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THIS IS ABILENE LANDMARKS COMMISSION. WE WOULD LIKE TO INFORM EVERYONE PRESENT THAT THIS COMMISSION MEETS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.
THE PURPOSE IS SET FORTH BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN SECTION 1171 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THIS IS A RECOMMENDING COMMISSION. ALL FINAL DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE REQUEST AND APPROVAL OR DENIAL BY THIS COMMISSION. OUR OVERALL PURPOSE ADMINISTER FROM VISION OF CITY CODE FOR PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF STRUCTURES AND LAND GAINED BY THE COMMUNITY UNIQUE HISTORICAL OR CULTURAL VALUE. WE NEED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
[CALL TO ORDER]
DO HAVE AMOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OR IF YOU SAW ANY CHANGES TO AMEND THEM?>> >> I WILL MOVE. >> I WILL SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES CARRIES. FLUCH WE HAVE ONE SINGLE ITEM ON
[1. Minutes: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Minutes from previous regular meeting held on August 25, 2020]
THE AGENDA. CA-2020-04. IT IS RECEIVE AND REPORT A HOLD AND DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS TO REPLACE APARKING GARAGE SIGN. AND WE WILL HAVE A STAFF REPORT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAME THE NICK WATTS. I SERVE AS THE CITY PLANNER AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE. I WILL BE PRESENT THING CASE FORECERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS. FOR 102 CYPRESS STREET ON BEHALF OF THE GRACE MUSEUM INCORPORATED. IT'S TO REPLACE PARKING GARAGE SIGN.
THIS THE LOCATION MAP OF THE GRACE MUSEUM. IT'S LOCATED BETWEEN CYPRESS SORRY CEDAR STREET AND CYPRESS STREET OFF OF NORTH FIRST STREET.
THIS THE ZONING MAP INDICATING THE ZONING OF THE ENTIRE AREA MOST OF THE AREA IS ALL CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. WITH THE NORTH FIRST BEING THE MINOR ARTERIAL.
AND THIS IS MAP INDICATING THAT THIS PROPERTY IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT ZONE.
THIS IS SOME PHOTOS OF ACTUAL SIGN. THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT'S THE GRACE MUSEUM WAS BUILT IN 1909 AS THE GRACE HOTEL. ORIGINALLY FULL-SERVICE FULL SERVICE HOTEL LOCATED ON THE RAILROAD LINE BETWEEN FORT WORTH AND EL PASO.
THE HOTELS RENAMED THE DRAKE IN 1946. UNTIL THE 1960'S.
CLOSED PERMANENTLY IN 1973 BUT WAS PURCHASED AND REVITALIZED IN 1987 BY THE ABILENE PRESERVATION LEAGUE. THE APPLICANT REQUESTING TO REPLACE THIS SIGN LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY ALONG THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY OF NORTH FIRST. CURRENTLY RATES AS THE GRACE PARKING AND HAS MEDIUM GREEN AND FLAT WHITE COLORING. LIGHTBULB PORTS FOR ILLUMINATION.
CURRENTLY THIS FEATURE IS NONFUNCTIONING. THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE SIGN SAME SIZE SHAPE AND COLDER BY LED ILLUMINATED CABINET WITH ACRYLICFATION.
IT WILL READ AS THE GRACE GARAGE TO IDENTIFY THE GARAGE LOCATION. THIS IS A PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE SIGN FROM BACK IN THE DAY. WE DON'T HAVE EXACT DATE OF THE SIGN.
AND IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO READ. BUT IT DID SAY AUTOBODY SHOP IT WAS WAYWARD FIRE FIGHTING SIGN. THAT'S WHAT IT CURRENTLY LOOKS AS.
WE ALSO HAVE PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE SIGN. THIS LITTLE OUTLINE OF WHAT THE SIGN IS. IT'S ACRYLIC. I CAN PASS THIS AROUND SO EVERYONE CAN SEE. REGARDING THIS STAFF RECOMMEND THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVE THIS REQUEST. SUBJECT TO FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. THAT APPROVAL OF THE SCIENTIFIC OF APPROPRIATENESS SECTION 2344 CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS SUBJECT
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TO FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. THIS CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS IF APPROVED SHALL COMMENCE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE APPROVAL OF THE LANDMARK'S COMMISSION.IF DOESN'T COMMENCE WITHIN SIX MONTHS APPROVAL OF CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS SHALL EXPIRE.
