Historic Commission Minutes

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1. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Tom Swigart called the Historic District Commission meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Present: Bayly, Cryderman, Gudritz, Holleman, Swigart, and Worley.

Absent: Culp (excu)

Also Present: Manager Gary Word, and Chief Building Official, Richard Starling.

3. MINUTES: Motion by Gudritz, supported by Cryderman to approve the December 18, 2002 minutes as submitted. Motion Unanimously Carried. Voice Vote.

4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: None.

5. REPORTS:

A. City Administration: None.

B. City Council: None.

C. Historic District Commission: None.

D. Other Community/ Governmental Liaisons: None.

CASE #1                                                         Signage
Tirami Su Restaurant/Tri County Sign
146 MainCentre
Northville, Michigan 48167

The Chief Building Official stated that this project has already been completed.

The representative from Tri County Sign stated this was a matter of miscommunication between him and the building department. The existing covered canopy will be used, and the change of copy will be snapped on. The canvass is in very good-shape and the aluminum ribs behind the covered frame will support the snaps.

The applicant did not have color chips, but names and paint colors will be submitted to the building department.

Motion by Cryderman, supported by Holleman to conditionally approve the application as submitted, but with the paint colors to be submitted to the Building Department. Motion Unanimously Carried. Voice Vote.

The first draft of the Revised Draft / Historic District Ordinance was discussed.

The Commissioners agreed on the following changes regarding an October 29, 2002 letter from Monika Holzer Sacks - Nichols Sacks, Slank & Sendelbach, P.C. Attorneys at Law - to Ms. Elizabeth Knibbe.

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Item #2 Composition of the HDC. The current ordinance requires the mayor and one other Council Member to sit on the Board. The Ordinance states that the Mayor or Council Member to sit on the board, not both.

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Item #2 42-8. I assumed that the Community and Economic Development Department does the administrative work for the HDC. Yes. The Building Department should be identified.

Item #3 42-9 (3) provides for application fees. Yes. Fee schedule should be reviewed and inserted for what they currently are. What is the logic for setting the fees?

Item #4 42-10 establishes design criteria. Yes. Northville's Historic Design Standards need to be referenced, as well as, the correct Historic District Map with boundaries.

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Section 42-2 Definitions:

(5) "Demolition by neglect" An important provision of which we need to be

(6) "Denial" Denial should be put in writing.

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Section 42-4 Historic District Commission Composition.

At least (2) members shall be chosen from a list of citizens submitted by one or more duly organized local historic preservation organizations. Soften the language to "when possible" or to "solicit their recommendation."

The Building Inspector or that person's designee shall serve on the commission as a nonvoting member. Change - the Building Inspector shall attend the meeting as a resource person. The manager interjected that this is a philosophical issue of "staff" to serve, but not to be part of.

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Section 42-4 Historic District Commission Composition

Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by City Council within 60 days of the vacancy occurring... Change to - vacancies will attempt to be filled within 60 days. Compliance may be challenging, however without being so rescriptive, we are able to attract capable members.

Section 42-5 Procedures of Commission.

1. (Officers) The Commission shall elect from the membership, a chair and vice-chair that shall serve. This has never been done. Manager Word commented that "traditionally" a member of Council serves as chair, but does not necessarily have to be a Councilperson. The Commissioners decided that at the "first of each year" a Chair and Vice-Chair would be elected.

2. (Meetings) Add 2-a The Commission may call for a "formal" Public Hearing on matters of importance, at any time.

3. (Record) Add - these are the "Meeting Minutes" and are kept for infinity in the City Clerk's Office.

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Section 42-6 Powers and Duties of Commission

(1) Or any other work on any resource - add or any other exterior work on any resource.

(5) and (6) Manager Word will find out if this is something Council approves and whether 5 & 6 belong here.

(7) The duty to issue. Change to "It may issue an annual report." In essence, the City

Council liaison will keep Council appraised and further -- may issue and annual report.

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(9) The power to conduct a survey and maintain a roster of resources located within the Historic District . . . some of this has begun with the Eagle Scout Photo Document of pictures of all the homes in the Historic District. A building file at Mill Race is being established. The process of archiving the active city records (building department, tax records etc.) in the Mill Race archives has begun. Documentation for both the applicant and the Building Department should be designated. Provide items such as blue prints, of both the exterior and interior of the modified structure, and highlights of the changes, as well as examples of proposed colors and materials to be used. Additionally, it should be stated that if the applicant is requested to provide the Commission with additional information at a future meeting, the Commission members are only required to retain the submitted materials for a period of two months. After that time, the applicant will be required to submit new materials.

(10) Variances Yes, we do this on a case by case basis. Such examples are garages or stables built on the lot line.

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A. Historical, Cultural Importance.

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Section 42-9 Regulation of Construction and Alteration. Need to make sure the applicant

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(3) Fees. There are currently no fees for the Historic District. Manager Word stated that perhaps the Commission may want to have Council adapt a fee schedule if appropriate, but not to placed in the document. (When work is done without a permit, the fees are doubled.)

(a) The U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as set forth in 36 C.F. R., 67. Or as maybe amended. Manager Word stated that the Attorney might want to address this.

Section 42-10 Design Criteria –Take out all of 10-Items 1-16. Reference Northville Historic Design Criteria instead.

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Section 42-11 Actions by Commission

(1) Approval:

(b) Failure to act shall constitute approval ... Act does not mean approval or denial, but it can mean "refer." Manager Word stated that this needs a legal opinion.

(2) Notice to Proceed: Keep 1.and 2. But delete 3, 4, and 4 (a) Incorporate the

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(c) Approval to demolish. Application for a demolition must have a public hearing called by the Commission and a personal visit to the site by the Commissioners.

If demolition is approved after the Public Hearing, the applicant must provide documentation, photos of the structure for the Historical society archives. The applicant should do work and meet the guidelines set by the commission. Holleman Letter 3-21-2001 to Historic District Commissioners.

(5) Approval of Minor Classes of Work. Eliminate.

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Section 42-14 Work Done Without a Permit: Need the ability to fine.

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Section 42-16 Conflicting Jurisdictions: Council should replace the word Commission.

Motion by Cryderman, supported by Worley to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

P.S. Howard
Recording Secretary