HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-10; Historic Preservation Commission; MinutesITEM #2
MINUTES
MEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
TIME OF MEETING:
PLACE OF MEETING:
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
September 10, 2007
5:30 PM
City Council Conference Room
CALL TO ORDER:
Vice-Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM.
ROLL CALL:
Present:
Absent:
Commissioners Christiansen, Daly, Hinman and Smith
Commissioner Ladouceur
Also Present: Suzanne Smithson, Deputy Library Director
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the July 9, 2007 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission were
approved as submitted.
Staff Reports:
Heritage Tree Survey - Deputy Library Director Smithson advised the Commission
that the Assistant City Manager had asked for an executive summary and an impact
statement from Parks to accompany the report to City Council. The report makes
several recommendations for City-owned trees including an annual inventory. The
Parks Department is also working with Mark Wisniewski to confirm what trees are
remaining and to whom they belong.
She added that the draft document, once printed, did not appear to be in the best order
therefore staff is working on rearranging some of the sections and getting approval from
Mr. Wisniewski for the changes. Once that has been completed and the executive
summary and impact statements have been prepared, the Commission will receive the
final draft copy for review and approval, hopefully before the November Commission
meeting. Once this Commission has approved the document it will be sent to the Parks
and Recreation Commission with a request that they accept the report and forward it to
Council with recommendations.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 2
Minutes of September 10, 2007
Commissioner Christiansen asked about the proposed letter to the property owners of
trees identified in the report and Deputy Library Director Smithson responded that she
believed the letters could be sent following this Commission's approval of the report.
Ramirez Plaque and South Coast Land plaque - Mr. Sainz has contacted the
Library and is available to install the plaque at Garcia's barbershop (South Coast Land
Company). There has been no communication from Mr. Carreon with regard to a
location for the installation of the plaque for his property.
The plaque for the Red Apple Inn / Army & Navy Academy has been ordered but further
discussion was needed in regard to a plaque for the Barrio Museum building.
Commissioner Smith reported that she had spoken with several long-time residents of
the area who confirmed that the pool hall building now located behind the museum had
been moved to that location. The building currently occupied by the museum was the
original market and was moved from across the street, but was not the first market in
the barrio.
After much discussion, the Commission decided that an appropriate plaque would
identify the intersection as the "heart of the Barrio" (2nd Street at Walnut) and
Commissioner Hinman will write the text for the plaque which will be mounted on the
museum building. The Commissioners will approve the text prior to the order being
placed.
Ordinance Revision - The requested change to the ordinance, which would reflect a
more accurate description of the Commission's responsibilities and modify
requirements for appointments, has been sent to the City Attorney's office for
consideration.
CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC MARKER PLAQUES:
Commissioner Smith noted that currently there were no criteria for plaques and in
reading the provided information on establishing a plaque program she would like more
time to research other examples.
The Commissioners discussed designating any building that was a "first" in the City as
one criterion, such as the first post office, and structures that were significant in the
collective memory.
Commissioner Christiansen agreed with Commissioner Smith and by proper motion and
vote the Commission agreed to educate themselves further on establishing criteria for
historical markers and to discuss the matter further at the next regular meeting.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 3
Minutes of September 10, 2007
PROPERTIES OF CONCERN UPDATE:
El Salto - Commissioner Christiansen reported that there are several clean-up sites
scheduled for next weekend along the Buena Vista Creek valley, including the area
around El Salto Falls.
He also mentioned that he had a request for the Commission to write a letter to the
State about the Hansen Aggregate property and the possible development for 600
housing units. Both Commissioners Christiansen and Hinman were willing to write a
letter to the State from this Commission but Deputy Library Director Smithson
responded that this Commission could send a message to the City Council but the
Commission does not speak for the City. She suggested another option perhaps would
be for the Carlsbad Historical Society to get involved in this letter-writing campaign.
Commissioner Smith supported that suggestion as a member of the Carlsbad Historical
Society and asked if Commissioners Christiansen and Hinman would assist with
crafting the document.
