HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Meeting Summary 04262023 Orange County
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Approved Meeting Summary
April 26th, 2023
Bonnie Davis Center, 1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough
MEMBERS PRESENT: Todd Dickinson, Tom Loter, Art Menius, Cecelia Moore, Paul Noe, Steve Peck,
Anne Whisnant
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck GUESTS: None
ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:34 pm.
ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
None.
ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES for January25th, 2022:
Peck moved to approve the minutes; seconded by Loter, motion approved.
ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DECISION:
a. Election of officers: chair and vice chair:
Staff provided a review of the HPC process for the election of the chair and vice chair. Art
Menius indicated he would be willing to serve as chair. Paul Noe volunteered to serve as
vice chair. Peck moved to nominate Art Menius to serve as chair and Paul Noe to serve
as vice chair. The motion was seconded by Tom Loter. Motion carried unanimously.
ITEM #5: DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Designation of new local landmark candidates: May 16' date for a possible joint
public hearing: Staff provided an overview the HPC's landmark process whereby the
HPC holds a joint public hearing with the BOCC to present the HPC recommendations for
landmarks and to take any public comment. At last meeting, there was general agreement
that May 16th was a feasible date for most members. The BOCC staff confirmed that the
161h will work. This works for most members. Staff will proceed to send out the required
letters and public hearing advertisements in the legal section of the News of Orange.
b. Proposed new bridge over Eno River adjacent to National Register-listed David
Faucette House: Staff reviewed the current status of the long-standing NCDOT project to
replace the 1950s concrete bridge adjacent to the Faucette House and reviewed past
discussions with DOT staff. Staff met yesterday with DOT engineers and designers at the
site to review the final site plan proposal. DOT has followed our recommendations and
has moved the new bridge farther to the north and adjusted the curve to reduce the visual
impact. DOT agreed to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness as they closer to the build
date, which is looking like 2026, after the house is designated as a landmark in May.
c. Discovery of additional stone mounds with possible association with local Indian
tribes: next steps: Staff provided a presentation to share more information and images of
the stone mounds discovered by Judge Beverly Scarlett on family property along Terry
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Road, in the eastern part of the county. This was first discussed at the January meeting.
Staff received a call from a neighboring property owner who has similar mounds on her
property but is not interested in sharing at this time. Staff will work on a new date for HPC
members to view these before warm weather hits; if not will schedule for later in fall.
d. Field Trip: possible alternate destinations: If a field trip can't be organized in time to
view the stone mounds, staff recommended some possible alternative sites for a visit.
There was general interest in a possible trip to tour Moorefields, a historic house built c.
1785 near Hillsborough. Staff will share updates soon.
e. Membership update: Staff reported that Todd Dickinson was reappointed to the HPC for
another term as of March 20, 2023. Steve Peck will be recommended for reappointment
for one additional year at the May 16' BOCC meeting; we expect to hear back soon. The
final step will be to see if we can have Tom Loter reappointed for one additional year.
ITEM #6: UPDATES AND INFORMATION ITEMS
a. Report on presentation of Annual Report and Work Plan to BOCC: Staff reported that
Noe had done a good job of presenting our annual report to the BOCC at their Feb. 16
work session. Noe said the report was well-received and a good way to share our work.
b. Update on the soil gathering event to commemorate lynching of Wright Woods in
18 The group Orange Co. Community Remembrance Coalition has now scheduled the
soil gathering event at the Little River Park on April 27'. They will gather a small quantity
of soil from along the banks of the Little River, then hold a more public event later.
c. Moorefields public archaeology day: Noe presented an update. Their archaeological
consulting firm plans to start the GPR and mapping work in May.
d. Oaks community: rural National Reqister district project: No new update. This group
is now focused on learning more about a proposed new development that is being
proposed for a site along NC 54 just east of the Pluck Farm brewery operation.
e. Ridge Road School National Register Nomination progress report: Our consultant,
Heather Fearnbach, was notified that her Study List application was approved by the
SHPO in February. She just submitted the first draft of the National Register nomination,
which should be considered at the SHPO's October meeting.
f. Troy and Roberta Andrews House National Register Nomination Project: The owner
is still interested and is in discussion with family members to determine whether to
nominate this house alone, or also include the surrounding historic farmstead.
g. Strayhorn House National Register project: There may be an opportunity for the HPC
to assist with having this important Carrboro property listed in the National Register.
Members received an email with links to materials about the house. Staff met with the
owner and her daughter in January, and they are in favor of taking this step.
h. Blackwood Farmhouse restoration progress and park reopening: Members viewed
photos of the house with exterior painting now underway. A reopening ceremony is being
planned for May 19; invitations will be sent soon.
i. Book Protect: Staff is nearly finished with reviewing all of this text and dealing with issues
relating to sections that are too long. Current review of text length by book designer has
revealed that essay chapters are still too long. Consultation with Catherine Bishir
confirmed that these can be shortened with careful editing. Staff will be negotiating with
the designer to determine pricing for longer text and next steps.
j. Open air time: No information was shared in the interest of time.
ITEM #7: ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 8:16 pm.
Meeting summary by Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR staff
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