The June issue of THE PAPER contained the latest version of several components of the proposed Historic District Ordinance. Kathy Harleman, Gee Stuart, Judy Little and
Sue Tepas (all of whom, at one time or another, contributed many hours and much work) have been delighted by the pleased response of their neighbors to the FINALLY completed Statement of Significance. Over the summer, concerned residents have made a number of suggestions, have asked numerous questions and, most recently, have circulated petitions AGAINST the Historic District as an infringement upon personal rights and taste, it order to get some feeling of community thinking. As a result of the petition drive, an informal meeting was held Thursday, August 18th. at the Vatcha home on Westminster with the following in attendance: Neville and Jo Ann Vatcha, Lou Green, Mike Stahl, Cal Stuart, Bob Newsham, Judy Little, Gee Stuart and
Sue Tepas.
The basic areas of concern at this meeting were the published version of the Residential Appearance Standards and their implementation, plus the question of how to ensure CONTINUOUS review of all appearance standards once in effect and what to do if a particular standard was found to be in need of modification, amendment or deletion.
Concerning the latter, the Historic District Review Committee (which will be a standing committee of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council) was defined in general terms as: 1) a committee which would be responsible for hearing complaints of all kinds having to do with the actual workings of our Historic District and for seeking satisfactory remedies for problems which arise: 2) a preliminary consulting service for people who wish to make building renovations which require City Building Permits, helping to see that a permit application has few or no problems BEFORE it reaches City
Hall; and 3) a guide service to the best quality, least expensive materials and/or labor to do the job the homeowner wants done. This definition of a neighborhood committee which has no legal standing within the City will, nevertheless, be written into the introduction to the Appearance Standards, both to advise the residents of where they can get help and to serve as a reminder to the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council and its Historic District Review Committee of the duties which residents expect that committee to perform.
The Residential Appearance Standards, as currently written, appear to be eminently MIS-understandable and are therefore currently being rewritten to reflect local desire for clearer wording and less strict standards. Anyone who wishes to have some input in specific areas should contact either the Council office (862-5122) or the Vatchas (726-6974). Use of the words “encouraged” and “discouraged” will possibly be made where standards are suggested but not enforceable by law (such as those possible alterations to a house front which do NOT require a building permit). The idea of the appearance standards is to show intent or preference of the community even beyond the point of actual enforcement by law.
Hopefully, the upcoming Revised Standards version will point the way for homeowners to make the necessary or desired alterations to the fronts of their houses in a manner which continues our homogeneous streetscapes without infringing upon the right of each resident to create a home reflecting his/her individual taste.
At the request of the alderman, the proposed Historic District boundaries have received a slight modification to exclude three buildings of questionable economic visibility.
Sue Tepas
Originally published in The Paper, September 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: The printed phrase ‘economic visibility’ is retained. Damaged words are marked where the original remains uncertain.
Original source: SD_Times1977_09.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
