HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_07.02.2012City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Special Meeting
Minutes
Monday, July 2, 2012 3:30 p.m_
Georgetown Municipal Complex, Williamson Conference Room
300-1 Industrial Ave, Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members present: Dee Rapp, Chair; Sarah Blankenship; Susan Firth; David Paul; Raymond
Wahrenbrock; Tim Urban; and Jennifer Brown.
Commissioner(s) absent: Jennifer Brown and Anna Eby
Staff present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Plartner; Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney;
Skye Masson, Legal Assistant; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner; and Karen Frost, Recording
Secretary_
Session - To begin no earlier than 3:30 p.m.
Rapp called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
The Historic and Architectural Review Commission, appointed by the Mayor andtheCity-Council, is
responsible 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.)
This is. a .special meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission- for consideration
and possible action on the following:
Re>;ular Agenda:
Y _ Discussion and possible recommendation to City Council on proposed revisions to the Design
Guidelines for the Downtown and Old Town Overlays. "Continuation from the rune 28, 2022-
meeting_
Wyler explained thattheDesign Guidelines should be ready for recommendation at this
meeting, after the discussion of Chapter 9 for signage at this meeting_
Chapman explains. that the language she distributed to the commission was for legal
clarification of the sign contents_ Firth distributed suggested guideline language for sign
content. Rapp explains that the commission. is not tryingtq restrict words and content, but how
these words and content are placed aesthetically on the sign. The Sign Subcommittee would
like more defined language to help in the decision making process for sign CDC's_
There was further discussion with the attorneys regarding the ability to alter federally
approved trademarks and what constitutes a federally approved trademark. There was also
discussion of how to regulate primary and secondary signs and working on the appropriate
language for that.
Chapman suggested adding definitions to the appendix glossary of terms for primary sign,
Historic and Architectural Moylew Commission
Minulas
July 2., 2012
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secondary sign window sign, and A -frame or sandwich sign. Firth asked for additional
definitions for lines per sign, limiting the primary and secondary signs to three lines each to be
consistent with the Guideline styles. .She also asked for additional sign types. in Guideline 9.3
and further clarification in the introduction of Chapter 9.
Chapman explained that the parameters that were given were based on the ITDC requirements
for signs. Wyler explains that in this case,. the UDC is the code used for review and the Design
Guidelines do not need to be as specific for size and exact specifics_
The changes to be made in Chapter 9 are:
• Add definitions to the appendix per Chapmart's list.
• The note. on Firth's handout would be added to. the Chapter introduction paragraphs_
• "Well -designed" paragraph from Firth's handout should be added to 9.3 after the policy
statement but beforethe paragraph.
• Pull "window signs" from the secondary sigrt section and make it a stand-alone section.
• Add a section 9.3 with 5 types of window purposes; from Firth's handout_
• Use legal format for the bullets in the new section 9.3.
• Add appropriate pictures in the final version_
• Adding window signsas a separate type of signage, change 9.1 from 4 types to 5 types of
signs.
Wahrenbrock asked that several other small word changes be considered throughout the
documents. Each one was discussed and changes noted if necessary_
A five minute recess was given at 5:35 p.m.
Rapp reconvened at 5:40 p_rrt_
Motion by Firth to recommend to City Council the approval of the Design Guidelines as
amended at this meeting. She amended her motion to include the name of the document be
changed to Dowxt<towa and Old Town Design Guidelines_ Second by Wahrenbrock.
Approved 5 - O_ (Blankenship left at 4:20 prior to the vote.)
2_ Adjournment_
Rapp adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.
Appro eDe etChair Attest,, David Paul
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Minutes
July 2, 2012
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