Gazebo - Deputy Library Director Smithson, at the request of absent Chair Ladouceur,
distributed copies of the cost estimate received by the Hi Noon Rotary for the relocation
of the gazebo in Rotary Park. Although initially interested in underwriting the costs to
move the structure, the initial estimate they received far exceeded their budget and they
have no plans to pursue the project.
There was some discussion about the particulars of the estimate as well as what might
happen to the gazebo. The Commission discussed the value and historical significance
of the structure as well as the legal ownership. The Commissioners agreed that the
structure did not have historical significance and this Commission is not interested in
pursuing its preservation.
SELECTION OF CHAIR & VICE CHAIR:
By unanimous decision the Board selected current Chair Ladouceur to serve another
term and Vice Chair Smith to continue in her capacity for another year as well.
NOVEMBER MEETING DATE:
Deputy Library Director Smithson asked for input on changing the November meeting
date. Due to the holidays in the month of November and the possibility of moving the
Heritage Tree Report forward to the Parks & Recreation Commission that month, the
Commissioners, by unanimous decision, voted to reschedule the their meeting to
Monday, November 5th.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 4
Minutes of September 10, 2007 _
CARLSBAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY UPDATES:
Commissioner Smith reported that the Society's annual meeting is scheduled for
Saturday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. at Heritage Hall.
COMMISSION COMMENTS:
Commissioner Christiansen announced the kayak clean-up scheduled for September
22nd at the Batiquitos Lagoon and Deputy Library Director Smithson added all the
information is available on the City's website under Recreation.
Commissioner Ladouceur had left a copy of an article and photographs of the old
Carlsbad Mineral Springs Hotel which had appeared in a local San Diego publication.
Deputy Library Director Smithson announced that a copy of the entire proposed
amendment to the Village Redevelopment Standards is available at the Library and the
public notice advises that the Design Review Board hearing is expected to take place in
September and the public hearing at a City Council & Housing & Redevelopment
Commission meeting in October.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Cissie Sexion
Administrative Secretary
Staff Reports for the
Meeting of,ITEM # 4
Establishing a Plaque Program
Reprinted from the American Association for State and Local History Technical Leaflet.
Local and state historical societies almost always are searching for new and innovative ways to
enhance the historical awareness of members of their communities. Plaque programs provide one
of the most effective and least expensive ways of bringing history "to the streets." A plaque
program, organized and administered by a historical society, involves the recognition and
landmarking of local historic properties through the use of plaques typically purchased by the
owners of these properties. In recent years, an increasing number of historical societies have
established such programs, often as a means of enhancing community outreach and historical
awareness.
Program Start-Up
In establishing a plaque program a historical society must: a) determine the goals and objectives
of the program; b) select the type of program most likely to permit the fulfillment of these
objectives; and c) set the criteria for inclusion in the plaque program.
Establishing Program Goals and Objectives
Historical societies tend to organize plaque programs for any number of reasons, but most
typically, these reasons include:
• Membership. Plaque programs allow a historical society a means by which it can expand
its outreach and membership. For building and home owners who may not be members of
or active in a historical society but who are, nevertheless, interested in local history and
historic preservation, participation in a plaque program often serves as the first step
toward more active involvement.
• Education. Marking a substantial number of buildings in a given district or a
neighborhood provides a graphic image of the history of that area. As such, the historical
society may find itself better able to bring history directly to those it was previously
unable to reach - uninvolved residents, visitors, or tourists.
. Preservation and Rehabilitation. Although a plaque program itself does not necessarily
imply the recognition of buildings as historic sites, the guide- lines by which a building is
accepted into the pro- gram may serve to encourage building owners to rehabilitate and
maintain their historic structures.
. Fund Raising. A plaque program has the potential to be a fund raiser for the sponsoring
organization. Some dealers are even wishing to sell plaques to historical societies at
wholesale prices. The historical society may, in turn, either pass these discounts on to the
building owner or use the discount for their own fund raising purposes.
Certainly, these are not the only reasons historical societies establish plaque programs.
Whatever the reason, it is crucial that the objectives of the program be established ahead
of time and that there be a consensus reached on the objectives. Ideally, the form which
the program takes should be dependent entirely upon the goals selected.
