Socorro City Historical Landmark Commission approves certificate of appropriateness for 10199 Socorro Road

The Socorro City Historical Landmark Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a certificate of appropriateness for exterior alterations at 10199 Socorro Road, a tabled application staff returned with updated design materials.

HLC staff told commissioners the work was already underway without permits and recommended conditional approval that requires the applicant to keep the materials and design as presented or return to the commission with any changes. "Construction is already in progress without any permits from the planning and zoning department or the HLC," the HLC staff member said.

Commissioner Jesse Montelongo moved to approve the item; Commissioner Ricardo Rocha seconded the motion. The Clerk recorded unanimous ayes and the motion carried.

Staff said Miss Perez will contact the applicant by Friday to issue the COA, and clarified that there remains no HLC COA permit on file authorizing the construction that had already begun. The staff member told the commission the approval is conditional: "As long as the design and material that have been reported are what is kept with and any changes need to be brought back before the commission."

The application was previously tabled for updated designs; staff showed comparative slides of the property before work and the proposed, more curved designs and materials (stucco, wood and shingle tiles) that staff said are compatible with the district's guidelines. The commission concluded the revised design falls within the guidelines and approved the COA. The commission expects to monitor compliance and required that any subsequent changes return to the HLC for review.

The commission will note the COA issuance in records and the applicant will be contacted to receive the certificate; further enforcement or permit compliance remains the responsibility of planning and zoning.