Minutes 01-04-10
MINUTES OF THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AD HOC COMMITTEE
MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 4, 2010, 5:00 P.M., AT FIRE STATION #2
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PRESENT:
Warren Adams, Chair
Gaylord Allan Hendricks
Steven Holzman
Eric D. Jones
John E. McGovern
Barbara Ready
Linda Stabile
Mike Rumpf, Staff Liaison
Ed Breese, Principal Planner
ALSO PRESENT:
Janet DeVries, Library Archivist
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:06 p.m.
2.a. Acceptance of Minutes of December 14, 2009 meeting
Ms. Ready moved to approve the minutes. Mr. McGovern seconded the motion.
Staff requested the following changes:
. Page 1: The minutes noted that Ed Breese had been directed by the City
Manager to serve as Staff Liaison. This should be corrected as the City Manager
had initially identified the Planning and Zoning Manager to serve as Staff Liaison
to the Committee.
. Page 2: The reference to a "529" in the second paragraph required clarification.
It was agreed to postpone approval of the minutes pending clarification of the reference
to a "529."
2.b. Discussion of Handouts
As discussed at the last meeting, the handouts included the following:
. Historic Resources Map - in color
. Historic Sites Survey - 1996
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Meeting Minutes
Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Committee
Boynton Beach, Florida January 4, 2010
?Model Municipal Historic Preservation Ordinance
?Historic Code Provisions Comparison
3. Public Notification Options
Ed Breese, Principal Planner, advised notification of the last meeting had been
provided by several postings in City Hall. For this meeting, notification was provided in
a news release, on BBTV, the City's Twitter, News Blog and website, and several
postings in City Hall.
Additional options were being considered as to how to create awareness and motivate
the community to attend meetings of this Committee. An option suggested was to
include notices with utility bills sent out by the City. In discussions with Facilities, staff
had been advised that only two months, March and May, were available for the
mailings. Facilities had the ability to accommodate one 8½ x 11 two-sided sheet in
mass mailings, which would amount to 18,000 mail-outs.
It was suggested space be reserved for both March and May mailings, if possible. If
both months were available, the March notices could be introductory, informational and
educational while the May notices could be in the form of a questionnaire. It would be
necessary to have the notices to Facilities in February for a March mailing.
It was noted that at many advisory board meetings, the guests participated in the
discussion, but were not permitted to participate in the decision-making process. As
such, it was suggested a format be established. One possibility would be to add a
"Public Comments" portion to the meeting agenda.
It was important for the community to be aware of the merits of a Historic District
designation. Ms. Stabile's house, which was located in a County pocket, had received a
Historic District designation from Palm Beach County. She distributed copies of a letter
she had sent to her neighbors setting forth the benefits to be derived for a community
receiving the designation. The letter also pointed out that a Historic District designation
allowed homeowners a great deal of latitude in maintaining their properties and
addressed the concerns of the people. It was suggested educational information of this
nature could be included in the mailing.
It was questioned whether the City intended to produce a set of design guidelines
setting forth the process, benefits, tax incentives, architectural styles, alterations, and
demolition and what could or could not be done with respect to obtaining a Historic
District designation. Mr. Breese replied that rather than producing a separate set of
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Meeting Minutes
Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Committee
Boynton Beach, Florida January 4, 2010
design guidelines, the criteria would be included in the Historic Preservation ordinance.
Additionally, the City's Code currently included design criteria.
It was thought a mission statement should be development to inspire pride in
ownership. On consensus, the Committee agreed on the following:
"Boynton Beach will foster an atmosphere that preserves and promotes
reverence for the architectural and cultural history of our community."
The Committee agreed the mission statement should be included in the mailer.
Staff would prepare draft language for the next meeting which would allow enough
time for the flyer to be included in the March mailing. The March flyer would be both
educational and invitational.
4. Data Sources
This item was discussed above.
5. Grant Information
The potential for grants was discussed at the last meeting, and Chair Adams was going
to research the availability of grants for the planning stages of the program.
Chair Adams had contacted the National Trust for Historic Preservation and was advised
the Trust provided a matching grant of $500 to $5,000. The match was required to be
in cash rather than in donated services or goods. It was not required that the applicant
have CLG (Certified Local Government) status to apply for the grant. The grant was to
be used specifically for planning and education and could be used to engage a
consultant or public speaker. Chair Adams advised the individual at the National Trust
that the Committee would discuss the issue at this meeting in an effort to be more
specific as to the Committee's need for the funding. Once the determination was made,
Chair Adams would provide the information to the National Trust. If they felt the
Committee had a good chance of securing the funding, the Committee could go forward
and submit an application. As the Committee, a grass roots group, was attempting to
promote historic preservation, it appeared to Chair Adams that the National Trust was
recommending the Committee apply for the grant. He reiterated, however, that a cash
match was required. As such, it would be necessary, if the application were to be
approved, to approach the City Commission for funding.
The National Parks Service offered a similar grant. However, a CLG (Certified Local
Government) status was required in order to submit an application. While there were
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Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Committee
Boynton Beach, Florida January 4, 2010
other grant, loan and investment opportunities, these required a large cash match. The
website for the National Trust for Historic Preservation provided additional information
on the grants available. Applications could be made to the National Trust three times
within a two-year period. Chair Adams advised that State grants were difficult to obtain
and required a great deal of match funding.
