HDC Minutes 03-10-2022HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES
March 10, 2022
The Van Buren Historic District Cotntnission held its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. in the City
Council Room of the Municipal Complex. Commissioners present: Chairman Vickie Davis, Vice Chairman Derald Porter,
Lindsay Dodson, Paul Gibson, Cathy Gifford, and Andy Knox. Others in attendance: Planning Director Wally Bailey,
Commission Secretary Jennifer Willoughby, Trace Burba of s112/414 Main Street, Kyle Salyer of Hawkins -Weir Engineering,
and Timothy Varner of MAHG Engineering.
1. Approval of Minutes from February 10, 2022. A motion was made by Commissioner Paul Gibson and seconded by
Commissioner Cathy Gifford to approve the minutes. The motion was approved unanimously.
2. COA #3-2022-412 & 414 Main —Tracy Burba. A Certificate of Appropriateness was submitted to paint the front
exterior facade and for future new signage, with the intent to open a new retail space in June of 2022. The paint colors for the
wooden store front and post/columns are listed as: Jewett White and Flat Black. The design for a new business sign and new
window lettering was not submitted in time for this meeting; the Commission only voted on the colors for the front facade. A
motion was made by Commissioner Paul Gibson and seconded by Commissioner Derald Porter that nothing in the proposed
design affects the adjacent downtown buildings. A motion to approve paint colors for the front facade (10.8 Color) was made
by Commissioner Cathy Gifford and seconded by Commissioner Derald Porter. The motions were approved unanimously.
3. DowuYown Streetscape Recap —Planning Director Wally Bailey. Wally Bailey, Kyle Salyer of Hawkins -Weir
Engineering, and Tim Varner of MAHG Engineering all spoke to the Commission about the Streetscape Project and tried to
answer any remaining questions or concerns after the first presentation. Mt. Bailey presented that there are 15 CLG cities in
Arkansas that have already implemented a downtown strcetscape project and showed pictures of those cities. Another concern
that Mr. Bailey and NIL. Salyer addressed was that the original limestone along Main Street will only be removed at bump -out
sites and where drainage repairs are made; with the intent to salvage and reuse the limestone when possible. Mr. Varner stated
that only streetscape design for road and sidewalk are being approved now with this grant. Cosmetic designs such as umbrellas,
benches, tables, etc. will be approved by the Commission at a later time. To address the concern of parking loss on Main Street,
Mr. Varner noted that a parking study was done and showed ample parking in the downtown area. The Commission mentioned
getting signs downtown to show where additional parking lots are located.
4. New/Old Business
a. CLG Grant Update —City
of Van Buren has been awarded a
grant of �25,095 Exom the AHPP to fund the resurvey
of Main STYeet NRHP
Historic Disteiet and training
expenses
fox commissioners and staff.
b. Signs on Fairview Cetnetety Gates —not on the agenda but it was brought up during the meeting by
Commissioner Derald Porter that a group out oELiCde Rock, Sons oEthe Confederacy, were cleaning Confederate
Headstones inside the cemetery on Saturday, March 5, 2022, without the city's prior knowledge or permission. The
headstones need to be protected from improper cleaning solutions that could damage the headstones. A motion
was made by Commissioner Cathy Gifford and seconded by Commissioner Lindsay Dodson to recommend to the
Mayor that signs be placed on the gates of Fairview Cemetery stating no work is to be done on headstones without
city approval. The motion was approved unanimously.
5. Adjourn. A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Paul Gibson seconded by Commissioner Derald Porter.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Vickie Davis, Chairman
J nmfer W ghby, Secreta