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[Landmark Commission on December 15, 2025.]
DECEMBER 15TH AND THE TIME IS 4:00. WE'LL START OUR MEETING OFF WITH ATTENDANCE.HI, EMILY, CAN YOU HEAR US? HAD TROUBLE WITH IT LAST TIME WE USED IT.
EMILY, ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU UNMUTE YOUR MIC? OKAY. SHE MIGHT BE REJOINING. YEAH, OKAY. OH MY GOD.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER ALLEN? HERE. VICE PRESIDENT.
VICE CHAIRPERSON BOURGEOIS IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER CHAISTAIN? PRESENT. CHAIRPERSON CLICK? PRESENT. COMMISSIONER FITZ? PRESENT. COMMISSIONER LANGDALE? PRESENT. COMMISSIONER SMITH? PRESENT. COMMISSIONER STETZEL-THOMPSON? PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER THIERRY? PRESENT. EX OFFICIO COUNCIL MEMBER SHARON LEWIS IS ABSENT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH ANY OF OUR CASES TODAY? NO. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY NON-AGENDA ITEMS? NO. OKAY. WE'LL GO ON TO BUSINESS. WE'LL START WITH CASE 25LC-051.
REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS, 2114 AVENUE O.
OKAY, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR A GARAGE APARTMENT.
6 NOTICES WERE SENT, 0 RETURNED. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING APPROVAL OF SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF A TWO-STORY REAR GARAGE APARTMENT.
THE STRUCTURE WILL BE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE ALLEY IN THE REAR OF THE HOUSE.
PLEASE SEE THE STAFF REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED MATERIALS AND THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
CONFORMANCE WITH THE DESIGN STANDARDS. STAFF FINDS THE PROPOSED WORK GENERALLY CONFORMS TO THE ELEMENTS PRESCRIBED IN THE DESIGN STANDARDS REGARDING MATERIALS, SIZE, PLACEMENT, AND MASSING IN COMPARISON TO THE HISTORIC MAIN STRUCTURE.
ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS ARE PROPOSED FOR SOME OF THE BUILDING ELEMENTS.
THIS IS PERMISSIBLE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND HELPS TO DISTINGUISH THE BUILDING AS NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THE RAILINGS ARE SIMPLE SQUARE DESIGN, TYPICALLY APPROVED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS, AND THE GARAGE APARTMENT IS DISTINCTLY SUBORDINATE TO THE MAIN HOUSE AND DOES NOT DETRACT FROM OR COMPETE WITH ITS SURROUNDINGS.
STAFF HAS THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS. ENCLOSED FOUNDATION.
AS PROPOSED, THE FOUNDATION IS NOT FULLY ENCLOSED.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE INSTALLATION OF SOLID SKIRTING TO SCREEN THE FOUNDATION.
BOARD AND BATTEN SCREENING IS A COMMON AND APPROPRIATE SKIRTING MATERIAL FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES. THE DESIGN STANDARDS ALLOW FOR THE APPLICATION OF SMOOTH CEMENTITIOUS FIBERBOARD AND APPLIED ONE BY TWO INCH WOOD BATTENS AT 12IN ON CENTER FOR THE SKIRTING OF HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
ALLEY ENCROACHMENT. THE SITE PLAN SHOWS AN ENCROACHMENT OF THE GARAGE APARTMENT INTO THE ALLEY. ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION MUST BE FULLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND NO ENCROACHMENT INTO THE ALLEY IS PERMITTED.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
1.A, THE FOUNDATION SHALL BE ENCLOSED WITH BOARD AND BATTEN SKIRTING.
ITEMS 2 THROUGH 5 ARE STANDARD AND WE HAVE SOME PICTURES.
THIS IS THE, AN AERIAL SHOWING THE LOCATION AND A PHOTO OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE HAVE THE SITE PLAN AND THEN THE NEXT TWO SLIDES ARE THE ELEVATIONS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. THANK YOU.
DO ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO. OKAY, WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 25LC-051.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT? IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND SIGN IN FOR US, PLEASE. HELLO. EXCUSE ME. HELLO. MY NAME IS KATE BLACK.
