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• MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING of the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Monthly Meeting (postponed from 1/20/96) County Commissioner's 7:30 p.m. Conference Room Monday February 3, 199 -el 7th Floor County -City Building I. Call to Order John Oxian, president of the commission, brought the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. II. Roll Call Commission members present were: John Borkowski, Richard Bullene, Adrian Fine, John Oxian, J. Edward Talley, & Jerry Wiener. ` Commission staff present were: David Duvall, director and Aladean DeRose, counsel. Also attending the meeting were: Thomas Botkin, Mike Bramlett, Marie E. Davis, Richard Davis, Julia DesLauriers, Kenneth Fedder, Rick Keller, Anne Kempf, Dana Kopkowski, Becki Moffett -Moore, Jan Moffett, Robert Rowland, Dustin New, Stephen Sharper, Joe Shefer, Mary K. Sherman,J. C. Sporleder, Leighton Stump, Terry Stump, Bruce Von Deylan, Kevin Williams, and Ralph Williams. III. Public Hearing • A. Second Reading - Local Landmark designation 1) 52939 U.S. 33 N. - Blake Gardens Mr. Duvall Presented the Staff Report. Because of the large public attendance, Mr. Oxian then established rules for presentation, instructing those speaking to the issue to identify themselves and calling for the owner of the property to speak first. Mr. Fedder, attorney, spoke for the owner, Ralph Williams and Associates. He indicated that the owner was opposed to the designation of the site as an Local Landmark. Referring to the Historic Preservation Plan adopted by the City, he expressed concern about the accuracy of the public notification which had identified the site by street address. He noted that this description identified acreage up to 8 acres and that the limits of the area proposed as a Landmark had yet to be defined. Fie then proceeded to indicate that the remaining integrity of the Gardens was not in his opinion sufficient to merit Landmark designation. He noted a 1989 newspaper article describing the deterioration at that time. He indicated that when his clients purchased the property approximately 6 months previously that there had been no record or indication which might have informed them of any pending historical designation. According to his discussion with a previous manager of the former motel, Mr. Fedder indicated that few occupants of the motel had taken interest in the Gardens. Ile further indicated that the insurance company had expressed concerns for liability resulting from conditions at the gardens. According to his own judgment the site would not meet the criteria for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. The Indiana Department of Natural. • Resources had provided him a list of sites on the State and National Registers of Historic Places (circa 1985) and this site was listed on neither. Referring to the Staff report, Mr. Fedder stated that in his opinion Ludwig Blake was not a historical person, the site is unsuitable for preservation. Mr. Fedder indicated that permits were in process for the filling of the ponds