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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmarks Minutes 05-08-13 CITY OF OSHKOSH LANDMARKS COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 8, 2013 PRESENT: Vicky Redlin, Shirley Brabender Mattox, Steve Cummings, Dennis Arnold, Sharon Kipetz and Karen Heikel EXCUSED: Arlene Schmuhl and Connor McGee STAFF: David Buck 1. CALL TO ORDER Ms. Redlin called the meeting to order at 3:10 pm and a quorum was declared present. 2. APPROVAL OF MARCH 21 & APRIL 10, 2013 MEETING MINUTES th Ms. Heikel made a correction to the April 10 minutes. She stated she was present but marked as excused. Mr. Arnold motioned to approve the meeting minutes as amended. Motioned seconded by Ms. Heikel. Minutes were approved unanimously. 3. FISHING SHANTY INVESTIGATION REPORT – COMMENTS Mr. Cummings stated that he will be recusing himself from the discussion as he was the Commission representative on the Investigative Subcommittee and his thoughts are already included within the report. Mr. Buck distributed copies of the report to those members who did not bring theirs and he then read and went over the report summary section. Mr. Buck added that he will remove “draft” and “approved by” from the Landmarks Commission tag on the cover as your comments will be made and sent as a letter with the subcommittee report to the City Manager. Mr. Buck then stated that the Commission had been hoping to get comments from the Winnebago County Historical and Archeological Society (WCHAS) but they had not provided any to date, though it was his understanding that they would be continuing to review it at their regular meeting this evening. Mr. Buck encouraged the Commission to make their comments and let the WCHAS send their comments to the City Manager separately. Mr. Arnold made the comment that the subcommittee’s recommendations on the future role of the existing Fishing Shanty structures are not in order of importance or preference and should not be considered as mutually exclusive so that any single recommendation would not preclude others. He further added that if he had to put a preference onto the three potential “futures” it would be that the commemoration of the City’s fishing history through signage and preservation of the existing structures (with improvement and regulation) is preferable to creation of a “new replica” river structure. Mr. Arnold also stated that the subcommittee did an excellent job researching and putting the report together and the fact that they came up with divergent opinions does not take away from the quality of the document. Ms. Redlin agreed that she felt the subcommittee did a good job and that she did not have any opinion on the quality of the report. She added that she liked that the report discussed how a few other community’s had managed to retain river structures but did not feel that our shanties “fate” is in the hands of the Landmarks Commission and maybe not even within the City’s authority. Ms. Heikel stated that she felt the report was complete and that it needs to move on to the City Manager as the topic could be continuously discussed but that the research and the findings of the report are a comprehensive overview and that it needs to go onto the decision makers. Mr. Buck stated he will put together a communication to the City Manager with the comments from the discussion and forward the letter and report to the City Manager. 4. BUILDING PERMIT REVIEW & DISCUSSION Mr. Buck presented the list of building permits that were issued in the month of April and described work 1 of 3 done. Mr. Arnold inquired to what “City Rehab Project” referred to? Mr. Buck said that it was a project that was undertaken with the assistance of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Ms. Brabender Mattox mentioned that 661 Franklin Street had vinyl siding included in the project and that historic elements on houses whether in a district or not must be specifically addressed if it is funded using CDBG. Mr. Buck replied that the rehabilitation is reviewed from a historic standpoint as part of CDBG eligibility and that the Franklin Street property was a repair to existing vinyl. Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that she wanted to make the statement that the Landmarks Commission would not approve changing the siding from wood to vinyl. Mr. Buck said that that situation would be caught when reviewing the CDBG rehab applications. Ms. Brabender Mattox asked if staff would inquire on how Landmarks could get involved with the grant application review meetings. Mr. Buck stated that he would check into it and get back to the Commission. There was general discussion on what type of project would be held to historic architectural standards and which are no longer, because of previous rehabilitation or major state of disrepair, of any quality from a historic or even safe standpoint. The Commission discussed designation of our historic districts and our historic surveys that identify which areas the Commission and City focuses on and which areas have been so changed or augmented over time that the integrity of the area, are no longer there. 5. ACANTHUS AWARD NOMINATIONS AND PROGRESS REPORT Mr. Buck distributed the commentary for CR Meyer and Ms. Kipetz distributed the commentary for Crescent Moon as well as provided Mr. Buck with associated images. Mr. Buck inquired who would be th speaking and presenting the awards at the Council meeting of May 28 and Ms. Brabender Mattox stated she would. Mr. Buck let the Commission know that he needs to get a “blurb” that describes the awards in a sentence as well as the information on who will be in attendance to receive the awards no later than th Tuesday May 14 to include in a communication to the Mayor. Mr. Buck also mentioned that he has not received any information regarding the Castle-Pierce award. Ms. Brabender Mattox went over previous statements. Discussion on the text for the Crescent Moon took place and decided on as follows: “For their professional salvage and recovery of local architectural elements for re-use in restoration projects”. Mr. Cummings stated that he is working will Bill Castle to get information and photographs but that the topic is “Longest continuous family-run business in Oshkosh at 125 years”. Mr. Buck said that he needs th the information for the “blurb” by May 14. 