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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_06.27.2024Minutes of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, June 27, 2024 The Georgetown Historic and Architectural Review Commission met on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 6:00 PM at Council and Court Building, 510 W 9th Street. The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the City Secretary's Office, at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or City Hall at 808 Martin Luther King, Jr Street for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. The following Members were in attendance: Present were: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J Walton, Alton Martin, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner Public Wishing to Address the Board On a subiect that is posted on this agenda: Please fill out a speaker registration form which can be found on the table at the entrance to the meeting room. Clearly print your name and the letter of the item on which you wish to speak and present it to the Board Liaison prior to the start of the meeting. You will be called forward to speak when the Board considers that item. Only persons who have delivered the speaker form prior to the meeting being called to order may speak. Speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to speak. If you wish to speak for six minutes, it is permissible to use another requestor's granted time to speak. No more than six minutes for a speaker may be granted. The requestor granting time to another speaker must also submit a form and be present at the meeting. On a subject not posted on the agenda: A request must be received by the Advisory Board or Commission Liaison prior to the day the agenda for this mee ng is posted. Each speaker will be given three minutes to address the Board or Commission members. No action can be taken. 1. Regular Session 1.A Meeting Minutes Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the June 13, 2024 regular meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission -- Erica Metress, Planning Specialist Moved by Alton Martin; seconded by Linda C Burns to Approve the June 13, 2024, Historic and Architectural Review Commission minutes. Motion Approved: 5- 0 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Alton Martin, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner Voting Against: None 1.B 2024-8-COA (808 E. 3rd Street) Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for an Addition to a street -facing fagade for the property located at 808 E 3rd Street, bearing the legal description of Lot 2, Block 1 of the LMA Subdivision (2024-8- COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner Olivia Beams presented the staff report. Chair Walton opened the public hearing. Liz Weaver, 1221 South Main Street, approached the podium to address the Commission and shared that she was happy with the proposed improvements on the house. Weaver asked the Commission to approve the request with a condition to maintain the awning on the house. Chair Walton closed the public hearing. Commissioner Burns asked if the discussion with the applicant regarding the preservation of the front left awning was sufficient or if the Commission would need to add that as a condition to the motion. Beams explained that the removal of the awning would require an additional scope of work as the removal of a historic architectural feature. Beams confirmed that the Commission can conditionalize the awning to remain. Moved by Linda C Burns; seconded by Robert Blomquist to Approve the plans as presented with the condition that the applicant keep the historic feature of the awning over the front left window. Motion Approved: 6- O Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J Walton, Alton Martin, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner Voting Against: None 1.0 2024-16-COA (1903 S. Austin Avenue) Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for replacement of a historic architectural feature with a non -historic architectural and the alteration to a historic architectural feature for the property located at 1903 S. Austin Avenue, bearing the legal description of Lots 10-11, Block 1 of the Montgomery Addition to Georgetown (2024-16-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner Olivia Beams presented the staff report. Chair Walton asked if the project remains uncompleted. Beams confirmed that the project is uncompleted. Chair Walton inquired about the process for the request to be presented to the Historic and Architectural Review Commission. Beams explained that there was no code compliance violation issued because the applicant applied for the scope of work but started the work in the middle of the application process. Due to staff's communication with the applicant, it was decided to move forward with the certificate of appropriateness rather than the code compliance issuance. Rueben Rodriguez, applicant, approached the podium to address the Commission and made it known that his intent was to maintain and preserve the historic part of the house. Rodriguez mentioned that the house was built in 1916 which was about 70 years prior to 1984 referral. Rodriguez continued to explain that the rock cladding was not common in 1984 and that prior to 1984 the material was brick. Rodriguez highlighted that the homes in the surrounding area have 4 columns. Rodriguez mentioned that when he replaced his roof, the workmen told Rodriguez that the porch roof was sinking and recommended the two middle columns. Alternate Commissioner Garner asked staff if there were 4 columns prior to the current state of the home. Beams explained that the earliest imagery was from 1984 in which only two columns were present on the porch. Beams mentioned that staff inferred that through the craftsman style of the home