HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 07/22/2021
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
LANDMARK COMMISSION
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Hybrid Meeting: Via WebEx & In Person - 4:30 p.m.
July 22, 2021
STAFF:
Nina Nixon-Mendez, Assistant Director & Historic Preservation Officer
Catherine Garza, Agenda Coordinator
Craig Garrison, City Planner
I. Call to Order/Roll Call
Vice Chairman Dees called the meeting to order, and a quorum was established with Chair Robbins absent.
II. Approval of Minutes: June 24, 2021
A motion was made by Commissioner Brown to approve the minutes listed above. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Fontenot and the motion passed.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING – Discussion and Consideration of an Ordinance adopting a new City of Corpus
Christi Historic Preservation Plan, an element of the Plan CC Comprehensive Plan; rescinding the
former Corpus Christi Preservation Plan, adopted September 8, 1976.
Steph McDougal with McDoux Preservation gave the same presentation of the Plan that was given at the June 24,
2021, Landmark Commission meeting. She said the Plan is divided into two main sections. The first half is a
summary of all the information that has been gathered. The second part includes a vision for historic preservation
in Corpus Christi, three overarching goals, and a total of 16 strategies for achieving those goals. Ms. McDougal
proceeded to read the vision statement for the Plan which combines community input and the overarching goals
along with explaining each strategy. For today’s meeting, the Commission must make a recommendation to City
Council to approve the Plan as is, approve it with amendments or no approval. She concluded the presentation with
the next steps for the Plan. The Planning Commission public hearing will take place August 4, 2021, and it will be
presented to City Council in September. She added that inquiries for more information can be sent to Craig Garrison,
Development Services, or emailed to DSOutreach@cctexas.com; a draft of the Plan is available online at
www.cctexas.com/hpp
After the presentation, Vice Chairman Dees opened the public hearing. With no one coming forward, the public
hearing was closed, and the floor was opened for Commissioner comments/questions. Commissioners Brown and
Fontenot expressed their support for adopting the plan as is. Commissioner Freeman made a motion to approve
the Plan as presented and it was seconded by Commissioner Brown.
With that motion, Commissioner Wilson expressed that she did not agree with some of the strategies. At this point,
Ms. McDougal clarified that like many plans which are adopted by the City, it is not prescriptive nor is the City under
obligation; it is a guiding document with recommendations and the City can implement any or all of the strategies.
Commissioner Freeman asked if Commissioner Wilson had any specific points to amend for discussion. For
Strategy No. 16, Commissioner Wilson stated it does not specifically mention the former Nueces County Courthouse
but felt it is specifically mentioned numerous times throughout the Plan. Ms. McDougal said the Courthouse and
the Ritz Theater were examples used in the Plan because they were mentioned with high support from the
community in the survey; the City can choose to use those examples but are not required to do so.
COMMISSIONERS:
Dr. Christine Riser-Robbins- Chair
Randy J. Dees, Sr. – Vice-Chair
Dr. Ira Freeman
Madeleine Fontenot
Kathleen de la Garza
COMMISSIONERS:
Roslyn Wanzer
Dr. Jen Brown
Armando Mendez
Veronica Wilson
Commissioner Wilson suggested that these specific examples be taken out of the Plan as it can be
partial/misleading and other people in the community may not feel the same way as the survey exhibited. For a
possible amendment, Staff discussed language options when mentioning other demonstration/catalytic projects.
For more specificity, Ms. McDougal referenced action item No. 61 relative to Strategy No.16 of the Plan in which
language would need amending.
With that discussion, Commissioner Freeman rescinded his motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Fontenot
to approve the Plan with an amendment to change the language of Action Item 61. Commissioner Brown seconded
the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
V. Historic Preservation Officer’s Report
Nina Nixon-Mendez updated the Commission on the local historic designation for the City Bakery which was
mentioned by the Mayor during the National Preservation Month proclamation. It has been placed on the July 27,
2021, City Council agenda for initiation with the owner’s consent. If the rezoning is initiated, then it will be presented
at the August Landmark Commission meeting for consideration with public hearing notification requirements.
VI. Future Agenda Items: None.
VII. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:48 p.m.