Selecting Appropriate Program Form
In determining the type of program able to meet the objectives set out for it, the historical society
must make two basic decisions. First, on the basis of the program objectives, the historical
society must choose between two overall types of programs, interpretive and recognition. An
interpretive program involves the landmarking of historic sites using markers with customized
wording describing the specific structure or district. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, such
plaques may provide a bit of the history of a specific site. If the primary program objective is
community education, this type of program would be most appropriate. Furthermore, a plaque
program of this sort can be used as a basis for a walking tour.
Roadside markers are a special type of interpretive markers. Larger (and more expensive) than
the usual interpretive plaque, roadside markers permit the communication of more detailed
information. Typically, these are mounted on a post adjacent to the historic site, unlike plaques,
which are mounted on the wall of a building.
If the objective of the program is either outreach and membership or preservation and
rehabilitation, a recognition program may be more suitable. Recognition plaques also tend to be
less expensive since they have little or no customized wording. The National Register plaque
used for recognition, usually is inscribed with the following wording: This property has been
placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the
Interior." A more sophisticated (and expensive) plaque includes the name of the building,
restorer, construction date, or reference number (such as indicating a description in a guide book)
printed either below or above the standard wording.
Secondly, the historical society must decide whether or not it wants a consistent plaque format or
whether the selection of the format will be left, up to the individual purchaser, If one of the
objectives of the program is to increase community awareness of the activities of the historical
society, then it may be important that all plaques ordered through the program are of a consistent
format. Typically, it is in the historical society's interest to ensure that, regardless of whether the
program is of the interpretive or recognition type, all plaques have some sort of logo or the name
of the historical society placed at the top or bottom of each plaque. Some historical societies,
however, go beyond this and determine exact plaque specifications, i.e., the material used, shape
of the plaques, and wording permitted.
For the historical society adopting a program with a set plaque format, i.e., with more than just
the name of the historical society at the top or bottom, there are a number of alternatives
regarding the manner in which the plaque is fabricated and its shape and size:
Mode of Fabrication: Plaques are fabricated in several ways: metal casting, or metal photo
processing.
• Metal Casting
Plaques fabricated in this method are usually made from either bronze, aluminum, or
iron. All three must be cast in a foundry; however, not all foundries are alike. Depending
on the equipment and casting process used by a foundry, the price of a cast plaque can
vary greatly. Furthermore, there are advantages and disadvantages for each type of
material. Aluminum, while typically priced in the middle range, looks less expensive and
may corrode over time. Bronze, while the most expensive, looks more dignified and lasts
longer.
• Metal Processing
Plaques processed onto metal, as opposed to plaques cast out of metal, are the least
expensive. For the historical society considering this mode of fabrication, there are two
choices, metal photo and screen processing. In the case of the former, text and
photograph are embedded in photosensitized aluminum. In the case of the latter, text and
photo are essentially painted onto the surface of the metal. Metal photo offers a number
of advantages since it is the least expensive to produce and provides the clearest image
reproduction, which is ideal if the historical society wishes to incorporate into the plaque
an old fashioned-looking, tintype photo of a structure that once stood on a site. However,
these plaques can be damaged if vandals use a sharp object, and they can only be
reproduced in a limited number of colors (silver and black) when used outdoors.
Shape and Size: Depending upon the type of plaque (cast metal, photo processed metal) desired,
historical societies should be able to find a manufacturer able to provide a plaque of nearly any
shape or size. Clearly, the price of the plaque depends to a great extent upon the size ordered.
With respect to plaque shapes, while historical societies using processed metal usually are
limited to a square or rectangular shape, in theory, no such limitations exist with respect to
processed wood or cast metal. A number of mass-produced standard shapes, suitable for historic
sites - squares, rectangles, ovals, and "colonials" - are available primarily through local sign
shops, finally, cast metal plaques can be made in virtually any shape since they are cast from
reusable patterns. However, the more complex the shape, the more difficult to finish the edges of
the plaque and, thus, the higher the price. While these steps may make the process of setting up
the program seem quite complex, most plaque producers will be able to provide advice and
assistance, hence greatly simplifying the decision-making process.
