Historic District Meeting Minutes 2-11-16City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Municipal Annex
1 1 1 North 12"' Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION.MINUTES
February 11, 2016
The Van Buren Historic District Commission held its monthly meeting on Thursday, February 11,
2016 at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Room of the Municipal Complex.
Members Present —Chairman Lisa Willis, Vice Chairman Vickie Davis, Derald Porter, Paul Gibson,
Cathy Gifford and Lonnie London, TOTMA. Others Present — Alan and Debbie Foliart, Barbara
Little and Planning Assistant Julie Copple.
Chairman Lisa Willis called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. The first item on the agenda was to
approve the minutes from the previous meeting. A motion was made by Paul Gibson and
seconded by Cathy Gifford to accept the minutes. The motion was approved unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) #1-2016, Alan and Debbie
Foliart, 816 Main Street, for out -side paint and store sign approval. Debbie Foliart spoke to the
commission about the historic colors they will be using on the outside of the building, along with
pictures of what the sign will look like and where it will be located on the building. A motion was
made by Cathy Gifford and seconded by Vickie Davis to accept the COA#1-2016 application and
that it does not significantly affect any surrounding buildings, and complies with the Historic
District guidelines. The motion was approved unanimously.
Next item on the agenda is a Certificate of Appropriateness #2-2016, Barbara Little, 614 Main
Street. The COA has not been completed. Ms. Little stated she wanted to inform the commission
that the renters (River Valley Antiques) who moved into her building broke the front windows
trying to move a stuffed moose inside. Arkansas glass will be replacing them with paned windows.
Ms. Little wanted to know if she could submit the COA by email before the next HDC meeting due
to the building being exposed without the windows and looking unsightly with the boards. There
will also be a sign requested along with the replacement of the windows. Chairman Willis informed
Ms. Little to bring the COA to the planning department so it can be distributed by email to the
commissioners, along with drawings and pictures of what she is proposing.
Next item on the agenda is for training dates for Catherine Barrier, CLG Coordinator from Little
Rock. Chairman Willis stated Ms. Barrier would like to come and train the commission during a
working lunch (11:30-1:00), and to select some days in March that will work for us. The email that
Ms. Barrier sent included some dates marked on it that will not work for her, so after discussion
between the commission, the following dates for Ms. Barrier to choose from: will be the 16`h, 29`''
and the 30`'' of March. Julie will email Catherine Barrier with the dates for her to choose from, and
let the commission know.
Next on the agenda was the signage discussion. Chairman Willis asked Cathy Gifford if she has
heard anything about the wayfinding signs for the Historic District? Ms. Gifford stated they have
chosen a design and are getting prices now, but no funding is available. A suggestion was made to
use the signage grant funds for supplies on the new street signs for Historic Downtown. The street
signs will be needed for the geocache tours on Main Street. Lonnie London will bring the invoice for
supplies at the next meeting.
Next on the agenda was for ideas or projects for the CLG Grant 2016. A suggestion was made for
covered trolley stops with benches for the tours downtown. Julie Copple will get with Maryl Koeth,
A&P Commission, to find out ideas of where they can be located. The grant can also be used for
the Forum 2016 training. The interested commissioners are Chairman Lisa Willis, Vice Chairman
Vickie Davis, Cathy Gifford, Lonnie London and staff Julie Copple.
Derald Porter brought in the sample of the final coin. He will order 1,000 coins next week, well
under the $300 allowed. Chairman Lisa Willis brought up a discussion with the commission
concerning help for local home owners who would like to have their home on the National Historic
Registry. This would be good timing with the new trolley, because it could include tours of the
homes on the registry. Part of what we do as a commission is to help home owners get on the
registry.
A motion was made by Paul Gifford and seconded by Derald Porter to adjourn. The motion was
approved unanimously.
4,
Lisa Willis, Chairman
Joseph Hurst, Planning Director