HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_10.22.2015Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 3
Meeting: October 22, 2015
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Minutes
Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
Council and Courts Building
101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, TX 78626
Members present: Lee Bain, Chair; Nancy Knight, Vice-Chair; Justin Bohls; Patty Eason; Shawn Hood
and Richard Mee.
Commissioners in Training present: Lawrence Romero; and Jan Daum
Commissioners absent: Jennifer Brown
Staff present: Matt Synatschk, Historic Planner; Sofia Nelson, Planning Director; and Karen Frost,
Recording Secretary.
A. Call to Order by Chair Bain at 6:00 p.m. with the reading of the order of business to be conducted.
Chair welcomed Commissioner Patty Eason to the dais. She was moved by the Mayor to a regular
commission position from a commission-in-training position.
Legislative Regular Agenda
B. Review and possible approval of the minutes of the September 24, 2015 regular meeting.
Motion by Eason to approve the minutes as presented. Second by Mee. Approved 6 – 0.
C. Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a Master Sign
Plan for the property located at 701 South Main Street, bearing the legal description of City of
Georgetown, Block 40, Lot 2 (N/PT), 0.0826 acres.
Synatschk presented the staff report and application. The applicant is requesting a Certificate of
Appropriateness for a master sign plan for the high priority historic structure. The three story
structure is comprised of restaurant space on the first and second floors, with office suites on the
third floor. The master sign plan will allow the applicant to reface existing signs as long as they
comply with the approved plan. Much of the proposed signage has been previously presented to
HARC and approved for use on the building. The proposed plan adds some additional signage for
each floor, but does not exceed the allowable amount of signage. Staff has a concern regarding the
proposed A-frame sign on the 7th Street side, in that there is not a business on the first floor, on that
side of the building, to remove the sign as needed and it interferes with ADA sidewalk accessibility.
Chris Damon, the owner/applicant, spoke in support of the A-frame and stated it would be used to
direct people as needed to the door to access the second floor. Commissioners asked if it could be
reduced in size or placed somewhere else. The discussion was that the upstairs business was a
destination and that their customers should know where they were going, it did not seem necessary
to pull business from the sidewalk level.
Chair Bain opened the Public Hearing and closed it with no speakers coming forth.
Motion by Eason to approve the application with the staff recommendation that an A-frame sign
on 7th Street be denied, and that a door window sign can be considered if it meets the Guidelines
and that it is reviewed by staff. Second by Mee. Approved 6 – 0.
D. Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC) for
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 3
Meeting: October 22, 2015
exterior modifications and an addition for the property located at 209 East 8th Street bearing the legal
description of Glasscock Addition, Block 10, Lot 4 (PT), 0.03 acres.
Synatschk presented the staff report and application. The proposed project includes the removal of an
addition to the rear of the ca. 1925 historic structure and the construction of a new two story addition.
The project will also include an extension of the brick chimney and reconfiguring the windows in the
primary façade to facilitate a retail use for the space. The removal of the rear addition allows for a
viable rehabilitation of the original historic structure. Although the addition has attained historic
value in its own right, removal does not result in a significant loss of integrity. Removing the addition
allows for the construction of a new two story addition to the rear of the structure, providing
additional retail space and office space for the structure.
The proposed materials include cinderblock walls on the first floor, which has limited visibility from
the street, due to the location of the adjacent structures and features. The cinder block construction
will be painted to blend with the rest of the structure, but the materials will create the required
differentiation. The proposed metal cladding for the second floor of the addition reflects the original
materials of the historic structure, but provides differentiation with a different pattern of metal.
The applicant wishes to install larger windows in place of the existing windows, and install new
transom windows above the canopy. The proposed changes are out of character with the design of
the structure and create a false sense of history for the structure. While staff acknowledges the need
for additional light and possible retail displays, it is recommended that the applicant research other
options for accomplishing their needs.
The applicant’s agent, Gary Wang, introduced the owner, Kevin Sukup and presented the plan and
material samples. He stated that they are asking for the larger front windows with transoms, even
though they are not recommended, to make the first floor a viable retail space. He also explained
that they would be saving and rebuilding the roof with the corrugated metal and using the stamped
metal for the interior ceiling.
Commissioners asked questions about possible solutions to the dark interior, including adding
skylights or raising the transoms. They even discussed possibly removing the awning.
Chair Bain opened the Public Hearing and closed it with no speakers coming forth.
Motion by Knight to approve the application for CDC-2015-034 as presented and submitted by the
applicant, with the weathered copper option. Second by Mee. Approved 6 – 0.
E. Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC) for a
residential addition for the property located at 1700 South Church Street bearing the legal
description of Eubank Addition, Block 1, Lot 1, (N/PT), 2 (N/PT), 0.24 acres.
The applicant is proposing a new residential addition and a new porch for the medium priority
historic structure. The project is unique due to the fact that it is surrounded by three streets, limiting
the placement of the additions. The primary addition to the residence creates additional living space
for the structure and is setback from the primary historic structure, emphasizing the historic
structure.
In addition, the materials for the addition are compatible with the primary structure, but
differentiated and subdued. The wood siding incorporates the materials from the garage, while the
stone accents allow the addition to blend with the existing structure, but still create the
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 3
Meeting: October 22, 2015
differentiation. The proposed project complies with the Downtown and Old Town Design
Guidelines by creating two additions that are compatible with the historic structure and highlight the
historic structure while creating the additional living space for the residence.
Chair Bain opened the Public Hearing and closed it with no speakers coming forth.
Motion by Bohls to approve the application as submitted. Second by Knight. Approved 6 – 0.
F. Questions and comments from Commissioners in Training – no comments
G. Staff updates and reminder of upcoming meetings related to HARC
Historic Resource Survey, the contract is being finalized and an update will be given to City Council.
The consultant will be able to start the project within 45 days of getting the signed contract.
Grace Heritage Center, the contractor estimated the cost of repairs to be over $300,000.
Downtown West, traffic studies will be done to define the impact to the adjacent neighborhoods.
Parking Study, completed and Council accepted it. It proposes better signage, resurfacing of several
streets, and naming of the downtown parking lots to easier identify them to visitors.
National Register project, this project is at the State Board level for review, then will be forwarded to
the National Parks Service.
Next HARC Regular Meeting – December 10th @ 6:00..
H. Adjournment
Motion by Knight to adjourn, second by Hood. The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
________________________________ _______________________________
Approved, Lee Bain, Chair Attest, Richard Mee