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Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 3
May 26, 2011
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, May 26, 2011, at 6:00 p.m.
City Council and Municipal Court Building, Georgetown, TX 78627
101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, TX 78626
Members present: Will Moore, Chair; Sarah Blankenship; Dee Rapp; Susan Firth; Gregg Herriott.
Commissioners in Training present: Raymond Wehrenbrock and Andy Welch.
Members absent: David Paul; and Nelia Ibsen Schrum
Staff present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner and HACR liaison; Elizabeth Cook,
Community Development Director; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner; Avery Craft, Planning
Specialist and Recording Secretary
Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m.
Chair Moore called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
The Historic and Architectural Review Commission, appointed by the Mayor and the City Council,
is responsible for hearing and taking final action on applications, by issuing Certificates of Design
Compliance based upon the City Council adopted Downtown Design Guidelines and Unified
Development Code.
Consent Agenda:
1. Review and possible approval of the minutes from the April 28, 2011 Regular HARC meeting
and May 4, 2011 special follow-up meeting.
Motion by Blankenship to approve the minutes from both the April 28th and May 4th
meeting. Second by Moore. Approved 5 – 0. (Moore, Firth, Blankenship, Rapp and Herriott
approved. Paul and Schrum absent.)
Regular Agenda:
2. Conceptual review and discussion with the architect of a proposed project at 614 S. Main
Street.
This item was pulled and forwarded to the June 23, 2011 meeting at the applicant’s request.
3. Consideration and possible action to amend the Historic and Architectural Review
Commission Bylaws.
Bridget Chapman, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Georgetown, discussed
the recently revised HARC Bylaws. Some of the following key points were discussed:
HARC is to consist of no less than seven (7) members.
At least two (2) of the Commission Members shall be property owners in the
historic Downtown Overlay District.
Each member shall be either a registered voter eligible to vote in City elections or
owners of real property that is designated as historic.
Members are required to have a demonstrated interest in historic preservation or
urban design.
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May 26, 2011
(Up to) three (3) qualified persons shall be appointed to serve as Commissioners in
Training by City Council. Commissioners in Training are eligible to be appointed to
the position of Commission Member upon the expiration of the term of a regular
Commission Member or upon the vacancy on the Commission.
HARC Members serve without compensation.
Commission Members are Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary. Chairman is
appointed by City Council during the annual appointment process. The other
Commission Members are elected by a majority vote of the Members at the first
meeting after the annual appointment process.
Terms of office for each Member are generally two (2) years. Commission Officers
serve for a term of one (1) year.
HARC shall meet at the same time, place and day, once a month.
A quorum consists of a majority of the Members.
In the case of a conflict of interest, the Member will fill out a “Conflict of Interest
Form” and may not participate in both the discussion and the voting of the
particular conflicting item. Although it is encouraged that the Member leaves the
meeting room in the case of a conflict of interest, it is not mandatory. Without the
Member(s) with the conflict of interest present, HARC must still obtain a quorum to
vote on the item.
Members are to attend 75% of regularly scheduled meetings. Failure to do so
constitutes excessive absenteeism and may result in dismissal from the
Commission.
Subcommittees may be formed for special projects related to Commission matters.
Motion by Rapp to acknowledge the revised Bylaws. Second by Blankenship.
Approved 5 – 0. (Moore, Firth, Blankenship, Rapp and Herriott approved. Paul and Schrum
absent.)
4. Discussion with City attorney’s office regarding commissioner responsibilities and duties
related to CDC application review.
Chapman explains the duties of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary of HARC.
The Chairman presides at Commission meetings. Chairman shall generally manage the
business of the Commission and will perform all duties delegated by the Commission.
The Vice-Chairman presides at Commission meetings in the Chairman’s absence. The Vice-
Chairman shall generally manage the business of the Commission and will perform all duties
delegated by the Commission.
The Secretary shall generally manage the business of the Commission and will perform all
duties delegated by the Commission.
5. Discussion with Texas Historical Commission representatives regarding the purpose and
application of design review standards.
Matt Synatschk, the Acting State Coordinator for the Texas Certified Local Government
Program at the Texas Historical Commission, and Leslie Wolfenden, Main Street Program
Design Assistant for the Texas Historical Commission, met with HARC, presenting a
Powerpoint Presentation explaining what is “historic” and how it can be preserved.
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May 26, 2011
Historic is defined as follows:
At Least 50 years old.
High degree of integrity.
Association with significant historic events or themes (local/state/national).
Exemplary of a particular style.
In order to maintain historic communities, the following must be preserved:
Historic buildings
Narratives
Traditions
Locally produced products
Things that bind all community members together
Unique aspects of your community
6. Discussion and reminder that the next Sign Subcommittee meeting will take place on June 8,
2011 and that the next regular HARC meeting will take place on June 23, 2011.
7. Adjournment
Moore adjourned the meeting at 8:28 p.m.
________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, Dee Rapp, Chair Attest, Greg Herriott, Secretary