HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-2023 Fairhope Historic Preservation Committee MinutesFairhope Historic Preservation Committee
Monthly Meeting Notes,Tuesday,December 13,2023
Attendance:Chris Williams,Skip Jones,Gary Gover,Amy Molyneux,Cynthia Rush,Elizabeth
Williams;Absent:Mara Kozelsky
Agenda:
1)Proposed Ordinance
2)Approval of Meeting Minutes from 11/2/2023
Gary Gover called the meeting to order 9:35am.
Notes:
1.Skip Jones moved to approve meeting minutes from 11/2/2023.Elizabeth Williams and
Cynthia Rush seconded the motion.None opposed.
2.Proposed Ordinance –Skip Jones moved to approved.Cynthia Rush seconded.
Elizabeth Williams opposed.
a.Discussion about the number of Commission Members in Section II B1.CLG says
that at least 3 Commission members should be in the historic preservation field
and our proposed ordinance says 7.Chris Williams states that he was trying to
comply with statutory provisions and that the key word in that sentence is
training,not necessarily that a member would have to have a degree in historic
preservation.Statute allows for a liberal interpretation.Question about bona
fide residence sentence.Chris Williams’explanation was that if you live in a
district,you don’t have to have training.If you don’t live in designated district,a
committee member would have to have experience or training.Chris Williams
will add an amendment to the sentence “members may also be residents
regardless of training or experience.”
b.Question why we changed Section III regarding demolition review and
moratorium,specifically,why did we remove this from the proposed ordinance?
Chris Williams stated that the City of Fairhope has no legal authority to enforce
this.It is his legal opinion that we should first create the Commission and add in
a demolition provision later when creating the districts.He would not
recommend this provision to the City Council.Elizabeth Williams stated she
would do some research regarding demolition clauses in other cities and will
forward to Chris Williams before the January meeting.Chris Williams states that
he will also reach out to the State Commission and if they send something to
support demolition review,he may reconsider his legal opinion.
c.Elizabeth Williams also had questions regarding Section IV regarding public
nuisance.She just wanted a clear explanation of the meaning.No further issues.
d.Finally,Chris Williams is amending the last sentence in Section V.1:Maintenance
of Historic Properties and Properties in Historic Districts to read “It shall be a
violation of this ordinance for an owner to fail to maintain any structure or fail to
prevent any illegal act or conduct with respect to such Historic property or
historic district.”
Chris Williams will send ordinance showing redline changes as of 12/13/2023 to present at City
Council Meeting in January 2024.
Motion was made to approve ordinance as drafted with exception of two amendments by Gary
Gover.Seconded by Elizabeth Williams and Amy Molyneux.
Move to adjourn at 10:30am by Skip Jones and seconded by Cynthia Rush.