Suggestions on the manner in which the grant funds could be utilized to promote the
Committee's activities included:
?Production of a video depicting the "human element" (i.e., senior population who
could capture "living history") which could be shown at Commission meetings or
other forums.
?Costs for printing, leaflets and mailings.
?Exhibitions, speakers and charrettes.
?Professional advice from the Planning and Development Department with regard
to design guidelines.
?Placement of pamphlets at kiosks at City Hall, the Library, shopping malls, places
of business and public spaces.
?Brochures describing architectural styles.
?Educational supplies.
Chair Adams would contact representatives at the National Trust and enlist their
assistance in determining the best measures to be taken to obtain the grant.
6. Public Education: Collecting public input and increasing awareness
This item was previously discussed.
7. Ordinance Comparisons
A Historic Code provision comparison sheet was distributed which reflected the manner
in which Palm Beach County, Delray Beach and Lake Worth treated various Code
provisions. They were as follows:
?Who can designate a property. This provision was standard in the County,
Delray Beach and Lake Worth and almost all of the ordinances reviewed by staff.
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Boynton Beach, Florida January 4, 2010
The Commission was the only entity that could make a designation after a
recommendation from the Historic Board, and nominations could be made by the
Commission, the Historic Board, a property owner or in the case of a district
designation, a neighborhood or community association.
?Levels of Certificates of Appropriateness. One of the items discussed at the last
meeting was that some cities made it more difficult to obtain the certificates.
Palm Beach County did not have any levels of review. There did not appear to
be any staff or administrative review of the certificates. For restoration, erection,
renovation, excavation, relocation or demolition, all were required to be
presented to the Board. An administrative review was required in both Delray
Beach and Lake Worth. If the renovation did not exceed a certain threshold, it
would be reviewed by staff. It was staff's intent to be as consumer-friendly as
possible.
?Extent of Regulations. In Palm Beach County, this particular provision was
applicable to all elevations and facades and they did not regulate color. Delray
Beach, while still applicable to all elevations and facades, did regulate color as
part of its review of historic preservation. In the City of Lake Worth, the
ordinance was only applicable to those elevations and facades that were visible
from a right-of-way. They too reviewed color.
?Non-contributing structures. In Palm Beach County, these structures within the
Historic District were required to meet the same compatibility standards
regarding materials, textures, mass, configuration and proportion. Lake Worth
and Delray Beach had the same requirements.
?Economic Hardship. In the County, the Board could consider economic hardships
submitted by property owners applying for a condition of approval including
financial information and rehabilitation feasibility from a design professional.
This provision had been challenged with respect to window and roof
replacements.
?Demolitions. A Certificate of Appropriateness was required in Palm Beach County
for condemned structures, as determined by the governing body. Approval of
the condition of approval may be delayed for six months to allow time for the
exploration of potential alternatives to demolition. This language was found in
Delray Beach and Lake Worth's Codes as well. Lake Worth's Code contained a
provision that any requests for demolition were required to be accompanied by a
development plan for the site.
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Meeting Minutes
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Boynton Beach, Florida January 4, 2010
?Final Decisions. The decision of the Board was final unless appealed to the
Commission within 30 days. Any appeal of the Commission's decision would be
made to the Circuit Court. The Delray Beach Code incorporated the same
language, as did Lake Worth's Code. Lake Worth's administrative decisions were
appealable to the Board.
?Tax Exemption. In Delray Beach, the City Commission could grant a tax
exemption on 100% of the increase in assessed value resulting from a qualifying
renovation, restoration or rehabilitation for up to 10 years. Lake Worth's Code
contained the same language.
The above topics were selected for the Board's consideration with regard to key
provisions to be included in the Historic Preservation ordinance for Boynton Beach. The
Board was asked to provide feedback at the next meeting.
8. Summarize tasks or accomplishments for next meeting
Staff would work on a possible mailing for March and would provide a draft for the
Board's review at the next meeting. The Board was asked to provide any thoughts they
might have as well.
Chair Adams would contact the National Trust for Historic Preservation to determine the
grants available, and staff would explore a possible cash match by the City.
Staff would review the provisions of the Code comparison handouts to determine what
should be included or what might be changed with regard to the Historic Preservation
ordinance for the City.
Mr. Jones would circulate ideas for education via email.
Staff would continue to work with the IT Department, and network and website
administrators, to develop a page for the Committee. A draft would be provided at the
next meeting
9. Announce date of next meeting
The members agreed to conduct the meetings at Fire Station #2. Additional chairs
could be set up for the public. It was noted the contacts from Delray Beach or West
Palm Beach would be invited to provide guidance with respect to drafting the
ordinance.
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Meeting Minutes
Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Committee
Boynton Beach, Florida
January 4, 2010
The next meeting was scheduled for February 8, 2010, 5:00 p.m., at Fire Station House
#2.
10. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 7:00
p.m.
~~D--
Stephanie D. Kahn
Recording Secretary
020310
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