Sep 14, 2009 Historic Preservation Commission

CALL TO ORDER AT OR AFTER 5:00 P.M.

Chairman Zwiener called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Roll Call: 7 members present, 0 members absent, 0 members excused.

CALL TO THE AUDIENCE

Opened and closed without comment.

1. Review and/or approval of the August 10, 2009, HPC minutes.

Motion to to approve the August 10, 2009, HPC minutes. Moved by Sam McClung, Commissioner, seconded by Pat Spoerl, Commissioner.

Vote to to approve the August 10, 2009, HPC minutes. (Approved)

Motion to to approve the August 10, 2009, HPC minutes. Moved by Sam McClung, Commissioner, seconded by Pat Spoerl, Commissioner.

Vote to to approve the August 10, 2009, HPC minutes. (Approved)

2. Presentation from Dr. William Collins, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), on Historic Resources in Cultural Resource Inventories.

Dr. William Collins of SHPO, updated the HPC on th status of Steam Pump Ranch and the National Registry nomination. Dr. Collins spoke about cultural resources inventory and asked what type of information the HPC was looking for.

Paul Popelka, OV Acting Planning and Zoning Director, explained the Town has a contract with William Self and Associates (WSA). WSA is in the process of a complete compilation of historic resources.

Dr. Collins explained that grants from the government will not be available until at least 2010. There is still Federal money available.

Commissioner McClung asked how other cities have taken the data compiled and how they communicate to owners of historic properties

Dr. Collins responded the Town needs to look for the neighborhoods that support historic preservation, identify sensitive areas and lay out priorities. The most important incentive is the state tax program.

3. Discussion and possible action regarding Steam Pump Ranch.

A. Site tour with Dr. William Collins

Commissioner Spoerl asked for Dr. Collins’ opinion on the pump house. Dr. Collins commented
- Try to preserve what is authentic
- Steam Pump should be preserved as a ruin
- Preserve the adobe melt on the ground
- Reconstruction would be a waste of money
- Reconstruction would be a fake you cant recreate what was
- The interpretation is important; what are you going to use this for

Chairman Zwiener asked if Dr. Collins opinion would differ for restoration. Dr. Collins said restoration is valuable and useful but differs from rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is when you adapt a building to make is usable for today, not trying to take it back to what it was. Restoration is the most expensive thing you can do and the most expensive to maintain, short of reconstruction.
Dr. Collins continued and commented on the following:
- No reason not to move forward with exploratory removal of non historic elements
- Don’t go to far without knowing what your goal is; Rehab or restoration
- Use Jim or Bob from our (SHPO) office for guidance in the details of rehabilitation or restoration; we want to be kept informed
- Not necessarily true that you must save the last bit of wall at the Pump House
- Pump House is past restoration; it will be a reconstruction

Chairman Zwiener asked for possible alternatives and possible action for Carlos’ house. Scott Nelson explained the Town Manager has given the Building Safety Division authorization to work at the site.

Motion to to move Carlos’ house to number one priority issue for manual labor between now and November at Steam Pump Ranch, subject to conditions of technical support. Moved by Bob Baughman, Commissioner, seconded by Lois Nagy, Vice-Chair.

Discussion followed:
- Poster Frost will be before the HPC in October and November to give updates
- Areas have been pointed out by Dr. Collins that can be removed
- The intent of the motion is to not short circuit any of the protective process and necessary monitoring

Vote to to move Carlos’ house to number one priority issue for manual labor between now and November at Steam Pump Ranch, subject to conditions of technical support. (Approved)

Commissioner Spoerl asked for Dr. Collins’ opinion on the pump house. Dr. Collins commented
- Try to preserve what is authentic
- Steam Pump should be preserved as a ruin
- Preserve the adobe melt on the ground
- Reconstruction would be a waste of money
- Reconstruction would be a fake you cant recreate what was
- The interpretation is important; what are you going to use this for

Chairman Zwiener asked if Dr. Collins opinion would differ for restoration. Dr. Collins said restoration is valuable and useful but differs from rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is when you adapt a building to make is usable for today, not trying to take it back to what it was. Restoration is the most expensive thing you can do and the most expensive to maintain, short of reconstruction.
Dr. Collins continued and commented on the following:
- No reason not to move forward with exploratory removal of non historic elements
- Don’t go to far without knowing what your goal is; Rehab or restoration
- Use Jim or Bob from our (SHPO) office for guidance in the details of rehabilitation or restoration; we want to be kept informed
- Not necessarily true that you must save the last bit of wall at the Pump House
- Pump House is past restoration; it will be a reconstruction

Chairman Zwiener asked for possible alternatives and possible action for Carlos’ house. Scott Nelson explained the Town Manager has given the Building Safety Division authorization to work at the site.

Motion to to move Carlos’ house to number one priority issue for manual labor between now and November at Steam Pump Ranch, subject to conditions of technical support. Moved by Bob Baughman, Commissioner, seconded by Lois Nagy, Vice-Chair.

Discussion followed:
- Poster Frost will be before the HPC in October and November to give updates
- Areas have been pointed out by Dr. Collins that can be removed
- The intent of the motion is to not short circuit any of the protective process and necessary monitoring

Vote to to move Carlos’ house to number one priority issue for manual labor between now and November at Steam Pump Ranch, subject to conditions of technical support. (Approved)

Discussion followed:
- Poster Frost will be before the HPC in October and November to give updates
- Areas have been pointed out by Dr. Collins that can be removed
- The intent of the motion is to not short circuit any of the protective process and necessary monitoring

Vote to to move Carlos’ house to number one priority issue for manual labor between now and November at Steam Pump Ranch, subject to conditions of technical support. (Approved)

Commissioner Spoerl asked for Dr. Collins’ opinion on the pump house. Dr. Collins commented
- Try to preserve what is authentic
- Steam Pump should be preserved as a ruin
- Preserve the adobe melt on the ground
- Reconstruction would be a waste of money
- Reconstruction would be a fake you cant recreate what was
- The interpretation is important; what are you going to use this for

Chairman Zwiener asked if Dr. Collins opinion would differ for restoration. Dr. Collins said restoration is valuable and useful but differs from rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is when you adapt a building to make is usable for today, not trying to take it back to what it was. Restoration is the most expensive thing you can do and the most expensive to maintain, short of reconstruction.
Dr. Collins continued and commented on the following:
- No reason not to move forward with exploratory removal of non historic elements
- Don’t go to far without knowing what your goal is; Rehab or restoration
- Use Jim or Bob from our (SHPO) office for guidance in the details of rehabilitation or restoration; we want to be kept informed
- Not necessarily true that you must save the last bit of wall at the Pump House
- Pump House is past restoration; it will be a reconstruction

Chairman Zwiener asked for possible alternatives and possible action for Carlos’ house. Scott Nelson explained the Town Manager has given the Building Safety Division authorization to work at the site.

Motion to to move Carlos’ house to number one priority issue for manual labor between now and November at Steam Pump Ranch, subject to conditions of technical support. Moved by Bob Baughman, Commissioner, seconded by Lois Nagy, Vice-Chair.

Discussion followed:
- Poster Frost will be before the HPC in October and November to give updates
- Areas have been pointed out by Dr. Collins that can be removed
- The intent of the motion is to not short circuit any of the protective process and necessary monitoring

Vote to to move Carlos’ house to number one priority issue for manual labor between now and November at Steam Pump Ranch, subject to conditions of technical support. (Approved)