The May 1 meeting of the Historic District Commission began with a series of objections to a proposed parking project. The commissioners also had questions, and they postponed a decision pending a site visit.
Troy Drollinger, owner of the Carry Nation Home at 35 Steele St., asked approval to create a parking area 30 by 15 ft. The property slopes away from the street, and a retaining wall ranging from four to eight ft. in height would be required.
Drollinger said the concrete retaining wall would have a stone veneer, the parking pad would meet setback requirements, and neither the building inspector nor Public Works had any objection. He also said the project would not affect the historic home. Drollinger objected to some “inaccuracies and exaggerations” raised by the public comments.
Commissioner Christine Santimore said, “I have concerns about this, and I wonder if we need a site visit.” The others agreed, and made preliminary plans for a morning later in the week. Chair Dee Bright said the commissioners who missed this meeting would be notified.
Commissioner Susan Daniels asked Drollinger why he needed the extra parking, but Bright said that question would be “outside our purview.” Drollinger said a parking area larger than the one he proposed had been approved for a neighbor. He also responded to questions about a large tree he had removed from area the parking pad would occupy. He said the tree was diseased and leaning over the house.
Public comments, whether submitted in advance or delivered in person, took up half of the 40-minute meeting. Owners of neighboring properties sent letters objecting to the project, and some included pictures. Most complained about the removal of the large tree and questioned the process leading up to the tree cut.
One letter said the property already had two parking spaces. Other neighbors said the retaining wall would detract from the ambience of the neighborhood. Steph Gordon-Glassford had sent a letter to be read, but she also spoke in person. Regarding the tree removal, she said, “I understand we have parking problems, but that doesn’t mean you cut down natural resources and then say you respect the neighborhood.”
Ken Rundel also came to the microphone. As a 15-year resident of the neighborhood, he said the parking project would be “not in keeping with the historic nature of the property.”
In other business:
- Kyle Palmer, the city’s Director of Planning and Community Development, discussed details for a nationwide preservation conference scheduled from July 31 to Aug. 4 in Florida. Plans were also made for a preservation session in Hot Springs in October.
- The HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Level III applications were due May 2, and Level II applications were due May 9.