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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-11-15 Historic District Board SummaryHISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD November 15, 1994 - 6:00 p.m. ***AGENDA*** Kenai Council Chambers Chair Dorothy Gray 1. CALL TO ORDER 1 APPROVAL OF AGENDA m APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 25, 1994 m PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD a. James Malanaphy III- National Preservation Conference b. Representative from State Historic Preservation Office c. Jim Childers- Department of Transportation Sm HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW Sm NEW BUSINESS m OLD BUSINESS a. Historic Preservation Plan Outline b. Mission Street Project 8. REPORTS w BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS 10. ADJOURNMENT PLEASE CONTACT LORETTA AT 283-7933 IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SO WE CAN ESTABLISH A QUORUM. HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD November 15, 1994 - 6:00 p.m. ***MINUTES*** Kenai Council Chambers Chair Dorothy Gray lw CALL TO ORDER Members present: Wanda Carlson, Dorothy Gray, Karen Mahurin, Jim Arness, Roger Meeks Members absent: Alan Boraas, Diane Rathman, Rose Ann Murphy, Ethel Clausen Also present: James Malanaphy, Henry Knackstedt, Jack La Shot, Loretta Harvey Chairperson Gray welcomed the new member, Wanda Carlson to the Board and introduced her to other Board Members. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairperson Gray noted that items 4a & 4b would have to be pulled as these representatives would not be able to attend the meeting. These items will be moved to the December meeting. Gray also requested an item be added under New Business: Letter to State Office of Historical Preservation regarding Archeological study for Mission Street Project. She also asked Roger Meeks to make a brief report on the State Preservation Conference. MOTION AND VOTE: KAREN MAHURIN MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. ROGER MEEKS SECONDED. AGENDA APPROVED AS AMENDED. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 25, 1994 MOTION AND VOTE: KAREN MAHURIN MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. ROGER MEEKS SECONDED. MINUTES APPROVED AS PRESENTED. Historic Distdct Board November 15, 1994 Page I 1 PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD a. James Malanaphy III-National Preservation Conference Malanaphy reported he had attended the Conference in Boston. The conference was taped and if the Board was interested in certain subjects those tapes could be ordered. The two seminars he wanted to report on that dealt with preservation planning issues were: Historic Preservation and Comprehensive Planning Process; and Local Preservation Law Recent Constitutional Developments. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is underneath the auspices of the National Park Service, which is under the auspices of the Department of the Interior, which means a lot of the support for historic preservation comes from the Secretary of the Interior. The National Park Service is presently having problems maintaining parks and historical areas with recent cuts in their budgets. They are working on a bill to have fees taken in by the parks go back into improving and developing parks and historical areas. Public art and landscape developments can help interrupt historic sites that are no longer existing. Even if a building has been demolished, things like statuary, reader boards, and the outline of buildings on the ground can help translate the site for people. The National Center for Historic Preservation Technology opened this year and awarded $500,000 in preservation technology grants. Next year their budget is between 1 mil to 1.5 mil. This is another source of funding for preservation efforts. The rebuilding of human lives and human spirits is a critical part of rebuilding the Nation's infrastructure and historic preservation is a valuable and critical tool to restore the human spirit. History has not always been accurately presented. For instance the homes and workplaces of predominate white males have been singled out for preservation. Exploitive policies toward native Americans, blacks, women and other minorities have been played down and ignored in the development of this country. It is our responsibility to portray history accurately so people can face up to the past and go forward in an honest manner. He was convinced that investment in historic preservation provides more jobs per dollar than virtually any other sector of the economy including oil production and other mining enterprises. Historic Distdct Board November 15, 1994 Page 2 Malanaphy also reported on the following two seminars he attended. Historic Preservation and Comprehensive Planning Process' The major elements of the plan should include the following 13 points: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) State clearly the goals of historic preservation in the community. Comply with any State zoning or planning enabling legislation requiring local governments to have local comprehensive plans, and requiring there be a mandatory or optional preservation element in it. Let current and future property owners and residents know in advance, how the community intends to grow and what the community wants to protect. To help provide a legal defense against lawsuits alleging unfair treatment of property owners or arbitrary decisions by government. Eliminate confusion about purpose, meaning and content of any existing local preservation ordinance. To form the basis of a local preservation ordinance or to strengthen legal basis of an existing ordinance. To insure consistency or eliminate inconsistency between various local government policies that effect the community's historic resources. To educate and inform citizens about their heritage and its value to the community. To create an agenda for future preservation activities. To provide a basis for interim protection of historic resources, while steps are taken to form a local preservation ordinance. To comprehensively address issues related to tourism, zoning, traffic and development patterns, and design that effect historic resources. Encourage economic development through the preservation of historic resources. To strengthen the political understanding and support of local policies. Also suggested elements of a Historic Preservation Plan are: A statement of goals for preservation in the community; the definition of the historic character of the community; the summary of past efforts to preserve that community; a survey of historic resources in the community, and an explanation of the legal basis for protecting those resources; a statement of the relationship between historic preservation and other local land use authorities; statement of the public-sectors responsibilities towards city owned historic resources and a statement of incentives that are available to assist in preservation of a community's historic resources; a statement of the relationship between historic preservation and the community's educational system; and a precise statement of goals and policies, and a specific agenda to accomplish these goals. Historic Distdct Board November 15, 1994 Page 3 So when a historic preservation plan outline is prepared that is what the State