CITY OF AURORA OHIO Landmark Commission Meeting Minutes September 21, 2017

Transcription

1 CITY OF AURORA OHIO Landmark Commission Meeting Minutes September 21, 2017 The Landmark Commission met in a scheduled meeting Thursday, September 21, 2017 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 6:27 p.m. by Jeff Clark. ROLL CALL: Present: Lauren Broderick, Vice Chairman Jeff Clark, Chairman Jason Coleman Tim Holder John Kudley Absent: Richard Fetzer, Historical Society Advisor Also Present: Ron Lowe, Advisor to Landmark Commission Meredith Davis, Ass t. Director, Planning, Zoning & Building Division Marie Lawrie, Secretary Ken Lahmers, Aurora Advocate AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: To adopt the minutes of the August 17, 2017 meeting Mr. Holder moved, Ms. Broderick seconded, and the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. OLD BUSINESS: ROBERT & CHARLOTTE EMRICK 432 EGGLESTON RD EXTERIOR ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS Ted Rusnak, architect for the project was on hand to answer questions. The scope of work previously included 4 projects as well as a new roof. Mr. Rusnak announced that at this time, the Emrick family would like to proceed with just the garage addition portion of the original project. That portion of the project was approved at the August 17, 2017 meeting of the Landmark Commission. It moved on to the Architectural Board of Review meeting and was postponed. Mr. Rusnak explained that he was returning due to a change in garage door design and a roof material change.

2 City of Aurora Meeting Minutes The plan called for installing carriage style garage doors on the front elevation of the garage. The revised plan shows the existing garage door will stay and matching garage doors will be installed on the addition. The plans called for a metal roof. The existing roof is asphalt shingles. The addition will have matching asphalt shingles. There was a discussion about the roof pitch of the workshop portion of the garage addition. A shed roof will be constructed over this 1-story portion of the garage addition. To issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the garage addition, as revised Ms. Broderick moved, Mr. Holder seconded, and the motion carried on a 5-0 roll call vote. Yeas: Ms. Broderick, Mr. Holder, Mr. Clark, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Kudley Nays: None HANES PROPERTIES 487 N CHILLICOTHE RD LANDMARK DESIGNATION REQUEST At the August 17, 2017 meeting of the Landmark Commission, the members were in favor of postponing the request to allow more time to research the property/house. Ms. Broderick made the motion and Mr. Holder seconded. Before the vote could be taken, the applicant withdrew the application. In the week that followed that meeting, the applicant decided to reverse the withdrawal, and the item was added back to the agenda. Raymond and Georgia Hanes Reed were in attendance. Ms. Reed visited the offices of Portage County and also the University of Akron to try to fill in the gaps of the chain of ownership. She submitted a more complete document. Mr. Holder gave an overview of some additional information provided by resident Joseph Kotlin of 570 N Chillicothe Road. Mr. Kotlin had a cassette interview that he and John Rumbold, an early president of Aurora Historical Society had conducted with Hope Case Kirschner. Ms. Kirschner was 95 years old at the time of the interview. The year was The quality of the cassette recording is very poor. Mr. Holder stated that in his service to the country, he was a voice interceptor and radio interceptor. Mr. Kudley has found an audio enhancement and clarification firm that the cassette will be given to in the hopes of extracting additional information. The information that Mr. Holder was able to obtain from the cassette states that a large dairy farm existed. A large house was described as well as the Wee House. The rentors were Finnish and constructed a sauna in the back. Ms. Kirchsner s grandfather built a platform and the train stopped daily to pick up milk to be delivered to Cleveland. Milk was also stored in the basement of the small house. Mr. Holder stated that with this additional information, he was in favor of awarding the Wee House landmark designation. Mr. Kotlin addressed the commission. He stated that he researched where the train came into Cleveland. There was a train station at East 55 th Street. He explained that Telling s was the first company to have milk and Belle Vernon built a plant next door. The milk was delivered by horse and buggy to this location. Mr. Clark stated that the

