Council upholds HRB decision to deny chimney removal request

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette/ WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, 11:30 p.m. — The Bardstown City Council upheld a recommendation to deny a property owners’ request to remove a deteriorating chimney from a home in the city’s historic zoning district.

At its meeting Feb. 16, the Historic Review Board rejected an application from Brenda Hagan to remove a chimney from the home at 210 South Fifth St.

The chimney had been repaired before, but has continued to leak. The removal would be done while a new roof and gutters are put on the home.

The HRB denial was based on the design standards for the city’s historic district, which state that a chimney that cannot be repairs should be rebuilt to match the original.

The council approved the HRB denial without discussion with Councilman Fred Hagan recusing himself.

Jan Johnston-Crowe answers questions about proposed changes to the operation of the Development Review Board process at Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting.

The council also approved the HRB’s recommendation to approve a request by the American Legion Post 121 to install a flag disposal box. The box will allow collection of old flags for proper disposal by the legion post members. The design of the box will need to be approved by Preservation Coordinator RaShae Jennings.

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT REVIEW CHANGES. Anyone who wishes to build a commercial building in Nelson County is required to submit their plans to the Development Review Board (DRB) for approval. The DRB considers the aesthetics of the building and its site plan, and how well it fits in its planned location with nearby buildings.

Jan Johnston-Crowe, the county’s planning administrator, said the vast majority of commercial buildings brought to her office now already comply with the development review guidelines.

Engineering firms know about the standards and what it takes to meet them, she said. The current DRB process adds a three week delay in the approval process because the board must meet to make a recommendation which is next forward to the city or county for approval.

Johnston-Crowe’s proposal to streamline the process would change the weeks of waiting into a few days at most — provided that the proposed building meets the DRB standards.

Mayor John Royalty, right, speaks with Councilman Bill Buckman prior to the start of Tuesday’s city council meeting.

A committee that would include Johnston-Crowe, DRB Chairman David Mattingly, the mayor and county judge-executive (or their designees) would review applications, and those which meet standards would not need to go before the full DRB, the city council or fiscal court.

The members of the council individually expressed their approval of streamlining the approval process. No vote or action was taken.

PRESERVATION ADVOOCACY WEEK. After considerable discussion, the council approved allocating money from its contingency fund to help pay for Councilwoman Kecia Copeland’s trip to Washington, D.C.

At the council’s Feb 9 meeting, Copeland asked the council to consider helping fund her trip as a Kentucky delegate for National Preservation Advocacy Week, March 8-11. Craig Potts, the executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Council, asked Copeland to be a delegate.

Councilman Fred Hagan initially expressed reservation about approving funds for the trip. “If the Kentucky Heritage Council wants to send delegates to go, I think its appropriate for them to fund it,” he said.

Copeland explained that she was only going for two days and she would have numerous opportunities to represent Bardstown at a national level.

Public Works Director Larry Hamilton, left, talks with Councilman Bobby Simpson at the start of Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Councilman Bill Buckman said he wouldn’t agree to the funding.

“I commend you if you do go, but not on the taxpayer’s dime,” he said.

Councilman Roland Williams said he wouldn’t be opposed to helping offset Copeland’s travel expenses. Hagan said if the amount was limited to $1,000, he would be on board.

The council voted 4-2 to approve reimbursing Copeland up to $1,000 in travel expenses for the trip, with Councilmen Bobby Simpson and Bill Buckman casting “no” votes.

In other business, the council:

— approved a resolution naming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and April 1 as Green Dot Violence Prevention Day in the City of Bardstown.

— approved a request by St. John AME Zion Church to hold a parade at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2016, in honor of the church’s 150th anniversary.

-30-