Wednesday, December 12, 2007
6:30 PM
Conference Room     
City Hall

Present:  Commissioners Matt Bivens, Dave Brown, Steve Emer, Pat Jones, David Meyers, Phyllis Ravensberg and Staff Liaison Alan Lamberg.  Guests:  Kevin McClure – Agape Construction.

1.       Approval of Minutes:  Minutes approved as read.

2.       Volunteer Coordination:  None.

3.       Citizen Comments:  None.

4.       Certificate of Appropriateness:  None.

5.       Old Business:

a.       Jefferson-Argonne local historic district.

                           i.            Historic persons – Commission presented with document.  Alan is requesting adds/changes be submitted to him this week.  Pat Jones recommended presenting it to Council Liaison Art McDonnell before presenting it to the City Council.

                         ii.            Updated historic inventory, map – Commission suggested having a document for the public and City Council that indicated only whether homes were contributing or non-contributing structures.  Additional notation was possibly too confusing.  Also, to consider acknowledging homes that were either designed or were residences of well known architects.

                        iii.            Design Guidelines –

1. Commissioner Meyers stated that new construction should be a priority for design guidelines development.  Note:  Guidelines can be suggestions or legally enforceable if they become a part of the ordinance.

2. Focus group should be modeled after Councilman Griffin’s infill ordinance group and should include their ideas and suggestions.  P & Z and ARB liaison should be encouraged. January 9 meeting will outline the planned action steps.  The plan will progress over a period of several months beginning with a focus group with the Commission main focus is to listen.  Then, the Commission will meet monthly or bi-monthly to develop design guidelines.  Toward the end, there will be another focus group meeting where the Commission will present the focus group with the draft and ask for feedback. The draft would then be revised and submitted to the City Council for feedback, if any.  Afterward, the guidelines would be finalized. 

Question : Considering possible ARB city-wide infill regulations, what happens when a case is historic property?  Would a landmarks commissioner liaison at the ARB meeting, or would it be a joint meeting?

Commissioner Meyers suggested waiting until ARB has   infill guidelines in place.  Commissioner Jones countered that may take too long, and that land mark guidelines can be developed concurrently.

Meyers pointed out that Jefferson-Argonne is, geographically, two sections, one with large lots for large houses, and a second section around Handlan, Holmes, Dickson, Mitchell, where the lots are small.

b. Distribution of Report to City Council – To be presented by Art McDonnell.  Review to see if any additional information is necessary for Council.

6. New Business        

a.         Citizens seeking advice - Commissioner Ravensberg asked how the commission would approach review of replacing a window with a door on a non-streetscape side of her historic house.  Commissioner Bivens suggested that, according to National Register standards, this is acceptable because it is not seen from the streetscape; advised to use similar materials.  He noted that if it were a door to window conversion, a recess should break it inward.

b.         Nomination applications for landmark status

City Hall – The Kirkwood City Hall building was proposed as a possible landmark property.  The historic inventory was presented.  The building was noted as being culturally significant.  Commissioner Meyers offered to write an architectural description and then nominated the City Hall as a proposed landmark property.  Commissioner Bivens seconded.  Unanimously approved.

c.         Annual Report for Certified Local Government sent to State Historic Preservation Office.

d.                                                Staff observations – Annual report has been sent to State Historic Preservation Office.

e.                                                National Register, suggested districts. Since the window for grants for survey and nomination to the National Register begins in September, the Commission needs to coordinate with owners from Downtown Kirkwood and/or North Taylor Avenue in February.  One of the challenges a property owner initiative would face in Downtown Kirkwood is the portion of owners who do not reside in Kirkwood.  There needs to be a way to communicate with them in a timely fashion, should an initiative occur.

7. Adjourn – meeting adjourned 7:45pm by Commissioner Emmer motion.  Seconded by Commissioner Meyers.  Unanimously approved.