VENICE — The land-development regulations adopted two years ago limit the Historic and Architectural Preservation Board’s jurisdiction over changes to historic structures. One board member thinks that should change.
Vice Chair Jon Barrick offered some potential amendments to the LDR for discussion Thursday, including requiring HAPB review of “alterations, relocations, demolitions and new construction or other activities that may affect locally designated properties” on the city’s register of historic resources.
Currently, the board only has authority to review single-family properties in the Historic District that date to the John Nolen era, defined as 1926-29. Everything else is in the purview of the city’s historic resources manager.
Other properties can come before HAPB, but only if the property owner is seeking the tax exemption the city has for historic preservation. But then the board’s task is only to ensure that the work proposed was carried out, not whether it meets the relevant standards, Historic Resources Manager Harry Klinkhamer said.
Since the board represents the residents of the city, Barrick said, it would be better to have it review all changes to historic properties, a lot of which have less protection because, while they’re architecturally significant, they’re not from the Nolen era.
“As an architect, I have an interest in seeing other historic properties,” he said.
But Board Chair Mark Beebe, who’s also an architect, said he was concerned Barrick’s proposed changes might inflate HAPB’s workload.
The board members would need to get up to speed on the Secretary of the Interior’s standards, which the city follows, and would likely need to spend more time reviewing proposals regarding historic structures, especially if the city’s effort to add properties to the register pays off.
It takes a lot of money to satisfy the standards, Board Member Jon Steketee said.
Because any changes the board wants have to go through the Planning Commission, which voted to limit HAPB’s role in the first place out of concern over property owners’ rights, Assistant City Attorney Daniel Lewis suggested having a joint meeting with the Commission to see whether it would be receptive to some tweaks.
After more discussion, the board asked Planning and Zoning Director Roger Clark to coordinate a joint meeting. He said it likely would take place in late September or October.
Other businessAlso on Thursday HAPB:
Accepted a revised report on historic structures in the city’s Gulf View Section, which extends several blocks north and south of West Venice Avenue. The board had asked that it include the Nolen Greens parks.Approved a revised Legacy Award Program, to recognize people and groups that have made a significant contribution to the city’s history. It calls for soliciting nominations from the public; an initial review by staff; ranking by board members; and a final decision by the board, with up to two awards presented in May, either by HAPB or the Council.Voted to reimburse the $595 cost of a marker for the Venice Municipal Mobile Home Clubhouse, the most recent addition to the historic register, from interest in the city’s Centennial Fund.
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