MINUTES Town of Southern Pines Historic District Commission Meeting Boyd Room of the Planning Department Office 180 SW Broad Street May 11, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. The Town of Southern Pines Historic District Commission met on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. in the Boyd Room of the Planning Department Office, 180 SW Broad Street, Southern Pines, North Carolina. Historic District Commission members Vice Chairman Darlene Stark, Lynn Anderson, Carolyn Burns, Mart Gibson and new member Molly Goodman were present. Chairman Bud Seifert and member Steady Meares were unable to attend. Town staff members Chris Kennedy, Assistant Town Manager/Community Development Director, B.J. Grieve, Senior Planner, and Cindy Williams, Secretary to the Historic District Commission, were also present. Vice Chairman Stark called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Vice Chairman Stark entertained a motion to approve the Minutes of the April 13, 2017 meeting as written. Lynn Anderson made a motion, seconded by Carolyn Burns, to approve the Minutes as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING: HD-08-17 Certificate of Appropriateness: Major Works Amendment to HD-01-17 for Exterior Alterations to the Existing Structure; Petitioner, Mr. Dean King and Mrs. Tori King The petitioners, Mr. Dean King and Mrs. Tori King have submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness: Major Works for exterior alterations to the existing Train Depot structure located in downtown Southern Pines. Per the Moore County GIS, the subject property is located at 305 NW Broad Street and has no assigned PIN or Parcel ID number. The property owner is listed as the Town of Southern Pines. The subject property is zoned CB (Central Business). STAFF REPORT Chris Kennedy, Assistant Town Manager/Community Development Director: Chris Kennedy provided an overview of the proposal, which included revised stair and ramp concepts. The petitioner is seeking to switch and redesign the previously approved location for May 11, 2017 Minutes Historic District Commission Meeting Page 1 of 5
the stair and ramp concepts approved in HD-01-17. The petitioner is also proposing to install a new section of sidewalk to begin at the entrance to the space occupied by CSX due to the relocated ADA ramp. The sidewalk will be rerouted to accommodate an existing crepe myrtle tree and then reconnect to the existing sidewalk that leads to W. Connecticut Avenue. Vice Chairman Stark opened the public hearing. Vice Chairman Stark inquired about the availability of handicap parking. Mr. Kennedy responded that the closest handicap parking is near Sunrise Theater. The required standard for handicap parking is that it be as close as possible to the venue, there is no required distance. Mr. Kennedy stated that as Mr. King worked with Town staff it became apparent that the originally approved design needed to be modified. All materials will remain the same as originally approved; the only changes are to the design changes necessitated by the location changes. Mart Gibson asked if there is any potential to create new parking spaces including handicap spaces. Mr. Kennedy responded that the UDO exempts additional parking for existing structures. The petitioner has obtained authorization from several downtown property owners to use their parking lots during events. Mr. Gibson asked if the Town is proposing make any improvements on this property. Mr. Kennedy responded that any improvements will be the responsibility of the tenant and such improvements will become the property of the Town. OATH OF TESTIMONY: Vice Chairman Stark administered the Oath of Testimony to those wishing to speak during the hearing. Petitioner Dean King stated that their attempts to obtain approval from CSX to install parking spaces had been unsuccessful, resulting in the redesign. The new location of the ramp will provide direct access to the Town right-of-way to provide the necessary access to ADA parking. Mart Gibson commented that he preferred the original location of the ramp. Carolyn Burns asked if the exterior doors of the depot would remain open during events, allowing guests to spill out onto the ramp and possibly impede access. Mr. King responded that guests would be able to move out onto the covered patio area. The doors will be locked open during events and guests will have access to the ramp, which is six May 11, 2017 Minutes Historic District Commission Meeting Page 2 of 5
