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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.