HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.23.2019EDC5E0225D.DOCX Page 1 of 5
1 Historical Commission
2 Tuesday, April 23, 2019 4:00 PM
3 2300 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34982
4 Planning & Development Services Department
5 Conference Room One
6
7
8 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair McAfoos called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM
9
10 ROLL CALL
11
12 Richard McAfoos ...............................Vice Chair
13 Betty Starke.......................................Commission Member
14 Mike Middlebrook ..............................Commission Member
15 Melanie Trewyn .................................Commission Member
16 Mike Menard......................................Commission Member
17 Krissta King .......................................Commission Member
18
19 ANNOUNCEMENTS20
21 Resignation of Chair Freeman
22
23 MEMBER ABSENT:
24
25 Brian Freeman...................................Chair
26
27 STAFF PRESENT
28
29 Kori Benton........................................Historic Preservation Officer
30 Vanessa Desnoyers ..........................Recording Secretary
31 Gary Stepalavich ...............................Building Official
32
33 OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE
34
35 Denise Buchmeyer ............................3405 Midway Road (SL01276)
36 Ronald Buchmeyer............................3405 Midway Road (SL01276)37
38 1.Public Comment
39
40 None
41
42 2.Review and Approval of Minutes
43
44 Vice Chair McAfoos called for a motion to approve the minutes from the January 15, 2019
45 Historical Commission meeting. Betty Jo Starke motioned to approve the minutes as
46 submitted, Mike Menard seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
47
48
EDC5E0225D.DOCX Page 2 of 5
1
2 3.Member Matters
3
4 A. Vote for Chair and Vice Chair
5
6 Vice Chair McAfoos opened the floor to vote for Chair. Ms. Starke nominates Vice Chair
7 McAfoos and the motion is seconded.
89 Ms. Trewyn submits her name for Vice Chair.
10
11 Ms. Starke makes the motion to nominate both Vice Chair McAfoos as Chair and
12 Melanie Trewyn as Vice Chair. Mike Menard seconds the motion, and the vote passed
13 unanimously.
14
15 Vice Chair McAfoos is now voted in as Chair and Melanie Trewyn as Vice Chair.
16
17 4.Items for Consideration
18
19 New Business
20
21 A. Structure Demolition request - 3405 Midway Road (SL01807): Single-family
22 Residence c1949
23
24 Mr. Benton presented the background of the home before the commission. Mr. Benton
25 stated that the home is from a historic period or the background associated with the
26 structure is WWII & Aftermath. Mr. Benton stated that the deterioration of the structure
27 was subject to complaints, which brought it to the attention of the Code Enforcement.
28 The structure was prevalent in the late 1940s in Florida. There was an alteration in the
29 1950’s and another alteration in the 1980’s. St. Lucie County’s Building Official had
30 the opportunity to survey the structure and determined that the building was unsafe.
31 Mr. Stepalavich stated he did not feel comfortable walking through the structure.
32
33 Mr. Ronald Buchmeyer stated that the house is not in good shape. The home was
34 damaged during the hurricane in 2004 and was costly to repair. Mr. Buchmeyer stated
35 that after the damage the cost to repair was too much for it to be worth it. He stated
36 that he applied for a demolition permit a few years ago and was told by code
37 enforcement that he could not receive the permit until neighbors complained about the
38 damage. Mr. Menard questioned if Mr. Buchmeyer felt that any of the materials could
39 be salvaged in any way possibly given to a historical bank. Mr. Buchmeyer stated that
40 he has a desire to do so, but in unsure of how to proceed without causing further
41 damage to the home.
42
43 Chair McAfoos question staff as to if there was a mechanism in place to request that
44 Mr. Buchmeyer begin the preservation process and questioned the liability of the
45 Commission. Mr. Benton stated that there are certain opportunities that the
EDC5E0225D.DOCX Page 3 of 5
1 Commission has to make a motion or recommendation to the applicant or for the
2 property owner to salvage materials where possible. The challenge is that the county
3 does not have a place to acquire these materials to hold and preserve them in a
4 warehouse. Informally what we have done is put out a notice to the St. Lucie County
5 Historical Society, local architects and contractors that have experience in historical
6 rehabilitations and provided them a timeline in which they could salvage materials, or
7 participate in the demolition action working with the property owner.
8
9 Chair McAfoos stated that as we move forward to considering approval for demolition
10 then we would add that salvaging materials would be a condition of approval or
11 encouragement that the property owner do so. Chair McAfoos asked Mr. Benton to
12 submit a draft motion to for the commission to entertain.
13
14 Mr. Benton stated that if the commission were to entertain the demolition today, it
15 would be on the premise that the property owner is encouraged to provide a 30-45
16 day timeline in which announcements would be made highlighting that there are
17 salvageable materials from the structure. The demolition is pending, and opens the
18 opportunity to local contractors, architects, engineers and design professionals at the
19 discretion of the owner who would assume liability to acquire and attain materials for
20 re-use for renovations and rehabilitation projects.
21
22 Chair McAfoos inquired as to whether commission members were amenable to
23 moving forward with the approval of the demolition request. Chair McAfoos sought a
24 motion rearding the demolition of the structure located at 3405 Midway Road with the
25 caveat of salvaging materials. Ms. Starke made the motion and Ms. King seconded
26 the motion.