will be looking for. Local Preservation Law Recent Constitutional Developments' There has been an increase in property right activists becoming interested in preservation issues. It is important for governments to test the constitutionally of historic preservation ordinances. There are two tests which should be used to help in this assessment: The Nexus Test - that is, is there proof of a compelling government interest to be gained by restricting landuse. The Takings Claim Test-has the property owner been deprived of over 50% of profit he would have realized from the property. And are the landuse restrictions uniform, and are there steps being taken to mitigate the lost of economic benefit for the property. Malanaphy concluded it was a very informative conference. will be held October 11-15th, in Fort Worth, Texas. Next years conference b. Representative from State Historic Preservation Office-moved to 12/15/94 c. Jim Childers- Department of Transportation-moved to 12/15/94 d. Roger Meeks- State Preservation Seminar Roger reported he had attended this meeting in Kodiak. Due to extreme weather conditions Judith Bittner was not able to attend the conference. To fill her time slot Communities were asked to give a brief report on their preservation efforts. Meeks reported on the Historic Board and plans for the Old Town area. He was asked what the profits from the book "Once Upon a Kenai" were used for. The Historical Society had donated all the proceeds to the church for restoration purposes, as it is the only historic landmark in the city° 5. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW 6. NEW BUSINESS 7. OLD BUSINESS a. Historic Preservation Plan Outline Dorothy Grey said she would integrate some of the notes presented by James Malanaphy with the list the Board had developed at the previous meeting and prepare the outline. The Board will review the final outline at the next meeting. Historic Distdct Board November 15, 1994 Page 4 b. Letter to SHPO Regarding Archeological Survey/Mission Street Project Chairperson Gray had talked to Russell Sacket with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), who is the liaison between DOT and the SHPO. He suggested the Board write a letter to the SHPO and request them to assess whether an archeological study can be done in conjunction with the Mission Street Project. MOTION- ROGER MEEKS MOVED TO SEND A LETTER TO THE SHPO TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SITE OF THE MISSION STREET PROJECT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDY. WANDA CARLSON SECONDED. DISCUSSION- Karen Mahurin expressed concern that if the SHPO determines the site is not eligible that a survey may not be done and the city would lose valuable historic artifacts. Jim Arness noted that the Board had moved at the last meeting to recommend to Council that a survey be done. Chairperson Gray said she would take Alan Boraas's statements regarding the survey from the previous meeting's minutes and incorporate them into the letter to the SHPO. VOTE: PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. c. Mission Street Project Jack La Shot introduced Henry Knackstedt who is the local engineer working on this project. Henry distributed three copies of the latest plan for the Board's review. The plan is to follow the existing road. The road is kind of curvy because a private property owner has requested the project not encroach onto her property, and it will also make the project pleasing by keeping it a downtown design. A two-way road will be coming in from Mission to Ft. Kenay, from Ft. Kenay around the Church it will be one way, toward the bluff. There will be rolled curbs on both sides and a sidewalk on the side opposite the Church. No lighting is shown but historical lighting can be considered with the help of the Board. There is presently parking areas for tour buses, and some in front of the Church. The parking has been designed to encourage foot traffic to the area. Historic District Board November 15, 1994 Page 5 James Malanaphy asked how wide the street would be. Henry Knackstedt said the street was 16' which is pretty narrow but the standard street, from the centerline to the white line is 12', but if you pave 12' on the street would be too narrow. Roger Meeks said the road is very narrow in front of the Arness office, and there's not much more room than 16' anyway. Chairperson Gray said input from the public hearings on this project seemed to want encourage foot traffic and discourage vehicular traffic. Tour buses would park near Ft. Kenay and people would walk around the area. Jim Arness said at one time there had been discussion about bringing the street behind Ft. Kenay. He wondered if the property owner had an impact on that plan being eliminated. Knackstedt said if the road was brought behind Ft. Kenay it would bring in a lot more regulations from agencies, because it is not known what is in that area. If the original road is used it would be considered a categorical exclusion of EPA environmental impacts. A lot of this area has already been dug up when the water and sewer lines were installed. Jim Arness said the Board has decided to request an archeological study be conducted in conjunction with this project. Wanda Carlson expressed concern that the Church may not have enough parking. Chairperson Gray said there isn't a problem now, there are usually 5 to 7 cars during Church service hours, the area proposed seems to be adequate. Wanda Carlson also expressed concern regarding access to Jim Arness's business, with a one-way street. Roger Meeks said it will be narrow through that area and hard to access the business. Jim Arness said the Church has the ultimate say about the project, because they own the land. It will be their decision how much ROW they wish to relinquish. The private property owner is virtually land locked, if the road is brought behind Ft. Kenay it would solve this problem. But that was not an issue anymore since this seemed to be the approved plan, at this point. Historic District Board November 15, 1994 Page 6 Chairperson Gray felt the project should not focus on tourism. The project should seek to maintain the historical nature of the area. She said the Church Council had approved this plan. The SHPO and DOT should receive the plans and discuss whether an archeologicai study is required. Dorothy said she had seen an aerial slide which showed there was a road or path behind Ft. Kenay in the early 1900's. The main concern of DOT is not rearranging history in Old Town. James Malanaphy said he would like to see whether trees would be impacted by the project. Henry Knackstedt said the plan only shows building and fences, also lighting has been requested but is not represented in the plans. The Board and the Church should have input on this. Malanaphy just said it was difficult to get a feel of landscaping issues associated with the project from the drawing. Wanda Carlson noted there are not many trees in this area, mostly right around the Church. Chairperson Gray thanked Mr. Knackstedt for bringing the plans to the meeting. 8. REPORTS . BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:12 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for December 15, 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, rv~ '-- ~lm'~nistrative Assistant Historic Distdct Board November 15, 1994 Page 7