Official Minutes
Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission
Downtown Historic District Public Hearing
January 18, 2006
The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission held a public hearing on the
proposed downtown historic district on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 7 p.m. in the
Muscatine City Hall Council Chambers. Members present included Jay Brady, Diane
MayerDay, Dan Clark, Jo Ann Carlson, Maryrose Peterschmidt and Jim Nepple. Staff
present included Jim Rudisill. Others present included Rebecca Lawin McCarley, Gary
Carlson and approximately a dozen local residents and building/business owners.
McCarley presented a Power Point presentation on the proposed district, earlier
survey and other information. She described the process used to establish an historic
district and explained a formal public hearing on the proposal would be conducted in
January as part of the process. Owners will also have an opportunity to vote against the
proposed district through a mailin referendum system.
The State Nomination Review Committee will meet February 10 to consider the
application, which is a joint effort between the City of Muscatine and the Greater
Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. If the committee approves the
application, it will be forwarded to the National Park Service for federal action. If
approved there, final listing on the National Register of Historic Places will be done in
April or May 2006.
McCarley said 114 resources have been identified in the proposed downtown
district. Of those, two are already listed on the National Register (Welch Apartments and
Trinity Episcopal Church); 93 are contributing buildings; one is a contributing object
(Statue of Liberty in front of city hall); and 18 are noncontributing buildings.
Carlson outlined the impact the establishment of the historic district would have
on buildings that are also part of the cultural and entertainment districts approved earlier
this year for Muscatine. Most of the historic district would be part of either the Pearl City
or Melon City Cultural and Entertainment Districts. Property owners of historic buildings
in those districts would qualify for federal (20%) and state (25%) tax credits for repairs
and restoration work. Up to $4 million in state tax credits will be available annually for
10 years under recently approved legislation, he told the group.
One property owner asked if the city intended to apply for a larger future
preservation grant. McCarley said there were no plans at this time for additional grant
proposals. Brady said the first step is to get the district approved and then if the business
owners or local residents wish to pursue a grant proposal the HPC could assist.
The owner also wondered about funding to upgrade facilities. Nepple said the
community foundation might be a good funding source for such activities. Carlson
reminded people at the meeting that the cultural and entertainment districts themselves do
not have a funding source. Only tax credits are available for rehabilitation work.
Another participant asked how handicap accessibility rules could affect buildings
in the historic district, especially churches. McCarley said the designation itself would
not affect those guidelines.
HPC Public Hearing Minutes
January 18, 2006
Page 2
One owner asked if there was any possibility of additional restrictions at the local
level. McCarley said there is no local designation ordinance and if the city did wish to
develop one, it would need to go through the same process as any ordinance. That would
mean public hearings and multiple approvals of any proposal.
McCarley then held an informal poll of those at the meeting and the majority of
those present supported the downtown designation plan. Two or three of the owners said
they were unsure of their position. There were no objections.
The meeting adjourned around 8 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________________
Chairperson
Official Minutes
Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission
January 18, 2006
The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission met in regular session on
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 5:15 p.m. in the lower level conference room at the
Muscatine City Hall. Members present included Jay Brady, Diane MayerDay, Dan
Clark, Jim Nepple, Jo Ann Carlson and Maryrose Peterschmidt. Others present included
Rebecca McCarley, Devin Pettit, Gary Carlson, Mary Anne Kessler and Jim Rudisill.
The consent agenda was reviewed. There were no changes to the distributed
agenda. There were also no changes to the distributed minutes from the December 13
HPC meeting. Clark moved to approve the consent agenda; Nepple seconded; motion
passed, all ayes.
The historic plague program developed by MAPS was the first discussion item.
Clark reported the plague committee had not met since the last meeting, although the
program’s first signs have been presented. Carlson said reports he had received indicated
everyone felt the first plaques were great. Clark said Jim Hetzler had talked to Steve
Boka about possible changes in the city’s sign ordinance.
