Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by applicant Jeremy Jones on behalf of owner Barratt Properties, LLC of a Certificate of Appropriateness for Relocation of the historic Thomas Johnson House/Surrey House Located at 312 S Tennessee Street
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in Downtown McKinney
MEETING DATE: May 2, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Cassie Bumgarner, Planner
Paula Jarrett Nasta, Planning Manager
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION:
• Staff recommends the approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for the relocation of the historic Thomas Johnson House/Surrey house, currently located at 312 S Tennessee Street.
• Staff has reviewed the request and found that it meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The applicant requests approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the relocation of the historic Thomas Johnson House (also known as the Surrey House) currently located at 312 S Tennessee Street.
• The applicant proposes to move the residence 450 feet to the northwest corner of East Standifer and Tennessee Streets.
• The Thomas Johnson House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 1987, for local significance for its architecture.
• Applicant submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness to staff on May 8, 2023, for relocation and demolition of a non-historic deck. Staff approved this certificate of Appropriateness on May 17, 2023.
• Applicant returning with a request for relocation because the previous approval expires in May and the project is not ready to commence.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Zoning code states that the applicant shall not construct, reconstruct, alter, change, restore, expand or demolish any exterior architectural feature of a building or structure that is visible from a public right-of-way located in the H historic preservation overlay district without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness.
• The criteria for approval mandates that the following standards, guidelines, and criteria be used in a balanced evaluation of the project:
• Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings to assist in the consideration of all applications.
• Checklist of design elements to be reviewed and evaluated.
• Consideration of the preservation priority rating assigned to the property in question.
o The 2015 Historic Resource Survey Update found the home at 312 S Tennessee Street to be a high priority rating, built circa 1910.
o Definition of High Priority: Contributes significantly to local history or broader historical patterns; is an outstanding or unique example of architecture, engineering or crafted design; retains a significant portion of its original character and contextual integrity; meets, in some cases, criteria for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places or is eligible for a Texas Historical Marker.