MINUTES
| HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION WEDNESDAY MAY 21, 2025 |
COUNCIL CHAMBERS 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE 4:00 P.M. |
1.
Call to Order
- Chair Dale called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
NOTICE OF OPTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the Heritage Preservation Commission and to the general public that, at this regular meeting, the Heritage Preservation Commission may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
2.
Roll Call
| NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means. |
| PRESENT: EMILY DALE, CHAIR ALYCIA HAYES, VICE CHAIR ABBEY BUCKHAM JESSE DOMINGUEZ AMY HORN DUFFIE WESTHEIMER |
EXCUSED: BERNADETTE BURCHAM |
3.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Heritage Preservation Commission humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area’s Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.
- Commissioner Dominguez read the land acknowledgment.
The Heritage Preservation Commission humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area’s Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.
4.
Public Comment
- None
5.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of minutes from the regular meeting on Wednesday April 16, 2025. Agenda - View Meetings (0113172200)
Approval of minutes from the regular meeting on Wednesday April 16, 2025. Agenda - View Meetings (0113172200)
Moved by Alycia Hayes, seconded by Jesse Dominguez to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, with the correction that the date 'March 19, 2025' be changed to 'April 16, 2025.' Commissioner Duffie Westheimer abstained from voting.
Vote: 5 - 0
6.
PUBLIC HEARING
A.
418 E. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study
REQUESTED ACTION:
Approval of the 418 E. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve the significance findings as outlined in the 418 E. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study and accept a revised study identifying the second-story addition as a major impact and proposing restoration of the clapboard siding as mitigation for the impact.
This property is not located within a historic district or historic overlay zone and has not been previously studied.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
Address: 418 E. Birch Ave.
Assessor's Parcel Number: 101-16-001
Property Owner: Kevin Peterson
Applicant: Lynn Neal, Historic Preservation Consultant
City Staff: Lauren Clementino, HPO
Assessor's Parcel Number: 101-16-001
Property Owner: Kevin Peterson
Applicant: Lynn Neal, Historic Preservation Consultant
City Staff: Lauren Clementino, HPO
REQUESTED ACTION:
Approval of the 418 E. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve the significance findings as outlined in the 418 E. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study and accept a revised study identifying the second-story addition as a major impact and proposing restoration of the clapboard siding as mitigation for the impact.
This property is not located within a historic district or historic overlay zone and has not been previously studied.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
- Approve the study and findings without revisions.
- Request additional modifications to the document or proposed mitigation measures and include them as conditions of approval.
- Continue the HPC review to a date certain and ask the applicant to come back with a modified proposal that meets those conditions.
- Lauren Clementino, Senior Planner-HPO, presented and answered commissioners' questions.
- Lynn Neal, Historic Preservation Consultant, provided comments and answered commissioner's questions.
- Kevin Peterson, Property Owner, provided comments and answered commissioner's questions.
- Sara Dechter, Comprehensive & Neighborhood Planning Manager, provided additional information.
Moved by Duffie Westheimer, seconded by Jesse Dominguez to approve the significance findings as outlined in the 418 E. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study with the conditions of changes of using one and a half stories as opposed to two stories and identifying the source of the word Townsite for clarity. The HPO can approve administratively those changes made to the cultural resource study, that it is a major impact to do the addition and proposing restoration of clapboard siding as a mitigation for the impact.
Vote: 6 - 0
B.
19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study
REQUESTED ACTION:
Approval of the 19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approval of the 19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study. Cornerstone Environmental Consulting, LLC, was contracted by Capri Flagstaff LCC to conduct a Phase I Cultural Resource Study. This building has not been previously studied. It is located within the Downtown Historic Overlay Zone, but outside of the Railroad Addition Historic District. The owner proposes to demolish the existing building and associated infrastructure on the parcel to construct a hotel. At this time, no development application for the hotel has been submitted. The new hotel proposal will be subject to a Certificate of Appropriateness and scheduled for public hearings with the Heritage Preservation Commission during the development review process.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
Address: 19 W. Birch Ave.
Assessor's Parcel Number: 100-19-004-A
Property Owner: Capri Flagstaff LLC
Applicant: Jim O'Connell
City Staff: Lauren Clementino HPO
Assessor's Parcel Number: 100-19-004-A
Property Owner: Capri Flagstaff LLC
Applicant: Jim O'Connell
City Staff: Lauren Clementino HPO
REQUESTED ACTION:
Approval of the 19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approval of the 19 W. Birch Ave. Phase I Cultural Resource Study. Cornerstone Environmental Consulting, LLC, was contracted by Capri Flagstaff LCC to conduct a Phase I Cultural Resource Study. This building has not been previously studied. It is located within the Downtown Historic Overlay Zone, but outside of the Railroad Addition Historic District. The owner proposes to demolish the existing building and associated infrastructure on the parcel to construct a hotel. At this time, no development application for the hotel has been submitted. The new hotel proposal will be subject to a Certificate of Appropriateness and scheduled for public hearings with the Heritage Preservation Commission during the development review process.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
- The Commission could request modifications to the document and include them as conditions of approval.
- Continue the HPC review to a date certain and ask the applicant to come back with a modified proposal that meets those conditions.
- Lauren Clementino introduced the speakers: Samuel Hemsley, M.A., Archaeologist, and Jack Treichler, M.A., RPA, Archaeologist with Cornerstone Environmental Consulting, LLC. Before turning the presentation over to the speakers, she invited questions from the commission. A few questions were asked, and Lauren Clementino provided answers.
- Samuel Hemsley and Jack Treichler gave a PowerPoint presentation. Following the presentation a discussion was held, and the commissioners’ questions were addressed.
Moved by Emily Dale, seconded by Duffie Westheimer to not accept the report and ask for revisions with a further re-evaluation of Flagstaff Criteria B and D and do further research into courts or the role of the courts in the building, social movements, construction methods and processes, and the post-WWII boom in Flagstaff, through documents such as oral histories, historic photos, architectural and City records and NAU newspapers, and to reduce the focus on interior integrity in their assessment.
Vote: 6 - 0
7.
GENERAL BUSINESS
A.
Historic Signs and Facades Grant Tracking - May 2025 Update
Discussion only.
Discussion only.
- Lauren Clementino gave an update and answered commissioners' question.
- Sara Dechter gave additional information and comments.
B.
Historic Signs and Facades Grant Requirements
Discussion only.
Discussion only.
- Lauren Clementino gave updates and answered commissioners' questions.
- Sara Dechter gave additional information, comments and answered commissioners' questions.
8.
REPORTS
A.
APPROVALS
1.
500 N. Beaver St. Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Permit Number(s): PZ-25-00093
Address: 500 N. Beaver St.
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 04/21/2025
Address: 500 N. Beaver St.
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 04/21/2025
- Lauren Clementino gave a detailed update.
2.
23 E. Fine Ave. Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Permit Number(s): PZ-25-00090
Address: 23 E. Fine Ave.
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 04/21/2025
Address: 23 E. Fine Ave.
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 04/21/2025
- Lauren Clementino gave a detailed update.
- Vice Chair Hayes commented.
3.
17 N. Leroux St. Certificate of No Effect
Permit Number(s): PZ-25-00094
Address: 17 N. Leroux St.
Type of Approval: Certificate of No Effect
Approval Date: 4/23/2025
Address: 17 N. Leroux St.
Type of Approval: Certificate of No Effect
Approval Date: 4/23/2025
- Lauren Clementino gave a detailed update.
4.
Fourth Street South Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Permit Number(s): PZ-22-00210-04
Address: Vacant land south of the southern extent of S. Fourth Street and north of E. Forestdale Road (APN 106-08-003F and 106-08-043)
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 05/05/2025
Address: Vacant land south of the southern extent of S. Fourth Street and north of E. Forestdale Road (APN 106-08-003F and 106-08-043)
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 05/05/2025
- Lauren Clementino gave a detailed update.
5.
21 E. Aspen Ave. Certificate of No Effect
Permit Number(s): PZ-25-00099
Address: 21 E. Aspen Ave.
Type of Approval: Certificate of No Effect
Approval Date: 5/9/2025
Address: 21 E. Aspen Ave.
Type of Approval: Certificate of No Effect
Approval Date: 5/9/2025
- Lauren Clementino gave a detailed update.
6.
4601 S. Lake Mary Rd. Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Permit Number(s): PZ-23-00164-04
Address: 4601 S. Lake Mary Rd.
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 5/12/2025
Address: 4601 S. Lake Mary Rd.
Type of Approval: Letter Report Cultural Resource Study
Approval Date: 5/12/2025
- Lauren Clementino gave a detailed update.
7.
615 W. Cherry Ave. Certificate of No Effect
Permit Number(s): BP-25-01059, PZ-25-00066
Address: 615 W. Cherry Ave.
Type of Approval: Certificate of No Effect
Approval Date: 5/12/2025
Address: 615 W. Cherry Ave.
Type of Approval: Certificate of No Effect
Approval Date: 5/12/2025
- Lauren Clementino gave a detailed update.
B.
CONSULTATIONS
- Federal Railroad Adimistration sent section 106 consultation on reports for the Downtown Mile project, to SHPO and the tribes. Documents to be added to the June agenda.
9.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS
- Lauren Clementino provided an update on the relocation of the May Hicks Curtis House. She noted that drone footage and other videos documenting the move are available on the city's website at flagstaff.az.gov/hickshouse.
- Lauren Clementino asked if there was any input or feedback on the 2025 HP Conference. Commissioner Dale and Commissioner Hayes provided feedback. They both had attended.
- Details for the Youth Summit have not yet been confirmed. However, there has been discussion about holding the event in Flagstaff on June 4, 2025, at Riordan Mansion, with lunch provided. Please note that these details are still tentative. Once the information is confirmed, all participants will be notified.
- Sara Dechter announced that the Historic Preservation Month Proclamation was presented by the Mayor on May 20, 2025. She also noted that Public Works staff were in attendance, and that Lauren Clementino expressed her appreciation to them for their support and assistance with the May Hicks Curtis House relocation project.
- Commissioner Westheimer raised two points for for future discussion: 1. Whether local speakers could be invited to attend meetings in person rather than presenting online, in order to ensure that presentations are clearer and easier to understand. 2. A request to discuss the topic of adaptive reuse, noting that while it is good for preservation, there is concern about instances where a project may return to the commission with a finding that a building has lost its historic integrity because of adaptive reuse and how we address this in the future.
- Chair Dale announced that she will be absent during the month of June due to her participation in an archeology field school. She noted that public tours of the site will be offered again, and invited anyone interested to attend on June 7, 2025, or June 17, 2025, to view some of the camps. She also stated that she will be out in July, and that Vice Chair Hayes will be serving as Chair in her absence.
10.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
| SIGNATURE LINE
__________________________________________ CHAIRPERSON |
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