HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistoric Preservation Commission August 11, 2025 Historic Preservation Commission
MINUTES
August 11, 2025
President Ed Siewert called to order the August 11,2025 Historic Preservation Commission
meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Building Commission Conference Room at City Hall, 500
Quartermaster Court.
Roll Call
Members present were Jourdan Ford, Lisa Green, Maggie Moore, and Jason Schlatter. Members
Johnna Anderson and Paul Torp were absent. Also present were Laura Renwick, Historic
Preservation staff advisor and Administrative Assistant Shane Shaughnessy.
Approval of the Agenda
Lisa Green made a motion to approve the agenda for the August 11, 2025 regular meeting,
seconded by Jourdan Ford and approved unanimously, 5-0.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Jourdan Ford made a motion to approve the April 14, 2025 minutes, seconded by Jason Schlatter
and approved unanimously, 5-0.
Certificates of Appropriateness
None.
Other Business
Ed introduced the next item on the agenda-District Inventory and Possible Areas for Historic
District Designations. Laura said that what is currently being regulated by the Preservation
Commission is just a portion of Riverside Drive and Spring Street. However there is a significant
portion of the National Register Historic District that does not have any protections: this is a purely
honorary designation, although it does open up some opportunities for grants and tax credits. She
said that the City of Jeffersonville is interested in protecting more areas to protect the City's
historic nature and that this was a recommendation in the City's recent Comprehensive Plan. She
said they have looked at several areas of expansion-the area around Big Four Station along Market
Street which are under development pressure because of their location,areas along Pearl Street
which have a number of historic resources that are worthy of protection, as well as around Wall
Street and Market Street which have a number of historic buildings. She said that there are a
number of areas in the National Historic District, areas along Market Street, and the Court Avenue
corridor that have historic relevance but have no protection currently and that it would be nice for
the Board to have a say on the development in these areas. She said there were two options-adding
areas to the local Historic District which would give the Board the authority over exterior
alterations,demolitions, and new buildings or designating areas as a Conservation District which
would only regulate demolitions,additions,new buildings, and movement of buildings. She said
that the Board will want to work with neighborhood associations and property owners on whatever
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is proposed. Ultimately, the changes would have to be codified by an ordinance passed by City
Council.
The Board discussed who were the active heads or members of the neighborhood groups in the
area,Rose Hill,Franklin Commons, and Port Fulton. Maggie asked what would happen if the
neighborhoods were against this which Laura said is why engaging with the people in this area and
getting their buy-in is important for getting it approved by Council. Lisa asked if this is something
the City was behind to which Shane said that looking into the expansion of the Historic District is a
recommendation in the City's Comprehensive Plan and new Downtown Master Plan,both of
which were adopted by City Council and that City Staff is willing to help with the effort however
they can.
Jourdan said that there wasn't really any negatives to being added to the Conservation District.
Laura said that's correct as the Conservation District doesn't regulate every change to the building
but does give people protection that their neighborhood will not dramatically change. Maggie said
she agrees and thinks that the area along West Market would make sense to be added to the full
Historic District given its historic nature. Ed asked Maggie if she thinks that area would be against
being added to the Historic District which Maggie said it could be hit or miss but that the benefits
should outweigh the negatives. Ed said that they should reach out to Jay Ellis with Jeff Main Street
to get his input and use him as a resource to reach out to the neighborhood. Ed said that they
should focus on building momentum through outreach like meetings and presentations.
Jason asked about the differences with the Conservation District and the Historic District which
Laura said houses in the Conservation District wouldn't have to come to the Board for alterations
to windows or siding,just if there is a new building or expansion or demolition.Jason said that the
benefits of the Conservation District is that it protects people's neighborhoods without putting a
burden on them and that's how they should explain it to people. He said the Conservation District
is to protect people's homes and neighborhoods while the Historic District is about protecting the
historic nature of those areas.
Jason asked beyond just maintaining the City's historic nature,what other benefits does the City
see in expanding these areas. Shane said that whenever Staff has a meeting regarding the future of
the City,what they commonly hear is people concerned about the loss in quality of neighborhoods,
wanting to maintain the City's small-town feel, and maintain the City's history and that's why this
has been recommended in multiple plans. He said that it will be important to discuss the specifics
of what's been changed with people to ensure that confusion doesn't arise and that people don't
think they're being burdened by the changes.Ultimately,these changes are aimed at protecting the
older areas of the City and maintaining their integrity.Jason asked if there are additional funding
with being designated into these areas which Shane said he didn't think it would be from a City
perspective but could open opportunities with other organizations such as Jeff Main Street. Laura
said that most funding from the state is tied to National Register status,not local status,but that
there could be an opportunity to look at expanding the National Register boundary.
Maggie said that Rose Hill had been approached before about being added to the Historic District
and that the residents at the time weren't interested. Ed asked why it was denied which Laura said
that the people just didn't want to be told what to do with their properties. Laura said that they may
feel differently now as they were approached prior to a lot of the construction around the Big Four
and that there had been significant changes to the area since.
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Ed asked about Court Avenue which is included as being possibly part of the Conservation District
but is outside of the National Register District. Laura said that it would be difficult to add portions
of this area to the National District because of the quality of the buildings,but that there are a
number of buildings that are historic and worthy of some form of protection. Jason asked if it
would make more sense to add these areas parts at a time rather than all at once,which Laura said
that it would make more sense to solidify the area and take it all as one ordinance to Council.Jason
asked if there are other areas of the City it would make sense to add which Ed said the only other
area that would make sense would be portions of Claysburg. Shane said that there is an option to
designate individual buildings as part of the Historic District or Conservation District that is not
contiguous to the proposed area.
Lisa made a motion to begin the process of talking to neighborhood groups about these proposals,
seconded by Maggie.The motion was passed unanimously, 5-0.
Shane said from a logistics perspective,that the Board will need to be cognizant of not creating
quorum at these neighborhood meetings,otherwise the meetings would need to be formally
advertised.Jason asked what the best way to advertise these meetings would be which Shane said
that it would be important for some of the Board members to be present to explain the proposal
with Staff there to assist. Shane said that advertising the meetings will be a joint effort of the
Board, Staff,the neighborhood associations,and other parties. Laura said she will reach out to
Rose Hill and Jay Ellis to start that process while Ed will reach out to Franklin Commons and Port
Fulton.
Laura said that she had been trying to reach the developers for 409 Spring Street who had installed
an inappropriate residential door and hasn't had much luck. She said that Shane will be sending
them a letter to try and get them to change the door to what was approved by the Board. She said
she had also approved signs for 409 Spring Street and 310 Spring Street.
Lisa Green made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Maggie Moore. The meeting was adjourned
at 6:05pm.
Minutes Approved:
Submitted by:
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