HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC minutes 012220 Attachment 1
Orange County
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Approved Meeting Summary
January 22, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Old Orange County Courthouse
106 W. King Street, Hillsborough
MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Ballard, Todd Dickinson, Tom Loter, Art Menius, Paul Noe, Steve Peck
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck GUESTS: Richal Vanhook, Betty McDade Khan
ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER
Chair Dickinson called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: None
ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES for December 11, 2019 (Attachment 1): Peck moved to
approve the minutes with a correction to note Loter as present; seconded by Ballard;
Dickinson noted that Jean Anderson was mentioned and that she might be available to
help with research for Laura for our book project; motion approved.
ITEM #4: SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING:
Chair Dickinson opened the Public Hearing to receive public comment and input on the
proposed National Register nomination for the Cedar Grove School in Cedar Grove
Township. Dickinson explained that this hearing is being held in compliance with the
SHPO procedures as required for a Certified Local Government. No public comment was
offered. Staff made a presentation about the significance and history of the school. Guests
Richal Vanhook and Betty Khan spoke in strong support of the nomination. HPC members
discussed a possible future landmark designation to add another layer of protection.
Members expressed support for the nomination. The Chair closed the Public Hearing.
Ballard offered the following motion regarding the Cedar Grove School nomination: "The
HPC has reviewed and discussed the nomination for the Cedar Grove School and finds
that the property meets Criteria A and C for listing in the National Register of Historic
Places, as stated in Section 8 of the nomination. The HPC recommends that the property
be submitted for listing in the Register and authorizes the chair to sign the
recommendation letter to the SHPO and the BOCC." This motion was seconded by Loter;
motion carried. The guests from Cedar Grove expressed their appreciation for this effort.
Chair Dickinson opened a second Public Hearing to receive public comment and input on
the proposed National Register nomination for the Schley Grange in the Schley
community. Staff made a presentation about the history and significance of the Grange.
Members expressed support for the nomination. The Chair closed the Public Hearing.
Noe offered the following motion regarding the Schley Grange nomination: "The HPC has
reviewed and discussed the nomination for the Schley Grange and finds that the property
meets Criteria A for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, as stated in Section
8 of the nomination. The HPC recommends that the property be submitted for listing in the
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Register and authorizes the chair to sign the recommendation letter to the SHPO and the
BOCC." This motion was seconded by Ballard; motion carried with Peck abstaining.
These will go before the SHPO National Register Advisory Committee at the February
meeting, then will be forwarded to the National Register for final approval by April.
ITEM #5: ITEMS FOR DECISION:
a. Recommendation letters for National Register Nominations for the Cedar Grove
School and the Schley Grange, to be conveyed to BOCC. Members approved having
the chair sign these letters of recommendation in the motions in Item 4 above.
b. Possible cancellation of February 26th meeting due to lack of business. We might need
to meet is if we are required to review the applications for outside agency funding by a
certain deadline. Members agreed to cancel unless we are required to review those.
ITEM #6: DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Presentation on Weaver House in Carrboro:
Staff provided a powerpoint about the oldest house in Carrboro; it is featured in the 1983
Carrboro architectural inventory publication. Staff inspected the old log barn there and
provided recommendations for its repair. The log section of the house date from the first
quarter of the 191h century; there is an 1850s addition to the west, a 1940s addition to the
north or rear, and a 2005 addition onto the 1940s section. Members discussed the house
and its significance. This might be eligible for landmark status but is located inside the
Carrboro Town limits; if there is a joint agreement with the county we could landmark this.
b. Prospects for new National Register nominations:
Staff discussed the modernist the stone house built in 1968 for the Andrews family, on the
family farmstead, near Carrboro. This is in the ETJ so we can't consider a landmark for
this, but could support a National Register nomination. Staff will share a set of photos by
email. Members would enjoy a presentation about modernist houses in the county.
c. Scheduling another field trip to a local site: Staff reviewed ideas for future field trips.
Current ideas include the Burwell School and the old Faucette Mill. At Burwell, there are
two levels of study: a more detailed follow up architectural study or examination by
Dickinson and Sandbeck. Peck reminded members that the house has a complicated
physical history, built in 1821, then remodeled by John Berry and again by Jules Korner.
d. Membership: Members discussed options for ways to identify potential new members.
One idea is to check with Cathleen Turner to see if she can identify some PNC members
in Orange County who might be interested and eligible to serve.
ITEM #6: UPDATES AND INFORMATION ITEMS
a. Piper-Cox House update:
Staff took samples of the original bricks to Old Carolina Brickworks in Salisbury. Following
this, the contractor placed the order for the bricks which should arrive by March.
b. Book project status/update:
Editor/author Laura Phillips continues to write the property entries for Hillsborough. The
lack of detailed research on the less well known properties is an ongoing issue, especially
for sites associated with African American history. Staff spends at least a day per week
carrying out detailed property research to support Laura's writing efforts.
c. Open airtime: None
ITEM #7: ADJOURNMENT: the meeting was adjourned at 8:31.
Meeting summary by Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR staff
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