Loading...
Minutes 10-14-24 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2024, AT 6:30 P.M. IN CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBERS 100 E. OCEAN AVENUE, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Barbara Ready, Chair Amanda Radigan, Director, Mike Wilson Planning and Development Valentina Broglia Jae Eun Kim, Principal Planner Andrea Rodriguez John Stout, Planner II Victor Norfus, Alternate (Arrived at 6:41 P.M.) Craig Pinder, Senior Planner Kelly Armstead, Division Director, Art and Culture ABSENT: Bradley Jackson Robert Wilk 1. Call to Order Chair Ready called the meeting to order at 6:31 P.M. 2. Agenda Approval Chair Ready requested add the following to the Agenda: Move Item 6A, New Business, Certificate of Appropriateness, to Item 4, Communications and Announcements Add introductions of the two new members to Item 4, Communications and Announcements Add an update on the Cultural Center Sign, the Andrews House, and the Bernard Thomas Mural to Item 5, Old Business Add a discussion of the August 6th City Commission meeting to Item 6B,New Business. Motion Mr. Wilson moved to approve the agenda as amended. Ms. Broglia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Approval of Minutes A. Approval of Minutes Approve the Board minutes from May 13, 2024, Historic Resources Preservation Board meeting Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 14, 2024 Motion Mr. Wilson moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Broglia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 14, 2024 4. Communications and Announcements Introduction of new members New Board Member Valentina Broglia stated that she is a Planner in West Palm Beach and she helps with Historic Preservation, as they are understaffed. New Board Member Andrea Rodriguez said that she is an Associate Architect with Garcia Stromberg Architects in West Palm Beach, and that she was excited to be here. Amanda Radigan, Director, Planning and Development, stated that at the last meeting, staff had requested to add a wall sign onto the Cultural Arts Center building and the feedback from the Board was that the sign was not consistent with the building style and that they preferred a free-standing monument sign. She pointed out that monument signs do not fall under the Board's purview and that the City is moving forward with it as advised by the Board. She stated that on the last agenda, the Board made six recommendations for designation, which staff brought to the City Commission. She said that the City Commission opted not to move forward with designation and to reach out to the private entities with information about designation, and if they are interested in designation, they could do so. She commented that staff sent a letter with information to the six entities, but has not had a response from them. Chair Ready commented that the motion made at the last meeting was for staff to bring only the Little League Park and the Woolbright Cemetery to the City Commission for designation on the Local Register, and for staff to contact the churches with designation information to see if they were interested in designation. She also noted that the Designation Report for the Andrews House was already written, but that the only thing stopping that was the owner at the moment. She said that staff was only supposed to bring forward those two items. Ms. Radigan responded that they would be happy to review the minutes and that any recommendations from the Board is within the City Commission's purview, so they bring all the recommendations forward. She commented that since there were several items the Board discussed, they thought it was appropriate to get feedback. She said that while the tone of the City Commission was that they were interested in designation, they wanted them to be owner initiated. Chair Ready pointed out the Little League Field and the Cemetery were both City-owned. Ms. Radigan responded that the City Commission does not want to move forward with those two recommendations. She clarified that the quote for $17,300 was for the former Historic Preservation Planner, Warren Adams, to create the designation reports. She also clarified that since the sign for the Art and Culture Center was a monument sign, it no longer requires approval of the Board. She said that they will bring back an informational item to show what was selected. 3 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 14, 2024 6. New Business a. Certificate of Appropriateness (Heard out of Order) Approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness application to allow fabricated metal entry gates to be erected on top of two existing historic pedestals at the entrance to the cemetery, pursuant to the City's Historic Preservation Program defined in Part III. the Land Development Regulations, Chapter 4, Article IX, Section 6.C. Certificate of Appropriateness Kelly Armstead, Arts and Culture Division Director, presented the Barton Memorial Park Cemetery entryway feature and a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness. She explained that the City received a grant to create an entryway feature. She mentioned that two candidates were selected, and that Artist Blythe Armstrong is a Boynton Beach resident, and she was chosen and will receive a $5K honorarium. (Mr. Norfus arrived.) Ms. Armstead viewed the design as contained in the meeting materials. Mr. Norfus inquired about fencing on the sides of Barton Cemetery. Ms. Armstead responded that there is another City cemetery with fencing, and that they will use the same fencing to enclose the cemetery, not the park, to be consistent, and that there were no plans for lighting. She said that the options were either to have gates or an archway. She noted that there is only one way in and one way out of the cemetery. She stated that someone suggested painting the concrete pedestals at the entryway black, to match a metal gate, which currently says Barton Memorial Park. Ms. Radigan commented that the pedestals were historic and that approvals would have to come before the Board. She said that the pedestals are concrete and not approved to be painted. She pointed out that immediately abutting the pedestals are graves. Chair Ready suggested putting the words Barton Memorial on top of the arch. Ms. Armstead offered to go back to the design to include Barton Memorial Park and have the archway legs located on the outside of the pedestals. She said the two pedestals were approved historically to just be concrete and they cannot find any approvals for them to be painted the way they are right now. The members discussed their options with the location of the fencing and there was consensus for using the arch with the wording of the cemetery across the top of the arch. It was clarified that the arch could be affixed to the front exterior corner of the pedestal. 4 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 14, 2024 Mr. Norfus stated that one pedestal has wording, but not the other. John Stout, Planner II, stated that the other side of the pedestal has an artistic frieze, which is a three-dimensional image on the pedestal of folk art, which is why they are historic. Motion Mr. Wilson moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness on the design for the archway for Barton Memorial Park. Mr. Norfus seconded the motion. Mr. Wilson amended his motion to include the lettering on top of the arch to be determined Barton Memorial Park or Barton Memorial Park Cemetery, and to revise the gate not to touch the existing pedestals and to be moved to the outer corners or, behind in the least impactful way for the existing graves. Mr. Norfus agreed to the amendment. There were no objections to the motion and Chair Ready announced that there was agreement and that they should have a celebration when it was installed. Mr. Norfus stated that he believes Mr. Barton is still alive. 