I'M THE ARCHITECT FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THE HOMEOWNERS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
OKAY, MY APOLOGIES FOR ENCROACHMENT IN THE ALLEY.
I THOUGHT WE HAD FIXED THAT, AND SO WE'LL ENSURE THAT IT IS NOT ENCROACHING IN THE ALLEY.
REGARDING THE DOWNSTAIR THE GROUND LEVEL, WE HAD CHOSEN LOUVERED WALLS VERSUS A SOLID WALL BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SIDE FACING INTO THEIR BACKYARD, THEY HAD HOPED TO HAVE THIS BE AS OPEN AS
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POSSIBLE AND SO THAT AIR CAN FLOW. THEY DON'T.EVEN THOUGH WE ARE DOING GARAGE DOORS, THEY DON'T PLAN ON PARKING CARS IN HERE.
BUT THEY DO PLAN ON STORING ITEMS. AND SO, WE WERE HOPING FOR IT TO BE MORE OPEN AIR.
IS THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING LOUVERED, WOOD LOUVERS VERSUS BOARD AND BATTEN FEASIBLE? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. IT'S. THAT'S A DECISION OF THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.
WE WERE. IT'S FACING THE BACK, IS FACING THE HOUSE.
SO, THE LOUVERS FACE THE ALLEY. AND WHAT'S, IT'S COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE HOUSE.
SO ANYTHING FACING THE EXTERIOR IS LOUVERED. AND TO ALLOW FOR.
I'M SORRY, CAN YOU CATHERINE OR WHOEVER, SORRY.
CAN YOU GO TO THE OTHER ELEVATIONS? THIS. SO WE CAN CHANGE, SO RIGHT NOW IT'S LAP SIDING.
WE CAN CHANGE THAT WALL TO, WHERE THERE'S, LIKE THE.
SO THAT RIGHT NOW IS LAP SIDING. THAT COULD BE BOARD AND BATTEN.
IF THAT'S PREFERRED, THAT'S FINE. THE OTHER SIDE IS FACING THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
IF THERE'S A FENCE UP AGAINST IT. AND THAT'S LOUVERED TO ALLOW FOR THE AIRFLOW.
AND IN THE FRONT, RIGHT IN. THE FRONT IS OPEN.
YEAH. YEAH. OH, SORRY. OKAY. AND THE REST IS OPEN.
YEAH. YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP, THOUGH, IF YOU WANT TO TALK LISA. YES.
JUST SAY YOUR NAME. I DIDN'T GET DRESSED UP. CINDY LAUFER, THE OWNER.
OKAY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I THINK JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, ON THE ALLEY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING BOARD AND BATTEN WITH A WALK-THROUGH DOOR, NO GARAGE DOOR. NO GARAGE DOOR, AND THEN ALL THE OTHER SIDES, EXCEPT FOR IMMEDIATELY FACING THE HOUSE, ARE LOUVERED. THE OTHER TWO SIDES ARE OPEN. OKAY, SO THERE'S ONLY TWO.
IT'S AN L SHAPE FOR ENCLOSURES. SO ONE IS THIS WALL WHICH WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS LAP SIDING.
AND THAT CAN BE BOARD AND BATTEN IF THAT'S PREFERRED.
AND THE SIDE FACING THE EAST, THE EASTERN NEIGHBOR, WHICH IS REALLY JUST RIGHT BY A FENCE IS LOUVERED. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THAT, IS THE FRONT LOUVERED YOU, FACING THE POOL? FACING THE POOL. OH YEAH. AND THEN. NO. I'M SO TURNED AROUND AT THE MOMENT.
OKAY. YES. GOD. IT'S EASIER. WELL, THAT'S THE SIDE OF THE HOT TUB.
YEAH. WHICH WAS OPEN. YEAH. I HAVE A QUESTION.
ON EITHER SIDE IS OPEN. YEAH. SO THE DOORS FACING THE ALLEY.
YES. IT'S A PERMANENT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GARAGE DOOR.
NO. SHE CAN'T ACTUALLY PULL HER CAR BECAUSE OF HOW TIGHT IT IS RIGHT THERE.
THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY PULL A CAR INTO THAT SPACE BECAUSE OF HOW TIGHT IT IS.