27
28 Ms. Starke questioned if we could collaborate with habitat for humanity to salvage the
29 materials from the property. Vice Chair Trewyn stated, that she has a contact further
30 south that may be interested. Ms. Starke asked how the commission could be more
31 proactive in preservation of structures by collaborating with local contractors or
32 schools in the community. Mr. Menard asked for clarification of the commission was
33 giving the applicant a mandate, or recommendation. Chair McAfoos confirmed it was
34 a recommendation. Vice Chair Trewyn questioned if there was a timeline for the
35 motion and Mr. Benton responded that the 30-45 day timeline was a suggestion and
36 would give applicants time to distribute announcements to potential interested parties
37 and that timeframe should be considered as a minimum.
38
39 Mr. Buchmeyer stated that he could wait for an interested party. He is in no hurry. Mr.
40 Buchmeyer also inquired as to whether he would be applying for the building permit
EDC5E0225D.DOCX Page 4 of 5
1 through the county or through the historical commission. Mr. Stepalavich stated that
2 time is of the essence for the building department being that the structure is unsafe.
3 Mr. Stepalavich stated that the building department will work with the applicants to
4 attain the permit and highly recommended the applicant apply for the permit now
5 because it is an extensive process. With no further discussion, the motion passed.
6
7
8 B. Structure Demolition Request- 5021 Christensen Road (SL01276):
9 Accessory Structure to Raised Single-family Residence c1950
10
11 Mr. Benton presented the background of the home before the commission and
12 stated that the principal structure on this property has been demolished and an
13 accessory structure remains. The structure does not display any historical value to
14 our community, culture or heritage and is deemed unsafe. Staff recommends that
15 the demolition be released for this structure. Mr. Benton believes that there are no
16 materials on site that would warrant a recommendation of salvage activity or
17 retention.
18
19 Ms. Starke made the motion to approve the structure demolition request for
20 the property at 5021 Christensen Road (SL01276). Mr. Middlebrook seconded
21 the motion. With no further discussion, the motion passed.
22
23
24 C. Structure Demolition Request- 1408 Angle Road (SL01520): Single-family
25 Residence c1945
26
27 Mr. Benton presented the background of the home before the commission
28 Mr. Benton stated that the applicant hired a design professional to estimate costs for
29 reconstruction of the property. The applicant determined that the cost estimates to
30 fix the structure exceeded original cost to replace the structure. After meeting with
31 the applicant Mr. Benton was informed that, the applicant had plans to replace
32 structure with a mobile or modular home.
33
34 Mr. Benton requested photographs or write-ups from contractors, design
35 professionals to engage in their review of the structure and costs to rehabilitate the
36 structure. In review of the structure, Mr. Benton noted that it does have architectural
37 integrity from the 1940s date of construction as well a non-original elements that
38 staff has not viewed due to lack of access. Staff’s recommendation would be to
39 consider release of demolition permit request or request additional information from
40 applicant inclusive of pictures and cost estimates for the option of rehabilitating the
41 structure and proposed re-use of structure.
42
43 Mr. Menard stated that he is the design professional that inspected this property and
44 stated that is unsafe by any means. Mr. Menard stated that the applicant that tried to
45 do unsuccessful quick fixes. Mr. Menard explained to the applicant that repairs
EDC5E0225D.DOCX Page 5 of 5
1 would be costly on the structure and would exceed the costs originally paid for the
2 property. Mr. Menard suggested the applicant explore additional structures and uses
3 for the property such as modular or mobile homes and structures. Mr. Menard stated
4 that he could handle any additional questions from the commission due to his
5 familiarity with the structure.
6
7 Ms. Starke asked for clarification of the damage to the home. Mr. Menard responded
8 that essentially there is no floor. All of the joists are rotted out, and there are no wall
9 sidings to cover the asbestos. Mr. Benton stated that the applicant has the option of
10 a mobile or modular home would meet building code standards and have a
11 traditional construction type and could assimilate and potentially enhance the
12 neighborhood.
13
14 Vice Chair Trewyn moved that the commission release the demolition request for
15 property located at 1408 Angle Road (SL01520) with the encouragement to the
16 property owner to redevelop this site with at minimum a manufactured home or
17 traditional construction home as architectural elements consistent with structures of
18 this time-period, or would assimilate with the neighborhood. Mr. Menard personally
19 inspected this property. Mr. Menard seconded the motion. With no further
20 discussion, the motion passed.
21
22
23 1.Member Matters
24
25 A. Next meeting date July 16, 2019
26
27 2.Discussion
28 A. Change of meeting time from 4:00pm to 3:30pm
29
30 Mr. Benton commented that in reflection of the meeting’s efficiency in pushing through
31 all meeting items within allotted time frame, it may be feasible to keep meeting time. 32 Mr. Menard stated that he would not be able to make that time. The meeting date is
33 maintained.
34
35 Mr. Benton asked for input from Commission’s members in regards to letter being sent
36 to Board of County Commissioners reflecting support of the City of Port Saint Lucie.
37 Vice Chair Trewyn made a motion that the Commission defer to the edits that Chair
38 McAfoos and Mr. Benton decide on behalf of the commission when presenting letter
39 of support to the Board of County Commissioners.
40
41 3.Adjournment
42
43 Vice Chair McAfoos called to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned unanimously
44 at 4:59pm.
45
46