SALT LAKE CITY HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Minutes of the Meeting
Held at 451 South State Street, Room 126
A field trip preceded the meeting and was attended by Maren Jeppsen, Sarah Miller, Orlan Owen, Oktai Parvaz, Robert Young, Elizabeth Giraud, and Nelson Knight.
Present from the Historic Landmark Commission were Dina Blaes, Wayne Gordon, Maren Jeppsen, William Littig, Sarah Miller, Orlan Owen, Oktai Parvaz, Robert Payne, Amy Rowland, and Robert Young. Susan Deal, Billie Ann Devine, Rob McFarland, and Elizabeth Mitchell were excused.
Present from the Planning Staff were Joel Paterson, Preservation Planning Supervisor, Elizabeth Giraud, and Nelson Knight, Preservation Planners, and Janice Jardine, representing the City Council.
The meeting was called to order at 4:00P.M. by Chairperson, Dina Blaes. Ms. Blaes announced that each item would be reviewed in the same order as listed on the agenda. She stated that after hearing comments from the Commission, the meeting would be opened to the audience for comment, after which the meeting would be closed to the public and the Commission would render a decision based on the information presented. So that there would be no disruption during the meeting, Ms. Blaes asked members of the audience to turn their cellular telephones off.
A roll is being kept with the minutes of all who attended the Historic Landmark Commission meeting. The minutes are presented in agenda order, not necessarily as items were presented at the Historic Landmark Commission meeting. Tapes of the meeting will be retained in the commission office for a period of one year, after which they will be erased.
MAYOR'S YOUTH CITY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
Ms. Blaes recognized Ms. Marie E'te'aki, representing District 1 in the Mayor's Youth City Government, assigned to attend the Historic Landmark Commission meetings.
NEW BUSINESS
Case No. 029-98. by Shawn Eva and Kelly Lamoreaux, requesting to place the "George M. Cannon House" at 720 E. Ashton Avenue on the Salt Lake City Register of Cultural Resources.
Mr. Knight presented the staff report by outlining the major issues of the case, the findings of fact, and the staff’s recommendation, a copy of which was filed with the minutes of this meeting. Mr. Knight said that in a residential zone a property would have to be listed on the Salt Lake City Register of Cultural Resources before a conditional use application could be submitted. He said that a favorable recommendation would not mean that the applicants would receive a conditional use permit to operate the house as a bed and breakfast. Mr. Parvaz inquired if the Historic Landmark Commission would have to be concerned with parking issues if a conditional use was approved. Ms. Giraud said that would be reviewed and considered by the Planning Commission after a parking plan was submitted and reviewed by the Transportation Division.
Mr. Shawn Eva and Mr. Kelly Lamoreaux, the applicants, were present. Mr. Eva wanted to comment on the parking. He said that the parking plans had already been considered. Mr. Lamoreaux said that there was an adjoining parking lot for the LDS Ward that would also be available. When asked, Mr. Eva said that there would be five rooms available for the bed and breakfast if they receive a conditional use. A short discussion took place clarifying the applicants' request for a favorable recommendation being forwarded to the Planning Commission and the City Council to list the house on the Salt Lake City Register of Cultural Resources.
Mr. Eva said that they planned to fully restore the house to the original condition, which he said would not be easy. Mr. Lamoreaux said that with the amount of money that it will take to restore the house, an income was needed to generate money to help defray the costs. He said that he did not believe a family would be interested in purchasing the house, as a single family residence, because the restoration costs would be too high. Ms. Blaes suggested that the applicants look into other financial incentives such tax credits and loans to help with the restoration costs.
Since there were no questions, concerns, or comments made by the Historic Landmark Commission or the public, Ms. Blaes closed the meeting to any public comments and the Commission proceeded into the executive session portion of the meeting.
Executive Session
Mr. Littig addressed the concerns he had about bed and breakfasts in residential neighborhoods. He said that he believed that in the future hotel building codes might be applied to the bed and breakfast properties, then older homes, used as bed and breakfasts, would have to be fitted with fire escapes, fire walls, and sprinklers. At that point, Mr. Littig said the historic character of many old homes might be lost. He said that he believed the Historic Landmark Commission favorably recommending an historic property to be included on the Salt Lake City Register of Cultural Resources should not be an avenue through which someone would be able to get a conditional use permit. Mr. Littig further expressed his concerns about that the first step in the pursuit of a zoning change would be through this Commission. Some other members shared Mr. Littig's concerns.
Ms. Giraud said that acquiring a conditional use permit to operate a business to generate cash flow could be an incentive for people to renovate historic properties rather than the properties being destroyed. Mr. Littig said that he understood the City's position but explained that he was uncomfortable with the fact that would be the reason for someone to purchase historic properties.
Mr. Payne said that "in an historic district, like the Avenues, the Historic Landmark Commission has control over what occurs to historic properties, but in a neighborhood like the one in the current application, this Commission has no control over this historic property whatsoever; it could be torn down tomorrow." Mr. Young said that by listing the house on the local register, an entirely new set of required regulations would be introduced.
Ms. Blaes said that she could understand Mr. Littig's concerns. She said that it was important that his comments would be in the record of this meeting. Ms. Blaes said that during the zoning rewrite process, this issue was a concern when it was introduced into the zoning ordinance, but that it would not be considered a loophole. She said that was one of the reasons why it was important that applicants understood the long and complicated process to procure a conditional use permit. The discussion continued.
Ms. Blaes reminded the members of the Commission that at this meeting, the only decision that would be made would be to either list or not list the house on the Salt Lake City Register of Cultural Resources.