5. Old Business Cultural Center Sign This Item was previously discussed. Update on the Bernard Thomas Mural Jae Eun Kim, Principal Planner, stated that it was her understanding that the mural is art and not part of Historic Preservation. She said that the Board should go through the Art Advisory Board. Chair Ready advised that she was not giving up on the mural and that it is part of the Woman's Club, as it was put on the National Register. She noted that the mural was painted by the artist for that location, and it needs to be returned to that location. She said that none of the parties are objecting to it being returned to the Woman's Club and that they only need a truck and a few men. Mr. Wilson asked what prompted the City to remove it. Chair Ready stated that they did not know, but that she was aware tht the mural was a stylized mural of the timeline for the State of Florida. She noted in the upper right-hand corner, the state flag flew from 1868 to 1900, and that piece was the offending character. She stated that the daughter of the artist has a photograph that could temporarily cover 5 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 14, 2024 the offending flag and that the mural needs to be returned to the wall in the Woman's Club, as it is a very valuable City historic asset that the City discarded. 6. New Business A. Certificate of Appropriateness Approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness application to allow fabricated metal entry gates to be erected on top of two existing historic pedestals at the entrance to the cemetery, pursuant to the City's Historic Preservation Program defined in Part III. the Land Development Regulations, Chapter 4, Article IX, Section 6.C. Certificate of Appropriateness. This item was previously addressed. B. Discussion of August 6, 2024, City Commission Meeting Chair Ready commented that she attended the August 6th City Commission Meeting, and that Ms. Radigan submitted the list of six properties to get on the Local Register, two of them which could have been approved if the City voted yes in support of the program. She said that the information could be put on the City Website explaining the parameters of the program and that it is not painful as it appears. She mentioned that outreach is needed and that they have to direct staff to help with that mission, because she has been conducting outreach, but not getting anywhere. She asked for input on the outreach effort. Ms. Broglia and Mr. Norfus offered to help. Chair Ready stated that the perception is that the Board is in the way of development and that they have the authority to issue a 90-day delay in demolition. She commented that the reason why the Board has the 90-day clause is so that a planner could document the building before it is demolished and that was not made clear. She said that if they had a Historic Preservation Planner, they could also document the interior before demolition. She emphasized that the Board is not trying to stop new development and that she was perturbed with the City Commission's reaction. Ms. Radigan agreed with Chair Ready that the direction staff was given was not that the City Commission was anti-historic designation, rather it was to conduct more outreach and education and that the Board was spending funds for a report, without the endorsement of the owner. She said that staff did write a letter to the churches outlining the designation process and the benefits of designation, and send a link to the meeting presentation that was given at the City Commission to the members. She said that the presentation was bare bones, but it showed the location of the six properties, the designation process and staff asked if the City Commission would move forward, primarily because they would have to fund the designation reports. She reiterated that the direction staff received was to conduct outreach, and that the City Commission did not want to be 6 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 14, 2024 perceived as the City that designates people properties as they want the owners to come forward for designation, and then they would be more amenable to designation. Chair Ready stated that bringing the churches before the City Commission for designation was premature. She stated that the Board wants the churches to voluntarily agree to designation as it is an honor. Ms. Radigan clarified this was a discussion item and they wanted to ascertain the overall tone of the Commission. Chair Ready emphasized that they are eight years without a Historic Resource Preservation Planner and said that $17,300 for reports is peanuts compared to a Historic Resource Preservation Planner salary. She commented that the amount of money they would need from the Planning Department budget is small. Ms. Radigan responded that staff does not have a huge budget and that they have to budget ahead of time. She said that they need to know how the City Commission wants to spend funds and how they want to allocate funds. Chair Ready requested that as the department head approaches the budget, and that staff look forward to allocating funds for studies or historic signs, or anything else the Board may need. Ms. Radigan stated that staff will attempt to request more funds. 7. Other None 8. Comments by Board Members Chair Ready announced that The Historical Society Newsletter was issued and she wrote a piece. She said that the members should expect some emails from those interested in Historic Preservation from the Historical Society. She stated that the first meeting will be held on October 28th via Zoom, and if anyone wants an invitation, she will send one. She mentioned that the first item will be with Jacob Rabinowitz, the City's new Archivist. She advised that for the November 25th Meeting, Rick Kilby will be discussing Florida Healing Water. She stated that January 11th, is the 4th or 5th Highwaymen Program and they will be present with their art for sale. Brief discussion followed the mural was not the only art removed and if the City knows where the art is. Chair Ready commented that the City owns some valuable art, including the Coquimbo Bell, and that it is important all the art be accounted for. 7 Meeting Minutes Historic Resource Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 14, 2024 Ms. Radigan commented that the City is in the process of inventorying public art and that Gail Mootz is handling that project. She said that she can look for the Coquimbo Bell. Mr. Norfus announced the Meeks House Grand Opening on October 19th from 9 A.M. to 11 P.M., at 413 NE 12th Avenue. He said that there will be historical artifacts and plenty of activities. Chair Ready pointed out that this home is on the Local Register and is a fine example of a Shotgun Home. 9. Public Comments Relative to Historic Preservation None 10. Announce Date of Next Meeting None 11. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Ready properly adjourned the meeting at 7:28 P.M. OXAVUALQ. AVAit Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 8