The Historic District Commission heard a request to demolish a garage on Dairy Hollow Rd. as part of a plan to expand an electrical substation.
SWEPCO had previously purchased the property at 332 Dairy Hollow, with an existing house and garage. The immediate plans do not affect the house, which dates to 1910. The garage and an ancillary building would be removed to provide access to the area behind the existing substation, where the expansion is planned.
James Ball represented American Electrical Power. He stood by while the commissioners read letters from the public, and others spoke in person. Most opposed the application, although at least one neighbor had no objection to removing the garage if the house remained intact.
Some questioned the need to expand the substation, given the lack of population growth. Others, like Jeff Danos, considered the original placement of the substation in a low-income area as a “social injustice.” Jessica Fitzpatrick, head of Clear Spring School, said the school had not been notified of the expansion project.
Commissioner Frank Green said he and City Historic Preservation Officer Kyle Palmer had visited the site, but they did not ask to have someone on hand from SWEPCO to explain the proposals. Other commissioners agreed that a site visit would help, especially if stakes marked the expansion.
To avoid delaying the project, commissioners agreed to schedule the site visit quickly. A vote by email would mean that SWEPCO would not have to wait until Sept. 6 for the next regular HDC meeting.
Commissioner Peter Graham reminded the public that the HDC had no authority over the expansion of the substation. The commission could only decide whether to allow the demolition of the garage.
Commissioner Dee Bright reminded the other commissioners of conditions of a site visit, during which commissioners may not talk to each other. Questions would have to be addressed to Palmer or to SWEPCO during the site visit.
In other business:
- Bright said each commissioner should create an email address specifically for the HDC, separate from any personal email addresses.
- Bright has recently mentioned preservation awards that were formerly presented annually. She said Covid intervened, and staff changes have also been a factor. Bright asked to place an item on the agenda for the Sept. 6 meeting to consider resurrecting the awards. She said the HDC and the Preservation Society partnered in the awards, but the last time they were presented, other partners also participated. Bright said some 125 people attended the awards ceremony, and she suggested making this a spring event.
The HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Level III applications are due by Aug. 24, and Level II by Aug. 30.