Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission tabled action on some changes to the Amoco station in the northwest portion of Mount Vernon at the Saturday, Nov. 4, meeting.
Questions concerned the canopy being lighted with neon on the exterior and the impact that may have to neighbors in the Cornell College Historic District.
The commission had no issue with the downlighting for the canopy for the gas station, noting the importance of that lighting for public safety, but was concerned if the lighting around that canopy would be on even if the station was closed.
The commission was seeking more information on the impact of the illumination and would seek that with further information ahead of the mid-month meeting in November.
New construction guidelines being reviewedThe commission will also be discussing parameters for new modern construction in historic districts.
The commission’s design guidelines do not currently address new construction, and, with a review of those guidelines coming up this spring, chair Sue Astley wants the commission to look at policies to adapt.
“Especially as we see people considering construction on empty lots in the districts,” Astley said. “Having guidelines would be a way to help property owners and the district know what is appropriate.”
Astley recommended the board look at the designs that are in the current Dubuque Historic Commission’s website for a scope of what type of guidelines they might explore themselves. Some guidelines explored by Dubuque were general construction principles, the context of the neighborhood buildings, the distance of setbacks from the curb, primary entrance being defined and walkways to the building from the street.
Astley said using this as a rule of thumb and then tackling things from the Secretary of Interior website, they could design the guidelines to be points of discussion for the commission over the next few months.
Commission looking
for someone to assist with transportation of glass negativesThe Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission is looking to pay someone to safely transport some historic glass negatives from Florida back to Iowa.
“Our other options to get these negatives from Florida back to Iowa have fallen through,” Astley said.
Astley was looking to find a Cornell College student who may help bring those slides back to Iowa when they drive home from holiday break. She doesn’t have students in mind, but would be in contact with the college.
Commission member Guy Booth said there are also a number of snowbirds who travel to Florida this time of year who may be able to bring the slides back with them in March.
“That’s another group of people we could be in contact with,” Booth said.
Design review tabled by MVHPC
November 16, 2023
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.