HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.25.2020HISTORICAL COMMISSION
AGENDA
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
4:00 PM
Planning and Development Services Department
Conference Room 1
St. Lucie County Administration Building
2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34982
BOARD MEMBERS
Land Use Planning or Historic Preservation Planning
KRISSTA KING
Architecture
MIKE MENARD
Anthropology, Archaeology, History
RICHARD MCAFOOS
Layperson
BETTY JO STARK
Layperson
MELANIE TREWYN
Conservation/Curation
MIKE MIDDLEBROOK
Construction
JUDY BIGLIN
Mission Statement
To provide service, infrastructure and leadership necessary to advance a safe and sustainable community,
maintain a high quality of life, and protect the natural environment for all our citizens
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Historical Commission Tuesday, February 25, 2020 4:00 PM
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GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURES – Attached is the agenda, which will determine the order of business conducted at today’s Board
meeting.
REGULAR AGENDA – Proclamations, Presentations, Public Hearings, and Department requests are items, which the Commission will
discuss individually, usually in the order listed on the agenda.
As a general rule, when issues are scheduled before the Commission under department request or public hearing, the order of
presentation is: (1) County staff presents the details of the Board item (2) Commissioners comment (3) if a public hearing, the Chair
will ask for public comment, (4) further discussion and action by the Board.
ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION – Please state your name and address, speaking clearly into the microphone. If you have backup
material, please have eight copies ready for distribution.
NON‐AGENDA ITEMS – These items are presented by an individual Commissioner or staff as necessary at the conclusion of the
printed agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT – Time is allotted at the beginning of each meeting for general public comment. Comments may pertain to any
matter related to the Board’s duties as the County’s governing body. General comments in support or opposition to candidates for
public office are not pertinent to the Board’s duties.
DECORUM – Please be respectful of others’ opinions.
MEETINGS – All Board meetings are open to the public and are held quarterly on the third Tuesdays of month at 4 p.m. and on the
Meetings are held in the Planning Conference Room in the Planning and Development Services Department at 2300 Virginia Ave.,
Fort Pierce, Fla. 34982. Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie
County Community Services Manager at 772‐462‐1777 or TDD 772‐462‐1428 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
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Historical Commission Tuesday, February 25, 2020 4:00 PM
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1.CALL TO ORDER
2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3.ROLL CALL
4.ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.PUBLIC COMMENT
6.MINUTES
A.January 14, 2020 Historical Commission Meeting Minutes
7.ITEMS FOR ACTION / CONSIDERATION
A.OLD BUSINESS
1.City of Port St. Lucie Historical Village & Museum – Historical Commission Restated Letter
of Support & Presentation from 1‐14‐2020 Meeting (Attached)
B.NEW BUSINESS
1.Demolition Request 3701 Okeechobee Rd (Staff Report & Supplemental Documents
Attached)
8.MEMBER MATTERS
9.DISCUSSION
10.ADJOURNMENT
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Generated 2/21/2020
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Regular Meeting
January 14, 2020 Convened 4:10 PM
Adjourned: 5:24 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 PM by Chair Richard McAfoos
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Richard McAfoos Chair Present
Melanie Trewyn Vice Chair Present
Mike Menard Commission Member Not Present
Betty Jo Starke Commission Member Present
Krissta King Commission Member Present
Judy Biglin Commission Member Present
Mike Middlebrook Commission Member Present
Additional Attendees:
Kori Benton Assistant Planning
Manager
Present
Bethany Grubbs Recording Secretary Present
Jennifer Davis CRA project Manager, City
of Port St. Lucie
Present
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Historic Preservation Officer Kori Benton, expressed appreciation to City Manager Blackburn,
Councilwoman Caraballo, CRA Project Manager Jennifer Davis, and Chair Richard McAfoos for
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Quarterly Meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2020 4:00 PM
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facilitating the meeting at the Botanical Gardens and allowing a tour of the historic structures,
emphasizing the community benefit of the venue.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. St. Lucie County Historical Commission meeting minutes for the meeting on Tuesday,
October 15, 2019
Commission member Betty Jo Starke made the motion to approve meeting minutes as
drafted. Vice-Chair Melanie Trewyn seconded the motion, and the motion passed
unanimously.