feet in width. The Fire Department will be provided with a monthly schedule of events. Wrought iron railings will be installed across the doors on the NW Broad Street side for safety. Lynn Anderson commented that this is an unusual building. The exterior is more detailed on one end with the look of a warehouse on the other end. She stated the design of the ramp was appropriate for the back of the building, but if the ramp is relocated, the railings should be more in keeping with the wrought iron railings used for the existing stairs. Mr. Gibson commented that the handrails at the train station are two pipe rails and he agrees that would look better than the railings that are being proposed. Mr. King responded that he is not sure the pipe railing would meet the NC Building Code given the space between the rails and the elevation of the ramp. Ms. Burns asked if the length of the ramp is necessary due to the grade of the property. Mr. King responded yes and that if the grade is less than he has estimated the length of the ramp will be decreased. Discussion continued regarding the details of the ramp and railing materials. Mr. King stated that they could use sections of wrought iron attached to the bottom of wooden handrails. Molly Goodman commented that she prefers the proposed relocation of the ramp. Mr. King stated that the handrail would be lower than the guardrail. The existing handrail is too low and does not comply with the NC Building Code. There being no further questions or comments, Vice Chairman Stark closed the public hearing. Mr. King agreed to amend the application to use a handrail constructed of metal (steel, wrought iron, aluminum may be approved) in lieu of wood for the ramp handrails to match the existing handrails at the entrance to the CSX storage space facing W. Connecticut Avenue. The handrail will be in the color of black. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION ACTION: FINDINGS OF FACT The following findings of fact were made by the Historic District Commission: FINDING OF FACT #1 May 11, 2017 Minutes Historic District Commission Meeting Page 3 of 5
Molly Goodman made a motion, seconded by Carolyn Burns, that as a finding of fact the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness Major Works, as amended, is complete. The motion carried unanimously. FINDING OF FACT #2 Lynn Anderson made a motion, seconded by Mart Gibson, that as a finding of fact the amended proposal meets the requirements as outlined in the Principles and Guidelines. The motion carried unanimously. Mart Gibson made a motion, seconded by Molly Goodman, to approve HD-08-17 Certificate of Appropriateness: Major Works as amended. The motion carried unanimously. A Certificate of Appropriateness Major Works was issued for HD-08-17. OLD BUSINESS: Mr. Kennedy stated that application HD-05-17 Certificate of Appropriateness: Major Works for Landscape Modifications to 132 NW Broad Street was approved on April 13, 2017 by the Board. The petitioner has submitted a request to revise the approval to replace the circular bench with three movable benches, add planters, enlarge the tree wells and install liriope, and to modify the pattern in the center of the courtyard from a basket weave pattern to herringbone in order to define the walkway. Mr. Kennedy explained that the Commission may decide to accept the changes as submitted or schedule a public hearing. Per the UDO, the Commission has the authority to approve insignificant changes without the needs of a public hearing. If the Commission thinks that a public hearing is needed the applicant will need to reapply for a Certificate of Appropriateness Major Works. Lynn Anderson responded that she felt the changes were very minor and an improvement to the previous design. Carolyn Burns commented that the proposed changes have been published in the newspaper so the public is generally aware of the proposal. Ms. Stark commented that members of the public had not attended the two previous hearings to express concerns about this project and given the minor changes, she was okay with proceeding with the changes. Mart Gibson made a motion to accept the revisions to HD-05-17, dated April 25, 2017, as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. Vince Zucchino, the landscape architect on this project, asked if it would be necessary to obtain approval from the Historic District Commission to replace the liriope with a different type of plant in the future. May 11, 2017 Minutes Historic District Commission Meeting Page 4 of 5
Mr. Kennedy responded yes, and added that all new plantings, excluding trees, are considered Major Works. The planting of a new tree is considered minor and may be approved by Town staff, but a Major Works application must be submitted for tree replacement. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Kennedy encouraged the members to review the Historic District Guidelines in the coming months and note any recommended changes in policy or procedure that should be given consideration for amendment. Mr. Kennedy stated that will likely be one item on the agenda for the June meeting. There being no other business to discuss, Vice Chairman Stark entertained a motion for adjournment. Lynn Anderson made a motion, seconded by Mart Gibson, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Cindy Williams Secretary to the Historic District Commission May 11, 2017 Minutes Historic District Commission Meeting Page 5 of 5