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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CITY OF OSHKOSH LANDMARKS COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 11, 2012 PRESENT: Todd Clark, Dennis Arnold, Vicky Redlin, Steve Cummings, Shirley Brabender Mattox, Robert Hughes and Karen Heikel EXCUSED: Arlene Schmuhl STAFF: David Buck CALL TO ORDER Mr. Arnold called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm and a quorum was declared present. APPROVAL OF MARCH 2012 MEETING MINUTES Mr. Cummings motioned to approve the March 14, 2012 meeting minutes, which was seconded by Mr. Arnold. Minutes were approved unanimously. BUILDING PERMIT REVIEW & DISCUSSION Mr. Buck presented the list of building permits that were issued in the month of March and described work done. Mr. Buck stated that 415 West Irving Avenue is the installation of vinyl siding and same size replacement windows. Ms. Brabender Mattox asked if the 500 block of North Main Street rehabilitation considered utilizing tax credits with the windows or interior work. Mr. Buck stated that he did not believe so but that it was mentioned to the owners and he believed they were applying for CDBG funds for the second floor residential conversions. Mr. Arnold was not sure but thought that the historic exterior of the structures were already significantly altered. Ms. Brabender Mattox thought that the structure could possible be brought back to historic by utilizing historic photos as a reference. FISHING SHANTIES DISCUSSION –ACTION/COMMUNICATION TO CITY MANAGER Mr. Buck gave background on the item and stated that the determination at the former meeting was to do some independent cursory research on the shanties and determine if a communication should be forwarded from the Landmarks Commission to the City Manager and if so what would be included in the communication. Mr. Buck stated that staff recommends that a communication be sent and that the concept and function of the shanties are historic and culturally significant and that an example of their physical presence, though they were not felt to be historic, may be of use as a public element on the water or the shore. He added that staff also suggests that the Landmarks Commission request that the City Manager allocate staff and Commission time and city resources to: research and gather information on the history of the shanties; evaluate the buildings to determine feasibility of retaining or rehabbing them; and look at possible future public use of them as an integral part of the riverwalk; as well as the inclusion of a historic sign on the riverwalk (such as the forthcoming Riverside Park historic marker) focusing on fishing in general as well as the role of the shanties. Mr. Cummings mentioned that a museum on the Mississippi River had recreated similar structures and uses them as a historic tourist attraction. Mr. Arnold gave the opinion that if they became public they would be vandalized and destroyed. Ms. Heikel suggested that if public they could function much like a park shelter or be closed to access and used as a visual example of what had 1 of 4 been a greater presence there. Mr. Cummings said that he had spoken with former Mayor Castle who had informed him that, to his recollection, the City bought the shore from the Soo Line Railroad which included the rights to the shanties. Mr. Cummings added that he felt if they were to be physically preserved that it should be limited to one or two of the most interesting and best shape shanties and be utilized for enjoyment and education of the overall citizenry of Oshkosh. Mr. Bob Poeschl, 912 Bay Shore Drive stated that the recommendation by staff was counter to communications that he has had with City Manager Rohloff that staff would not address the shanties and that no staff time would be utilized in determination of ownership and that he does not want the underlying intention of the Landmarks Commission to be looking at ownership. Mr. Poeschl added that he was under the opinion that the Landmarks Commission would only discuss the signage on the riverwalk not the shanties. Mr. Buck stated that it is the Landmarks decision to formulate a communication to the City Manager and that it is a communication, not a regulation or ordinance. He further added that this is a Commission who advises the City and is not limited to what they communicate by agreements made by other commissions, boards or staff but acts on their own discretion. Mr. Cummings stated that the discussion to this point has only been to send a communication recommending research and not policy to which Mr. Clark added that he felt the direction was to ask for time and resources to conduct historical research, not legal work. Mr. Jeff Decker, 1119 Otter Avenue, distributed a letter from the Winnebago County Historical Society supporting documentation and possibly preservation of the shanties with invitation to tour them. He also added that he has not heard of anyone suggesting they be removed but is concerned with the city staff’s thoughts that they should be public and he personally felt that the city should just leave them alone and ignore them, thereby allowing them to remain as they are currently and have been used. Mr. Arnold asked if the Commission could request a historic marker/sign and recommend research time/resources and following that make a statement regarding their historic or cultural significance. Mr. Hughes responded that the research needs to be done prior to requesting the signage. Mr. Arnold argued that there used to be hundreds of these structures and it’s assumed that they would be considered historic. Mr. Cummings added that this type of thing probably took place on most if not all rivers in Wisconsin and possibly the country. Mr. Decker stated that there are artifacts such as photos already at the museum. Mr. Clark stated that any research would include what other communities have had and have done. Mr. Poeschl reiterated that it was his understanding, per City st Manager guarantee, that no legal inquiries are to be made after April 1 unless from the RDA or outside sources. Mr. Cummings volunteered to work with staff to draft a communication based on the staff recommendation and bring it back to the Landmarks Commission for approval prior to sending it. Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that tradition and stories of the past are important and hopefully people come out to share when research takes place as it is important to get data from more sources than the vested interest of the “owners”. Mr. Poeschl said he could assist with compiling an oral history and Mr. Decker stated that there was another cabin by the CN Railroad Bridge that may have local historic interest. Mr. Decker further expressed his desire that the city only take action to preserve and he expressed his worry that the Commission would end up with a communication recommending the removal or relocation of the cabins. Mr. Arnold made a motion that the Landmarks Commission send a communication to the City Manager stating that the concept of the fishing shanties are historically and culturally significant in Oshkosh’s history and that a physical presence may be of historic, cultural and tourist value to the community as well as requesting that the City make available staff time and other resources from multiple departments as needed to research and gather information on the historic elements of the 2 of 4 shanties as well as consider the inclusion of a historic/interpretive marker be placed on the south shore of the river as part of the riverwalk in relation to the fishing history and culture of Oshkosh. The motion was seconded by Ms. Redlin. Motion passed 7-0. WASHINGTON STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT STREET SIGNAGE – ACTION/RECOMMENDATION TO STAFF Mr. Buck presented an example street sign and a specification sheet depicting proposed brackets/pole mounting hardware. He explained that the Washington Avenue District was a Historic District to have standard street signage and the City is considering providing specialty signage, as it has in other historic districts, as part of the great neighborhoods initiative. Landmarks Commission review and recommendation would go to staff to be considered when the determination to provide the signage is discussed. Ms. Brabender Mattox commented that the lower case letters were preferable to the all upper case but that the text on the top denoting the historic district was too small and would be difficult to read. She suggested removing the “Washington Avenue” text to provide for a larger “Historic District”. Mr. Arnold mentioned that the cross streets will also signify historic district but will not name it. There was general consensus that the lowercase letters were preferable and that Ms. Brabender Mattox’s suggestion to increase the size of the “Historic District” was good unless it was determined that the upper area could be read with the “Washington Avenue” text included. Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that the squared edges looked bad and were not historic and they should be rounded. Ms. Redlin said that it could be difficult to tape the edges if rounded but Mr. Clark stated that if a radius edge was used if would look less like a machine shop “chopped” sign and more like a professionally made one. Ms. Redlin made a motion to recommend approval of the sign with lowercase letters, one of the preferred specialty mount hardware, rounded edges and the removal of the “Washington Avenue” text from the top to increase the size and visibility of the “Historic District” unless it could be made more visible. Mr. Cummings seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN – ACTION/RECOMMENDATION TO COMMON COUNCIL The Commission looked over the Sustainability Plan and Ms. Redlin commented that she felt the staff and the Sustainability Board did an exceptional job. She added that the concerns and suggestions expressed by the Commission when they reviewed the draft plan were incorporated primarily on pages 35-37. Mr. Arnold recommended approval of the plan which was seconded by Ms. Redlin. Motion passed 7-0. [Ms. Heikel leaves the meeting at 4:34] GOAL SETTING/PLANNING CALENDAR – 2012 The yearly goal list was discussed and determination that many goals left incomplete in 2011 be included as well as establishing an intern program for website and tourism literature development. It was further requested that three of the goals be listed as ongoing in the goal list. Goals for 2012 are as follows: •Intern program focusing on education including website update, tourism brochures and design guideline booklet •Landmark designation of 324 Fulton, 1365 Algoma and 633 Mount Vernon - ongoing •Create North Main Street Bungalow Historic District •Historic signage/marker program •Grant acquisition - ongoing •Research and market historic bar element of Oshkosh •Update the Municipal Code as it relates to Landmarks and historic preservation •Determine and award Acanthus Awards - ongoing 3 of 4 [Mr. Clark leaves the meeting at 4:45] AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING/COMMISSIONER STATEMENTS It was determined that a special meeting to address the Acanthus Award winner determination be held in two weeks. Staff was directed to send out agendas. Items for the next regularly scheduled meeting should include the acanthus awards, North Main Bungalow District, election of officers, historic signage/marker topic discussion and annual report. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Brabender Mattox went over the WAHP Newsletter and conference material and briefed the Commission on previous year’s events. She highly recommended that the Commissioners and staff attend. Motion to adjourn at 5:02 pm was made by Ms. Redlin and seconded by Mr. Cummings. Motion carried 5-0. Respectfully Submitted, David Buck Principal Planner 4 of 4