Running Stage
In actually implementing a plaque program a historical society must: a) publicize the program;
and b) set up an application, selection, and order processing system. Each of these steps is
described in more detail below.
Publicizing the Program
In general, a plaque program is, over a period of years, self-promoting in that as plaques are
placed, they generate public interest, often becoming a "tradition" in themselves. The methods
for publicizing a plaque program, to a large degree, are dependent upon the goals of the
programs. For groups whose objective is to recognize and to coordinate restoration activities by
its members, publicity can be accomplished through internal organizational communications,
e.g., newsletters and meetings.
For groups using the program as a fund raiser, to stimulate community awareness or to create a
walking tour, a minimal amount of promotional work is desirable and not difficult to accomplish.
Often historical societies try to publicize their plaque programs using the local media, such as
community newspapers and radio. Such publicity efforts may be facilitated greatly if the
historical society already has mounted one or two plaques on well-known properties. A second
method by which the historical society may accomplish its publicity objectives is through the use
of direct mail. A simple direct mail flyer addressed to owners of historic properties often
incorporates a photo of a typical plaque, an order form for a plaque, and in some cases, an
application form (see section on program participation and participant selection below). Annual
or semi-annual award dinners or events may be used to publicize a program recognizing
significant restoration efforts in the community.
Establishing Application, Selection, and Ordering System
Eligibility criteria for program participation allow the historical society to influence and to direct
community norms regarding the proper care and maintenance of historic properties. Examples of
such criteria are: a) age of the structure; b) inclusion on a historic properties survey; and c)
rehabilitation technique, i.e., the degree to which architectural integrity guidelines are followed.
The type of application process used by the historical society depends on the nature of the
criteria established for program participation. That is, those plaque programs for which stringent
eligibility criteria exist are likely to have a more detailed application process than those with few
criteria.
Application forms often accompany program publicity materials distributed by the historical
society to potential participants. In situations in which information about all properties that might
be included in the program are readily available to the historical society, such as properties listed
on the National Register, the application form need only request such basic information as the
name and address of the property, name and address of property owner, and date on which the
property was placed on the Register or recorded in local historical records. In those cases in
which such information is not readily available or in which the eligibility criteria set by the
historical society demand further information (for instance, the source of information pertaining
to historical significance of the property, listing of structural changes to property, the application
form should incorporate questions pertaining to these issues. Of course, it is in the historical
society's interest to keep its requests for information realistic and the application form as simple
as possible. In many cases the application form doubles as an order form. That is, rather than
processing the application and then beginning the ordering process, the historical society requires
payment and shipping information on some portion of the application form. The nature of the
ordering process itself depends on the system worked out between the historical society and the
plaque supplier. Some suppliers will request that all plaque orders be processed centrally and that
plaques be shipped to the historical society. In such cases, the historical society processes all
payments and is made responsible for the final distribution of the plaques. In other cases, the
supplier may be willing to accept orders directly from individual participants (using the historical
society's order form), and ship directly to the participant. Delivery times vary greatly among
suppliers, ranging from two weeks to three months; therefore, it is recommended strongly that
plaques to be presented at some special event be ordered well in advance.
Other Issues
Legal Restrictions
There are no federal regulations governing the placing of historical markers although
there is a common misconception that properties listed on the National Register should be
marked with a uniform text. In fact, nothing seems to mandate this text other than
tradition. Local and state regulations may cover the placing of roadside markers and
larger, free-standing plaques that may in some fashion disrupt the smooth flow of traffic
on roadways.
Mounting (and the problems of theft)
One of the questions that most frequently arises concerns the danger of theft or
vandalism. Surprisingly, it is often the smaller, less urban communities that suffer from
this problem. To some extent, the type of plaque (material) influences the frequency and
type of damage that may occur. Should theft be a concern, the two best precautions are
placing the plaque in a location that makes it difficult to be reached and using
commercially available epoxies to adhere the plaque, making it extremely resistant to
removal. Plaques are either front mounted (holes drilled through the front of the plaque
and screwed into anchors placed in the mounting surface) or rear mounted (studs on the
back of the plaque that are pushed into holes drilled in the mounting surface). By filling
the drilled holes with epoxy, the screw or stud virtually is unremovable.