THE APPLICANT MAY REQUEST EXTENSION TO EXPIRATION DEADLINE COME MEEDING COMPLETE APPLICATION FOR REQUEST FOR EXTENSION. SUBMITTED AT LEAST 30 DAYS FOR THE APPROVED CERTIFICATE OF APPROPR APPROPRIATENESS EXPIRES.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> IS THIS ANY KIND OF REGISTERED HISTORIC DISTRICT OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD LIMIT HOW THEY CHANGE THAT BUILDING SIGN AGE OR ANYTHING?
>> NOTHING THAT WOULD LIMIT IT. >> OKAY. >> AND THIS WOULD THEY HAD TWO ADDITIONAL SIGNS ON THE PILLARS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL REQUEST IF THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THOSE SQUARE SIGNS INTO THE BRICK ON THE PILLARS? IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO SEE FROM THE SIDE. THE PREVIOUS ONE YOU JUST HAD.
>> RIGHT HERE? >> TO THE WHITE ONES. >> THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE
SPEAKING ABOUT TODAY. JUST STRICTLY ON THIS SIGN. >> OKAY.
BUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
>> IT WOULD. >> THANK YOU. >> IS THIS ILLUMINATED?
>> YES. IT WILL BE ILLUMINATED. THEY WILL REPRODUCE AND REPLACE
ALUMINUM CABINET LED BACK LIT. >> THE NAME WOULD BE CHANGED FROM PARKING GARAGE THAT'S THE
ONLY OTHER CHANGE? >> YES, SIR. >> QUESTION I HAVE ON THIS REALLY IS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE TO WAY THE SIGN LOOKS. I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN THINK CAME UP ON DOCKET IT'S THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THERE WAS A SIGN THERE.
I THINK LIGHTING THIS UP WILL MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. BUT I WONDER IF THEY LOOKED AT RETROFITTING THE EXISTING LIGHT FIXTURES WITHIN AN LED LIGHT AND LOWERING THE SIGN TO GET BELOW THE TREE CAN PO TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC SIGN THAT'S THERE. CONTRACTOR IS HERE.
TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS. I'M NOT SURE. >> THAT'S NOT THE HISTORIC SIGN;
IS IT? >> THAT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL SIGN WE SAW IN THE HISTORIC.
IT'S A REPLICA OF THAT SIGN. >> THE SIGN -- >> IS THIS THE SAME SIGN THAT WE
SAW IN THIS? >> I BELIEVE SO. >> IS THAT THE ORIGINAL AND THIS
WAS REPLICA THAT IS THERE NOW? >> FROM OUR RESEARCH WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY REAL
INFORMATION. >> CAN WE GO BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT?
>> LOOKS LIKE THE HOLES ARE IN THE SAME PLACE. >> MADAM CHAIR THOSE ARE FOR THE NEON. INSULATORS THAT YOU SEE, BUT WITHOUT CLOSER INVESTIGATION YOU
CAN'T TELL FOR SURE. >> I WILL PUT ON MY GLASSES. >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IF I'M CORRECTLY INTERPRETING THE DESIGN OF NEW SIGN. THIS ALL METAL SIGN NOW FACE-LIFT PROPOSING TO REPLACE WITH SIGN ACRYLIC ON THE SIDE. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I THINK THE CONTRACTOR CAN SPEAK ON THAT. >> MAYBE HE CAN ANSWER MY
QUESTIONS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> WE'LL CLOSE THE STAFF PRESENTATION. AND OPEN THE MEETING UP TO THE PUBLIC.
IF WE HAVE APPLICANT OR ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
>> I WILL LEAVE THESE PHOTOS UP. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> ROBERT KERN.
3101 OLD SAGE. I'M WITH ACNE SIGN COMPANY. I'M THE ACTING AGENT ON THIS.
THE FEW QUESTIONS YOU WERE THROWING AROUND. YES, THOSE ARE CALLED NEON HOUSING THAT ARE IN THAT SIGN. AND IT IS THE SAME SIGN IN THE OLD PICTURE AS IT IS.
DURING THE TIME OF RENOVATION OF THE GRACE SOMEONE HAD REPAINTED THAT.
AND SO IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL COPY THAT'S ON THERE. I WILL PASS THIS AROUND.
THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT THE COPY WILL LOOK LIKE ON THE PROPOSED SIGN.
