December 18, 1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 12059 Minutes December 180 1978 Page 6 Councilman Metcalfe asked why controls were necessary on abutting property, and Mr. Weinberg answered that abutting land or buildings often have real visual and spatial impact upon historic features or districts. Mrs. Metcalfe asked for examples of neighborhoods or other areas which might qualify as an historic district, and Mr. Weinberg said City Hall. Mr. Lindenbusch added University Heights #1, the part of Parkview within University City and possi- bly University Hills. In response to a question from Councilman Metcalfe, Mr. Weinberg replied that the City Council would only be involved in questions of demolition. The Council would, however, approve each designation of an historic district under its normal powers of reviewing proposed zoning changes. The Board of Adjustment would be the body involved in any appeal process for building permit contro- versies. Councilman Adams asked if the provisions in this ordinance applied only to exterior work, and was told by Mr. Weinberg that it did. In response to another question, it was ascertained that the word "abutting" applied only to the lot actually abutting the historic district. Councilman Sabol commented for the record that Miss Lsnahan had asked him to do whatever he could to see that University Heights #1 was placed on the City register of historical places, and that University Heights Association and University Heights Garden Club were supporting this effort. Councilman Metcalfe asked Al Goldman, Director of Planning, for his assessment of the added administrative burden this bill will engender, and he replied that there certainly would be some, but at this point could not say until a set of application rules were developed by the commission and the standards for review set. Councilman Lieberman asked Mr. Goldman how he felt about the so-called Commis- sion of experts, and he said he felt very comfortable with this concept. Councilman Adams asked Mr. Goldman if he thought there would be an increase in the cost of building permits in this area, and he replied that he felt that all building permits should pay their own way in terms of administrative costs and he would ask the Council to approve a rate schedule so the City could be fairly compensated for the administrative cost. Councilman Metcalfe asked about the flexibility in the ordinance, as in the example of relocating an historic house or building, and Mr. Goldman felt there was a great deal of flexibility. Councilman Glickert asked Mr. Goldman how this ordinance would have affected the renovation of the house at Delmar and Big Bend, Mr. Goldman said that if he had been drafting standards for the committee, he would have drafted them so that the building would look more nearly like it did originally, although he does feel that the way the building looks now is not disruptive of the general character of the neighborhood. What the bill would actually do depends on whether the building is designated as an historic feature or if it is part of an historic district - the standards drawn would be different for each.