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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_02.23.2012City of Georgetown, Texas Historic arid Architectural Review Commission. Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. City Council and Municipal Court Building, Georgetown, TX 78627 101 E. 7,h Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 Members present: Dee Rapp, Chair; Sarah Blankenship, Susan Firth, David Paul, and Raymond Wahrenbrock. Commissioners in Training present: none Members absent: Nelia Ibsen Schrum Staff present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planter and HARC liaison; 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, isresponsible for hearing and taking final action on applications, by issuing Certificates of Design Compliance based upon 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.) 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 the 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. 1 _ Review and possible approval of the minutes from the January 26, 201_2 Regular HARC meeting_ Rapp pointed out the typo error on page 2, in the eighth paragraph, ws should be "was"_ On page 3, sixth paragraph, to should be "two". The vote on the firstmotion of item number 2 showed Rapp approved and Paul opposed_ That should be switched. And she wants moredetails included in the minutes. 2_ Discussion and possible action on a postponed Certificate of Design Compliance request for new signage at Lost Addition, Block 64 (pt), also known as. Texas Car Title t% Payday Loan, located at 1000 S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-2011-037) This item was approved by the Sign Subcommittee at 5:30 p.m. Reizula.r Agenda: Historical and Architectutral Commission Minutes February 23. 2012 1 3_ Public hearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for exterior changes to an historic building at City of Georgetown, Block 38, Lot 4, to be known as Grape Creel[ Wirtery, located at 101 VV. 70. Street. (CDC-2012-004) Wyler presented the staff report. The applicant seeks Certificate of Design Compliance approval from HAl2C for exterior changes to the north :side of the historic 101 W. 7th Street building. After the demolition of the 614 S. Main Street building, the rear wall of the building will be exposed. New stone will be used to repair the wall as needed and a new door, two new upper -story windows and a metal canopy will be installed. The new court yard door will match the 7th Street entrance doors in appearance and material, minus the transom window. It will provide access between the winery and court yard. An 8'8" wide metal canopy with tie rods will be installed above the new door. The canopy will project 4 feet into the courtyard and will provide a clearance of at least 11 feet underneath. Similar style metal canopies can be found on the Public Library and Makemson, Steele Weir Building downtown. Additionally, two new upper story windows will be installed. Each window will match the appearance and material of the existing upper story windows found on the building_ The applicant has stated lighting and signage details are not finalized at this time and will be brought back to HA1 C. for approval at a later time. Bryant Boyd, the architect and agent was available for questions and comments. Wahrextbrocic asked if the upper story windows were designed to meet the fire code. Boyd explained that the building was sprinkled and therefore did not need a fire escape. Firth questioned how the awning over the courtyard would match this new. canopy over the back door. Boyd stated he did not know. He was questioned about the use of metal versuswood as the canopy building material. He explained that the metal was more durable. Wahrertbrock explained that he would like to see the canopy fascia be wooden,. to match other portions of the building. Boyd explained that he chose the more utilitarian look for the back of the building because he did not know what materials would be exposed after tearing down the back portion of the building for the patio. The existing stone on the north side of the building will be exposed and repaired/replaced in kind as needed. Rapp opened the Public hearing at 6:21 p.m. and closed if for lack of speakers. Blankenship agreed the utilitarian look of the metal canopy was appropriate for the rear facade because the backs of the buildingwere designed for utilitarian use, often with less expensive or more utilitarian looking materials. Motion by Firth to approve the Ct7C as proposed with consideration to making the awning fascia wooden. Second by Blankenship. Approved 5 - O. 4. Discussion and possible action on a postponed Certificate of Design Compliance request for the demolition of a Low -Priority historic house in Shell Addition,. Block 15 (se/pt),. located at 711 E. 5t� Street. (CDC-2011-036) Wyler :gave a brief report of the item. At the October 27, 2011 HARC meeting, the corrunission postponed action on a request to demolish a Low -Priority. Historic Structure at 711 E. 5th Street, requiring the owner to provide certain financial information on Historical and Architectural Commission Minutes February 23, 2012 2 demolishing the structure versus renovating it, as well as have a follow-up. site visit prior to returning for final action. Upon the item being postponed, a 175-day postponement period began. This delay process is detailed in the attached staff report from the October meeting. On Tuesday, February 14, 2012,-there was a walkthrough of the Low -Priority house. At that walkthrough the property owner provided updated financial details as requested and addressed questions and comments from HARC members and members of the Georgetown Heritage Society who were in attendance, After meeting the requests from HARC, the property owner is returning for final action on the demolition request. The property owner, Mr. Banks was present_ Rapp opened the Public Hearing at 6:25 p.m. Virginia Stubbs, representing Georgetown I-Ieritage Society, explained that sl-te still believes the house has "good bones" as she stated at a previous meeting, and met with the previous owner of the house. She explained that everyone agreed that the second story was unsound and that after reading the engineering and architectural reports she agrees to the demolition_ She requested that HARC consider asking the owner to salvage as many materials and good bones as possible. She explained the wood used to build the house wasoriginally from the GS Griffith Company and that it needs to be salvaged if possible_ Clare Easley, also of the Georgetown Heritage Society, spoke in favor of the demolition_ She remembered when Miles Allen purchased the house and added the second floor- to the already pieced together house. She thought the neighborhood would benefit from the demolition at this point. Rapp also mentioned that the commissioners received a letter from Will Moore, a previous HA.R.G member, also in support of the demolition_ Rapp closed the Public Hearing at 6:32 Dennis Banks spoke and said he would agree to :save the materials from the house, store them locally and reuse them in the construction of the new house on that lot. Rapp asked if he would be amenable to someone from the commission documenting the historic features .and materials of the house, to preserve as much of the history of the house as possible. Mr. Banks had no objection. Rapp explained that the commission's last action caused the 175 day delay clock to start, upon which the commission must act. There were only 30 more days left before Mr. Banks would beallowed to demo the building. Blankenship questioned the state of this building in comparison to other buildings that had been salvaged and reconstructed_ Boyd, the architect, explained that was difficult to estimate until the second floor and roof were removed, but that the foundation would need to be redone and engineered. He explained that most houses have a shell when you start taking them apart, but this one even has a cracked shell. Firth appreciated Mr. Bank's cost analysis and how he has worked with the commission_ She explained it was not the commission's intent to allow the demolition of an historic structure but there seemed to be numerous reasons to allow this one, including the fact that there had been so many changes that the removal of this house would actually contribute to Historical and Arcbitectural Cerrirnission Miriutes February 23, 2012 3 the valueof other buildings in the neighborhood_ She was also in favor of Mr. Bank's vested interest irk this house because he wants to live in the neighborhood. Blankenship agreed and. suggested Mr. Banks consider a Victorian style house instead of the proposed Craftsman style. Wahrenbrock offered to work with staff and Mr. Banks to document the history and architectural features of the house. Motion by Blankenship Eo approve the CDC for demolition of this structure, following the LTCPC requirements for documentation of the structure and working with salvageable materials, and with consideration of the neighborhood style of Victorian style houses for the new house. Second by Paul_ Approved 5 - O_ 5. Updates from staff and reminder about the March 14, 2012.HARC Sign Subcommittee meeting at the C,eorgetown Municipal Complex and the March 22, 2012 HARC%HARC Sign Subcommittee meetings at Council. Chambers_ Robbie reminded all of the next meetings. 6. Adjoummertt Rapp adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Appro. ea, Dee Rapp, Chair APMaiVk--'31--VATAYA' t, Susan Firiat Viistcrrical and Artihtt. tvral Commission Mirru tes February 23, 2012 4