AND SO THEY OPTED TO NOT PUT A GARAGE DOOR IN.
THE ALLEY IS SO NARROW, SWINGING YOUR CAR IN AND OUT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
IN FACT, THE ALLEY ENDS AT OUR HOUSE. OKAY. OH, SO YOU'RE A DEAD END THERE? YES. OKAY. AND THE NARROW, THE THE NEIGHBOR'S FENCES START TO COME IN, IN, IN.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AN ELECTRICAL LINE AT THE END.
IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IT AS AN ALLEY. MY CONCERN WITH CLOSING THE WHOLE THING IS MILDEW.
IT JUST STUNK. SO, WHAT I ASKED KATE TO DO WAS THE PART OF THE HOUSE THAT FACES THE BACKYARD.
SO IT'S HERE. A POOL IN MY HOME. I ASKED KATE TO PUT LOUVERS THERE, DECORATIVE LOUVERS.
AND THEN ON EACH SIDE, ONE SIDE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING WELL, THIS SIDE, WHICH WOULD BE THE RIGHT FOR YOU GUYS? THIS SIDE HAS A FENCE BETWEEN THE NEIGHBOR AND US, AND I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THAT OPEN FOR AIR.
AND THEN KATE PUT THE DOOR TO WALK INTO THE YARD ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
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SO IT WOULD JUST BE ONE DOOR. THE FRONT HAS LOUVERS AND THE TWO SIDES ARE OPEN FOR AIR AND HUMIDITY, AND SO. I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH HOW DILAPIDATED THINGS GET BEING ENCLOSED LIKE THAT WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING OR, IT'S PRETTY GROSS. SO I WANTED TO AVOID ROT. IS THERE A FENCE ON EACH SIDE OF THE GARAGE IN THE ALLEY? IT'S NOT OPEN LIKE THE STAIRCASE WON'T BE OPEN TO THE ALLEY.THE FENCE IN MY YARD. OKAY, BUT IT'S, THERE'S A FENCE THERE.
YES, MA'AM. OKAY, OKAY. LIKE A PRIVACY FENCE.
A WOODEN FENCE. YEAH. OKAY. AND ON THE SIDES, DO YOU HAVE PRIVACY FENCES? BETWEEN OUR, BETWEEN THE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FROM THE STREET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR HOUSE, THERE IS A FENCE BETWEEN THE NEIGHBOR AND MYSELF.
YEAH. OKAY. WHEN YOU TAKE DOWN ALL THE FENCE AND THEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE THE STAIRCASE IS GOING TO BE OR THE LEFT FOR YOU, WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE THAT OPEN, BUT IT'S ALL INSIDE MY YARD.
SO YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE HOUSE FROM ANYWHERE EXCEPT INSIDE MY YARD.
OR THE DOOR FROM THE ALLEY, YES, OKAY. BUT NOT THE STAIRS.
THE STAIRS ARE IN YOUR PROPERTY BEHIND A PRIVACY FENCE ON THE.
OKAY. OKAY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF. OKAY. MY QUESTION FOR STAFF IS, SO IT LOOKS LIKE PART OF THE FIRST CONDITION IN A WAS ASSUMING THAT THERE WOULD BE GARAGE DOORS.
SO, IF THE APPLICANT IS NOT PROPOSING TO EVER PUT ANY GARAGE DOORS AT THE ALLEY, IS THAT VISUALLY COMPATIBLE AND SUITABLE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION ON THE ALLEY? IT IS, NOT ALL ALLEY STRUCTURES HAVE GARAGE DOORS.
AND SO WITH THAT LANE OR ALLEY SIDE BE THE ONLY ELEVATION THAT WOULD BE EXPOSED, I GUESS, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. YES, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE REST WOULD BE NOT REALLY VERY VISIBLE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY, MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE? NO. OKAY. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR A MOTION FROM THE COMMISSION.
MOTION TO APPROVE CASE 25LC-051 WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WILL CLARIFY, DO WE NEED TO MODIFY CONDITION ONE? SPECIAL CONDITION ONE A DUE TO THE APPLICANT NOW ONLY ENCLOSING THAT ALLEY.
