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HomeMy WebLinkAboutnov52013 KAUAI COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW COMMISSION Lihue Civic Center, Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/2B MINUTES A regular meeting of the Kauai County Historic Preservation Commission (KHPRC) was held on December 5, 2013 in the Llhu` e Civic Center, Mo 'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/2B. The following Commissioners were present: Danita Aiu, Chairperson, Stephen Long, Vice Chairperson, Patsy Sheehan, Pat Griffin, Althea Arinaga, and Anne Schneider The following Commissioner(s) were absent: Kuuleialoha Santos, Jane Gray The following staff members were present: Planning Department —Myles Hironaka, Shanlee Jimenez; Office of Boards and Commissions — Cherisse Zaima, Deputy County Attorney Jodi Higuchi-Sayegusa CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 3 : 03 p .m. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Patsy Sheehan moved to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Althea Arinaga, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES The Minutes of the November 7, 2013 meeting were approved as circulated . ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GENERAL BUSINESS MATTERS There was a moment of silence in honor of Peter Nakamura. December 5, 2613 K.H.P.R.C. Meeting Minutes Page 2 COMMUNICATIONS There were no communications. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Certified Local Govenunent (CLG) Status Ms. Griffin noted the State Historic Preservation Division recently hired a new Administrator, Alan Downer: She suggested the Commission send a letter of welcome as well as an invitation to a future KHPRC meeting to discuss the CLG program. She commented on his wealth of experience in preservation activities . On the motion by Pat Griffin and seconded by Patsy Sheehan to welcome and invite Mr. Downer to a future KHPRC meeting, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. NEW BUSINESS E-mail ( 11 /25/ 13 ) from James Niennann, AICP, LEED AP, R.M. Towill Corporation request to present proposed modifications to the steel superstructure of the existing Lliu'e Mill Bridge. The proposed bridge modifications are part of the Kaumuali` i Highway, Lihu'e Mill Bridge to Rice Street, Federal Aid Project No . ARR-050- 1 (036) b2provements Project, and are subject to the National Historic Preservation Act MIPA), Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) executed among Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) , the State Historic Preservation Division SHPD) and HDOT-H. In compliance with Section 106 MOA, HDOT is seeking the KHPRC' s comments and concurrence with the proposed modifications to the existing L-ihu'e Mill Bridge. Planner Jim Niennan of R.M. Towill Corporation spoke on behalf of the Department of Transportation Highways Division and the Federal Highway Administration on proposed modifications to the Lihu` e Mill Bridge. He stated that the corporation had previously come before the Commission regarding the guardrails. He noted that all of the work being done on the bridge is subject to the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106, and the currently executed Memorandum of Agreement. Because the new modifications being proposed today are not described in the MOA, he wanted to clarify to the Commission they would fall under the same authority as with the guardrails. Along with the Mike Hunnemann, Mr. Nierman provided an overview of the proposed Lihu` e Mill Bridge modifications . (On file) During the presentation, the following discussion ensued : Mr. Hunnemann explained the reasons for the new proposed modifications : December 5, 2013 K.H.P.R.C. Meeting Minutes Page 3 Because water is getting down through the deck joints and wetting the steel bearings, girders, and cap bearers beneath it, they are always wet and are corroding rather heavily in some spots. Their proposal to help rectify that is to get rid of those joints by making the girders continuous from one abutment to the other. The only way to do that is by lowering the cap beam a couple of feet, and run the girders over the cap beam, resting it on top ; currently, the girders are framing into the side of the cap beam. Because of the corrosion at the bottom of the columns due. to soil settling around the base plates, they want to cut off a, couple of feet from the bottom, and lower the column down. In doing that, they will install new base plates, and anchor bolts . They would like to raise the existing concrete caisson a few inches to prevent soil from washing onto the base plate, and causing corrosion as is the current situation. At the request of Ms. Sheehan, Mr. Hunnemann pointed out and explained the leaking areas of the bridge in the photo provided. Mr. Hunnemann noted that the holes in the cap beam, as indicated in the photo, were installed for constructability purposes when the bridge was first