Orange County NC Website
Attachment 1 <br />Orange County <br />HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION <br />Meeting Summary -- Approved <br />April 29th, 2015 <br />Special meeting location: Blackwood Farm <br />4215 Highway 86 South, Chapel Hill <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: Todd Dickinson (Chair), Susan Ballard, Rob Golan, Jaime Grant, Bob Ireland <br />(Vice- Chair), and Grace White <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: None <br />STAFF PRESENT: Rich Shaw, Peter Sandbeck <br />GUESTS: None <br />ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER <br />Chair Dickinson called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. <br />ITEM #2: Tour of Blackwood Farm: Rich Shaw greeted members and started the meeting with a <br />brief overview of the current plans to develop the farm into the County's newest park, <br />scheduled to open with a "soft opening" in late May or early June. Sandbeck joined the <br />group at 7:20 to give a more detailed tour of the historic farm buildings and farmhouse. <br />Members toured the various structures, including the milk house, smokehouse, granary, <br />chicken house, milking shed, barn and garage. Several members noted the presence of <br />historic farm artifacts and household items that might be stolen or damaged by visitors. <br />Sandbeck agreed that certain items needed to be removed from the outbuildings for <br />safekeeping and future cataloging and proper storage. All buildings will be secured with <br />padlocks. Members of the Blackwood family have stepped forward with many <br />photographs showing various aspects of farm life and family members. One member, <br />Judy Blackwood Womble, is now reviewing her extensive collection and has promised to <br />share new photos with staff in May. Sandbeck reviewed the various outbuilding restoration <br />efforts undertaken by the County over the last ten years. Members then moved inside the <br />old farmhouse to view all the rooms on both floors, with discussion about the original plan <br />and the many later alterations. More artifacts were identified as being in need of <br />preservation and cataloging in the second floor bedroom of the front section of the house. <br />Members then adjourned to the first floor back bedroom to view the site plan maps. <br />Discussion followed. Members asked questions about the area of future development <br />where the new education center and maintenance buildings will be located continue their <br />regular meeting. The archaeological site maps show the potential for archaeological <br />resources in those locations, so steps will need to be taken to survey those areas more <br />thoroughly prior to site planning work. Staff will make sure that a second archaeological <br />survey will be a component of that project. Members then took up the agenda for the <br />regular meeting. <br />ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES (March 25th, 2015): Golan moved to accept the minutes; <br />seconded by Ireland; motion passed. <br />ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DECISION: None <br />