there were likely just two columns and added that it is common to have middle piers without columns on the top with the craftsman design. Rodriguez explained that there were columns cut off on the inside of the piers when the stone cladding was removed. Alternate Commissioner Garner inquired about evidence in the header of the previous columns. Rodriguez confirmed that there were nail marks before the house was painted. Chair Walton referred to the letter of intent dated April 1 st and noted that it did not mention the columns. Chair Walton asked why the columns were not mentioned in the letter of intent. Beams explained that initially the columns were not included in the scope of work, so staff asked the applicant to revise the requested scope of work to include the columns. Chair Walton inquired about the significance of the plaques found on the front porch of the home. Rodriguez explained that one plaque is from Preservation Georgetown and that the other one is from the National Register. Chair Walton asked if the plaques were researched to help the Commission understand the original design of the home. Beams acknowledged that staff has not conducted research on the plaques but noted that the request was submitted to the National Register as part of the Belford district in the early 80s. Commissioner Martin acknowledged that many homes in the area have 4 columns and shared that he did not want to approve something in error or have the homeowner remove the work. Commissioner Martin requested that the applicant to provide documentation on the original design of the home. Beams explained that staff reviewed the National Register Nomination document and noted that there was no specific description of the home. Chair Walton opened the public hearing. Liz Weaver, 1221 South Main Street, approached the podium to address the Commission and acknowledged that she completed the research for Preservation Georgetown. Weaver displayed additional photos of Langford homes in the area to provide perspective on the request. Weaver believed that it would not be a mistake to allow the posts to remain and believed that the two middle columns should remain to support the long span of the roof especially with the evidence of nail markings in that place. Chair Walton closed the public hearing. Alternate Commissioner Garner asked staff if it was categorical that a craftsman style home only has two columns. Beams explained that the most frequent feature on a craftsman style home was the pier without the column. Moved by Stuart Garner; seconded by Robert Blomquist to Approve as presented by the applicant. Motion Failed: 2- 4 Voting For: Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner Voting Against: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J Walton, Alton Martin Due to a failed motion, Chair Walton asked for another motion from the dais. Moved by Alton Martin; seconded by Linda C Burns to Postpone to Date Certain to the July 25, 2024, Historic and Architectural Review Meeting to give the applicant time to provide additional confirmation such as photos to support the contention that there were 4 piers with columns at one point in time. Commissioner Burns inquired about the number of Langford homes in the district and asked staff if a survey of the number of columns, and posts without columns could be provided. Beams acknowledged that she could include a survey of the craftsman style homes in the district and what they look like. With no further discussion, the Commission proceeded to vote on the motion. Motion Postpone to Date Certain: 5- 1 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Alton Martin, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner Voting Against: Michael J Walton At 7:19 PM, Chair Walton announced a recess. 1.D 2024-25-COA (1818 Elm Street) Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for a porch, patio or deck for the property located at 1818 Elm Street, bearing the legal description of Lot 1 of the Daniel Amos Davidson Addition (2024-25-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner The meeting reconvened at 7:27 PM. Olivia Beams presented the staff report. Commissioner Martin asked if the request would be permissible if pavers were placed on the ground. Beams explained that is more common to see a paver or flat surface when looking at Victorian style homes and clarified that flatwork does not require a COA. Chair Walton asked if the applicant considered flatwork. Carolyn Abbott, Applicant, approached the podium to address the Commission and acknowledged that she did not realize that the request was non -conforming. Abbott explained that if the request was denied she would add flat work. Chair Walton opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers coming forth. Moved by Alton Martin; seconded by Linda C Burns to Approve the porch, patio or deck on the garage as presented and deny the porch, patio, or deck on the structure. Motion Approved: 6- 0 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J Walton, Alton Martin, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner Voting Against: None 1.E Discussion Items Updates on Upcoming Training for HARC Commissioners, UDC Rewrite, and Commissioner questions and comments -- Sofia Nelson, Planning Director Kim Spencer, Assistant Planning Director, approached the podium to address the Commission and informed the Commission that there is possibility of an upcoming training in August. Spencer encouraged the Commission to listen to the recording of Tuesday, June 25, 2024, City Council Workshop regarding the UDC update on discussion around demolition and infill construction. Spencer mentioned that Sofia Nelson, Planning Director, will continue to take in feedback on focus points for the UDC rewrite about the Historic Downtown and Old Town area. Adjournment These minut7lwere approved at the meeting of Chai Attest