YOU COULD NOTE IF THE, IF THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION IS TO ALLOW FOR BOARD AND BATTEN SIDING ON THE ALLEY SIDE AND NOT ON THE OTHERS, THEN I WOULD SPECIFY THE FOUNDATION SHALL BE CLOSED WITH BOARD AND BATTEN SKIRTING ON THE NORTH ELEVATION.
OKAY. SO I MOTION TO APPROVE CASE 25LC-051 WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
MODIFYING SPECIAL CONDITION 1.A TO STATE THE FOUNDATION SHALL BE ENCLOSED WITH BOARD AND BATTEN SKIRTING ON THE ALLEY ONLY. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT CASE, WHICH IS 25LC-052. 2210 31ST STREET. A REQUEST FOR A LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
HI, EMILY. CAN YOU HEAR US? EMILY, IT SHOWS LIKE YOU'RE MUTED.
COULD YOU TRY UNMUTING AND SEE IF WE CAN HEAR YOU? I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE STAFF REPORT, AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET TO EMILY AFTERWARDS. OKAY, SO THIS IS 25LC-052. IT'S A REQUEST FOR DESIGNATION AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.
32 NOTICES WERE SENT, ZERO RETURNED. THE ANALYSIS.
THE MCLENNAN-WILLIS BUNGALOW FEATURES MUCH OF ITS HISTORIC CHARACTER AS A CRAFTSMAN STYLE BUNGALOW, AN ARCHITECTURAL STYLE THAT WAS POPULAR FROM THE END OF THE VICTORIAN ERA WELL INTO THE 1930S.
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THE STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY FEATURES VISIBLE ON THE HOME TODAY, SUCH AS THE FRONT PORCH WITH PROMINENT SUPPORTING COLUMNS, DECORATIVE CORBELS UNDER THE ROOF OVERHANG, EXPOSED RAFTERS AND WINDOWS, FEATURING DIFFERENT LIGHT CONFIGURATIONS BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER SASHES.THE MCCLELLAN-WILLIS BUNGALOW IS IMPORTANT TO GALVESTON'S HISTORY DUE TO ITS ASSOCIATION WITH GALVESTON BUSINESS OWNERS, IMMIGRANTS, AND THEIR CIVIC INVOLVEMENT. THE HOME'S ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY IS ALSO LARGELY PRESERVED.
NOTE THAT IN 2023, THE BUNGALOW TO THE SOUTH WAS DESIGNATED AS GALVESTON LANDMARK PROPERTY AS WELL, AND THAT WAS CASE 23P-034. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
THE OTHER REVIEWS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HEAR THIS REQUEST AT THE DECEMBER 16TH, 2025 MEETING, AND CITY COUNCIL HAS THE FINAL DECISION REGARDING REQUESTS FOR GALVESTON LANDMARKS, AND THAT WILL BE HEARD AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 22ND.
DO ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO, SORRY, I JUST FORGOT ABOUT THE PHOTOS. SO THIS IS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH, SOUTH AND WEST.
AND A SNIPPET OF THE SANBORN MAP. OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY. SO KARINA IS GOING TO LOG OFF ON OUR END OF THE, THE APPLICANT IS ON TEAMS, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO RECONNECT AND SEE IF WE CAN FIX THIS COMMUNICATION ISSUE. SO WE MIGHT NEED A MINUTE OR TWO.
OKAY. HI, EMILY. CAN YOU HEAR US? EMILY. WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE CONTINUED TECHNICAL ISSUES.
OKAY. DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DEFER THE CASE? OKAY.
OKAY. SO WE WOULD WANT IT TO MOVE FORWARD. TIME SENSITIVE, GOT IT.
25LC-052. THE APPLICANT WE CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH, BUT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? NO. OKAY, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION.
GO AHEAD. REGARDING 25LC-052, I RECOMMEND WE APPROVE HER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IT'S A CUTE HOUSE.
NO. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THOSE OPPOSED. THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, OUR NEXT MEETING IS NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY.
SO FEBRUARY 2ND. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR THAT MEETING? NO? OKAY. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 4:20. HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY.
WE WENT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.