Antonio Williams appeals building facade decision
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on September 24, 2017 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
The new facade of The Ice Storm featuring brightly-colored wood panels is in violation of historic district rules.
Councilman Antonio Williams is appealing a Goldsboro Historic District Commission decision that a facade added to his downtown business violates city historic rules.
Williams started adding a brightly-colored wood veneer to the outside of his business, The Ice Storm, in May and city staff learned the work was more extensive than originally discussed.
City staff approved the addition of wood veneer to the column outside the South Center Street business but were unaware -- until a building facade was added -- that the additional work was planned, said Jimmy Rowe, Goldsboro planning director.
"He did more work than staff approved, so, therefore, it had to go before the Historic Commission," Rowe said.
"I contacted him myself and told him he needed a (Certificate of Appropriateness) to do the work he was doing, and he came down the next day and applied."
The application seeking approval for the work was denied by the Historic District Commission, in July, because the newly added facade covered the original building material of brick, stucco and metal, Rowe said.
In its decision, the Historic District Commission ruled that the wood veneer facade would need to be removed.
Williams is appealing the decision, which was first reviewed but delayed by the Goldsboro Board of Adjustment on Aug. 28. The board of adjustment is expected to revisit the case Monday, Rowe said.
Justin Minshew, an attorney representing the Historic District Commission, told the Board of Adjustment it would need to review the case and determine if the commission decision was legally justified, Rowe said.
The board is not able to approve the certificate, unless it finds that the Historic Commission failed to follow the law in its decision. The board is seeking legal advice in its review of the case.
If Williams is not satisfied with the board of adjustment's final decision, he can appeal the ruling in Superior Court, within 30 days.
"If he doesn't appeal within 30 days, it's up to the city to uphold the Historic District Commission (decision)," Rowe said.
The Historic District Commission oversees the city's historic rehabilitation guidelines within the historic district, which includes most of the properties within and around the downtown area.
"Whenever you do work downtown, you need a certificate of appropriateness," Rowe said.
Williams declined to respond to a request for an interview.