Charlotte-Mecklenburg

December 11, 2006

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N. C.

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 6:50 p.m.

Mr. Richard Alsop, III/Mayor, Survey Committee Chairman

Mr. Matthew Benson/Mayor, Design Review Committee Chairman

Mr. William T. Hobbs/County, White Oak Committee Chairman

Ms. Yolanda Johnson/City, HLC Vice-Chairman, Projects Com. Chairman

Ms. Yolanda D. Law/County, HLC Treasurer

Ms. Valerie Lewis/City, HLC Secretary, Education Liaison

Dr. Richard L. Mattson/County, Survey Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Len Norman/County, HLC Chairman

Ms. Laura C. Smith/City, Nominating Committee Chairman

Mr. Lynn Weis/City

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner

Ms. Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz, III/County

Mr. Gray Newman/County, Projects Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Cecil Krimminger, 1733 Belvedere Ave. (sidewalk)

Mr. Billy Maddalon, VanLandingham Estate (sidewalk)

Mr. Joe Walker, Kimley-Horn (sidewalk)

Ms. Jennefer Roy, Kimley-Horn (sidewalk)

Mr. Louis Hackney, Kimley-Horn (sidewalk)

Mr. John Suddreth, 1800 Belvedere Ave. (sidewalk)

Mr. Sam Barber, City of Charlotte Engineering (sidewalk)

Mr. Scott White, landscape design (VanLandingham Estate)

MR. BENSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. JOHNSON THAT THE MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 13, 2006, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. ALSOP PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. HOBBS THAT THE EXECUTIVES SESSION MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 13, 2006, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #2 - Chairman’s Report: Mr. Norman

Mr. Norman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He told the Commissioners that attendance starts over January 1, 2007, and to let Ms. Morrill know if they see changes needed in their data.

Mr. Norman said that he would like for the record to show that Mr. Stewart Gray’s brother plans to purchase the Oehler House, 14401 Huntersville-Concord Rd., on December 20, 2006.

Item #3 - Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill

Dr. Morrill reported that the processing of Pineville Commercial block for historic landmarks designation has produced two interesting legal results:

a. The State Historic Preservation Office stated in its letter that it was not certain that the Historic Landmarks Commission has legal jurisdiction in Pineville, because no formal interlocal agreement has been established between the HLC and the Town. The Town has passed a resolution naming the HLC as its Historic Landmarks Commission, but apparently that resolution is not sufficient. Consequently, the HLC is going to have to extend its existing interlocal agreement between Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte to include the Towns of Pineville, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Davidson. Dr. Morrill said that he has asked Ms. Nystrom to work with Mr. Marvin Bethune, County Attorney, to draft the paperwork to begin the process of making this happen.

b. The State Historic Preservation Office also questioned whether a historic landmark can contain multiple properties. HLC Staff has asked Mr. Richard Drucker of the Institute of Government to respond to this query. According to Mr. Drucker, a historic landmark can contain multiple properties. This means that the prospective designation of the Pineville Commercial Black can move forward once an interlocal agreement is in place.

Dr. Morrill reported that the closing on the N. S. Alexander House, 5014 N. Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, N. C., occurred on December 8, 2006. He said that emergency repairs to the house have begun. Dr. Morrill showed a "past and present DVD" he made on the house.

Dr. Morrill reported that Ms. Mary Ruffin Hanbury of the State Historic Preservation Office visited the HLC on November 29, 2006, and toured various projects the HLC has underway. He said that they discussed the process for forwarding Survey and Research Reports to Raleigh for comment and that the visit was most positive and helpful.

Dr. Morrill reported that the closing on the Oehler House, scheduled for December 20, 2006, will involve the HLC’s paying Mecklenburg County for the land which will accompany the house based upon the purchase price the County paid for the land initially.

Dr. Morrill reported that the City of Charlotte Real Estate Department has contacted the HLC about the possibility of the City’s leasing White Oak Plantation, 7729 Hood Road, Charlotte, N. C., as a place to house horses for the City’s mounted police. The White Oak ad hoc committee which is chaired by Mr. Hobbs is considering this matter but needs additional information from the City before any lease or purchase figures can be provided.

