04/12/2023 MinutesMINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSON MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
April 12, 2023
The HISTORIC PRESERVATIONN COMMISSION of the City of Paris met for a
regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at the City Council Chambers.
Present: Board Members: Matt Cole
Ryan Matthews
Glee Emmite
Laura Caffey
Linda Vandiver
Jessica Holtman -Alternate
Chris Dux
Jennifer Long
City Representatives: Cheri Bedford, Historic Preservation Officer
Andrew Mack, Director of Planning and Community
Development
Rob Vine, Assistant City Manager
Linda Knox, Council Liaison
Guests: Maryann Lester
Terry Wooten
Ellen Green
Before the meeting was called to order, Cheri Bedford, Historic Preservation Officer recognized
Linda Knox, who has been the Historic Preservation Commission Council Liaison for six years
and expressed her appreciation. Ms. Knox will be leaving the City Council in May.
Commissioner Dux pointed out that prior to her election to the City Council, Ms. Knox was a
Commissioner on the Historic Preservation Commission.
Call meeting to order:
Chris Dux, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
2. Citizens Forum: No one came forward to speak at the meeting.
3. Approve minutes from April 12, 2023 meeting. One correction was that Commissioner
Matthews was shown to have attended a meeting of the Fagade Grant Committee twice
on the same day. That will be corrected. The minutes were approved by acclamation.
4. Discussion and possible action on the following Certificate of Appropriateness on the
following address
a. 136 Grand Avenue — selective demo request for front fagade. Maryann Lester
came before the Commission. Commissioner Dux asked if this COA had been
presented previously. Ms. Lester noted it had. No changes. Commissioner
Matthews asked the door they were wanting to reveal was the one on the west
side of the building front and Ms. Lester said it was. Ms. Lester stated that she has
been looking at pictures of the building from previous years and noted there had
been a doorway there which she wants to expose and make functional again.
Commissioner Emmite asked if there had previously been issues with the power
lines and Ms. Lester stated that she understands Oncor needs to raise the electrical
lines. She is pursuing this permit first so that Oncor can be contacted and told
that permits are in place. Commissioner Matthews made a motion to approve the
COA, seconded by Commissioner Long. The motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Discussion and possible action on the following Certificate of Appropriateness on the
following address:
a. 401 I't Street SE- Fence on Property. Terry Wooten came before the Commission
seeking approval of a fence on the south side of the property dividing what will be
a Montessori School from the bail bonds business and used car lot. They propose
to use wrought iron along the front and wood near the back, which will possibly
be painted to match the building. Commissioner Dux pointed out that wood is not
an approved fence material in the Design Standards in the historic district.
Commissioner Caffey mentioned that people would be more likely to loiter in the
car lot than the fence along the street. Commissioner Vandiver asked if the school
would be located in what is now the storage area and Mr. Wooten said yes.
Commissioner Caffey stated that it appears to her to be more of a partition
separating the two properties than a fence, keeping a code compliant fence in the
front. Commissioner Coyle said that our purpose is to ensure that a code
complaint fence is used. He suggested that the same wrought iron might be used
in place of the wood with some type of covering to make it more private.
Commissioner Vandiver asked about building a similar fence with iron instead of
wood. Mr. Wooten said he would look into that and compare the cost.
Commissioner Caffey questioned compatibility between HPC and Zoning. Mr.
Mack said this would not require an incompatibility buffer. HPO Bedford
referred to the addendum to the fence requirements. Commissioner Matthews
suggested that the wrought iron throughout might be more cost effective than
wood at this time. Commissioner Matthews made a motion to approve the
wrought iron fence with a privacy canvas in the back. Commissioner CatTey
seconded it. The motion carried,? ayes — 0 nays.
6. Discussion and possible action on the following Verification of Construction for Tax
Exemption for the Rehabilitation of Historic Properties.
a. 643 3rd ST SE — Ellen Green came before the Commission. HPO. Bedford
pointed out that Ms. Green did submit the financial documentation needed for this
property. She spent over $5,000 for the exemption that she applied for with her
Certificate of Appropriateness. She has all of the records available for finance.
