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[Landmark Commission on September 15, 2025.]
WE'LL START THE MEETING OFF WITH ATTENDANCE. COMMISSIONER ALLEN.PRESENT. VICE CHAIRPERSON BOURGEOIS. PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER CHASTAIN. PRESENT. CHAIRPERSON CLICK.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER FITZ. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER LANGDELE.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER SMITH. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER STETZEL-THOMPSON.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER THIERRY IS ABSENT. EX-OFFICIO, COUNCIL MEMBER SHARON LEWIS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS IN ANY OF OUR CASES TODAY? NO. OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE WILL GO ON TO THE MINUTES.
DID ANYONE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING ON AUGUST 18TH? SEE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT NEED TO BE MADE? NO.
OKAY. WE WILL ACCEPT THOSE AS PRESENTED. IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY NON-AGENDA ITEMS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON. NEW BUSINESS AND ASSOCIATED PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR FIRST CASE 25LC-038.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS. REQUEST AT 2323 AVENUE O.
HELLO, EVERYONE. SO THIS IS 25LC-038 AND IT'S LOCATED AT 2323 AVENUE O, AND THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRUCTURE, INCLUDING FRONT PORCH RAILINGS.
SO 11 PUBLIC NOTICES WERE SENT OUT. AND THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY COVERS THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE FRONT PORCH, INCLUDING ADDING RAILINGS.
THE RAILINGS WOULD BE METAL AND BE SIMILAR TO THE STANDARD HANDRAIL DETAIL IN EXHIBITS A AND B, THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED THAT THE RAILING IS DESIRED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS.
NOTE THE HOUSE IS A BED AND BREAKFAST AND ENHANCED SAFETY FOR GUESTS IS DESIRED.
ALSO NOTE THE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC AREAS.
THE STAFF FINDS THE PROPOSED CHANGES GENERALLY CONFORM TO THE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC AREAS.
SOME OF THE STANDARD CONDITIONS ARE, ANY SIGNIFICANT ALTERATION FROM THE DESIGN APPROVED BY THE LANDMARK COMMISSION SHALL REQUIRE THE REQUEST TO BE RETURNED TO THE COMMISSION FOR REVIEW. THE APPLICANT SHALL OBTAIN A BUILDING PERMIT PRIOR TO BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION.
ANY ADDITIONAL WORK WILL REQUIRE A SEPARATE BUILDING PERMIT FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, AND MAY REQUIRE REVIEW BY THE LANDMARK COMMISSION AND OR THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION. THE LANDMARK COMMISSION APPROVAL SHALL EXPIRE AFTER TWO YEARS IF NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARD THE COMPLETION OF A PROJECT, UNLESS THE APPLICANT FILES A REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION, OR CAN SHOW PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETION OF A PROJECT.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.110 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
SHOULD THE APPLICANT BE AGGRIEVED BY THE DECISION OF THE LANDMARK COMMISSION A LETTER REQUESTING AN APPEAL MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER WITHIN 20 DAYS OF THE COMMISSION DECISION. ADDITIONALLY, A ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY THE NEXT RESPECTIVE DEADLINE DATE. AND WE ALSO HAVE A FEW EXHIBITS.
SO THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE AREN'T ANY RAILINGS. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE, HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROPOSED RAILINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. YOU CAN SEE IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER THE PICTURE CUT OUT ONTO THE STEPS AS WELL AS A FEW OTHERS AT THE BOTTOM. NEXT. AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES FROM THE NORTH, SOUTH AND THE EAST. AND THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.
THANK YOU REBECCA. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO. OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 25LC-038.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE? AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT? HI.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME FOR US AND SIGN IN.
HI, POLLY JONES. HI. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT?
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WELL, WE'RE JUST PUTTING IN HANDRAILS AND. THAT'S IT.DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PROJECT TODAY? THIS CASE, EXCUSE ME. NO. OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION.