7. ITEMS FOR ACTION / CONSIDERATION
A. Old Business
1. Request for Recommendation – Naming of Public Facility in honor of Sylvie Kramer
Marceau (Agenda Item 6.B.3)
Staff recommends a continuance of this item until the next regularly scheduled meeting on
April 21, 2020. Commission member Krissta King motioned to continue the item, Commissioner
Member Judy Biglin seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
B. New Business
1. Port St. Lucie Historical Village & Museum tour and BOCC update letter
Previously, Mr. Benton and Chair McAfoos authored a letter to the St. Lucie County Board of
County Commissioners highlighting their site visit to the Botanical Gardens and recognizing
the ongoing opportunities for public-private partnerships for the rehabilitation of the
relocated structures and for support from the BOCC. Mr. Middlebrook stressed opportunities
to secure grants for the lands encompassed by the campus. The letter elaborated on the
educational value of this project and the various phases on the horizon. The Commission
recommended a presentation to the BOCC, recommending financial assistance towards the
cultural venue in St. Lucie County. Mr. Benton reiterated that the letter was addressed to the
County and Deputy County Administrators and posed the question of whether we should
address it to Charlotte Byerly, St. Lucie County Tourism Manager. Chair McAfoos disagreed
because as the Ordinance for the TDC Council is written, it is prohibited. It is not advisable to
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Quarterly Meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2020 4:00 PM
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initiate her because she can take no action at this time. Mr. Benton agreed and suggested a
letter of support to the BOCC, copying Ms. Byerly, the Chair of the TDC, and Terissa Aronson
(President of the Chamber of Commerce), City of Fort Pierce, and Nancy Bennett (President
of the St. Lucie Historical Society) for notification purposes.
Chair McAfoos called for a motion to direct the advisor, Mr. Benton and Chair McAfoos to
draft the letter, as they did previously, with the updated with the parameters articulated.
Commission Member Judy Biglin motioned, Commission Member Betty Jo Starke seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.
Discussion ensued, and Chair McAfoos provided history and clarification to the Commission
about the different local historical societies. History is living until it dies. The charge to
people who wish to preserve it does not start upon death. You have to start ahead of time.
Port St. Lucie’s Historical society has been around since the 1950s. The TDR Ordinance
prohibits sales tax money from coming south of Midway Road, and that is why they cannot
financially help us. The TDC tax has donated 3.2 million dollars to tourist venues created
through grants north of Midway Road since its inception. For example, to the airport, the
Backus Museum, and others. Chair McAfoos stated that the Sandpiper Bay area was where
the City of in Port St. Lucie began, not River Park, because they never incorporated into the
City. The City of Port St. Lucie began with GDC. Again, the whole purpose of this is to bring
the County together for historic preservation.
8. MEMBER MATTERS
Mr. Benton stated that a request for demolition was received for property located at 3701
Okeechobee Boulevard and would like to schedule a special meeting to and vote on the
request. Commission Member Judy Biglin asked if they have to tour the facility in advance of
the meeting. Mr. Benton explained the typical protocol regarding the process and how staff
provides the Florida Master Site File, photographs, and any applicable statements from the
contractor or the Building Official. Mr. Benton explained that this structure is not locally
recognized as historical, but is eligible as the State recognizes and has a Florida Master Site
File (FMSF). Members asked to receive access to the structure to tour in advance. Mr.
Benton stated that is the Members would like to tour the structure, they can make the
request. Staff would present the request to the applicant, and the applicant would have to
consent. Tours are typically a concern for safety, which is why we typically do not offer site
visits. This does not preclude the Members from driving by. Staff tries to provide enough
backup information for an adequate review. Then, either the Commission would affirm,
upholding the request for demolition, and allowing to the applicant to proceed, or the
Commission would recommend an emergency designation to the Board of County
Commissioners, to consider a structure as historic to preserve the structure. The Commission
was concerned that older structures are being destroyed, and fear that Fort Pierce will lose
its charm. Chair McAfoos assured that the packet provided by staff will contain adequate
information for the Commission to make an intelligent and informed decision. The
Commission reviewed the calendar for potential special meeting dates between February
and March and decided on February 25, 2020.
