Title
Memorializing City Council action taken July 9, 2014 granting the appeal of the Department of Public Works of a decision of the Heritage Preservation Commission denying a sidewalk construction project on property including the east side of that property commonly known as 1173 Davern Street.
Body
WHEREAS, on or about March 3, 2014 the Department of Public Works ("PW") made application to the Heritage Preservation Commission ("HPC"), in HPC File No. 14-023, to undertake a sidewalk construction project (the "Project") which included the east side of that property commonly known as 1173 Davern Street; and
WHEREAS,1173 Davern is also known as the William and Catherine Davern Farmhouse (the "Farmhouse") which is described in the HPC file as a "historically and architecturally significant" house having been listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places in 1983 and designated as a Saint Paul Heritage Preservation site in 1985; and
WHEREAS, PW's application to the HPC described the Project as constructing a 5-foot wide sidewalk along the west side of Davern where, presently, there is no sidewalk. Further, at the site of the Farmhouse, the proposed sidewalk was described as be located along the site's easterly-side "at the curb and street edge;" and
WHEREAS, on May 22, 2014 having provided notice to affected property owners including the owners of the Farmhouse, the HPC duly conducted a public hearing on the Project where all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, at the close of the public hearing and based upon all the testimony and records, including an HPC Staff Report dated May 15, 2014 in which HPC staff recommended that the Project be approved, the HPC, on a 3-2 vote, denied PW's application based upon the following reasons set forth in the HPC's modifications to the findings in the said Staff Report which are incorporated herein by reference:
"1. The William & Catherine Davern Farmhouse was designated a Saint...
Click here for full text