Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission Chair: Mac Rawls Vice Chair: Bernice Pope, Secretary: Gerald Cox, Treasurer: Bill Gambrell Members: Dr. Glenn Carwell, Gary Fentress, Harriet Frenzel, Edna Hendrix, Diane Horsley, Marianne Littel Lee Lockamy, Patrick McAtamney, Henry Pearson, Anne Ferrell Tata March 7, 2012 Meeting Agenda Introductions/Comments Mac Rawls Review of Minutes Mark Reed Guest Presentation: Update of Proposed Development of Old Kempsville High School - Jack Pope Items for Discussion New administrative policy regarding Historic Preservation Commission Items for City Council Presentation Change of meeting start time from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (??) Meetings of commission chairman with individual committee chairs Would we like a tour of the Military Aviation Museum? Committee Reports Other Business/Announcements NEXT MEETING - April 4 at 6:00 pm at the Lynnhaven House
Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 07, 2012 Present: Chairman Mac Rawls, Secretary Jerry Cox, Glenn Carwell, Harriett Frenzel, Henry Pearson, Patrick McAtamney Council: Rosemary Wilson Staff: Mark Reed, Robert Davis The meeting was called to order at 6:09 p.m. Mac Rawls apologized for the lack of notice; he made a mistake on addressing the e-mail. The minutes of the February 1, 2012 Commission meeting were accepted as presented. Mr. Rawls noted that he was glad John Baillo of the Historical Society and Historical Review Board met with the Commission at the last meeting. Mac said he is hoping to form more of a coalition with those groups. New Administration Policy Mr. Rawls, Rosemary Wilson and Glenn Davis met with City Manager Jim Spore to discuss the lack of involvement of the Commission in some of the historic issues. The meeting went well and seemed easier than expected. Any recommendation that a city committee, etc. makes in the future will go before the commission prior to going to Council. The commission could approve or could tack on amendments. Mr. Rawls noted that this gives the commission a guarantee that we will be able to advise Council. It also gives us a better idea of where we fit. Mac said the Buffington recommendation was moving forward at the same time as the meeting, so nothing could be done about that issue. Mrs. Wilson said the commission should keep in mind this commission is relatively new and the city is also figuring out how to work with the group. Mac introduced Jack Pope who had last met with group in May. Mr. Pope said he is now in the 10 th or 20 th iteration of the plan he has been working on for developing the southwest quadrant in Kempsville. He has had the opportunity to listen to some reasonable people and they have had some good ideas. He has taken his plan to the Chesapeake Bay board and it passed unanimously. Mr. Pope said he is going to the Planning Commission on March 14 and to City Council on April 10. Jack showed the original Plan A for Kempes Village. It included: - 246 units proposed - School gymnasium and connector-72 units-work force housing. - 456 parking spaces - 2.5 acres green space an enhanced canal system. - It complies with Historic Kempsville Plan.
- Nature walk- history walk and series of monuments. Jack showed Plan E- Kempes Village, which is the revised plan. It proposes to include: - Zero units of work force housing. - 200-250 ft. distance between top of river bank/canal and buildings. - only 32 square footage 1 building in RPA- - 5.1 acres of open space 50 acre site. - 180 units, which equals 1200 trips per day vs. nearly 2,000 previously planned. - Worked with Fairfield to try to lessen traffic on Lord Dunmore-City may approve access off of Kempsville Road. - Mixed use-small amount of office space in school or cottages. - 328 parking spaces. Mrs. Wilson noted that Jack has worked tirelessly on this. Mr. Rawls said Jack has done a great job and has been able to keep bringing facts to the table and shrugging off the negative attitudes. Mr. Pope said he was invited to two citizens meetings. The citizens said it was a little more than they wanted. They want to reduce the number of units to 150. Mr. Pope noted that those numbers won t work. Jerry Cox asked if Mr. Pope was just proposing to develop one parcel. Mr. Pope responded that was correct, the southwest quadrant. Mr. Cox asked who is involved in the northwest quadrant. Mr. Pope said it was Nusbaum/Walgreens, who completed against his proposal on the southwest quadrant. Henry Pearson asked if the new construction would stay within historic guidelines. Mr. Pope said they would. He noted these are Colonial Revivals and they need to fit material seen in Pleasant Hall and Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Mrs. Wilson said there has been some discussion of a historical overlay district for the area. Mr. Rawls said Robert Davis had talked to Clay Bernick and he had talked to Clay, as well. Clay is supportive. Mr. Pope said he was hoping to have some kind of historical repository in the old high school; something that would include artifacts and photos. He also noted maybe having artwork on the corner outside. Mr. Rawls asked if there was funding for that type of thing. Mr. Pope said that may have to evolve as we move forward. He showed some elevation drawings. And said the spaces would include a leasing office, exercise facility, coffee spot and 11 apartments upstairs in the old school.
Because there was no quorum for the commission there was no motion considered to approve the plan. Mr. Rawls said he would write a letter of support and ask the commission to approve via e-mail. Mark Reed asked about development ownership monitoring excavations for artifacts. Mr. Rawls asked about changing the monthly meeting time to 7:00 p.m. Most people wanted 6:00 p.m. so the meeting time will stay as before. Mr. Rawls said he would be contacting the chairs of committees to meet with them. Mr. Rawls reported for Anne Ferrell Tata. He said he met with Anne Ferrell and Marjorie Smallie, (Jennifer Estes also on committee) on the local historical register. He said it looks like we will be calling on Commission members to recruit people to apply. Mr. Rawls said he received an interesting call from someone who wanted to buy Old Comfort (Jim Vermillion s house). It is not on the state register but could be. The person who contacted him was really interested in what register would require and would not require. Mr. Vermillion had thought register status would be a deterrent. The caller is not thinking of subdividing. Mr. Rawls noted that the commission is planning to do a Council presentation in the next two months. He said they came up with a good list of ideas in the executive committee. Mac asked if the group would like to tour the Military Aviation Museum. Patrick McAtamney said it is pretty cool. Some members had been there numerous times. Mr Rawls suggested that we could hold the historic house network meeting there. Harriet Frenzel noted that it is scheduled at the Lynnhaven House in May. Mr. Rawls said we could keep it in mind for the future. Glen Carwell reported for the Historic Houses Network Committee. He said the Historic House Network Committee wanted to talk about donations for Garden Clubs at their last meeting but the Garden Club ladies did not show up. The network meeting will be at Lynnhaven House on May 3. He said Mark Reed is to get the speaker. He also noted that the December 8, 2012 Holiday Historic Homes Tour would be in the Courthouse area. He said we have the Bell House and maybe Kellam House. We have not heard from Nimmo Church or Browns Tavern. Harriet Frenzel said she will take care of getting docents for tours on May 3, open 6-7. Mr. McAtamney asked what is happening with Munden store. Robert Davis said it has not come up to the Planning Commission, yet. It is being held up by some neighborhood concerns. Mr. Davis noted that Gerri West is the architect. Glenn Carwell said he had contacted the owner and said that the Commission could help with getting the building on the register. He has not heard anything back. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Mark A. Reed Staff Liaison