STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve Heritage Commission met in regular session Monday, December 16, 2024.
The draft minutes of the meeting were released on Tuesday, December 17.
Regular Meeting Minutes
Call to Order at 6:00 pm
Roll Call: Commissioners Casey Benner, Bill Hart, Tom Hooper and Whitney Tucker were present at roll call. Assistant City Administrator David Bova was present. Commissioner Mark Buchheit was absent.
Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Hart made a Motion to Approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion, which passed 4-0-1. Approval of Minutes: Commissioner
Tucker made a Motion to Approve the minutes from the November 18, 2024 meeting as presented. Commissioner Hooper seconded the motion, which passed 4-0-1.
Introduction of Evidence: Mr. Bova asked that the Commission approve the entry into the record of the Ste. Genevieve Municipal Code and the Design Guidelines for the Sainte Genevieve National Register Historic District along with the staff reports and related material presented to them. Commissioner Hart made a Motion to Accept the evidence into the record. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker and passed 4-0-1.
Old Business:
• SGHC010-25 To receive a Certificate of Appropriateness to construct a detached garage in the side yard at 111 S 5th Street. The applicant’s contractor, Charles Smith, was present and discussed the proposed project plans and answered some questions from the commission. Commissioner Hart inquired about the depth of the eaves and if matching knee braces could be installed under the front eave to match the front of the house (1 in the peak and 1 at each corner); Mr. Smith agreed that they could be installed. Commissioner Hart made a Motion to Approve the application with the addition of knee braces; Commissioner Hooper seconded the motion which passed 4-0-1.
• SGHC009-25 To receive a Certificate of Appropriateness to install white picket fencing and concrete posts matching 99 N Main at 73 N Main Street. Applicant and property owner, Dr. Sandra Hoffman, was present and presented her proposed project along with some additional requests including stone veneer on the posts and decorative finials atop each post.
Dr. Hoffman discussed the time appropriateness of the proposed additional changes to the posts. The commission shared that while the proposed veneer and finials would look aesthetically pleasing, the goal of the commission is to preserve the structure as it looks or as it looked historically; any significant changes to that would require some type of evidence including old photographs, or other similar local sites or structures with the same architectural characteristics.
The commission suggested Dr. Hoffman come back to the commission regarding the stone and finials if she wishes to pursue those changes; information on some local stone vendors was also provided. There was then some additional discussion on the simple concrete posts and picket fencing originally proposed.
Commissioner Hart made a Motion to Approve the application as submitted; Commissioner Hooper seconded the motion which passed 4-0-1.
New Business:
• SGHC013-25 To receive a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the structure at 688 Market Street. Applicant and property owner Michael Mills was present and discussed his application with the commission.
Mr. Mills had been given this property when he purchased the property next door; it was deteriorating then. He attempted to mothball it and has since gotten some estimates on foundation and framing repair which he states are very costly and, in some instance, not possible.
Mr. Mills provided photographs of the deterioration and had also allowed the commissioners to tour the building last week.
Commissioners Hart and Tucker discussed that the framing, door and windows, and roof are in good shape.
Mr. Mills stated that he had verified with the city that the building had been vacant since at least 1995 and that he believed there was too much deterioration to preserve the house.
Commissioner Benner inquired if Mr. Mills had tried to sell the property; Mr. Mills stated he had but that no one wanted to go through the preservation process.
Mr. Bova stated that he had received multiple calls about the structure and had offered to assist any potential buyer with the process. There was some additional discussion regarding other local preservation projects for structures in worse shape.
The commissioners and Mr. Bova thanked Mr. Mills again for allowing access to the building in order to better evaluate it; the commissioners explained that one of the purposes of the commission is to protect and preserve all existing historic structures.
Commissioner Tucker made a Motion to Deny the application based on guidelines A.11 & H.21; Commissioner Hooper seconded the motion which passed 4-0-1.
Administrative Approvals:
• Attestation as to Material Replacement – 130 N Main • Attestation as to Material Replacement – 234 Merchant
Other Business:
• January & February meetings – Mr. Bova shared that the January and February meetings will be 1 week later than normal due to the regular dates falling on national holidays.
• CLG Annual Report 2024 – Mr. Bova discussed the 2024 CLG Annual Report which is part of the continuing certification of the city and the commission as a Certified Local Government.
Public Comments: None
Meeting Adjourned: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:54 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
David Bova Assistant
City Administrator