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THIS SIGN THAT WE'RE PROPOSING WE WILL MAKE TEMPLATES OF THE EXISTING SIGN.MAKE SURE ALL OF THE SIZE, ANGLES AND THE WIDTH, DEPTH COLOR AND EVERYTHING REMAINS THE SAME. IT WILL BE BACK LIT. BUT AS THE SIGN STANDS NOW, WE LOOKED AT MAYBE TRYING TO RETROFIT IT TO GO BACK THE NEON. BUT IN DOING SO ALL THESE NEON HOUSING THAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH THOSE WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND PATCHED.
AND YOU KNOW BASICALLY WE'RE GOING TO ALTER THIS POINT IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW SIGN.
RATHER THAN DO THAT AND TO AFFORD A LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBILITY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEON AVOIDING IT JUST DUE TO THE BREAKAGE ISSUES, YEARS AGO ABILENE HAD SEVERAL NEON TUBE VENDORS IN TOWN. THERE'S ONE WITHIN 150 MILES NOW. SO OUR SUGGESTION TO THE GRACE WAS TO GO AHEAD AND REPRODUCE THIS. WE'RE IN DAYLIGHTS HOUR IT LOOKS AS MUCH LIKE THE ORIGINAL SIGN AS WE CAN POSSIBLY MAKE IT LOOK AND THEN AT NIGHT IN ORDER TO DRAW A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION, MAKE IT MORE VISIBLE AND HELP SUIT THEIR NEEDS, WE WOULD ILLUMINATE IT.
YOU KNOW DOWNTOWN ABILENE IS STARTING TO TAKE OFF A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THERE'S A LOT MORE INTEREST IN PEOPLE BEING DOWNTOWN NOW. AND THEY WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, DRAW A LITTLE BIT MORE INTEREST TO THEIR FACILITY.
ANY QUESTIONS THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER FOR YOU? >> WHEN THOSE ARE ACTUALLY SOME
NEON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THIS SIGN ORIGINALLY? >> ORIGINALLY.
>> IS THAT REAL VULNERABLE TO LIKE HAIL DAMAGE? >> HAIL DAMAGE, VANDALISM,EN BIRDS. I'VE DEALT IT WITH FOR THE PAST 37 YEARS.
>> I CAN IMAGINE. >> THAT WOULD BE YOU GET IT ALL PERFECT AND THE VERY FIRST
HAILSTORM -- >> WE WILL UTILIZE ALL THE ORIGINAL MOUNTING THE CANALEVER ARM THERE. THE PROPOSED SIGN WILL HAVE THE MOUNTING TO LOOK AT MATCH EXACTLY WHAT IS ON THERE. IT HAS COUPLE OF PIECES OF ANGLE IRON MOUNTED TO GLASS STRAP THAT HANG FROM THE ARM. WE'LL REPRODUCE THAT SAME LENGTH.
WE'LL MATCH THE SAME HOLES. WE'RE GOING TO REPRODUCE IT AS ACCURATELY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
>> IT WILL BE AT THE EXACT SAME HEIGHT? >> SAME HEIGHT.
SAME SIZE. WIDTH. >> THE THING I LIKE ABOUT THE NEW DESIGN IT'S ENOUGH OF DEPARTURE FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN THAT IT DOESN'T PRETEND TO BE THE ORIGINAL SIGN. I LIKE THE IDEA THAT BEING BACK LIT.
I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE IT LOWERED A LITTLE BIT TO GET IT UNDERNEATH THE TREE CANOPY TO
PREVENT IT FROM BEING INVISIBLE EVEN WHEN IT WILL. >> THOSE TREES NEED WORK ANYWAY.
>> I THINK YOU KNOW MY RECOMMENDATION ON THAT WOULD BE TO MAYBE TRIM OR PRUNE THE TREES. IF WE DO LOWER THAT AND USE THAT EXISTING MOUNTING, IT INCREASES AMOUNT OF LEVERAGE ON THE CROSS ARM. AND I WOULD PREFER NOT TO.
>> ENGINEERING NOT AGRICULTURE QUESTION. >> YES.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? >> OKAY. IF NOT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING. WHAT DO YOU THINK? >>
[INAUDIBLE] DO WE HAVE A SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
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CARRIES. >> ANY OTHER ITEMS? WE WILL -- THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU TO EVE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.