6. ANTENNA PLACEMENTS – SECTION 106 REVIEWS Mr. Buck updated the Commission about a Section 106 comment at 100 Court Street. He stated he did not bring the item up as it fit in with the Commission’s standard/stock response to tower/antenna requests. He mentioned that the structure is not historic but that it is within close proximity to the North Main Street District and the Northwestern Building and the National Life Insurance Building. He added that they are removing the antenna skids and placing the antenna on the elevator tower on the center of the building. As there is no visual impact on the historic districts or structures that the Commission does not object to the installation. Mr. Buck mentioned that last November he made a similar statement to TriLeaf regarding an installation on the University’s Boiler Plant at 1010 Woodland Avenue but had been informed by TriLeaf that the actual installation was on the Arts Building at 926 Woodland. This is significant because it is less than 100 feet of both the Normal School National Historic District and the Algoma Boulevard National Historic District. This location has much more impact than the 1010 location so he wanted to bring this back to the Commission. Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that it is just across the street from the Algoma Boulevard District. Mr. Buck showed the location proposed as it relates to the aforementioned districts and described how it was being placed on the existing skids and existing tower on the rooftop. The Commission commented that the plans state that several of the skids are “abandoned” and suggested that they should be removed if not used. The Commission asked that the new communication reference the standard comment #4 “The Landmarks Commission is concerned with the installation of antenna on non- contributing structures outside of a historic district because they have a visual impact on two adjacent historic districts of local historic significance”. They requested that staff state that the building has not 2 of 3 been inventoried but could potentially be historic as it is a 1960’s building and also to word the communication to stress that the rooftop of the structure should be “cleaned up” as much as possible by removing unused equipment as well as attempting to locate the antenna as far from the edges of the structure as possible and stealth the antenna as much as possible. Mr. Buck stated he would do so. 7. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS a. Website Update – There was no report. b. Tourism/Brochures – Ms. Redlin said that the subcommittee has met with the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) who said they will check their files to see what old brochures they still have. They also mentioned that if they can get any revisions that they will gladly enhance them. She added that they wanted additional information and background and then meet again. To summarize, the CVB will help organize documents and set up walking tours. c. North Main Street Bungalow District – Mr. Buck passed around the final Nomination Document th and stated that the nomination documents will be reviewed by the State on May 24 and another th neighborhood meeting has been set for May 14 at 6 pm at the Library in Room AB. Ms. Brabender Mattox mentioned that North Main Street is scheduled for reconstruction and the Department of Public th Works had a neighborhood meeting on April 30 and asked for comments. He went over the info that th was provided and stated he will bring copies to the May 14 meeting and ask for comments from the attendees so they can be forwarded to the Department of Public Works. d. Historic Signage/Plaque Program – Mr. Cummings stated that he had met with Bill Wyman from the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation and discussed the historic marker program. Mr. Wyman said he will bring the information on the program to the Foundation Board and see if it would be a program that they would be interested in contributing to. Mr. Cummings also mentioned that he may purchase a brass plaque for The Waters. e. Grant/Budget Update – Mr. Buck discussed the cost to do the mailing and stated he still needs to draft a communication requesting funds from the Community Development Department. f. Riverside Cemetery - There was no report. g. Historic Bar Elements – There was no report. 8. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING/COMMISSIONER STATEMENTS Mr. Buck mentioned that he has uncovered several VHS tapes created by the Landmarks Commissions of the past that discuss the history of Oshkosh, the people and places of Oshkosh and a thing on movies of the 1910-1920s. He suggested that the Commission dedicate their next meeting to view one or more of them. Mr. Buck said he will have only minutes and permits and then watch the video. The Commission agreed and Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that we also must have an update of the North Main Street Bungalow District. 7. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 5:13 pm was made by Ms. Heikel and seconded Mr. Arnold. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, David Buck, Principal Planner 3 of 3