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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09212020 Historic Preservation Minutes 239City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Volume 3,Page 239 CALL TO ORDER The September 21,2020 special meeting of the Seward Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chair Cheryl Seese. OPENING CEREMONY Tanguy Libbrecht led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Cheryl Seese presiding, and Sue Ward Mary Ann Benoit(telephonically) Tanguy Libbrecht Fred Woelkers comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Jessica Stallard, Deputy City Clerk Doug Schoessler, Public Works Director Excused—Ward Absent— Furlong,Kurtz CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING The City of Seward is currently experiencing a declared public health emergency due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), so alternate methods for providing Citizen Comments were created. Unless otherwise noted, the following Citizen Comments were submitted in advance and read into the record by the City Clerk: Carol Griswold supported retaining residential zoning of the Fifth Avenue properties in the historic district. She believed allowing the commercial uses currently permitted on these lots was counter to the 2017 Seward Historic Preservation Plan adopted by council. She thanked the commission for their interest in preserving and protecting Seward's history. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Woelkers/Libbrecht) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous r.. 240City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Volume 3, Page 240 There were no consent agenda items. J NEW BUSINESS Discuss City Council reconsideration of Ordinance 2020-011, Amending The Zoning Designation Of Lots 3,4-5 And N 1/2 Lot 6 Block 16 Original Townsite Seward From Multi- Family Residential (R3) To Central Business District(CB). Seese said several members of the public and the commission had spoken against rezoning these lots from multi-family residential to central business district during the public hearing at the September 14, 2020 council meeting. The commission presented their resolution supporting the preservation of these lots as multi-family residential to council during the public hearing. Council initially voted in opposition of this rezone but Mayor Terry called for a reconsideration of this ordinance at the September 28,2020 council meeting. Libbrecht said multi-family residential zoning allowed for 12 commercial uses while central business district zoning allowed for an additional 42 land use designations. He said rezoning these lots would not be in harmony with the commission's goal to preserve the historic district. Woelkers strongly supported maintaining the multi-family residential zoning of these lots. Motion (Benoit/Libbrecht) Direct the clerk to send a statement to council stating that the commission was working on the Downtown Historic District Design Standards & Guidelines, which .1 could provide more guidance for zoning changes and other areas of concern in the downtown historic district. Motion Passed Unanimous Motion (Libbrecht/Woelkers) Direct the clerk to send the following statement to council: "The Historic Preservation Commission would like to restate again our support for the maintenance of the current multi-family (R3) zoning for Lots 3, 4-5 and N '/ Lot 6 Block 16 Original Townsite Seward. We believe the people have spoken, the commission has spoken,and we implore the council to uphold their decision from September 14, 2020, where upon this ordinance failed to pass. As previously mentioned, there are alternate remedies available to those landowners who wish to pursue development in this historic area.It 241 City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Volume 3, Page 241 is unnecessary and frivolous to consider this change". The commission requested their resolution supporting the preservation of these lots be included in the email to council. Motion Passed Unanimous Discuss Walkable Murals in Crosswalks in the Historic District. Seese thanked Planning&Zoning for including the Historic Preservation Commission in this discussion. Libbrecht said Community Development Director Jackie Wilde had assured him that Planning & Zoning was being very specific about where walkable murals would be placed. They were intended to be artistic and an expression of the community. Benoit was concerned that having walkable murals in the historic district would not be appropriate. In response to Seese, Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said adding stop signs had to be done by city staff,who used certain safety measures. A stop sign would not be added for the sole purpose of adding a crosswalk.The parallel crosswalks would be the most ideal to paint because they already have stop signs. He recommended the commission decide what walkable murals would look like in the historic district. In response to Woelkers,Schoessler said a walkable mural on Seventh Avenue would have to be a piano key crosswalk. He wanted the commission to be cautious of the cost associated with the maintenance of these crosswalks. In response to Benoit, Seese said part of Planning&Zoning's process was to create code and guidelines for walkable murals in crosswalks. CITIZEN COMMENTS —None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Benoit thanked the commissioners, Schoessler, and Carol Griswold. Libbrecht thanked Schoessler, the clerk, and the commissioners. He was excited about working collaboratively with Planning&Zoning. Woelkers was happy to attend tonight's meeting in person. Seese encouraged citizens to participate in their October 8, 2020 meeting. She thanked Schoessler,the commissioners,the clerk,and the public.She was happy Woelkers was feeling better. 242City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Volume 3, Page 242 ADJOURNMENT J The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 p.m. Jessica Stallard, CMC Cheryl See Deputy City Clerk Chair (City Seal) ssssssssss .••' OF SW*. :,* vp'e • t • = • I SEAL • _ . . • .,_._ . • tiI, OF ASP •••