Historic Preservation Commission — Boone, NC
Date: 2026-03-13

Town of Boone
 Historic Preservation Commission Advisory Meeting
 3:00 PM, January 6, 2026
 Planning & Inspections Conference Room
 680 W. King St., Suite C
 Boone, NC 28607


 The public may attend the meeting in person at the Planning and Inspections
 Conference Room at 680 West King Street, Suite C, or online via WebEx, a video
 conferencing software.

 Public Comment: To give public comment, you should appear in person at the physical
 location of this meeting. Persons who attend the meeting remotely via WebEx may be
 permitted to speak during public comment but are not assured of that opportunity.

 WebEx Participation: To join online or by phone, email Planning and Inspections at
 planning@boonenc.gov or call 828-268-6960, and you will receive an email invitation.
 Requests must be submitted no later than one hour before the meeting begins.

 I. Call to Order

 II. Adoption of Agenda

 III. Public Comment

 IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes

 1. December 2, 2025, HPC Advisory Meeting Minutes

 2. December 9, 2025, HPC Quasi-Judicial Meeting Minutes

 V. Approval of Written Decision

 1. Written Decision for Case A25-0811 Ram's Rack - Certificate of Appropriateness

 VI. Advisory Session Items for Discussion

 1. Stoneman's Raid Interpretative Panel - Review Revised Draft Proof by Civil War
 Trails Marker Program

 VII. Other Matters




Town of Boone Historic Preservation January 6, 2026
 Commission
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TOWN OF BOONE
 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
 ADVISORY MEETING MINUTES
 January 6, 2026, 3:00 pm
 Planning & Inspections Department & WebEx Video Conferencing
________________________________________________________________________________________
Historic Preservation Commission Members Present: Vardell Smyth-Chair, Bettie Bond-Vice-Chair, Krystal
Carter, Bennie Gaetano, and Melody Oxendine (via WebEx)
Town Staff Present: Jessica Mitchell-Advanced Planning Specialist, Virginia Roseman-Council Member
Liaison (via WebEx), and David Pedersen-Board Clerk
________________________________________________________________________________________
Call to Order
Chair Smyth called the Boone Historic Preservation Commission meeting, held in the Planning & Inspections
Conference Room at 680 West King Street, and via WebEx to order at 3:02 pm.
Adoption of Agenda
Commission Member Carter made a motion, seconded by Commission Member Gaetano, to adopt the
agenda.
Vote: Aye – 5
 Nay – 0
The motion passed.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Approval of Minutes
Commission Member Carter noted that in the December 2, 2025, Historic Preservation Commission Advisory
meeting minutes, the Adoption of Agenda section listed Commission Member Carter as absent for the vote
while she was present and seconded the motion to vote. The vote will be revised to show “Aye – 5” and
remove the line “Absent – 1 (Carter).
Commission Member Gaetano made a motion, seconded by Commission Member Carter, to approve the
December 2, 2025, Historic Preservation Commission Advisory meeting minutes with the above revision and
the December 9, 2025, Historic Preservation Commission Quasi-Judicial meeting minutes.
Vote: Aye – 5
 Nay – 0
The motion passed.
Approval of Written Decision
Commission Member Gaetano made a motion, seconded by Commission Member Carter, to approve the
Written Decision for Case A25-0811 Ram’s Rack – Certificate of Appropriateness.
Vote: Aye – 5
 Nay – 0
The motion passed.


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Stoneman’s Raid Interpretative Panel – Review Revised Draft Proof by Civil War Trails Marker Program
Ms. Mitchell provided updates and an overview of changes regarding the Stoneman’s Raid Interpretative
Panel revised draft proof by the Civil War Trails (CWT) marker program. She reiterated that the changes
included modifying the inset map, including a map legend, and adding an image caption. Ms. Mitchell noted
that she had shared the design proof with funding partners. She pointed out that the Downtown Boone
Development Association (DBDA) has a meeting on January 27, 2026, so there are no comments yet.
Additionally, comments are yet to be received from the Watauga County Historical Society. She stated that
Town Council had a meeting on January 28, 2026, in which the panel would be presented. She noted that
CWT had asked her to reach out to the Amon Carter Museum, where the image was received from. The
museum was favorable of the design proof. The HPC agreed that they were satisfied with the panel’s design,
with Commission Member Gaetano being happy with the map, Vice-Chair Bond liking the inclusion of the
cemetery, and Commission Member Oxendine liking that the mountains were kept.
Ms. Mitchell stated that due to fabrication time for the panel, CWT has estimated an April installation date,
with an unveiling to follow. Vice-Chair Bond mentioned that it would be nice if it could happen on March 28,
2026, noting that it was the date of the event the panel depicts. Chair Smyth agreed that it would be a neat
idea, but understood that the fabrication process may not allow it. Ms. Mitchell noted that CWT estimates
fabrication takes approximately a month after design approval, and she would pass along the suggestion.
Other Matters
Ms. Mitchell briefly mentioned that the Boone/Kraut Creek marker report would resume discussion and be
included on the February Advisory agenda. Chair Smyth mentioned that he has been unable to contact the
magazine source and likely will not be able to next week either. Commission Member Oxendine has reached
out, but there has been no reply thus far.
Chair Smyth pointed out that there would be no Quasi-Judicial meeting next week.
Ms. Mitchell noted that there was an opportunity to attend a webinar next Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at
noon as an option for one (1) of the three (3) required trainings by the end of September for the Certified
Local Government (CLG) reporting year. Vice Chair Bond pointed out that this coincided with the Chamber of
Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony at the library from 12 pm -1:30 pm, so she would be unable to attend
the webinar. Ms. Mitchell provided a detailed description of the webinar: it is based on challenges faced by
building owners with aging building facades that require upkeep, with discussion of facade overcladding
processes and solutions to address these challenges. Chair Smyth mentioned that this sounded very
applicable to the Commission. Commission Member Carter asked if there was an option to watch a recorded
version at a different time. Ms. Mitchell was unsure, but would share the information when she found out.
Ms. Mitchell mentioned that the annual Planning Retreat is this Friday, January 9, 2026, in which Town
Planning Staff will meet with Town Council. One of the topics will include the HPC’s work plan and discussion
of priorities. She noted that if there were any changes to the work plan, she would bring them to the
Commission in February.
Chair Smyth asked if there were any updates on mural policy. Ms. Mitchell stated that Staff would continue
working on the mural text amendment, but did not have any text ready for the HPC’s review at this meeting.
She noted that, unfortunately, the timing did not work out for Staff to have a draft ready, but that Staff has
started looking at mapping the contributing properties in the historic district and researching applicable
standards. She concluded that formal discussions/review were forthcoming and that Staff might have a draft
prepared for the February Advisory meeting.
Vice Chair Bond also mentioned the Boone Docs Film Festival on February 27-28, 2026, with Commission
Member Carter noting that Friday evening was the free, feature-length film, and Saturday featured a full day
of films (tickets available for purchase).
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Adjournment
Commission Member Gaetano made a motion, seconded by Commission Member Carter, to adjourn the
meeting at 3:25 pm.
Vote: Aye – 5
 Nay – 0
The motion passed.



_________________________________ _______________________________________
Vardell Smyth, Chair David Pedersen, Board Clerk




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