Draft

Charlotte-Mecklenburg

April 10, 2006

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

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

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

Mr. Matthew Benson/Mayor - Design Review Committee Vice-Chairman

Ms. Amy Hockett/City - Design Review Committee Chairman

Ms. Yolanda Johnson/City - Projects Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz/County - Projects Committee Chairman

Ms. Valerie Lewis/City - Education Committee Chairman, HLC Secretary

Dr. Richard L. Mattson/County

Mr. Gray Newman/County

Mr. Len Norman/County - Survey Committee Chairman, HLC Vice-Chairman

Ms. Laura C. Smith/City - HLC Treasurer, Finance Committee Chairman

Mr. Michael C. Sullivan/County - HLC Chairman

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Assistant Consulting Director

Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Ms. Yolanda Law/County - Education Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Derek Lanning (Morgan St. School)

Mr. Dennis LaCaria (Morgan St. School)

Mr. Bill McConnell (Yandell property in Pineville)

Mr. Bob Bunn (Yandell property in Pineville)

Mr. Roger Zanitsch (Lucas House)

Mr. John Allen (Yandell property in Pineville)

Mr. Mike Rose (Town of Pineville)

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. BENSON THAT THE MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 13, 2006, MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. HOCKETT THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION DATED MARCH 13, 2006, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

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

Mr. Sullivan welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said that he is happy to report that Mr. Jeff Bradsher, past chairman of the HLC, has been accepted to the Princeton Theological Seminary. He reported that Ms. Law is not present this evening due to her young son’s back injury.

Mr. Sullivan asked everyone to look at the attendance sheets and the monthly calendar. He asked Commissioners to let Ms. Morrill know if they have questions regarding attendance.

Mr. Sullivan said that the Nominating Committee will present a slate of proposed HLC officers for fiscal year 2007 at the May HLC meeting. Election of HLC officers will be held at the June meeting. Chairman of the Nominating Committee is Ms. Johnson. Committee members are Mr. Benson and Ms. Law.

Mr. Sullivan asked everyone to turn in the form at his or her seat to Ms. Johnson at the end of this meeting stating his or her officer and committee preferences.

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

Dr. Morrill asked the Commissioners to consider the Action Item in the Director’s Report concerning the Alumni Association of the former Plato Price School’s (an African American High School that once stood near Douglas International Airport) request that the HLC contribute up to $1000 to assist with the placement of a highway historic marker at the site of the former school. Dr. Morrill said that the sign will cost in excess of $2,000, and there is precedent for the HLC’s placing markers in the community such as the one near the W. T. Alexander Slave Cemetery.

MR. NEWMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NORMAN THAT THE HLC CONTRIBUTE $1,000 FROM ITS OPERATIONAL BUDGET TO HELP PAY FOR A HISTORIC MARKER AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER PLATO PRICE HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT HLC STAFF WILL WORK WITH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ON THE WORDING ON THE MARKER AND WILL APPROVE THE WORDING. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Dr. Morrill reported that Mr. Jason Nichols, a student intern, continues to identify the contents of the N. S. Alexander House, 5014 N. Sharon Amity Road. Dr. Morrill said that when Mr. Nichols completes the task, HLC staff will sit down with the Alexander family to determine what items the family wants to retain.

Dr. Morrill said that a joint public hearing to consider the change of boundaries for the Neel House will occur with the Charlotte City Council on April 17th.

Dr. Morrill reported that Ms. Jennifer Payne continues to work with the Town of Davidson on its comprehensive preservation plan. Reports on several prospective historic landmarks in Davidson will be brought to the Survey Committee at its May 4th meeting.

Dr. Morrill reported that two properties, the McAuley Road Farmland and the Bradford Store, will be considered, probably in May, for historic designation at a public hearing with the Town of Huntersville.

Dr. Morrill said that two joint public hearings with the Charlotte City Council will occur in June - the Siloam School and the Dilworth City House.

Dr. Morrill reported that County Staff is working on a proposed operational budget for the Historic Landmarks Commission. Work is still underway. The budget will be brought before the HLC for its consideration at the May meeting.

