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Public commenter raises concerns about Saint Catherine’s Indian School property and appeal notice timing
Summary
A member of the public urged the board to track the former Saint Catherine’s Indian School property and warned that late findings of fact and conclusions can bar appeals; she placed the relevant ordinance into the record.
Stephanie Venonato addressed the Historic Districts Review Board during the public‑comment period about two matters: the status of the former Saint Catherine’s Indian School property and the timeliness of findings and conclusions and their effect on appeal rights.
Venonato said she understood the housing authority currently owns the site and asked staff to invite a housing authority representative to update the board on preservation or redevelopment plans. “I think it’s a really important property, and the board should kind of keep track of it because it’s really been years,” she said.
Venonato also read the city’s appeal ordinance into the record and warned that when written findings and conclusions are adopted months after a vote, affected parties can lose their right to appeal. She cited the code language that makes the adoption date of written findings the final action date — unless findings are not issued within 35 days of the vote, in which case the vote date becomes the final action — and said delayed findings have on occasion been issued “like, six months late.” She said the delay can prevent timely appeals and said she would place copies of the ordinance language in the record.
Why it matters: residents and applicants rely on published findings and conclusions to calculate appeal windows for land‑use decisions. Late or incomplete findings can affect legal rights to seek review by the city council or other bodies.
Board response: Chair Tara Rios acknowledged the comment and moved the meeting forward; staff later noted that the board’s decisions and adopted findings are final actions and that the city is not currently in compliance every time with the 35‑day timelines Venonato described. Venonato said she would provide copies of the ordinance text she referenced to the board.
Ending: The board did not take formal action on the Saint Catherine’s matter at this meeting; staff said they would consider the request to invite a housing authority representative to a future meeting and that the board’s adopted findings will determine appeal windows.
