HomeMy WebLinkAbout02102022 Historic Preservation Laydown - Griswold C2?02a2i6 A
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February 6, 2022
Dear Historic Preservation Commission and Administration,
At the January 28, 2022 Special Meeting, the Commission addressed Resolution 2022-002,
Utilizing the Boundaries of the Downtown Historic District to Establish a Downtown Historic
Business District Zone. I'm sorry I missed my opportunity to speak before this was passed.
I question why the Commission decided to limit the downtown historic district to that of
Resolution 1988-001, which only slightly expanded the area from Resolution 1984-85.This
narrow district excludes the Brownell home at 335 First, Jan Van Emple's home at 300 First, the
Episcopal Church at 235/239 Second, Home Brew Alley, the Line, the most historic street in
Seward, Second Avenue, many historic homes on the west side of Third, the Quonset Huts on
Sixth, the Dryden house at 308 Sixth, Standard Oil home at 611 Adams St, the Founders
Monument, Mile Zero of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, etc. Just check your Historical
Walking Tour Map to see what this HBD excludes.
All of Jefferson Street south to Railway Avenue would be a much more inclusive boundary that
would include most of our town's historic and cultural assets. Millionaire's Row and the
Quonset huts should be included.
Instead of rezoning this area,focus on other tools to encourage property owners to preserve
the historic character of the HDO. Adopt guidelines for the exterior of their existing buildings
and new construction similar to the Historic Register regulations. Establish a building permit
review process for alterations, additions, rehabilitation or reconstruction of historic properties
within the District and visible from a public ROW. Educate the property owners of the value of
this district ie tourism, beautification, etc. Continue to promote the historic properties as the
Commission did with the walking tour and encourage Chamber promotions.
There are many templates to consider across the nation like http://preservationerie.org/wp-
content/uploads/2014/05/HODOrdinance FAQSheet.pdf
I support an expanded Historic District Overlay but not the Historic Business District Zone.
Thank you for your consideration.
Best,
Carol Griswold
Inside city limits
2,0
February 7, 2022
February 10, 2022 Work Session Historic District Overlay Land Use Plan and HBD Zone
Dear Historic Preservation Commission and Administration,
Designating an Historic District Overlay with the goal to highlight, protect, and preserve the
individual structures and sites that are historically, architecturally, or culturally significant, to
protect and preserve the historic character and appearance of the area, promote awareness of
our town's heritage, provide incentives to maintain the historic character of existing structure
and encourage compatibility of new construction, encourage tourism, etc is one thing.
Changing the zoning to Historic Business District Zone is quite another.
From the laydown, it looks like the proposed HDO/HBD is expanding the currently allowed uses
in this area and creating conflicts.
The proposed Historic District Overlay/Historic Business District contains six existing zoning
districts: R1 Single-family Residential, R3 Multi-family Residential, AC Auto Commercial, CB
Commercial Business, P Park, and I Institutional. The Future Land Use Map contains five zoning
districts: UR Urban Residential, CB Central Business District, I Institutional, and P Park. Rezoning
all these into one Historic Business District Zone will have unintended, negative consequences.
On page 3 of the laydown alone, there are myriad conflicts with existing zoning code. Even with
a conditional use permit that allows a use with conditions, these zones are not protected from
unintended conflicts. A travel agency, art gallery, liquor store, marine retail sales, etc in Hoben
Park?Single family homes and multi-family residences converted to a travel agency, art gallery,
marine business, or liquor store, etc?This is just the first page of five.
Agency, ie travel, insurance, title, real estate, Outright: conflicts with R1, R3, I, and P.
Amusement or recreation facility, Outright: conflicts with R1, R3, I, and P.
Antenna, personal TV, satellite dish, Conditional: conflicts with P.
Art gallery, outright, conflicts with R1, R3, I, and P.
Assemblages, temporary large, ie. Circus, fair, Permit: conflicts with R1, R3.
Attraction, permanent major visitor, conditional: conflicts with R1, R3.
Auditorium, conditional: conflicts with R1, R3, and P.
Business, marine retail sales and service, conditional: conflicts with R1, R3, I, and P.
Business, package liquor, conditional: conflicts with R1, R3, I, and P.
I urge the Historic Preservation Commission to focus on actions that will protect Seward's
history, instead of unintentionally disrupting our zoning code by creating a new Historic
Business District Zone.
Sincerely,
Carol Griswold
Inside city limits
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