Nepple said he had heard if the proposed historic district is approved some
owners might wish to get their own signs or plaques for their buildings. He said the
owners would be unlikely to spend as much for their signs as the MAPS’ signs cost. He
also said he had reconsidered his concerns about the sign program and now felt more
comfortable with its direction. Clark agreed the HPC needed to be involved with any
future discussions.
Brady asked Nepple and Clark to obtain copies of other local sign ordinances that
Hetzler might obtain.
McCarley then provided an update on the CLG 2005 West Hill Survey Project.
She reminded the commissioners of the upcoming February 1 deadline for getting some
first drafts completed. She also told the HPC she expected all drafts in by February 1, but
that the late fee penalty for some would be delayed until March 1.
Kessler offered to volunteer to provide some photography. Nepple also reminded
the commission that he would do some photography. McCarley will provide some of the
photo logs and other photography material.
McCarley also reported that Christine Conley had requested a work day at the
library. The commission agreed to meet Tuesday, January 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the library
for a work session.
McCarley is completing the preliminary report and will provide two copies to
Rudisill. Brady requested one for his review. The report will need about a dozen
preliminary reports with photographs. The report is due in Des Moines on February 17.
That will require a labeling work night, which was tentatively set for Monday, February
13 at 5:15 p.m. at a site to be arranged. The next regular HPC meeting will be held
Tuesday, February 21, at 5:15 p.m. in the lower level conference room at city hall.
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January 18, 2006
Page 2
The next discussion item was an update on the downtown historic district
designation. McCarley reported everything was moving forward, with the state review
committee scheduled to meet on February 10 in Des Moines to consider the city’s
applications. Nepple moved to develop a letter of support and authorize the chair to sign
it; MayerDay seconded; motion passed, all ayes. Brady said he would develop the letter.
There was also discussion concerning a request from the Carver Charitable Trust
to be excluded from the historic district. According to a letter from the Trust, they are
concerned the designation might affect control of their property. McCarley said she did
not believe the state would approve dropping the Trust property from the district. She
also said the concerns of the Trust were not valid, since they dealt with local designation.
She said there is currently no mechanism in place for local historic designations.
The commission next discussion the status of the Murphy bed donation. Nepple
reported only one response had been returned for the beds and there did not seem to be
any interest. He also said they did not appear to have any value.
The HPC agreed to drop the proposed project.
The HPC briefly discussed funding support in the city’s upcoming budget but did
not take any action.
There was no report from the Research and Development Committee, although
Clark did ask if the proposed barn demolition at the Muscatine Discovery Center would
require a demolition permit. Brady also wondered if the HPC should send a letter to the
county board of supervisors in support of the barn’s preservation. Members agreed that
was a good idea and Brady said he would draft a letter.
Nepple then moved to endorse the barn preservation project; Clark seconded;
motion passed, all ayes.
The Education Committee provided a brief report on Historic Preservation Month
activities. Nepple suggested organizers give Melanie Alexander a call. Carlson said if his
board approves, he could send a notice on the activities out as part of the chamber
newsletter.
Nepple reported owners around the corner of Mulberry and Eighth and Ninth
Streets had done a good job of cleaning up their neighborhoods and might be good
candidates for recognition. Brady said the committee should come to the next meeting
with a tentative plan for this year’s activities.
One possibility is to develop a list of the ten most endangered historic buildings in
the community. Kessler said the mayor of Ft. Smith, Arkansas does his own list.
McCarley also suggested the Welch Apartments restoration as a potential award
recipient. Nepple said that could be extended to both Chris Ales and Jim Barry. Rudisill
Muscatine HPC Minutes
January 18, 2006
Page 3
also mentioned the volunteers who had assisted with the downtown and West Hill
surveys.
Brady reported he had met with the Kiwanis earlier in the week and provided an
update on the responsibilities of the HPC and explained the two surveys.
Carlson asked if an electronic copy of the downtown nomination and the
associated Multiple Property Documentation application were available in electronic
form. McCarley said that could be provided once the state approves the nominations.
The Projects Committee had no report.
The meeting then adjourned at 6:45 p.m. in order for commissioners to attend the
downtown historic district public hearing at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________________
Chairperson
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