GO AHEAD. CASE 25LC-038. I RECOMMEND WE APPROVE PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'LL SECOND. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE CASE 25LC-039 AT 711 14TH STREET. A REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
ALRIGHTY. SO AS STATED, THIS IS AT 711 14TH STREET.
THERE ARE FIVE PUBLIC NOTICES SENT AND OF THOSE WERE RETURNED.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO REPLACE THE EXISTING WOOD WINDOWS WITH WOOD WINDOWS, THE SAME STYLE, APPEARANCE AND DIMENSIONS, AND REPLACE THE EXISTING COMPOSITION SHINGLE ROOF, I BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY SORT OF A COMPOSITION TILE WITH STANDING SEAM METAL.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS ARE INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT A OF THE STAFF REPORT.
PLEASE NOTE THE DESIGN STANDARDS WHICH MAY BE APPLICABLE.
THAT IS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
STAFF NOTES THE PRESERVATION OF EXISTING HISTORIC WINDOWS IS STILL PREFERABLE.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDS ONCE AGAIN THAT EXISTING WINDOWS BE REBUILT AS A PREFERENCE.
HOWEVER, WE DO NOT OBJECT TO REBUILDING THE WINDOWS EXACTLY AS THEY ARE WITH NEW THE EXISTING ROOF MATERIAL IS NOT ORIGINAL, SO REPLACEMENT WITH A MODERN ROOFING MATERIAL SUCH AS STANDARD SEAM IS ACCEPTABLE AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS HERE. OF COURSE. HERE'S THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AS IT SITS TODAY.
YOU CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AND MADE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE WE HAVE THE APPLICANTS DRAWING SHOWING THE THE WINDOWS TO REPLACE WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF THEM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
HERE WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS THAT THE APPLICANT PROVIDED OF THE CONDITION OF THE EXISTING WINDOWS.
NEXT SLIDE. SOME MORE PHOTOS OF THOSE WINDOWS TO BE REPLACED.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND HERE WE HAVE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY SEEN LIKE FROM THE ALLEY LOOKING GENERALLY I BELIEVE THAT'S NORTH WEST THE PROPERTY TO THE NORTH, THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST, THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH. AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.
THANK YOU. DANIEL. DO ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO. YOU IT'S LIKELY THAT THEY'RE NOT ORIGINAL, CORRECT? IT IS BELIEVED THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT ORIGINAL, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
OKAY. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE SIX OVER SIX IS WHAT Y'ALL BELIEVE? IT'S NOT. THAT'S PART OF IT. AND JUST WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO KNOW FOR SURE.
BUT YEAH, SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE THE DESIGN.
YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WHAT'S THE CURRENT ROOF RIGHT NOW? IT APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF A, LIKE, POSSIBLY A REPLICA TILE.
I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A MIXED ROOF. I THINK YOU HAVE ASPHALT ON THE TOP AND THE AND THE ENTRYWAY IS, IS THE TILE THAT DANIEL'S MENTIONING. YEAH. I SAW THE TILE, I JUST COULDN'T SEE THE TOP.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO. OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 25LC-039.
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HELLO. SO WE'RE ASKING TO REPLACE ALL OF THE WINDOWS.THE WINDOWS RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE ORIGINAL BECAUSE THE DIVISIONS IN THEM ARE SO SMALL.
LIKE THAT'S PART OF OUR ISSUES WITH REPAIRING THEM.
SO WE WERE TRYING TO PRESERVE THEM AND REPAIR THEM.
BUT JUST IN CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD NOW, WE FOUND THAT WE CAN'T DO IT.
OUR BUILDERS NOT CONFIDENT. THE WINDOWS WERE PROPOSING TO USE OR COLBY, THEY'RE LIKE HIGH END.
THEY SPECIALIZE IN YOU KNOW, MATCHING HISTORIC WINDOWS TO THE PROPORTIONS, THE DIVISIONS, EVERYTHING WILL MATCH WHAT'S THERE RIGHT NOW.