Item #4 - Design Review Committee Report: Ms. Hockett

The Design Review Committee met March 28, 2006. Minutes from the meeting can be found on the HLC’s website and are also on file at the HLC office.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE LUCAS HOUSE, 1601 EAST SEVENTH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED WITH THE PROVISION THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL WORK WITH STAFF TO DETERMINE THE FINISHES AND APPOINTMENTS THAT WILL MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE PORCH AS UNOBTRUSIVE AND FEASIBLE. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE MORGAN SCHOOL, 510 TORRENCE STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THE APPLICANT WILL WORK WITH STAFF TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF REPAIRING, NOT REPLACING, THE WINDOWS ON THE FRONT ELEVATION OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #5 - Survey Committee: Mr. Norman

The Town of Pineville believes that the preservation of the store buildings on Main Street is vital if the Town is to retain its distinctive character. HLC staff believes that some of the buildings on the south side of Main Street do possess individual significance and do qualify for historic landmark designation. The prospect of future local historic district designation of the entire streetscape will be considered by the Town at a future date.

Dr. Morrill explained the history of the Town and showed photographs. The Town of Pineville has funded Survey and Research Reports on the important properties on Main Street. The W. A. Yandell Building (currently an antique store), c. 1925, is considered to be of great importance, as is the McCoy Building, (barber shop and former post office), c. 1955. Mr. John Allen, President of the W. A. Yandell Corp., and grandson of Mr. W. A. Yandell, said that the family treasures the sentiment and memories connected with the structures but may need to demolish the buildings if it is economically in the best financial interest of the family to do so. Dr. Morrill said that the Town of Pineville makes the final decision as to whether or not the buildings are designated historic if the HLC recommends processing the properties for historic designation. He said the job of the HLC is to make recommendations for historic designation based on finding of fact regarding historic importance. Mr. Rose, Pineville Town Manager, said that the Town of Pineville is interested in preserving the original streetscape. Ms. Hockett explained that in Charleston and in other cities and towns interested in preserving their history but also sensitive to the economic concerns of owners, that facades are often retained and new structures are placed behind the facades, along with other possible design possibilities which can help retain the original "look and feel." Tax credits and deferrals are available to encourage owners to preserve property of historic importance. Mr. Kluttz stated that a delay of thirty days might allow the Town and the owners to devise a mutually satisfactory agreement.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY DR. MATTSON TO RECOMMEND TO THE PINEVILLE TOWN BOARD THAT 331-333 (W. A. YANDELL BUILDING) AND 319-321 MAIN STREET (McCOY’S BARBERSHOPP/PINEVILLE FORMER POST OFFICE), PINEVILLE, N. C., (EXTERIOR AND GROUND ON WHICH STRUCTURES SIT), BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION. THE HLC APPROVED THE MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING VOTE: FAVOR: ALSOP, BENSON, HOCKETT, JOHNSON, LEWIS, MATTSON, NEWMAN, NORMAN, SMITH, SULLIVAN OPPOSE: KLUTTZ.

The next Survey Committee meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2006.

Item #6 - Projects Committee Meeting Report: Mr. Kluttz

Mr. Kluttz said that the Projects Committee met April 3, 2006. He said that the motions that the committee needs to present must be considered in Executive Session.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP THAT THE HLC CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

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

Note: In Executive Session the HLC voted to let the Executive Committee of the HLC act on behalf of the Historic Landmarks Commission regarding the sale of property at the Charlotte Cotton Mills for a certain price per square foot and voted to decline the offer presented for purchase of space in the Charlotte Cotton Mills by Independent Mapping.

It was reported that no action has been taken regarding White Oak Plantation or the Oehler property.

Item #7 - Education Committee Report: Ms. Lewis

Ms. Lewis reported that Education Committee members will be notified when a meeting is scheduled.

Item #8 - Treasurer’s Report: Ms. Smith

Ms. Smith distributed the current financial report of the revolving fund. Mr. Sullivan requested that Mr. Turner distribute a complete financial report on each property at the next Projects Committee and HLC meetings.

No old business was presented.

No new business was presented.

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.