3 City of Aurora Meeting Minutes dairy may have been located at 40 th Street and Chester. Belle Vernon became Sealtest Ice Cream at a later date. Ms. Kirschner was the great granddaughter of Otis Case. Otis Parsons Case was raised by his grandfather, John Steward, at 747 North Chillicothe. He later inherited the 500 acre farm. He had a son Edward who later had a son Ernest. Mr. Kotlin s residence at 570 N Chillicothe was a wedding gift to Ernest. They started construction in 1899 and finished in Ernest married Olive Brewster. Olive Brewster was Hope Kirschner s aunt. Mr. Kotlin stated that Olive Brewster died of a self-abortion 7 years later. The house has changed hands approximately every 2 years thereafter until Mr. Kotlin purchased it. He has lived there 49 years. Mr. Kotlin stated that he spoke with Betty Watson, formerly of 470 N Chillicothe Road, now relocated to Florida about the area. She reported to Mr. Kotlin that that her father Melvin Calhoun had 2 other buildings on their property, which do not exist today. Mr. Calhoun was a Cleveland police officer. He would invite his fellow officers to fish on weekends. She remembered girls selling bait and fishing equipment to the police officers back in She further remembered hobos begging food from her family. There was a narrower gauge railroad in the area, like a trolley car or interurban railroad. Mr. Kotlin also stated that Hope Kirschner told him that indians would beg food from her grandmother. There was a technical issue with the recording device at this point in the meeting. The following section of minutes was transcribed from the notes of the secretary. It was announced that the City of Aurora is under contract to purchase this property from Hanes Properties LLC. It was further stated that the City of Aurora wishes to have the property landmarked. This statement was confirmed by Tim Holder, Jeff Clark, and John Kudley. Mr. Lowe stated that considering this new information, he would recommend using the following criteria as a basis for approving the application request for landmark designation of 487 N Chillicothe Road, also known as the Wee House. #9 Its relationship to other distinctive areas which are eligible for preservation according to a plan based on an historic, cultural, or architectural motif. #10 Its unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City. #4 Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City. The building and property could fall within the contexts of both Agriculture and Transportation. These contexts were created for the Preservation Plan in The property is located between the historic Town Center and Centerville Mills along the Chillicothe Turnpike and was bounded by a railroad line in the back of the property. This would put the property within the Transportation context and the fact that Milk and Dairy

4 City of Aurora Meeting Minutes were transported from this working farm on the rail line in back puts it within the Agricultural Context. A public hearing would be in order if the property was to be listed on the National Register. It is not necessary for local designation. No public hearing will be scheduled. There was a short recess to reboot the computer. The remainder of the minutes was transcribed from the recording. To landmark the property at 487 N Chillicothe Rd, commonly known as the Wee House, based on the criteria numbers 9, 10, & 4 Mr. Kudley moved, Mr. Holder seconded, and the motion carried on a 5-0 roll call vote. Yeas: Mr. Kudley, Mr. Holder, Ms. Broderick, Mr. Clark, Mr. Coleman Nays: None Ms. Reed thanked the Landmark Commission for their efforts. LANDMARK PROPERTY PLAQUES There was a discussion about sources for plaques, materials that might be used including metal, cast aluminum, or high density urethane. Mr. Clark expressed a desire to create a plaque that would complement the century home plaques. Mr. Lowe suggested producing a small batch the first year as a test program. He advised the commission to decide if they were interested in handling a plaque program. Mr. Clark suggested it could possibly be a joint venture with the Aurora Historical Society. Further discussion is necessary at a future meeting. HISTORIC PRESERVATION HANDBOOK The handbook was discussed. Suggestions were offered pertaining to updates and corrections on this document, including updating the names of the members, the introduction, revising page 7-8 which explains permit applications and when they are needed, and updating the meeting times. Typographical errors and sections of the document which might be eliminated were discussed. Portions of the document that might be converted into helpful links on the city website were also discussed. BUDGET After discussion, the following budget request was agreed upon: Landmark Consultants, Brochure, Events, Dedications $6, Landmark Historic Preservation Handbook 3, Historic Markers & Plaques 4, $13, In the plans are brochures for the Cemetery and Station District.

5 City of Aurora Meeting Minutes MISCELLANEOUS: RECAP OF THE GEAUGA LAKE HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION Mr. Kudley announced that the marker for Geauga Lake was dedicated on Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 3:00pm. The event was well attended with approximately 100 people, from as far as Toledo. Multiple news outlets covered the event, including Kent State, TV channel 19, 43, and 5. The Aurora Advocate and Chagrin Valley Times were present. Ann Womer Benjamin, Mayor and Jeff Clark, Landmark Commission Chairman gave very good speeches. Mike Thal of Geauga Lake Improvement Association did a great job hosting the event at their park. ADJOURNMENT: To adjourn the meeting. Mr. Kudley moved to adjourn, Mr. Holder seconded, and the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote at 8:03 p.m. Jeff Clark - Chairman Marie Lawrie - Clerk