| Ms. Melinda Hill, 1481 Mill Race, Rochester Hills 48306 came forward and |
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| commented that staff claims they initiated the request to delist the property |
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| located at 1651 W. Avon Road as a designated historic district in order to |
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| maintain accurate boundaries for historic resources. Yet the report says very |
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| little about the property at 1651; only that there is nothing historic about the |
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| parcel or the recently built home. In the June 14, 2012 Study Committee |
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| minutes, Ms. Kidorf explains she did not spend an extensive amount of time on |
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| research because it is only a boundary change, just enough to justify the |
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| retention of the existing district with a smaller boundary. Ms. Hill suggests the |
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| Committee read the minutes from HDC's July 12, 2001 meeting where the |
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| proposed demolition of the garage at 1631 W. Avon and the proposed lot split |
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| were discussed. The Commission had concerns about the demolition if it |
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| meant that the lot split would create a lot in such close proximity to the historic |
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| resource in which the HDC would have no purview. An opinion from the City |
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| Attorney was to be obtained regarding this issue. Like any other new project, |
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| the HDC is looking for compatibility and protection for the adjacent historic |
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| resource. Neighboring properties play an important role in preservation, |
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| especially in historic districts. She referenced the March 14, 2002 HDC |
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| minutes where a Certificate of Appropriateness was given for the demolition of |
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| the garage at 1631, as well as a Certificate of Appropriateness for the new |
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| garage and other improvements to the home. Complete plans for both the |
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| renovations at 1631 and the new home at 1651 W. Avon were shown and |
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| discussed at that meeting. A legal opinion regarding the potential lot split and |
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| HDC's purview were promised by staff. The fact that the HDC would have |
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| some purview over the adjacent property helped move the demolition and |
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| ensuing lot split to take place. The consensus of the HDC was they had |
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| concerns as to what this lot split meant and their having any charge over what |
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| would be built next door. The only minutes provided to the Study Committee |
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| were from the November and December 2004 HDC meetings talking about the |
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| approval of the new home at 1651 W. Avon. Ms. Hill explained she was on the |
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| Commission in 2001 and 2002 and everyone was very clear about what was |
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| happening with this property. She understands some of the reasons for the |
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| boundary change request, but is sorry to see how this is played out. She does |
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| not think the Committee has been given complete background information. The |
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