HPO Bedford showed the before and after photos of the property. Commissioner
Matthews made a motion to approve the Tax Exemption. Motion was seconded
by Commissioner Holtman. The motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays
7. Review Final drafts of Face Grant applications.
a. Fagade Grant requirements
The subcommittee members included HPO Bedford, Commissioner Long,
Commissioner Matthews, Council Liaison Knox, Mr. Vine, Mr. Mack, Sherrie
White, and Maureen Hammond. Commissioner Dux congratulated the committee
and thanked them for their work. He then pointed out that anything built before
1972 (50 years ago) has a historic significance of its own. He asked if historic
properties outside of the 1916-1918 time period will also be included in the
fagade grant application. HPO Bedford stated that every property in the historic
district is eligible for fagade grants. HPO Bedford stated that reconstruction
projects are not eligible for Federal and State Tax Credits, however a new
construction would be eligible for fagade grants with an approved COA.
b. Fagade Grant Application.
Commissioner Holtman suggested that an asterisk be put under Commercial
Signage by the $1,000 and below add another asterisk with "design renderings
from Texas Main Street Design Services required." HPO Bedford noted that the
list under Qualifying Fagade Projects was reviewed at THC by the Certified Local
Government Coordinator an added to help people understand that more all
changes affect more than just their own fagade, but also affect the surrounding
area and revitalization is a collective effort in downtown. Commissioner
Matthews made a motion to approve the requirements and application for fagade
grants. Upon a recommendation by Mr. Mack, the motion was amended to
include submission of these guidelines to the City Council for final approval and
with needed grammatical/spelling corrections. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Holtman. The motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays
8. Review and comment on revised Certificate of Appropriateness applications.
a. The requirements have been added to the application so that applicants will know
in advance of submission what is required for tax exemptions and fagade grant
applications. The only changes were primarily for the purpose of making the
application easier for the applicant to understand. Commissioner Vandiver
recommended that there be a place for the applicant to sign stating that applicant
has read all of the information on the requirements. HPO Bedford said the on-line
application will have a check box for the applicant to acknowledge that applicant
has read the requirements.
a
---CONSENT AGENDA ---
[Items appearing on this consent agenda may be approved by a single vote of the
Commission, with such approval applicable to all items appearing on said agenda. If
any Commission member desires to discuss and consider separately any item appearing
on the consent agenda, that Commission member may do so by requesting that the item
be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item.]
Discussion and possible action regarding the following structures consider by code
inspectors to be in violation of Article III of Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances of the
City of Paris, Paris Texas, entitled "Substandard and Dangerous Buildings and
Structures," to determine whether such buildings or structures can be rehabilitated and
designated on the National Register of Historic Places, as a recorded Texas Historic
Landmark, or as historic property as designated by the City Council of the City of Paris.
A. 329 NW 19TH CITY BLOCK 242, LOT PT 3
B. 240 SW 6TH, CITY BLOCK 119-A, LOT 8
C. 324 & 326 SW 4TH CITY BLOCK 119, LOT 4
D. 2760 W. CAMPBELL, CEDAR HILL BLOCK 4, LOT 2
E. 845 W CENTER, SMITH'S ISTBLOCK 1 LOT 1-6
F. 2671 N MAIN SPACE 64, CITY BLOCK 307, LOT 2C
G. 1850 W AUSTIN, S J WRIGHT BLOCK 5, LOT W '/2 OF 12
A motion was made by Commissioner Coyle, seconded by Commissioner Matthews
to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
10. Coordinator's report
Pine Bluff Fitzhugh Public Meeting —April 27, 2023 at 5:30. Notices were sent to all
property owners and those within 200 ft. Those attending will meet at the Hospitality
Church of God in Christ on Fitzhugh for a presentation and then take a brief walking
tour. The recommendation to include this portion of Fitzhugh and Pine Bluff will be
sent to Planning & Zoning and if approved then submitted to the City Council for
final approval.
Imagine the Possibilities — Saturday, May13, 2023. The Lamar County Historic
Commission will dedicate the Coca-Cola Historical Marker. Those attending will be
asked to bring a picnic lunch and eat on the plaza. Texas Country Reporter will be
here that day. The sign that was on the Coca Cola building is now in the Lamar
County Historical Museum. Some restored properties or some being restored will be
available for tours.
Future Agenda Items: Commissioner Emmite reported that Paris will be in the path of a total
solar eclipse that will pass directly over Paris on April 8, 2024 for 4 minutes and 1 second.
There will be activities planned for that day.
Adjourn : A motion was made by Commissioner Matthews to adjourn. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Vandiver. The motion carried, 8 ayes — 0 nays
The meeting was adjourned at 5:08