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Quarterly Meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2020 4:00 PM
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Chair McAfoos called for a motion to convene for a special meeting to evaluate the request
for demolition for 3701 Okeechobee Boulevard. Commission Member Betty Jo Starke made
the motion, Commission Member Krissta King seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Next Meeting Date: Special Meeting, February 25, 2020.
9. DISCUSSION
Jennifer Davis displayed a short PowerPoint presentation, with corresponding visual aids, to
highlight the historical village and museum campus. Ms. Davis was brought in to work on the
CRA, specifically the eastern side of Port St. Lucie. Ms. Davis provided updates on the village
and pointed out a few elements of the site. The boardwalk section is actively being worked
on, by the banyan tree, with a completion date around summertime. The plan is to continue
the boardwalk further south as a conservation tract. The restaurant area is in the planning
phase, with discussions with Manatee Island Bar and Grill construct a restraint with a 20-year
ground lease, and it will be the only waterfront dining in the City. A green area is identified
for an event lawn. The River Nights events will be held on the lawn and will have drinks, food
trucks, and bands. They had the groundbreaking event for the boardwalk scheduled, and it
rained and was cancelled. The City scheduled a kickoff party for February 13, 2020, instead.
A small area is designated as a playground, which is actively being designed by a consultant
in Miami. Public engagement events are scheduled to achieve the “wow” playground for
kids. There are miscellaneous improvements proposed for parking, restrooms, and the
historic lodge. The original site plan schematic changed. Ms. Davis highlighted the change in
the restaurant’s footprint. The future shops have been modified to open space for now. The
Chickee Hut is still undecided. The original plan had a full Seminole village, but following the
neighborhood charrette, it did not make the final plan. The restaurant will have transient
docks for dining. The boardwalk will connect to Bridge Plaza by Lefty’s, which will also have a
transient dock. Ms. Davis provided the floor plan of the historic house to the west, along
with the linear lodge building. The City was given direction to first move forward with the
lodge and to work with the St. Lucie Historical Society on programming to restore it to its
original luster. Access is not permitted inside the lodge due to safety with soft spots in the
floor. The goal is to have everything restored to the original 1952 period. The house is much
older, dating to 1917, and will be trickier to program. The lodge will become a functional
public space for meetings. The interior of the lodge consists of Dade County pine and cypress
woods. The scheduled River Nights event on February 13, 2020, will have a 3D virtual reality
simulator for guests to see the interior of the lodge without actually stepping foot inside. The
City’s Communications Department will create this simulator. The house had a second wing
on it that did not make the move. There is a time-lapse video showing the removal of the
house from the Peacock Ranch property to the botanical gardens.
Staff and the Commission Members traveled to the lodge site and reconvened the meeting
after a brief recess, keeping the meeting active following travel time across campus.
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Quarterly Meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2020 4:00 PM
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Chair McAfoos reconvened the meeting, and Ms. Davis pulled out the lodge plan in front of
the lodge detailing the restoration proposal. These details consist of adding Americans with
Disabilities (ADA) restrooms, adding doors for a meeting area, and restoring the built-ins.
The lodge and the house have many of the same traits. An ADA ramp will be added for
compliance, and the aesthetics of that will be taken into consideration to blend. The City will
be working closely with the botanical gardens to ensure landscaping is consistent with that
time era. Once the lodge is complete, programming for the house will begin. Commission
Member Mike Middlebrook asked if impact glass windows were proposed. The windows will
be restored to period, but shutters will be provided for protection. The structure is listed on
the FMSF but not designated historic. The contractor will determine if the structure needs
fire sprinklers since it will be used as a meeting space. It will be another 5-6 months for the
architect to finish the plans and go through the procurement process. Construction is
anticipated for about 5 months after that.
10. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 5:24 PM.
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Demolition Request 3701 Okeechobee RdDemolition Request 3701 Okeechobee Rd
Historical CommissionHistorical Commission
Special MeetingSpecial Meeting
February 25, 2020
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