Mr. Young moved that a favorable recommendation for Case No. 029-98 be forwarded to the Planning Commission that the "George M. Cannon House" at 720 E. Ashton Avenue be included on the Salt Lake City Register of Cultural Resources. It was seconded by Mr. Gordon. Mr. Gordon, Ms. Jeppsen, Mr. Littig, Ms. Miller, Mr. Owen, Mr. Parvaz, Mr. Payne, Ms. Rowland, and Mr. Young unanimously voted "Aye". Ms. Blaes, as Chair, did not vote. Ms. Deal, Ms. Devine, Mr. McFarland, and Ms. Mitchell were not present for the vote. The motion passed.
OTHER BUSINESS
Update on previous cases.
Ms. Blaes read a letter she had received from Ms. Claudia O'Grady, Executive Director, Multi-Ethnic Development Corporation, addressed to Jeff Jonas of Winthrop Court, L.C., a copy of which was filed with the minutes of this meeting. She reminded the Commission that Ms. O'Grady attended a Commission meeting a few weeks ago and spoke about the issue and her involvement of relocating the houses from Vernier Place to a location on Pugsley Street.
Ms. Blaes asked for an update on this project. Mr. Paterson said that Mr. Jonas' request for demolition of the houses on Vernier Place was tabled by the Historic Landmark Commission because there was not a definite relocation site for the houses. Ms. Blaes asked if Mr. Jonas was going to pursue an economic hardship review regarding this issue. Ms. Giraud said that no financial information has been submitted for the economic hardship review.
Ms. Jardine said that council staff has been involved with Mr. Jonas, who has been requested to give a resolution of the plans for the project. She said that the City Council wants him to move along with his project.
Ms. Blaes said that one of the houses on Vernier Place recently burned. Ms. Jardine said that the City has been involved with the crime issues surrounding these properties.
There was some discussion regarding the demolition process. Ms. Blaes expressed her concerns about the original site plans for Winthrop Court, and asked if they were changed, would a new application be required for demolition and the process start over again. Ms. Giraud said that until the fee has been paid and until the site plans have been logged-in for a plan-check review, the City would not issue any demolition permit. She said that was a standard procedure with the City Permits Office. Ms. Giraud said that if the plans are changed or new plans are submitted for the project, staff can request an opinion from the City Attorney's office if a new application would be required. Ms. Blaes said that she believed it would be helpful to have an opinion from the City Attorney's office if that occurs.
The conversation continued regarding Mr. Jonas' project. Ms. Giraud said that she would keep the Historic Landmark Commission informed when additional information is available.
An amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding administrative approvals.
Ms. Blaes reminded the Commission members about the administrative approvals discussion which took place in an Historic Landmark Commission meeting a short time ago. She inquired if staff had followed up with the information learned at that meeting. Ms. Giraud said that staff had not, as yet. She said that if an ordinance change was necessary, the City Attorney's office would have to be involved to review the legality of the text. Ms. Giraud further said that a policy change would be worked out among the staff members and the members of the Historic Landmark Commission.
Ms. Giraud stated that the staff evaluated the issues brought up during that discussion and a large part of the problems that were discussed was a lack of communication between the preservation planners, the zoning enforcement people, and the preservation planners keeping the members of the Commission informed on enforcement issues. She added that communication needs much improvement.
Ms. Blaes suggested that discussion be continued at the December 2, 1998 Historic Landmark Commission meeting, so the Commission could move the policy along. Ms. Giraud said that she believed it would also be helpful if the supervisor over enforcement, Mr. Craig Spangenberg, and/or one of the zoning enforcement people attended the meeting to explain how the process works, when liens are put on a property what is involved, and how they do their job.
Ms. Blaes said that she did not want to "waste the Commission member's time having policy discussions if we don't follow through with them".
Discussion of housing issues in Salt Lake City.
Ms. Blaes passed out copies of a memorandum from the Chair to the Historic Landmark Commission members. The memorandum included a letter she had received from the City Council Member Carlton Christensen, the Administration's response to the consultant's recommended housing policies, whose name is Frank Gray, the Administration's recommended housing policies, and excerpts from a book titled, "The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader's Guide" by Donovan Rypkema, a copy of which was included with the minutes of this meeting.
Ms. Blaes said that Salt Lake City is currently revising its City-wide housing policy and Council Member Christensen, who is the vice chair of the City Council, sent a letter to housing advocates encouraging comments by November 23, 1998 to the City Council for its housing subcommittee. She pointed out that she believed by outlining and supporting recommendations for preservation-friendly housing policies, it would benefit this Commission in the long run. Ms. Blaes stated that housing policies will affect the historic districts in Salt Lake City and the Historic Landmark Commission will have to confront them.
Ms. Jardine said that only "affordable" housing issues would be addressed before the end of the year, then the City Council will look at other housing issues after the first of the year.
Ms. Blaes suggested that the Commission discuss what members think a "preservation friendly" policy would be. She added that the members could formulate some policy statements at this meeting, discuss the issues at the next Historic Landmark Commission meeting, then forward statements to the City Council by November 23, 1998.
Ms. Blaes used a briefing board to record the suggestions and ideas from members of the Historic Landmark Commission and staff. The attached document is the result of the housing policy discussion.
Adjournment of the meeting.
As there was no other business, Ms. Blaes asked for a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Young so moved to adjourn the meeting. It was a unanimous vote of approval and the meeting adjourned at 6:15P.M