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Council removes 331 Verplank Ave. from historic nomination at owners' request
Summary
The property at 331 Verplank Avenue (Beacon Hebrew Alliance) was withdrawn from the city's HDLO nomination list at the request of the property representatives because planned ADA improvements could increase nonconforming setbacks; council members said the HDLO process needs a post‑mortem review.
The council voted to remove 331 Verplank Avenue from the city's historic designation (HDLO) nomination list after the property's representatives asked to be withdrawn.
City counsel said the owners were concerned that completing proposed accessibility work — notably an ADA elevator — would expand existing nonconformities with setbacks and create hurdles if the property were designated under the HDLO process. A council member said the action is consistent with prior practice of honoring owner requests to be removed from the nomination list. "The representatives for 331 Verplank Avenue have requested to be withdrawn from the city's HDLO nomination process," the city attorney said.
Council members suggested a post‑mortem review of the HDLO nomination process when the council next takes up the HDLO matter to identify communication and administrative improvements; staff noted several packets returned from the post office as nondeliverable, which will also be examined.
