STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The applicant is requesting to add 418 East Virginia Street to the Local Register of Historic Places and to amend the Official Zoning Map to change the zoning classification from the SCD (Special Character District) zoning district to the SCD (Special Character District) zoning district with Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO). The building was built in 1938 as an apartment building containing four apartments. The building was converted into an office in the early 1970s. The property is located on the north side of East Virginia Street approximately 85 feet west of the intersection of North Meridian and East Virginia Street and contains approximately 0.18 acres. The building is an excellent example of intricate Ochlocknee clay bricks, which were popular in the 1930s. The building also exhibits a signature archway entrance to the building as well as awnings on the windows. The proposed ordinance, including a location map, is included as Attachment 1. The applicant is Native Born Properties, LLC.
On July 1, 2009, the Tallahassee-Leon County Architectural Review Board recommended that the subject property (Parcel ID 21-36-40-012-3110) be added to the local register of historic places as reflected in the Order of Recommendation (See Attachment 2). The addition of this property on the local register would make it eligible for certain City grant and loan programs, and would also provide additional protections to the building in the event of redevelopment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Option 1: Adopt Ordinance 09-Z-41, thereby adding the property
to the Local Register of Historic Places and amending the Official Zoning Map
to change the zoning classification from the SCD (Special Character District)
zoning district to the SCD (Special Character District) zoning district with
Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO), based on the findings of the Planning Commission
and any evidence submitted at the Hearing hereon.
FISCAL IMPACT
Structures which have a Historic Preservation Overlay may be exempt from certain land use and permitting fees. Additionally, the Tallahassee Economic and Community Development Department sponsors a grant and low-interest loan program for qualifying HPO properties.
Wayne Tedder, Director, Planning Department
Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager
For information, please contact: Mary Jean Yarbrough, Ext. 6428.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
Original Zoning: Prior to adoption of the City of Tallahassee Zoning, Site Plan and Subdivision Regulations in 1992, this parcel was zoned OR (Office Residential).
November 1997: The City of Tallahassee implemented “Site Specific Zoning” and the subject site was zoned Special Character District (SCD).
July 1, 2009: The Architectural Review Board voted unanimously to include the property at 418 East Virginia Street in the Tallahassee-Leon County Register of Historic Places (Attachment 3).
October 6, 2009: The Tallahassee/Leon County Planning Commission held a public hearing on this item and voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend approval of Ordinance 09-Z-41.
October 7, 2009: This ordinance was introduced to the City Commission.
Built in 1938, this building is located within the Calhoun Street Historic District adjacent to three historically registered buildings. This historic district is listed on both the local and the national registers of historic places and contains Classical Revival and Victorian homes from the antebellum period to craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s. This particular building, with its distinctive barrel vaulted entranceway is an example of the district’s later construction.
Planning Commission Discussion
The Tallahassee/Leon County Planning Commission held a public hearing on this item and voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend approval of Ordinance 09-Z-41. There were no public speakers.
Public Notification and Response
The application is a Type D review and requires City Commission action. This request has been noticed and advertised in accordance with the provisions of the Tallahassee Land Development Regulations (Attachment 4). The Planning Department mailed 152 notices to property owners within 1,000 feet of the subject property. To date, the Planning Department has not received any verbal or written response to the notice.
ISSUES
1. Section 10-318 of the Tallahassee Land Development Code, states that the following criteria shall be considered for listing on the Local Register:
(1) A site, building, structure, object, or district must meet the following criteria before it may be listed on the Local Register:
(a) It possesses integrity of location, design setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association; or,
(b) It is associated with events or persons that are significant to local, state, or national history; or it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
(c) It has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.(2) A site, building, structure, or object located in a Local Register of Historic Places district shall be designated as contributing to that district if it meets the following criteria:
(a) The property is one, which, by its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association adds to the district’s sense of time and place and historical development.
(b) A property should not be considered contributing if the property’s integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association have been so altered that the overall integrity of the property has been irretrievably lost.
(c) Structures that have been built within the past 50 (fifty) years shall not be considered to contribute to the significance of a district, unless a strong justification concerning their historical or architectural merit is given or the historic attributes of the district are considered to be less than 50 (fifty) years old.(3) Section 10-317 of the Tallahassee Land Development Code provides that the need for overlay zones is established by the City based on the need for special protective measures in that area. The Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) zone is specifically intended to apply to properties listed on the Local Register of Historic Places.
The historic preservation officer and the Architectural Review Board (ARB) have determined that the property meets the above requirements, and therefore recommended the property be added to the Local Register of Historic Places (Attachment 3, including photos).
2. School Capacity. Is there capacity in area schools? What effects on enrollment could the proposed rezoning have on area schools?
Per the Leon County School Board, a determination cannot be made at this time. The item will be further reviewed for possible mitigation during final Site Plan review (Attachment 5).
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
N/A
OPTIONS
1. Adopt Ordinance 09-Z-41, thereby adding the property to the Local Register of Historic Places and amending the Official Zoning Map to change the zoning classification from the SCD (Special Character District) zoning district to the SCD (Special Character District) zoning district with Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO), based on the findings of the Planning Commission and any evidence submitted at the Hearing hereon.
2. Do not adopt Ordinance 09-Z-41, thereby retaining the existing SDC (Special Character District) zoning district with no HPO (Historic Preservation Overlay), based on the findings of the City Commission.
3. Provide alternative direction to staff.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES
1.
Proposed Ordinance
2. ARB Order of Recommendation
3. Tallahassee-Leon County Architectural Review Board Nomination
Application Packet & Minutes
4. Tallahassee Democrat Advertisement
5. School Impact Analysis Form