work. IV. DISCUSSION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE Vice Chair Baughman stated that the Task Force met on Friday, May 5th and he has been in meetings since with archaeologists, representatives from the Tohono O'odham and with legal counsel from the Town Attorney's office. MAY 8, 2006 DRAFT MINUTES, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Vice Chair Baughman stated that they have a final version of the draft ordinance and went over the latest changes with the Commission. Commissioner Mager asked about 1505.02, Term of Office; Ms. Mager stated that she thought the maximum was five years. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he thought the term limits was four years. Ms. Jones stated that she had a copy of what the term limits were and handed her copy to Ms. Mager. Commissioner Mager read the paragraph out loud and it stated that"no volunteer shall serve more than 2 consecutive 2 year terms (4 years consecutive year maximum)". Vice Chair Baughman stated that the point was that the term limits was brought up with the Council as being in variance with that policy, but if the Council adopts the ordinance, the ordinance takes precedent over that policy. Vice Chair Baughman continued describing the minor changes that were made to the draft ordinance. Mr. Baughman pointed out 1506, Incentives, A through H. Mr. Baughman stated that there were two reactions to A through H and one of the reactions was H —Waiver of Fees should be deleted for sure and then the Mayor decided that he wanted all of them deleted. Mr. Baughman stated that he finds that there is a reason why the Waiver of Fees is in there. Mr. Baughman stated that the provision of designation of historic landmark says that the owner/agent of the owner has to be the person that has to initiate the application for designation, the language dealing with historic districts that owners, the Historic Preservation Commission or Town Council or public bodies can initiate the process and it occurred to him that it would be foolish for this Commission to initiate a process and then have to pay itself fees. Mr. Baughman stated that there is a real purpose served in listing these incentives, they are at least some indication to people of what can be done. Mr. Baughman stated that in the case of historic landmarks, individual properties often the impact of designation is a negative financial impact and if you can show people that you care about incentives then that increases the likelihood that an individual owner will come along and apply to get their property designated. Vice Chair Baughman continued to the changes made in 1508, District Designation, letter B, the end of the paragraph used to include "in the case where historic preservation and zoning regulations conflict, the Historic Preservation Ordinance takes precedence." Mr. Baughman stated that it was a valid statement and the fact that it waved red flags everywhere and certainly the Council raised questions about it. Mr. Baughman stated that it does not serve any purpose in being in there, in the case of district designation, the Historic Preservation Commission will be putting together a package and sending it to Planning and Zoning and Planning and Zoning will put together their package, and if it differs from the Commissions, both packages will go to the Council. Mr. Baughman stated that a significant change is in 1508.02, Notice of Public Hearings; the paragraph for letter B was added. Mr. Baughman stated that this is the designation for historic district and there are a number of people that can initiate that designation. Mr. Baughman stated that paragraph B is saying that once public notice is given, if there is a property within the historic district that does not want his property affected by becoming part of a historic district and decides to tear a structure down, that property owner is in violation of the law and penalties will be applied. MAY 8, 2006 DRAFT MINUTES, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MOTION: Vice Chair Baughman MOVED to accept the ordinance (with the two minor spelling changes) as the proposed ordinance for the Town Council. Commissioner Mager SECONDED the motion. Motion carried (6-0). V. REPORT FROM STUDENT LIAISON No report for this meeting VI. REPORT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD No report for this meeting. VII. REPORT FROM THE SANTA CRUZ NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ALLIANCE LIAISON Commissioner Mager reported the following: • The fund raising event on the evening of May 5th at the Arizona Inn attracted close to one hundred people. Mayor Loomis and other jurisdiction Mayor's and representation were present to present checks to the Alliance. The Town of Oro Valley donated $4000, per year for the next three years. • Still having trouble getting someone to introduce the legislation. Ms. Mager stated that the election is still looming and people are very gun shy. Ms. Mager stated that there is still some push on Kolbe to consider this a legacy act, but it is getting very late. Commissioner Sturmon inquired if there was a website. Commissioner Mager replied that there is a website, but she did not know what the web address was, however she suggested "googling" Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, people should be able to get to that web address from there. Ms. Mager stated that the webpage is really well done and there are links to all historical events that are going on in the region. VIII. REPORT FROM THE HONEY BEE VILLAGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PLANNING GROUP LIAISON Vice Chair Baughman reported the following: Vice Chair Baughman stated