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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_12.08.2011City of Georgetown,. 'Texas Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 8, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. City Council and Municipal Court Building, Georgetown, TX 78627 101 E. 70^ Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 Members present: Dee Rapp,: Chair; :Sarah Blankenship, Susan Firth, 17avid Paul, IVelia Ibsen Schrum, and Raymond Wahrenbrock. Corrunissioners in Training present: none Members absent: Andy Welch,. Commissioner in Training Staff present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner and HAR.0 liaison; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner, .Elizabeth Cook, Community -Development Director; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m_ Chair Rapp opened the meeting at 6:02 p.m. The Historic and Architectural Review Commission, appointed by the Mayor and the City Council, is responsible for hearing and taking final action on applications, by issuing. Certificates of Design Compliance basedupon the City Council adopted Downtown Design Guidelines and Unified Development Code. (Commission may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an Executive Session at the request of the Chair, a Commissioner, the Director or legal counsel for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551.) Welcome and Meeting Procedures - Staff Presentation Applicant Presentation (limited to ten (10) minutes unless stated otherwise by the Commission) Questions from Commission to Staff and Applicant Comments from Citizens " Applicant Response Commission Deliberative Process Commission Action Those who speak must turn in a speaker form, located at the back of the room, to the recording secretary before the item that they wish to address begins. Each speaker will be permitted to address the Commission one time only for a maximum of three (3) minutes. Consent Agenda: The Consent Agenda includes non -controversial and routine items that the Commission may act on with one single vote. A Commissioner or any member of the public may request that any item from the Consent Agenda be pulled in order that the Commission discuss and act upon it individually as part of Cl-le Regular Agenda. "The Historic and Architectural Review Commission's approval of an item on the Consent Agenda will be consistent with the staff recommendation described in the report, unless otherwise noted. I Iistorical and Arctiitectm-al Cornonisaion 1 Minutes IDPce.mber 8, 2011 1. Review and possible approval of the minutes from the October 27, 2011 Regular HARC meeting. Rapp asked for clarification of the minutes for 711 B._ 50, Street_ The last sentence on page 3, "Details on the 400 square foot detached garage are unknown but the applicant wishes to take it down along with the house to allow for new construction." should be deleted. Motion by Paul to approve the minutes with the noted deleted sentence. Second by Schrum.. Approved 6 — O. Firth reported that items 2 and 3 of the consent agenda were approved at the Sign Subcommittee earlier that evening. 2_ Public hearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage at City of Georgetown, Block 51, Lot 1 (w/pt), to be known as the Law Office of Lisa Goddard- Gikas, P.C., located at 120 W. 8t• Street. (CDC-2011-040) 3. Public hearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage at City of Georgetown, Block 52, Lot 5 (s/pt), to be known as Shelton Sr Power, 'LLC, Iocated at 812 S. Church Street. (C1DC-2011-041) Regular Agenda: 4. Public hearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance to install public art on existing retaining walls acid future sidewalks, located at City of Georgetown, Block 3, also known as the River Place, located at 205 W_ Street_ (CDC-2011-042) Wyler iritroduced Mark Schlessinger, the artist for the proposed project. Mr_ Schlessinger gave a presentation of work be has done and what he proposes to do at the River Walk. He explained his history and how he started mixing his own paint colors to get the special effects be showed. The proposal is to paint certain sections of the sidewalk and concrete retaining. walls with thepaints, in different color block sections. Firth questioned the ADA compliance of painted sidewalks. Wyler assured her that the city would review the sidewalks for compliance and they would not be permitted if not compliant. Linda McCalla, of the Main Street Advisory Board, spoke about the role of art in downtown Georgetown and now important it has been and will continue to be_ She explained the growth of Arts with thegrowing involvement of the Arts and Culture Board, the Charrtber`s newly developed Arts Alliance, and the possibility of an Arts Center in the old police station_ She mentioned the sculpture art pieces around downtown and the mural downtown_ Then sne reintroduced Mr. Schlessirtger and explained his role in the new project_ Mr. Schlessirlger stated he was very glad to be back ir1 Texas and excited about this project. He showed colored, concrete examples of what he intends to do, explaining that the color samples were taken from existing historicalstructures on the Square, including the Courthouse granite and others. He asked for questions and comments. Rapp .asked if the colors on the sidewalk would be glowing as well as the walls. Schlessinger explained that the "glowing" color blocks are only visible to those in the restaurant, not from across the river, and not on the actual sidewalk panels. She questioned Historical and ArcTiteatural.Cotammission Minutes omcmmbar S, 2011 2 how long the glow would last. He explained that there would be black lights installed under the rafters or in inconspicuous places so the color blocks will be illuminated all night long. The green glow is brighter and lasts longer than the blue. The green lasts. 25 hours and the blue lasts 9 — 10 hours, before needing to be recharged_ Blankenship questioned the need for adding the Hardiplank sections to theconcrete. wall. 1t was confirmed that it was to add dimension to the wall_ Firthquestionedthe durability of the sidewalk paint. Schlessinger said it was very durable and he would guarantee the colors, coming back to make any necessary repairs. Firth liked that the colors were historically accurate and suggested potting a storyboard at the entrance to the restaurant to explain the colors and their history. Sam Pfeister, River Place owner, lilted the idea. Wahreribrock asked where the sidewalk paint would end, and whether it would continue beyond the property. Pfeister explained it would end at the parking lot in the first phase and include the retaining walls_ The second phase of the project would be considered for adding additional painted areas. Rapp opened the Public Hearing at 6:56 p.m. Eric Lashley, Georgetown Public Library Director, spoke- for the project and expressed the Arts and Culture Board support of the project. He applauded the private investment into art and to making Georgetown a destination for art. He requested HARC approval of the project for both himself and the Arts and Culture Board_ Rapp closed the Public Hearing at 6:59 p.m. Blankenship expressed that she felt the pink color was too saturated and asked if it could be toned down. (Zither commissioners expressed the same concern. Schlessinger agreed to look at it and try to tone it down. He explained that it would be next to -a gray color that would also tone it down in appearance_ Motion by Firth to accept the project as presented with consideration given to the artist's discretion with the pink color_ Second by Paul. Approved 6-0. Rapp stopped the meeting for a 5 minute recess_ Rapp re -opened the meeting at 7:12 p.m. 5. Review and Discussion with possible direction to staff on proposed amendments to the Design Guidelines. The commissioners moved to the front tables for discussion of the Design Guidelines. 6. Updates. from staff and reminder about the January 11, 2012 HARC Sign Subcommittee meeting at the Georgetown Municipal Complex .and the January 26, 2012 HARC/1-1ARC Sign Subcommittee meetings at Council Chambers_ 7. Adjournment Rapp adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m_ Historical and Architectural Commission Minutes necember 8; 2011 3 Approved,. Dee Rap1ir Attest, Susan Firth, Vice -chair Historical and Architectural Gornsniesion Minutes December 8, 2011 4