HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_11.14.2024Minutes of the
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
City of Georgetown.. Texas
Thursday, November 141, 2024
The Georgetown Historic and Architectural Review Commission met on Thursday, November 14, 20
at 6:00 PM at Council and Court Building, 510 W 9th Street. I
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The following Members were in attendance:
Present were: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner,
Heather Smith
Public Wishing to Address the Board
table at the entrance to the meeting room. Clearly print your name and the letter of the item on which you
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
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and be present at the meeting.
On a subLect 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 mernbers. No action can be taken.
1. Regular Session
I.A Meeting Minutes
Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the October 24, 2024,
regular meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission -- Erica Metress,
Planning Specialist
Moved by Stuart Garner; seconded by Robert Blomquist to Approve the minutes from
the October 24, 2024, regular meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review
Commission.
Motion Approved: 54 0
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner,
Heather Smith
Voting Against: None
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into their own items. Spencer explained that staff would present the staff report, Vice
Chairs would address the public hearing in a row for each project, and then the
commission would proceed into the motions. Spencer concluded by requesting that
discussion and questions would be presented wholistically.
1.B 1608 S Church St (2024-62-COA) - Demolition
Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness
(COA) for Demolition of an attached carport, porch, patio or deck made of non-histo
materials for the property located at 1608 S. Church Street, bearing the legal
description of North Part of Lot 3, Block 4, Logan Addition (2024-62-COA) -- Olivia
Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner I
Laura Cook and Steve Mayer, owners, approached the podium to address the
commission and acknowledged that have been conscientious about preserving as much
of the home as they could. Cook explained that when they bought the house, it was
unlivable and highlighted that the improvements made the home functional. Cook
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for reuse of the brick and provides a common architectural element of the 1900s. Cook
provided photos of homes in the area without railings and cement slab porches.
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in the past. Beams explained that there have been three historic resource surveys
conducted in Georgetown and that the first survey in 1984 indicated that the porch was
replaced at that point. Beams added that staff made the determination that the current
porch was different than the one in 1984 based on visual estimates. Commissioner
Hein asked if the porch ever had wing walls. Beams explained that the presented
photographs were the most recent photographs provided and assumed that there
were no wing walls in the past.
Vice Chair Burns asked staff if it was typical to have concrete porches in 1916. Beams
shared that based on her research, concrete was available at the time in 1916, so
porches were either concrete material or a wood material with a wooden porch floor.
Vice Chair Burns opened the public hearing for item 1.B.
Liz Weaver, 1221 South Main Street, approached the podium to address the commission
and expressed excitement for the home to be renovated. Weaver shared her concern
with the front porch. Weaver believed that the porch from the 1984 survey was not
concrete due to the hump to the left of the front door and a fascia board on the front lip of
the home and along the right side of the house. Weaver explained that concrete porches
were typical in replacements because the houses were moved. Weaver explained that
concrete porches are common on masonry houses but not on frame houses like the one
in the request.
Vice Chair Burns closed the public hearing 1.B.
Vice Chair Burns continued to the public hearing for items 1.0 and 1.D. Please see those
items for reference to the public speakers.
Cook explained that two different contractors provided the idea of a concrete porch.
Cook explained that the price of a concrete porch was not significant in comparison to
composite material. Cook highlighted multiple homes in the area that have a concrete
porch and shared that it was consistent with the neighborhood.
Commissioner Smith asked if concrete was an approved material. Beams explained that
composite materials are not approved by the design guidelines and that concrete was an
approved material.
Commissioner Hein asked if the appearance of the concrete porch would be within
HARC's purview. Beams explained that staff found that the concrete material met all
applicable design guidelines and that it is within HARC's ability to disagree with staff's
findings.
Sofia Nelson, Planning Director, approached the podium to address the commission and
shared that staff's priority was to review the form of the structure. Following the review of
the form of the structure, staff reviewed the materials. Nelson acknowledged that the
requested material is compliant with the design guidelines and further emphasized the
priorities in reviews.
Commissioner Romero asked staff to speak to the wing walls and creating a false sense
of history. Beams explained that there is a design guideline that is related to adding
new features or details that weren't previously present on the house and shared that
the guideline was non -compliant because the stair wing walls were not previously
present within the design of the home. Beams added that the requested wing walls
would have a minimal visual on the front fapade in terms of mass in scale.
With no further discussion, Vice Chair Burns opened the floor to a motion.
Moved by Stuart Garner; seconded by Heather Smith to Approve the demolition of the
attached porch with a replacement of an equal sized porch.
Motion Approved: 6- 0
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart
Garner, Heather Smith
Voting Against: None
Following the vote on item 1.B, Vice Chair Burns proceeded to open the floor to a
motion for item 1.0 and 1.D. Please refer to those sections for the results.
1.0 1608 S Church St (2024-62-COA) - Porch Addition
Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness
(COA) for the addition of a porch, patio or deck for the property located at 1608 &
Church Street, bearing the legal description of North Part of Lot 3, Block 4, Logan
Addition (2024-62-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner
The staff presentation and commission discussion for this item can be found under
item 1.B.
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and feel of what was original if there is a need for replacement. Weaver acknowledged
that concrete is expensive and that it could retain moisture against the front sill of the
house. Weaver continued to share that, with concrete, there is a possibility of gaps,
cracks, and shifts that could damage the house. Weaver asked that the applicant
preserve parts of the is that can be saved. Weaver explained that the beams of the
porch can be repaired. Weaver provided photos of composite decking and acknowledged
that composite decking is more expensive but shared that it provides a more historic feel.
materials consistent with the historical porch,
Motion Failed: 3- 3
Voting For: Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist
Voting Against: Lawrence Romero, Stuart Garner, Heather Smith
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Moved by Heather Smith; seconded by Stuart Garner to Approve as presented
Motion Failed: 2- 4
Voting For: Stuart Garner, Heather Smith
Voting Against: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist
1. D 1608 S Church St (2024-62-COA) - Stair Modification
Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness
(COA) for modifications to exterior steps, stairways and ramps for the property located at
1608 S. Church Street, bearing the legal description of North Part of Lot 3, Block 4,
Logan Addition (2024-62-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner
The staff presentation and commission discussion for this item can be found under
item 1. B.
Vice Chair Burns opened and closed the public hearing for item 1 D with no speakers
coming forth.
Moved by Evan Hein; seconded by Robert Blomquist to Deny because the request is
adding a new feature that is not historical to the home.
Motion Approved: 4- 2
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist
Voting Against: Stuart Garner, Heather Smith
(I. E 303 E. 7th Street (2024-43-COA) - Addition
Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness
(COA) for an addition that adds to a street facing facade for the property located at 303
7th Street, bearing the legal description of Lots 5-6, Block 16, Glasscock Addition (2024
43-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner I
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Vice Chair Burns asked when the structure was changed to the Victorian style. Beams
A�a'ceirwlzc 4p� between 1886 and 1916 which was the end
the Victorian style era. Beams added that although the Victorian style porch and porch
additions are not original to the house, the changes have gained historic value in their
own right and should be preserved.
the picture presented in the staff report was from 1886 and added that there was a
Sanborn map from 1916. House explained that the conversion took place in between
those two documents.
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that he is trying to keep what was renovated and move it to the side to create a full veneer
all along the side of the house. Commissioner Hein asked if the balustrades on the front
porch are unoriginal. Lawton explained that the posts are twice the size of the original.
Lawton changed the whole facade and tried to keep the character as close as possible to
the original.
Vice Chair Burns opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers coming forth for
items I E and I. F. With no further discussion, Vice Chair Burns opened the floor to a
motion.
Moved by Evan Hein; seconded by Lawrence Romero to Approve as presented.
Motion Approved: 6- 0
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart
Garner, Heather Smith
Voting Against: None
1-F 303 E. 7th Street (2024-43-COA) - Architectural Feature Replacement
Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness
(COA) for Replacing a historic architectural feature with a non -historic architectural
feature 303 E. 7th Street, bearing the legal description of Lots 5-6, Block 16, Glasscock
Addition (2024-43-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner
The staff presentation and commission discussion for this item can be found under
item I.E.
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found under item 1 E
Moved by Lawrence Romero; seconded by Robert Blomquist to Approve as presented.
Motion Approved: 6- 0
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart
Garner, Heather Smith
Voting Against: None
1.G Discussion Items
General updates, and Commissioner questions and comments -- Kimberly Spencer,
Assistant Planning Director
the agenda in terms of separating actions.
Adjournment
These minutes were approved at the meeting of
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