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CITY of NORTH OLMSTED Mayor Kevin M. Kennedy Kimberly Wenger, AICP, Director I Department of Planning and Development A 5200 Dover Center Road I North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 P 440-716-4118 F 440-777-5889 To: Landmarks Commission Members From: Kimberiy Wenger, AICP, Director of Planning and Development Date: August 31, 2016 Re: Butternut District Survey map In 2012, the Landmarks Commission completed a survey of the Butternut Historic District partially funded by a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant. The survey project involved reevaluating properties in the district by updating existing Ohio Historic Inventory (OHI) forms and creating new OHI forms on properties not previously surveyed. The properties were reflected on a map that included the district boundary and location of updated and new OHI properties. The map was created by the city engineer at the direction of our consultants from Chambers, Murphy and Burge, and based upon the volume of historical documents we had available in the Landmarks Commission archives. In recent weeks, several factors caused staff to consult the survey and the map in particular. We also located the ordinance creating the district in 1986, Ordinance 86-67. The question arose as to whether the district includes all properties along Butternut Ridge Road or only those outlined in a 1985 document that was the basis for the 2012 survey map. Following much additional research, we believe that the map associated with the Butternut District survey project is incorrect and misleading. Staff recommends amending the survey map to clarify the district boundaries and the contributing properties included within it. Also noteworthy, it appears that this is not the first instance where the boundaries of the historic district have come into question. Advice was provided by the Law Department in June, 2003 to the Building Commissioner in regards to demolition of a commercial property at the Lorain Road and Butternut Ridge Road intersection where the Commissioner was not sure whether the property was located within the district. In his memo on the matter, Assistant Director of Law O'Malley references the confusion between the "official map" and another "proposed map." His memo sets the record straight that the map included in the Landmarks Commission's Proposed Designation Report is the official map. Confusion and misinterpretation of ordinances, minutes and other historical records can often be attributed to the lack of descriptive attachments that are referenced in said records. - WWW.NORTH-OLMSTED.COM -