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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11152006 Historic Preservation Minutes City of Seward, Alaska November 15, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 47 -- Call to Order The November 15,2006 regular meeting of the Seward Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Shannon Kovac. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Carpenter led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Chair Shannon Kovac presiding, and Greg Carpenter Linda Lasota Tom Swann Shannon Huber Jolund Luther comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Scott Williams, Planner Christy Terry, Executive Liaison ..... Absent were- Meredith Hershock City Administration Report Planner Scott Williams reported on the following item: · Hoben Park Architectural Historical Consultant Gary Gillette was sent a Hoben Park packet of information for his orientation prior to his arrival. Gary Gillette was scheduled to be in Seward December 15th_16th and Williams would plan a work session with the Commission during that time. Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations SHPO's Architectural Historian Dough Gasek The Historic Preservation Commission did not reach Gasek by phone and would try later in the meeting. Friends of the Jesse Lee Home update-Tom Swann -- City of Seward, Alaska November 15, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 48 Swann reported the Jesse Lee Home project was included as part of the City's State and ...... Federal Priority list for 2007. World War II bunkers and Quonset Huts nomination to the Seward Register of Historic Places update- Greg Carpenter and Shannon Huber Carpenter stated his information gathering included contact names and internet searches. Huber noted, due to the snow, her research of the Lowell Creek Water Diversion building would continue in the spring to locate the piping that continued further to the West. She stated once this was completed she would finalize the site map and complete the application to place this structure on the historic registry. Kovac informed Huber that Mark Luttrell was also interested in the site mapping. In response to Carpenter, Williams stated he was not sure when Metco Inc. would be mining boulders from Lowell Creek. Williams stated the piping was well beyond where Metco would be extracting rock. He clarified the permit issued to Metco by the Department ofNatufal Resources required them to cease operations around any piping unearthed and to immediately contact the State Historic Preservation Office. Williams clarified the Andy Baker Lowell Creek Hydro Project was an unsolicited proposal in the development phase. '& :~ .... Website Updates -Meredith Hersbock Kovac referred the Commission to Hershock's updates included in the packet. She asked Commissioners to email any further comments or questions to Hershock. Seward Historical Site Inventory update -Shannon Kovac Kovac noted she last worked on the project this preceding spring. She stated this was an enormous project that required a great amount of dedicated time. Kovac stated if the Commission felt this was a project they wanted completed quickly, then it would take a group to complete. She felt there were more important current priorities such as Hoben Park and the Jesse Lee Home. Kovac stated she was willing to continue to help with the project, but was unable to make the commitment to complete the task by herself Luther asked what the Commission was trying to accomplish with the Historic Site Inventory, what was completed and what remained to be done? Kovac explained the Inventory consisted of an excel spreadsheet of almost two hundred historic sites and buildings in the Seward area. She stated the information on the spread sheet included items such as; Kenai Peninsula Parcel Numbers, owner information, and construction dates. ... City of Seward, Alaska November 15, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 49 ..... Kovac noted the information needed to be updated. Kovac stated she would distribute copies to the Commission. In response to Swann, Kovac confirmed it was a requirement to keep the list current because of the City's Certified Local Government status. In response to Commission discussion, Kovac noted she was updating the list based on her own knowledge of the area and the Kenai Peninsula Web site Parcel Lookup. She noted it was helpful to have a plat of the City of Seward to refer to while on the website. Luther stated he would be interested in helping to update the list. In response to Lasota, Kovac confirmed the list was kept for informational purposes and encompassed from Cain's Head to Alaska Nellie's Home on Kenai Lake. SHPO's Architectural Historian Doug Gasek Swann welcomed Gasek. Kovac introduced Commissioners to Gasek. .... Gasek thought the Hoben Park project would be categorized as a restoration project. Gasek discussed Section 106 requirements including covenants for the property. He stated he would email examples of what was required, but all covenants should be tailored to the resource. In response to staff and Commission discussion, Gasek stated the Commission should restore the Hoben Park fence based on the view from within the park. He advocated the concrete be left at the current height and more variance be done to the wrought iron design to address safety concerns. Gasek noted the west wall and the open green space were two items that maintained the historic integrity of the park. Commission discussed their preference to keep the original west wall and some options for construction of the wrought iron fencing. Kovac thanked Gasek for his input and asked the Commission to save further fence discussion for a work session. She then asked the Commission to switch topics and discuss the Hoben Park Fountain with Gasek. In response to Gasek, Swann stated the fountain base with not repairable. -- Gasek recommended saving the base's edge wall if possible. He stated the first goal was to retain as much as possible of the original fountain. He stated it would be important to either obtain the various pieces of the fountain to rebuild the fountain, or if this was impossible, to at least examine City of Seward, Alaska November 15, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 50 the pieces to make an accurate replica. Gasek stated the third choice would be to examine photos to ...J try to replicate the design of the original fountain. In response to Carpenter's question regarding relocating the fountain to a more relative historical location, Gasek recommended keeping the fountain in the current location. Gasek and Swann discussed relocation of the fountain and issues surrounding replacing the planters