Dr. Morrill said that the Town of Davidson has delayed voting on the four prospective historic landmarks recommended by the Historic Landmarks Commission. The Town first wants to assess its overall approach to historic preservation.

Dr. Morrill reported that the owners of the historic First National Bank Building will be submitting an application to have the building considered for historic landmarks designation. The Friends of Fourth Ward have also requested that four properties be processed for historic landmarks designation. All of these items will come before the Survey Committee at its January 29, 2007 meeting.

Dr. Morrill reported that the HLC has received drafts of Survey and Research Reports on the Wing Haven House and Gardens and the Myrtle Apartments. A Survey and Research Report is also being prepared on the Ada Jenkins School.

Dr. Morrill reported that Mattson and Alexander will be preparing the National Register Nomination for the N. S. Alexander House, 5014 N. Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte, N. C.

Dr. Morrill reported that the coverings of the windows at Grace AME Zion Church, 219 S. Brevard St., Charlotte, N. C., is scheduled for the near future. The work is being done by Mr. Robert Schmitt and his son, Mr. Karl Schmitt. He said that the father and son will begin final upfit of the Sidney and Ethel Grier House, 4647 McKee Road, Charlotte, N. C., once they complete their work on the N. S. Alexander House.

Dr. Morrill reported that HLC minutes from 1993 until the present can now be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org or landmarkscommission.org.

Item #4 - Design Review Committee Report: Mr. Benson

Mr. Benson reported that the Design Review Committee met November 29, 2006. The main item of business was consideration of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the VanLandingham Estate, 2010 The Plaza, Charlotte, N. C. Mr. Benson said that the applicant, Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc., represents the City of Charlotte in proposing to build a sidewalk along the rear of the property. The owner of the property favors a sidewalk but is concerned that valuable, historic trees and shrubs not be damaged when a sidewalk is installed. The plan presented at the meeting did not meet the approval of the Committee due to concerns about ensuring the viability of the historic plantings. Kimley-Horn and the City agreed to work on a new plan. The new plan was presented to the HLC members by Kimley-Horn Associates, and everyone liked and approved the new design for the sidewalk.

MR. BENSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS THAT A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS BE ISSUED AS FOR THE PLAN AS PRESENTED AT THE HLC MEETING ON DECEMBER 11, 2006, FOR THE VANLANDINGHAM ESTATE, 2010 THE PLAZA, CHARLOTTE, N.C. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Benson thanked the City and Kimley-Horn for being sensitive to the historic property and for the good plan which is on file at the HLC office. Design Review business will be considered at the next meeting of the HLC on January 8, 2007.

Item #5 - Projects Committee Report: Ms. Johnson

Ms. Johnson asked everyone to see the distributed Projects Status Report. Work on the N. S. Alexander House is underway; the Grier-Rea House should be ready for sale within a couple of months; and the Grier House has a potential buyer. Mr. Hobbs, Chairman of the White Oak Plantation sub-committee, reported that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is considering the property for its horses. He also reported that the occupants of the rental house on the land across the road are delinquent in their rent payment, and that the rental company is handling the situation. Dr. Morrill said that Josh Purser has completed a market study of property values in the area. Dr. Morrill stated that the next step in the marketing of White Oak will be for the Commission to develop design parameters for the property.

MS. JOHNSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. SMITH THAT THE HLC CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. ALSOP PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. BENSON THAT THE HLC RE-CONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: In Executive Session Ms. Nystrom told about the current situation regarding a possible sale of the Cotton Mills and the Grand Theater.

Item #6 - Survey Committee Report: Mr. Alsop

Mr. Alsop reported that the Survey Committee will meet January 29, 2007, at 8:00 a.m.

Item #7 - Education Liaison: Ms. Lewis

Ms. Lewis said that she will let HLC members know when she receives information from other historic organizations.

Item #8 - Treasurer’s Report: Ms. Law

Ms. Law distributed a copy of the current financial report regarding HLC projects. There was expression by some Commissioners that detailed monthly expenses on projects be presented at the monthly Commission meetings.

No motions were presented. Mr. Norman reported that the HLC Personnel Committee, the same as the HLC Executive Committee (Mr. Norman, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Lewis and Ms. Law) will discuss staff consultant contracts soon.

No motions were presented.

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.