2006-01-17 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

21 The motion to defer the special use permit was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Schilling. Noes: Mr. Lynch. ORDINANCE : CREATING RUGBY ROAD /UNIVERSITY AVENUE/VENABLE nd NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CONTROL DISTRICT (2 reading) Ms. Hamilton asked about the possibility of making the rating system more meaningful, and asked about the time it would take for staff to come up with proposals if we wanted to link the rating numbers to specific actions. Ms. Mary Joy Scala, Planner in Neighborhood Development Services, said that the BAR only wanted the rating system for background information. She said that the BAR will look at properties more closely when they receive demolition requests. Dr. Brown asked how long it would take to come up with a more meaningful rating system, and Mr. Tolbert said staff would need to look at legal issues and what the rating system would be used for, but said it would likely take a minimum of 90 days. Mr. Brown said that the attributes of each category would need to be defined as well as defining the consequence of that number. He said looking at individual properties would take time. Ms. Hamilton said she understood that at one time there was a separate Downtown Board of Architectural Review, and asked what would be involved in creating a Venable Board of Architectural Review, a smaller body that would deal solely with that area. Mr. Tolbert said that a separate board of review for each district could be created, but he said we would likely lose some continuity. Ms. Hamilton said such a board would not have to be permanent. She said she thinks this district is different than others. Mr. Brown said that the rationale for bringing the DBAR and BAR together was because with two boards the review and outcomes were different. He said we have a much more sophisticated process now. Responding to a question from Mr. Schilling, Mr. Tolbert said only one board would review if there were two boards. Mr. Lynch said that he has an interest in the issue as he owns a house within this district at 1506 Virginia Avenue, but as a member of a group of property owners feels he can participate fairly. He said that as a property owner he sees the perspective of owners. He said he also appreciates the history of the area, and is interested in coming up with a mechanism that works for both sides. He said he hopes we can solve the problem in a way that gives consistency to different structures. He said he realizes that the BAR will weigh each application on its own merits. He said there ought to be some grading system in order to give owners and the development community an idea of which properties are appropriate for redevelopment. He suggested that rather than doing it on a geographic basis, that it be done on a qualitative basis. He said this would save time in the long term and would make the BAR’s job easier. Mr. Caravati said he also has a potential conflict in his work as a general contractor at 17 University Circle, but feels he can participate fairly. Dr. Brown said he would like to explore putting teeth in the grading system, but there may be a lot of expense involved. He said he feels it is important to enact the historic district. He said he agrees that it would be great to have a way to make the grading system have meaning and give guidance, but he would not want to take action on that tonight. Ms. Hamilton thanked all who have contacted her. She said concerns are partly over the way the process has unfolded. She said it should not have been left unresolved