and how these should be replaced either centered to the fountain or centered in the park. In response to Swann's further clarification, Gasek stated the reason for his recommendation to keep the fountain in the current location was because Section 106 required retaining as much physically of the past as possible. He noted relocation of the fountain would be a drastic change. In response to Williams, Gasek stated changing the technical aspects ofthe interior workings of the fountain would not be an issue. Gasek noted the importance of concealing the power box connected to the fountain's pump. Kovac asked if there should be someone monitoring when the current power box installed within the park was removed. Huber stated monitoring may be necessary, but there may be a limitation on the amount of soil being disturbed before a monitor was required. ....., Gasek stated he would check with an associate in his office. Kovac thanked Gasek for his assistance. Luther supported Gasek's recommendation to not increase the height of the concrete on the wall. Flag Anniversary Celebration - unassigned Swann suggested the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home be asked to lead the celebration with the Historic Preservation Commission in a support role. He noted the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home could use this as a publicity item. Citizens' Comments on Any Subject Except Those Items Scheduled For Public Hearing - None. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (SwannlLuther) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda .~ .... City of Seward, Alaska November 15, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 51 ..... Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Items Approved Under the Consent Agenda: October 11, 2006 Historic Preservation Regular Meeting Minutes Public Hearing - None. Unfinished Business- Resolution 2006-07, directing the Administration to place the Hoben Park Interpretive Panel (Postponed from October 11, 2006 Regular Meeting and on the floor for action.) Kovac reminded the Commission of their site visit to Hoben Park on October 21st. She supported locating the interpretive panel in the SeaLife Center's plaza in the general area between the mountain ash trees just outside the west wall of Hoben Park. Commissioner's voiced their general agreement. Williams noted the Commission's desire to have the height of the sign at a level that allowed visitors to look over the sign into the park. .... path. Swann concurred and noted the height should match the interpretive panels along the bike Kovac asked the Parks and Recreation Director Karin Sturdy to set the interpretive panel in metal instead of wood in order to have the panel match the park's features. Sturdy stated this was possible. Motion (Kovac/Swann) Strike Section 2 and amend Section 1 to read, "The Historic Preservation Commission does prefer to spot the panel outside the west wall of Hoben Park on the Alaska SeaLife Center." Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Main Motion Passed Unanimous New Business Discussion regarding Hoben Park Concrete Wall ..... City of Seward, Alaska November 15, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 52 After Commission discussion, a Work Session was set for November 28th at noon to discuss the Hoben Park Concrete Wall , ..... Work Session for the Historic Plant and Tree Register Kovac requested comments from the Commission on the updates she had completed. Swann and Kovac discussed clarifying questions in the cover letter verses developing a guide for the application. In response to Kovac's inquiry, Luther approved of the simplicity of the cover letter. Swann stated applications would be more complete the more questions were answered for the applicant proactively. Kovac agreed, but stated if the application was clearly written then extra explanation would not be necessary. Luther liked the paperwork Kovac submitted to the Commission. He felt it was very simple and self-explanatory. He wanted to move forward with the documents. Kovac suggested adding this topic to the November 28th Work Session and addressing this item if time allowed. She asked the Commissioners to contact her and let her know if they felt additional guidelines were needed. i ,~ ~ Reschedule or cancel December's Regular Meeting Motion (SwannlLasota) Cancel December meeting Williams stated he would like the Commission to meet with Hoben Park Architectural Historical Consultant Gary Gillette when he was in Seward. Swann and Kovac stated they would be gone for all of December. Williams stated the Commissioners remaining in Seward could hold a work session with Gary Gillette. He noted the Commission needed to move forward on the Hoben Park design items. Williams clarified that Gillette could help with the design of the fence and fountain in addition to the staging of projects. Commission discussed AML/TIA's recommendations for the handrail at Hoben Park. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent .." City of Seward, Alaska November 15, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 53 ..... Informational Items - (No action required) - City of Seward Elected and Appointed Officials - update 10/25 Commission Comments Huber stated the Forest Service in partnership with the Alaska Anthropological Association was bringing a speaker to Seward on December 29th from 6-9pm. University of Arizona's Richard Stofel would be speaking at the Legends on Traditional Cultural Properties including volcanoes. Commission and Williams discussed Gary Gillette's visit and scheduled a work session on Saturday during his visit in December. Williams stated he would notify the Commission when Gillette's travel plans were finalized. Kovac stated the Kenai Mountain Turnagain Arm Corridor Communities Association (KMT A) would hold a meeting at the Seward Museum at 1 :00 pm on November 18th. She noted this non-profit organization was trying to establish a National Heritage status for this transportation corridor. Citizens Comments - None. .... Commission & Administration Response to Citizens Comments - Williams discussed an inquiry from the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust. He noted informational packets were available at the Community Development Office. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Shannon Kovac Chair (City Seal) -- \\,tun'l..,: -..,,- O~ SE'", !'''-'. ...... _If"" '.....1 i" ..> ~~, .......0 l~l ~" ~ ,.~ ...o?~OFt4.~~.. U '~~~ ~ "".' v ~o..,~ .... ..~ --0- .. ~... .. . ..... . ~... = : SEAL : (:) :.: ;: . : ~f : ::: - . . ~ ~ \ ......- : ItW ~. ... . ... ~ .. ,-" ",v.' ....,..:: ~ Q1;"',.C!lVE 1 ~~..'~~\-'':- " '1'>- ......~. }::,.::J.. ",," "'" II! OF p..~ ~...~.. ""un"'"