Historic Building Surveys and Plaque Programs
Some historical societies have ongoing research programs investigating the historical
value of local buildings and structures. For such historical societies, one option to
consider is the incorporation of a plaque program into these ongoing research efforts.
There are two advantages for tying these programs together. First, a plaque program can
help cover research expenses, giving the building owner the feeling that they are getting a
tangible product in return for their donation. A second advantage is that a building
owner's awareness of the historical society's ongoing research efforts is increased.
Conclusion
As historical societies continue to enhance their efforts to inform community members about the
historic importance of their neighborhoods, it is likely that, in the future, an increasing number
will be considering plaque programs as highly visible, administratively simple, cost-effective
approaches to community education and historic preservation. Plaque programs offer the
leadership of historical societies an innovative way to make local history accessible to all
members of the community. Besides enhancing the educational goals of historical societies, such
programs often facilitate the meeting of other group objectives such as membership expansion,
community rehabilitation, and fund raising. While this leaflet provides specific steps leading to
the planning and implementation of a successful plaque program, additional information may be
obtained from historical societies with plaque program experience or from suppliers specializing
in historic landmarks.
Florida Historical
Markers Program
Marker* Of T ™ T
CRITERIA FOR FLORIDA HISTORICAL MARKERS
The Florida Historical Marker Program recognizes historic resources, persons and events that are
significant in the areas of architecture, archaeology, Florida history and traditional culture by
promoting the placing of historic markers and plaques at sites of historical and visual interest to
visitors. The purpose of the program is to increase public awareness of the rich cultural heritage
of the state and to enhance the enjoyment of historic sites in Florida by its citizens and tourists.
To be recognized as either a Florida Heritage Site or Florida Heritage Landmark a resource must
meet the following criteria:
FLORIDA HERITAGE SITE
* To qualify as a Florida Heritage Site a building, structure or site must be at least 30 years old
and have significance in the areas of architecture, archaeology, Florida history or traditional
culture, or be associated with a significant event that took place at least 30 years ago.
g|hm Resources associated with a historically significant person may qualify as a Florida Heritage
Site 30 years after the death of the individual or 30 years after the event with which the person is
associated.
The "Railroading in High Springs'
marker in Alachua County.
„_ ,
* The resource should visibly retain those physical
characteristics that were present during the period for
which it or the associated person is significant.
* A moved building or structure may qualify as a
Florida Heritage Site if the move was made 30 or
more years ago, or the move was made to preserve th
resource from demolition and reasonable attempts
were made to ensure that the new setting is similar to
the historical setting.
FLORIDA HERITAGE LANDMARK
* To qualify as a Florida Heritage Landmark a building, structure or site must be at least 50
years old and have regional or statewide significance in the areas of architecture, archaeology,
Florida history or traditional culture, or be associated with an event of statewide or national
significance that took place at least 50 years ago.
_.w Resources associated with persons of regional or statewide historical significance may be
recognized with Florida Heritage Landmark status 50 after the death of the individual or 50 years
after the historical event with which the person is associated.
^fe— In certain cases, resources that are less than 50 years old but are significant at the statewide or
national level also may qualify as a Florida Heritage Landmark.
Mayo, County Seat of Lafayette County.
* The resource should visibly retain those physical
characteristics that were present during the period for
which it or the associated person is significant. A moved
building or structure may still qualify as a Florida
Heritage Landmark if the move was made 50 or more
years ago, or the move was made to preserve the resource
from demolition and reasonable attempts were made to
ensure that the new setting is similar to the historical
setting.