that Honey Bee Village is oblong in shape and is almost north/south, there is a commercial area, residential area and a condominium area. Mr. Baughman stated that the preserve is surrounded by those three with only a small area facing on what will be the extension of Moore road. Mr. Baughman stated that it appears that the wall, which will be funded by a $240,000 grant from the Tohono O'odham Nation will be finished before any of these other areas are finished and there is great concern as to when do they open it. Mr. Baughman stated that some of the operation will be dependent upon sites around the commercial area that will support the preserve. Vice Chair Baughman stated that they are still designing the wall, which is pretty close to the final version. Mr. Baughman stated that the wall will be slump block with wrought iron on top and the total height will be 42 to 48 inches, part of the slump block wall will be the back wall to approximately 7 of the lots of property that is in the residential area. Mr. Baughman stated that some of the lots will have swimming pools and 48 inches is the minimum that the wall heights can be. Mr. Baughman stated that some of the wall may get to 50 or 52 inches depending on the ground if there is a dip. MAY 8, 2006 DRAFT MINUTES, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Vice Chair Baughman explained that the idea is to prevent wheeled vehicles from going in, with exception to ADA access from the commercial area, but they want to prevent bicycles or scooters from going into the preserve. Mr. Baughman stated that the intent is to leave the preserve in its pristine natural state as possible and that includes some erosion that they are going to have to deal with. Mr. Baughman stated that the roads are packed down pretty tight. Mr. Baughman stated that he thinks the path system will be smaller than the current road system going through and they need to find ways to allow some of the road area to revert to more natural density of soil. Mr. Baughman stated that they think with certain kind of seeding that can be done without having to physically attacking the ground in any way. Mr. Baughman stated that the plan is to have park benches and nothing else. Mr. Baughman also stated that they are going to discourage picnicking in the preserve. Commissioner Needham inquired if there were going to be any displays of the dwellings and what they looked like. Vice Chair Baughman replied that in the commercial area there is one triangular area next to the entrance of the area and it has a pit house in the middle and Steve Solomon has set aside this area for demonstrations, in addition Mr. Solomon has set aside a lot within the residential area that can be devoted to demonstrations for the archaeological preserve. Mr. Baughman stated that there are two areas that can be a lot of"show and tell." Mr. Baughman inquired if anyone has been to Montezuma's Castle and seen the display of what it was like during 1210, Mr. Baughman stated that it would be very valuable to have something like that at the Honey Bee Village Site. Vice Chair Baughman stated that because the grant from the Tohono O'odham has a time limit on it, they will have to build the wall way before the rest of the development is developed. Chair Sarpalius inquired if Desert Archaeology was digging. Vice Chair Baughman stated that they have just started the mitigation. Chair Sarpalius stated that Mr. Solomon mentioned that if anyone wanted to go and watch that there might be a possibility. Vice Chair Baughman stated that is probably possible to set up an arranged tour for that purpose. Commissioner Kriegh stated that there were plans to put in an interpretive trail with interpretive signs. Vice Chair Baughman stated that there are no plans to do that affect as of yet. Mr. Baughman stated that they started off with that plan, but discovered they didn't know what to do, so they are trying to get someone from the Arizona State Museum to come in and show them how to do interpretive stuff. Vice Chair Baughman stated that he will do his best to arrange a visit while the archaeologists are working. IX. DISCUSSION CONCERNING CITIZEN PLANNING INSTITUTE AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS Chair Sarpalius reported that she and Commissioners Kriegh and Needham were at the last Commission/Board Training session where it was talked exclusively public records and how making notes during a meeting are considered public record. Ms. Sarpalius pointed out that there was a memorandum from the Town Attorney in their packets and she wants everyone to really read it over. Ms. Sarpalius stated that if anyone is sending any kind of emails that are regarding the Commission, to please copy Jennifer Jones on everything so that she can print out the emails and file them. MAY 8, 2006 DRAFT MINUTES, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Chair Sarpalius also mentioned that when everyone signed on to be on the Commission they committed to 8 hours of training annually and attendance at the Citizen Planning Institute. Ms. Sarpalius stated that the Mayor and Town Clerk asked her to remind the Commissioners of these requirements, before they start sending out letters informing everyone about fulfilling their requirements. Ms. Sarpalius stated that if anyone on the Commission has not taken the CPI course they must take it when it is held in the fall. XI. ADJOURN MOTION: Commissioner Needham MOVED to adjourn the Historic Preservation Commission at 6:50 p.m. Vice Chair Baughman SECONDED the motion. Motion carried 6- 0. Prepared by: Jennifer Jones Recording Secretary MAY 8, 2006 DRAFT MINUTES, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION