February 1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Common Council at their 1/8/96 meeting. The ordinance establishiiig the streetlight at Napoleon & Stanfield Streets was passed by the Common Council on 12/18/95. This presentation was the cause of his absence at the December meeting of the HPC. B) Leeper Park Proposal Mr. Oxian requested a report on the status of devlopments regarding the Leeper Park Designation. Mr. Talley indicated that he had ordered historical photographs of the pari: and would be ready in the coming week to develop a chronology of the development of the park's features. Mr. Duvall indicated that he had corresponded with the Parks Department informing them that the proposal would not be considered on this agenda and that the Commission is gathering information on how other cities are dealing with the designation and protection of historic resources in their public parks. He stated that there had been some discussion of developing a third categorical landmark grouping to address parks and other landscapes and that the Landmarks Committee should probably meet to determine if this was the preferred direction and if so what those standards should state. Mr. Talley discussed the Chicago "template" method of standards and referenced National Register Bulletin #18 as model criteria. It was generally agreed that the best methodology would be to generate a general statement of Landmarks Standards for Parks and Landscape areas and to address exemptions on a case by case basis at the time of designation. Playground equipment may be generally exempted, provided that such is well defined. • C. 415 Parry Street - Mr. Duvall stated that he had received a call from Rebecca Shriner, the owner of this Local Landmark regarding her concern that Robert Henry, the owner of a nearby contracting firm had indicated an intention to rezone her property and several adjacent residential lots for light industrial use related to expansion of his business. Ms. Shriner is no longer residing in South Bend and is coming to town in the near future. During this visit, she hopes to discuss this issue with Mr. Henry and the HPC. Mr. Oxian indicated concern for determining the attitudes of other residential property owners on Parry Street. Mr. Talley raised a concern regarding the Leeper Park Landmark proposal that Robert Henry is on the Park Board and that conflict of interest might arise because of simultaneous consideration of these issues. Ms. DeRose indicated that he would have no conflict of interest as he has no financial interest in Leeper Park. Mr. Duvall further described the other rated but non -designated buildings on the street. Mr. Talley inquired as to whether the house could be moved. Mr. Oxian indicated that most houses on Parry Street are owner occupied as was the Landmarl: before the divorce of the owners. Mr. Schatz offered his appreciation for the concern of the commission for this area, his neighborhood, observing that the Henry Company had gradually been demolishing several structures and had angered many local residents during the development of his facilities. At this point Ms. DeRose indicated that if some action of the HPC regarding this issue preceded action of the Park Board on Leeper Park designation then a is conflict: of interest objection could be raised questioning his objectivity the HPC and its concerns. She phrased this as a "appearance of impropriety" issue. Mr. Oxian indicated that he did not believe that it was appropriate for the HPC to attend the meeting proposed between Ms. Shriner and Mr. Henry as the Landmark issue was seperate from the land -use issue presently being discussed.