constructed to enable them to reach the pop rivets by hand. He asked if the cap beams are replaced, does the Commission wish that those holes be replicated. Mr. Nierman noted they are no longer needed for current construction. Ms. Sheehan asked whether they were currently functional, and would they be" used to which Mr. Hunnemann replied no, and suggested that be considered in their determination. Ms. Griffin stated that while she has no financial relationship on this, she is a consulting party on this bridge. She noted the considerable alterations to this bridge in widening it by eight feet, and changing the railings to something not currently present; however, the bridge deck is what is predominantly seen, not the girders or caps. In her opinion, the proposed engineering modifications to carry the kinds of vehicles that will be crossing it for many years to come are not a preservation deal-breaker. Noting the history of bridges, Ms. Griffin stated that over time, the deck area is what is usually changed most often, therefore she does not see the point of putting hand holes on the deck again if they are obsolete. Mr. Long asked for clarification on Ms. Griffin ' s comment that the railings will be substantially changed as he has not been involved in that discussion. Mr. Nierman explained that the original art deco railings being a distinguishing feature of the bridge were brought up in previous discussions, and alternatives for replicating the guardrail, or replacing it were presented. The decision was to replace it with a period appropriate design which has become familiar on a few bridges throughout the State, which is the continuous concrete with arch cutouts. The new Ndwiliwili Bridge will also utilize the same design. Mr. Long asked what will remain in existence after the bridge is renovated. Mr. Niennan replied that material-wise the steel column will be the only original material remaining; December 5, 2013 KH.P.R.C. Meeting Minutes Page 4 appearance-wise the kickers, base plates with some reconfiguration of the bolts, and the shape of the steel girders would be replicated. The caissons would remain, and just be encased. Mr. Long asked if the side of the bridge is visible if you drive or walk by to which Mr. Nierman replied the side of the bridge may be seen from some spots on German Hill, but not from the main public travel way. In response to Mr. Long's concern, Mr. Niennan provided clarification on the bridge elevation shown in the diagram. On the motion by Patsy Sheehan and seconded by Althea Arinaga to accept the rehabilitation and modifications as presented, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Mr. Hunnemann noted that the column of the bridge, and only a portion of it, will be the only thing that remains from the original bridge. He asked if the Commission feels they should replace that small portion with new steel to make everything new, and stronger, and to ensure the entire bridge will last for 75 years, instead of everything but the columns. Ms. Giffin stated that given the fact that it is a new bridge, she feels that there should be strong documentation about the bridge, which is a Category 1 bridge. The bridge is very important to the development of the island as prior to the bridge, the only way from Lihu` e to the South side was around the makai side of the mill . She feels there should be a strong study, and inclusion in the Planning Department archives, the Kauai Museum, and the Kauai Historical Society about what this bridge was. Mr. Nierman stated as part of both the 106 and the 4F documentation, they did an elaborate write-up on the history of the bridge which included the significance, and background history, noting the significance to the plantation economy as well as the larger economy, and the island of Kauai. He suggested they submit that along with the backup reference material used and see if that will suffice. Ms. Griffin asked if that was done to which Mr. Nierman replied they will be updating it with mitigation of the impacts discussed today, but the background information will be the same. On the motion by Pat Griffin and seconded by Patsy Sheehan to accept the consultant's recommendation that the columns be replaced with new material, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote, Mr. Long commented that replacing the columns would help with the ease of construction as well as the costing, but he questions whether any steel they get today matches American bridge steel of when the bridge was originally manufactured. In response to Mr. Long' s concern, Mr. Nierman stated all materials for the bridge project are 100% American made materials. SELECTION OF MEETING DATE AND AGENDA TOPICS The next meeting was scheduled on January 3 , 2013 . December 5, 2013 1CH.P.R.C. Meeting Minutes Page 5 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3 :40 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Cherisse Zaima Commission Support Clerk Date: