Applications

The Historic Landmarks Commission will meet next on September 8, 2003, in its offices in the Ratcliffe-Otterbourg House at 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N.C.  The meeting shall commence at 6 p.m. Special Note:  Preservation North Carolina is holding its annual convention in Greensboro, N.C. Sept 12, 13, 14.  Click here for registration information. Click Here For Agenda For September Meeting 1.  Approval of Minutes.      Click here for August Minutes. 2.  Director's Report.  Click here for report. 3.  Design Review Items.  Click here for Design Review Minutes      a.  Palmer Fire School Barwick and Associates is requesting additional parking, because the Mecklenburg County Zoning Office is requiring additional parking.  The parking is located along the entrance drive to the property.  Barwick Associates is also modifying the design of the in-fill buildings.  The easternmost will have a more subdued entrance and front facade than that originally proposed and the footprint will be larger.  The westernmost will now be a one-story building and will have a larger footprint.  Review the illustrations below. Original Infill Buildings Revised Infill Buildings Original Site Plan Revised Site Plan.  Please note that there was an error in the transmitted copy.  The new parking spaces in the shaded area at the bottom of the entrance drive will not exist. Click Here For Photographs Of The Property The Design Review Committee carefully considered this matter and approved the following recommendation. That the Historic Landmarks Commisson issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed additional parking as depicted on the revised site plan and for the two proposed office buildings, including the one-story building, because they do meet the Secretary of Interior's Standards if the design is executed in such a way that  the sylvan nature of the site is preserved.  Staff will review final plans to assure that such condition is met. Staff Recommendation:  Approve the recommendation as presented.      b.  Open Field adjacent to the James A. Blakeney House. James A. Blakeney House The James A. Blakeney House was purchased, restored, and sold by the Historic Landmarks Commission.  The original historic landmark included the entire farm, but adjacent parcels were sold by the family and developed.  As part of the rezoning process, the developers worked with the Commission to preserve open space at the front of the neighborhoods so the rural road edge could be preserved as it led to the Blakeney House, thereby preserving its rural ambience.  One of the neighborhoods was the Blakeney Heath Subdivision.  The open area in front of the neighborhood is no longer a historic landmark,  but the rezoning was contingent upon the preservation of the open space and its being subject to the design review authority of the Historic Landmarks Commission. The Blakeney Heath Homeowners Association, which owns the open space, wants to place a play area for children and a pavilion building in the open space.  They also wish to place a split rail fence along Blakeney Heath Road and Blakeney Drive.  Please review the materials below. The location of the proposed pavilion building is indicated by the dark square in the upper left-hand corner (A).  A gravel drive will lead to the play area (B).  Natural grass will be planted to screen the play area and the pavilion building (C).  The fence is depicted along Blakeney Heath Road and Blakeney Drive. AB Architecture developed this design for the pavilion building.  The intent was to use vernacular outbuildings, such as those at the Richard Rozzell House, as the model to follow. Field in front of Blakeney Heath Subdvision Rural Streetscape Looking North Toward Blakeney House. Neighborhood edge on opposite side of Blakeney Heath Road looking South.  This is what the Commission was attempting to avoid. The Design Review Committee carefully considered this matter and approved the following recommendation. That the Historic Landmarks Commission  approve the proposed changes to the open field at the front of the Blakeney Heath subdivision, specifically the location and design of the pavilion building, the location of the play area, and the location and design of the split rail fence bordering the field -- all depicted on the revised materials submitted to the Commission on August 26, 2003 -- because the proposed changes do meet the Secretary of Interior's Standards.   Staff will review final design of the play area, including the equipment, to assure that it is in keeping with the historic character of the property. Staff Recommendation:  Approve the recommendation as presented. 4.  Project Committee Items.  Click Here For Minutes a.  The Projects Committee is making no recommendations.  It did consider whether the Commission might want to seek to acquire the former Lawing Rosenwald School but agreed with staff that the building did not have the requisite physical integrity. b.  The Committee also reviewed on-going projects and received a report on the current balances in the Commission's revolving fund. c.  The Committee reviewed the procedure for seeking approval for placement on the 2004 Bond Referendum for additional revolving fund money.