South Carolina Historical Marker Program
The South Carolina Historical Marker Program, originally the South
Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, was authorized by an
act of the South Carolina General Assembly in 1905 creating the
Historical Commission of South Carolina with authority "to have
direction and control of the marking of historic sites, or houses, or
localities." The program was officially established in 1936 when a
marker was erected near the site of the Long Cane Massacre near
Troy, in McCormick County. More than 1000 markers have been
erected by the program since that time. Since 1954 the South
Carolina Department of Archives and History, as the successor state
agency to the Historical Commission of South Carolina, has been
responsible for the program as part of the Historical Services
Division. The enabling legislation creating the Department of
Archives and History gave it the responsibility for "the approval of
the inscriptions for all historical markers or other monuments
erected on state highways or other state property."
South Carolina Historical Markers mark and interpret places
important to an understanding of South Carolina's past, either as the
sites of significant events, or at historic properties such as buildings,
sites, structures, or other resources significant for their design, as
examples of a type, or for their association with institutions or
individuals significant in local, state, or national history. Historic
properties individually listed in the National Register of Historic
Places are ordinarily eligible for historical markers, as their status
guarantees that a case has already been made for their significance.
Many other places, however, either not eligible for listing in the
National Register or not yet nominated through that program, are
also eligible for historical markers. National or statewide significance
is not a prerequisite, and many properties of primarily local
significance have already been marked.
In the past, markers were placed along the nearest South Carolina
state highway and contained references to the location of the place
being marked, usually some distance away. More recently, markers
have been erected at the historic site itself without restriction to
state highways and on other public streets and county roads.
Without state funding, the Historical Marker program has always
depended on the citizens of South Carolina to suggest, document,
sponsor and pay for its historical markers, and to maintain them
once erected. Markers may be sponsored by historical, patriotic,
civic, or other organizations, or by institutions such as church
congregations or schools and colleges. Though individuals may not
sponsor markers, they may propose and pay for them provided the
marker is sponsored by an appropriate local organization or
institution.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
• South Carolina Historical Markers are intended to mark historic
places and are not primarily memorials to individuals or
institutions associated with those places.
• Historic properties less than twenty-five years old, associated
with events that occurred less than twenty-five years ago, or
significant for their association with significant persons who
died less than twenty-five years ago will not ordinarily be
eligible for historical markers. Any exceptions will only be
made on a case-by-case basis after review by the Archives and
History Commission.
• The sites of significant buildings no longer standing may be
eligible for historical markers under the same criteria as other
historic properties.
• Historic properties or sites closely associated with significant
persons may be marked primarily for that association only if:
a. the property is the
property or site in the
state which best
represents the individual's
community of birth or
residence, productive
career, association with a
particular institution, or
association with a
significant event, AND
b. no other site in South
Carolina closely associated
with the individual and
marked primarily for that
association has already
been marked.
• Sites of significant events should
be marked, when possible, on
the nearest public street, county
road, or state highway.
• Counties, cities, or towns may erect markers based on their
establishment or date of incorporation.
Cemeteries may be eligible for a single marker based on their
significance to a particular community, significant persons
buried there, their association with significant events, or their
significance in gravestone art, but individual gravestones,
gravesites, or plots within cemeteries will not be eligible for
historical markers.
Individual components of a historic property already marked as
an entity will not be eligible for historical markers.
Welcome to the HPG
Historic Markers Project
Promoting Knowledge of Lenoir County's History
The Historical Preservation Group has started a program to erect historic markers
throughout the Lenoir County. These markers will tell the stories of the people, places and
events of the county.
Thinking About The Past
Historical Preservation Group's historical markers point out important places in Lenoir
County's past. Some marker sites will contain tangible reminders of the past like an old
house. Others will mark the location of a historical event that left no trace at all. The idea
behind the marker program is to use markers to help people think about Lenoir County's
history while visiting the actual spots where historical events have unfolded.
Historic markers are a way of remembering our past. It is different from the way we think
about the past when we read a history book, listen to a lecture on the Battle of Kinston, or
buy a colonial antique at an auction. Furthermore, just as there is more than one way to
remember the past, there is more than one reason why to remember the past.
Some things we remember so we can be sure to do them again. Revolutionary War markers
remind us that our liberty is worth fighting and dying for.
Civil War markers also remind us of great courage and tremendous sacrifice. But at the
same time, these markers remind us of the horrors of war the Civil War.