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 Dina Blaes, Susan Deal, Billie Ann Devine, William Littig, Rob McFarland, Sarah Miller, Elizabeth Mitchell, Lynn Morgan, Craig Paulsen, Robert Young, Joel Paterson, Elizabeth Giraud, and Lisa Miller.
Present from the Historic Landmark Commission were Dina Blaes, Thomas Cerruti, Susan Deal, Billie Ann Devine, Wayne Gordon, Maren Jeppsen, William Littig, Rob McFarland, Sarah Miller, Elizabeth Mitchell, Lynn Morgan, Craig Paulsen, and Robert Young. William Damery and Heidi Swinton were excused.
Present from the Preservation Planning Staff were Joel Paterson, Supervisor, Elizabeth Giraud and Lisa Miller, Planners.
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 P.M. by Chairperson, Dina Blaes. Ms. Blaes announced that the meeting would be comprised of an informal discussion, since no cases were to be reviewed.
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.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Young moved to approve the minutes from the August 6, 1997 meeting. It was seconded by Ms. Deal. Mr. Cerruti, Ms. Deal, Ms. Devine, Mr. Gordon, Ms. Jeppsen, Mr. Littig, Mr. McFarland, Ms. Miller, Ms. Mitchell, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Paulsen, and Mr. Young unanimously voted "Aye". Ms. Blaes, as Chair, did not vote. Mr. Damery and Ms. Swinton were excused.
OTHER BUSINESS
Discussion of publicizing and the distribution of the recently-adopted, "Design
Guidelines for Residential Historic Districts in Salt Lake City."
Ms. Blaes expressed her appreciation to the Commission members, who were able to attend the City Council meeting on August 12, 1997, where the guidelines were presented to the Council for adoption. She said that there did not seem to be much opposition. She pointed out that this meeting would be "brain-storming" session to discuss how this tool would get in the hands of the public, to help set some priorities, and have a positive outreach into the communities.
Ms. Elizabeth Giraud led the discussion by saying that modifications to the guidelines had been sent to the consultant and a final copy of the document would be available later on. She said that copies of Draft No. 4 should be available immediately for the public and asked for suggestions from the Commission members the best way to inform the public about the guidelines.
Ms. Lisa Miller said that the guidelines would be sold at the upcoming Avenues Street Fair and asked for volunteers from the Commission to help with that undertaking. After much discussion, the following suggestions were made:
• Sell the guidelines at community streets fairs;
• Put articles in the major local newspapers;
• Put articles in association newsletters, such as the American Institute of
Architects,
• Intermountain Contractors, Associated General Contractors, Board of Realtors, as well as real estate brokers, and Property Managers;
• Put an article in the in-house City newspaper, called "The Official Rumor";
• Make copies available in the City Planning Office and the Permits Office, as well as at the libraries;
• Make copies available in the Utah State Historical Society bookstore;
• Put the information on a CD Rom;
• Advertise the availability of the guidelines on the web page;
• Advertise the availability of the guidelines on the City search and information center (TV Channel39);
• Make information available about the guidelines at various exhibitor functions, such as the Home and Garden Show and Utah State Fair;
• Put articles in the community council and city council district newsletters;
• Use the expertise of former Commissioner members, who had input into the guidelines;
• Make information available about the guidelines at the Utah Heritage Foundation and the Utah State Historical Society, as well as put an articles in their newsletters;
• Public service announcements on TV and radio stations; and
• Mass mailing notifying the property owners in historic districts or of landmark sites of the guideline.
As well as getting the information out to the public, Ms. Blaes spoke of the next level of communication, such as offering workshops and perhaps apply for funding to mail a copy of the guidelines to every property owner in an historic district of a landmark site, followed by a series of workshops. She said that she knew of funding sources into which the Commission had not tapped. Ms. Blaes further suggested that the Commission should take that responsibility. Ms. Giraud promoted the idea of hiring experts through available grant money to do a hands-on, question and answer, workshop, such as windows, repairing wood elements, exterior walls, and certain other building problems. It was suggested that a "before" and "after" slide show on preservation projects could be shown at the workshops. It was further suggested that these workshops could be set up in conjunction with the Utah State Preservation Month in May of 1998 and the City's Annual Historic Landmark Commission Awards Ceremony.
Mr. Young said that he had been involved in workshops that provide technical instruction, called "The Traditional Building Skills Institute" which are offered for students at Snow College, and would be opened to the public. He said that the goal for the college is to build-up an available supply of crafts people in the State who could do work in restoration.
