Historic Preservation Commission Minutes 2008 11 17

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Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2008 Page 3 of 5 qualify for landmarking but add to the character of town, and 3. new construction that will comply with stricter guidelines to better complement historic character. Erik Hartronft, 817 Lincoln Avenue, suggested that the City consider buying properties, rehabilitating them and then selling then with conservation easements attached to the buildings. Muckle asked if the money will be bonded. Muth stated that there is no decision yet on if the money will be bonded Whiteman suggested this might be a good time to ask the City Council to add more teeth to the ordinance, specifically asking for nonconsensual landmarking ability. He added the new funds could be used to better incentivize preservation and increase the tools available to the HPC. Koertje suggested prioritizing the use of the funds as well as creating a lisp of important historic resources in town. Hartronft asked if the funds could be used to leverage additional money from the State Historic Fund (SHF). Muckle suggested that the money needs to be used wisely and we shouldn't go to the SHF unless the project is really good. Hartronft noted that the program needs to be structured so that the HPC can move quickly with incentives should the right project present itself. Muckle suggested that establishing a grant fund should be a priority so that money is available for possible projects. Hartronft asked Muth why new "historic" design guidelines for the downtown commercial district are listed as anvitem. He asked why the existing ones were not sufficient. Muth noted that the ballot language included "Incentives for new buildings and developments in Old Town to meet additional guidelines to maintain and complement the historic character of Old Town." So it is the additional guidelines that need to be developed. Muth suggested that surveying is a key component of the program. The baseline information gathered in the surveys will be the basis for how buildings are categorized (landmarkable, contributing, non-contributing, etc.) Koertje asked why staff suggested starting with the commercial district for surveying. Muth stated that is only one suggestion and it is based on the fact that there are so many commercial buildings on the market at this time. Eventually every building in Old Town that is over 50 years old will need to be surveyed. It can be all at once or in sections.