Boerne commission approves demolition permit for accessory structure at 402 Herff Street

The Boerne Historic Landmark Commission on Aug. 5 approved a demolition permit for an accessory structure at 402 Herff Street, after staff described the building as deteriorated and not historically significant.

City planner Ben Simmons told the commission that the structure, used as a barn/chicken coop with three storage rooms, measures about 645 square feet and is in generally poor condition. Simmons said staff mailed 24 notifications to properties within 200 feet, published notice in the Boerne Star and received two written responses, one filed after the agenda posted. He recommended the commission hold a public hearing to determine whether the structure should be considered a contributing resource under UDC section 2.11; staff concluded it is not a historic landmark and does not have architectural, cultural or educational value.

At the hearing, commissioners who visited the site said the building matched the photos provided and described it as in poor condition. One commissioner raised safety concerns and said removal in a controlled manner would be preferable to allowing the structure to collapse. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.

A commissioner moved to approve the demolition permit for the accessory structure at 402 Herff Street; the motion was seconded and recorded as approved in the meeting minutes. The transcript does not include roll-call vote tallies or names associated with the motion and second.

Staff noted the structure is not visible from O'Grady Street because of a privacy fence and that photographs were taken during a June site visit attended by commissioners Graves and Pena. The commission did not identify the property as a local landmark and did not impose conditions beyond standard permitting requirements.

The applicant for the demolition request was listed as Toni Anne DeShield. The planning staff advised the commission that its role at the hearing was to determine whether the structure met the UDC criteria for being a contributing historic resource; staff's analysis recommended it did not.

The commission proceeded to the next agenda item following the vote. The agenda and staff report indicated the demolition request will be processed through the city's normal permit procedures after the commission action.

Details from the staff presentation and the public-hearing record will be available in the planning department file for case 2025-5369.