The discussion continued regarding materials and subjects for workshops, such as how to find a contractor or an architect, and what would the public's expectations be, where would the public go with restoration problems, pro-active public education on preservation planning, and other related matters. Ms. Blaes noted that the State of Indiana publishes a pamphlet about how the public would find a contractor, and outlines issues that a homeowner might not think about when undergoing a restoration project. She said that she would make a copy available to the Staff for suggestions.
Mr. Cerruti talked about the workshop that was held by Mr. Pratt Cassity, who is the Executive Director of the National Alliance of Preservation Commission, for the benefit of the members of the Historic Landmark Commission and the Preservation Staff last June. He said that it was an exceptional opportunity, as Mr. Cassity made some helpful and important comments and observations concerning the work of Commission members. Mr. Cerruti suggested that he be contacted for additional information that could be reviewed at a future Commission meeting. He further pointed out specific issues about which Mr. Cassity spoke. Ms. Blaes said of copy of Mr. Cassity's results from that meeting will be made available to Commission members. She also said that Mr. Cassity had talked about the next step which was to develop an education plan and that was the reason the training sessions, which would begin in November 1997, were suggested. She further suggested other topics and resources which could be discussed. Ms. Blaes would acquire written material that would accompany the subject matter that would be discussed in the training session. She said that the Utah State Historical Society and the Utah Heritage Foundation have resource material that would be accessible to the Commission. Ms. Blaes also said that the State Preservation Office (SHPO) has a data base, indexed by subject, as a resource to the public. Mr. Young further suggested that there was an organization with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, called "Forum", which has resource material available.
Ms. Giraud pointed out that, although there had been some negative press articles, she also had received positive feedback from the public regarding the Historic Landmark Commission and its function in the community. Mr. Paulsen suggested that the Commission members make themselves more accessible to the public to form a better public relationship. Mr. Morgan talked about the intimidation that the public felt when someone appeared before this Commission.
Ms. Blaes asked for volunteers from the Commission to form a subcommittee to plan and coordinate these activities. Ms. Blaes, Ms. Jeppsen, Ms. Mitchell, Mr. Young, and Mr. McFarland volunteered. The first meeting was scheduled for Monday, September 29, 1997 at 12:30 P.M. The location would be announced.
The discussion turned to other matters. Ms. Giraud announced that a special
Architectural Subcommittee meeting would be held on Thursday, September 4, 1997.
Ms. Blaes asked for a voice poll to have the Historic Landmark Commission meet on the first and third Wednesdays every month during the year. She said that the second meeting of the month would be dedicated for training and information opportunities for the Commission, presented by Commission members or outside people. After a short discussion, the Commission unanimously voted to meet twice a month. Ms. Blaes said that she would begin a list of topics which could be discussed at the next meeting.
Mr. Paterson notified the Commission that the Land Use Appeals Board hearing for Art Brothers, which would have been held at 5:30 P.M. on this date, had been cancelled, due to a noticing error and will be rescheduled. He gave a brief overview of the case. Mr. Paterson said that the Commission members would be notified of the new date.
Ms. Lisa Miller also reported that another case, where the Historic Landmark Commission rendered a denial, had also been appealed by the applicant, Todd Holloway, and that hearing would be in the near future, as well.
For the benefit of the new members, Ms. Giraud explained that when the new Zoning Ordinance was adopted, the City Council was to review appealed cases from the Historic Landmark Commission and the Planning Commission. The Council members decided that the potential was there to politicize them, so a separate Land Use Appeals Board was then established to hear those appeals. Mr. Paterson noted that the Land Use Appeals Board comprise of three members and two alternate members.
Mr. Paterson gave a brief update of the South Temple Land Company and the City Zoning Administrator's decision that the application for the demolition of an apartment house on South Temple, which was filed under the old zoning regulations, prior to the adoption of the new Zoning Ordinance in 1995, was incomplete. He made the decision that a new application would have to be filed under the tougher new Zoning Ordinance. He said that the company appealed that decision and the Board of Adjustment was to have heard that appeal; however, the company has asked for several postponements. Ms. Deal questioned how many times a company could request a postponement and asked Mr. Paterson to check into that matter. The discussion continued.
There being no further business, Ms. Blaes entertained a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Young moved to adjourn the meeting which was seconded by Ms. Deal. It was a unanimous vote of approval by the Commission members and the meeting adjourned at 5:30P.M.