AND THE THE ROOF IS THE IS THE SHINGLE AND THEN THE TILE IS THE THE FRONT PORCH AWNING.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AND THANK Y'ALL.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION OR PICTURES SHOWING OLDER WINDOW DESIGNS DO YOU? THE NEW, THE PROPOSED? NO. THE, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE PICTURES FROM THE 20S OR 30S OR ANYTHING, SO ON. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CASE 25LC-039? NO. OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR A MOTION FROM THE COMMISSION.
I'LL MAKE ONE. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE 25LC-039 FOR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
STRIKING CONDITION 1.A ABOUT REPAIRING AND REBUILDING THE WINDOWS.
IS THERE A SECOND? YOU SECOND. THANK YOU. SHARON. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO.
OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES. MOVE ON.
WITH OUR LAST ITEM. WE HAVE 25LC-037, A LANDMARK DESIGNATION REQUEST.
1201 POST OFFICE. ALL RIGHT, SO AS STATED A LANDMARK DESIGNATION REQUEST, WHICH THOSE ARE ALWAYS FUN. I THINK WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE 26 PUBLIC NOTICES WERE SENT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THOSE WERE RETURNED. I DID NOT SEE ANY.
SO, AS STATED, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A DESIGNATION AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.
THE PETER AND ELENA MAURI GROCERY AND DWELLING AT 1201 POST OFFICE IS A SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF A LATE 19TH CENTURY GALVESTON CORNER STORE CONSTRUCTED IN 1893 AND, OF COURSE, IN 1900 STORM SURVIVOR. IT EMBODIES THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE IN GALVESTON, REFLECTING THE ITALIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCE AND CULTURE. THE PROPERTY PLAYED A ROLE AS A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE.
RESIDENTS BOUGHT GROCERIES, OYSTERS, FISH, BEER, AND LATER SANDWICHES AND ICE CREAM, MAKING A HUB OF DAILY LIFE IN THE EAST END HISTORIC DISTRICT. ITS ARCHITECTURE IS AN APPEARANCE, IS VERY INDICATIVE OF THE CORNER STORES, AND IT DOES STILL RETAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF INTEGRITY DESPITE A FEW MINOR ADDITIONS. PETER MAURI'S OPERATION OF A SUCCESSFUL GROCERY AND TAVERN FROM THE PROPERTY ILLUSTRATES THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND RESILIENCE OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES DURING A TRANSFORMATIVE PERIOD IN GALVESTON'S HISTORY.
ELENA MAURI CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE STORE AFTER PETER'S DEATH IN 1903, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS A EXAMPLE OF A WOMAN LED BUSINESS IN EARLY 20TH CENTURY GALVESTON.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HEAR THIS REQUEST AT THE SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2025 MEETING.
CITY COUNCIL HAS A FINAL DECISION REGARDING THE REQUEST AND THEY WILL CONSIDER THIS AT THE OCTOBER 23RD, 2025 MEETING. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH THE STANDARD CONDITION ONE IN THE STAFF REPORT, AND WE HAVE A PHOTO HERE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AS IT LOOKS TODAY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THEN THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH, EAST, SOUTH AND WEST.
AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. THANK YOU DANIEL.
ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO.
OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 25LC-037.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY? NO.
OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE CASE 25LC-037.
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I GUESS I'LL DO THE NUMBER. 25LC-O37. ON 25. LC-037.LC-037. I RECOMMEND PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU RECOMMEND. YOU RECOMMEND? I RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
SORRY, I LEFT OUT A WORD. I SECOND. MR. ALLEN SECONDED.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THOSE AGAINST? OKAY, THE MOTION PASSES. THAT'S IT FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
BECAUSE THE OCTOBER 6TH HAS BEEN CANCELED. NO.
OKAY. THE TIME IS 4:15. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.