Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_05.22.2025Minutes of the City of Georgetown, Texa Thursday,, May 22, 20251 The Georgetown Historic and Architectural Review Commission met on Thursday, May 22, 2025 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, Michael J Walton, Evan Hein, Stuart Garner Public Wishing to Address the Board On a sob ect1hatis ostgd on this a enda: 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 sub'ect nrl+ posted on the 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 May 8, 2025, meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission -- Erica Dunlop, Planning Specialist Moved by Evan Hein-, seconded by Lawrence Romero to Approve the minutes from the May 8, 2025, meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission. Motion Approved: 4- 0 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Michael J Walton, Evan Hein, Stuart Garner Voting Against: None 113 401 S Walnut (2024-75-COA) Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for an addition that creates a new, or adds to an existing street facing fa�ade, a setback exception to allow encroachment by 9' into the required 15' street -side setback, and a 5-6" building height exception to increase the allowed building height from the required 15' building height at the prescribed setback to a maximum building height of 6" at the property located at 401 S Walnut, bearing the legal description .66 Acres out of the northern part of block 15 of the Shell Addition (2024-75-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner Olivia Beams presented the staff report. Tommy Hudson, Applicant, and Walter Toole, Architect, approached the podium to address the commission and shared that they have tried to keep the integrity of the existing home. Hudson explained that the material for the addition will be the same the 4th street encroachment continues 7 feet and that the studio over the garage is setback. Hudson explained that the garage Commissioner Hein referred to standard 9 of the Secretary of Interior's Standards and the window and siding replacement were not considered as part of the request because it was a like -for -like material replacement. Beams added that the addition will not destroy the form of the structure and would still be recognizable. Commissioner Hein asked if the interpretation of standard 9 would be a regulation or general guideline and clarified that HARC would have purview over removal of original windows especially on a front facade. Beams explained that HARC would have approvM over a removal of windows on a high priority resource, as well as if the material was not approved by the design guidelines. Beams projected the COA applicability table from section 3.13.010 of the Unified Development Code, UDC. -ommissioner f[MIRUCaTt T67-cul fsw"•Y addition to maintain the balance with the surrounding neighborhood. Toole explained that the pitch of the roof would need to be changed in order to achieve the same square footage and shared that the change in roof pitch would not match the existing house. Chair Walton requested that staff explain the relationship between the size of the addition and setback issue. Beams explained that the existing structure was constructed prior to the code adopted in 2003 and specified that the existing structure did not meet the residential single-family, RS, setback requirements. Beams explained that the structure were made. Beams explained that when a structure is expanded by more than 50%, approval of a special exception is required. When the size is increased by more than 100%, the whole structure would need to meet the current code. Beams shared that HARC would be able to approve a setback exception. Short discussion on pushing the addition back and its impact on the setback and height concern. Sofia Nelson, Planning Director, approached the podium to address the commission and acknowledged that it can be challenging to bring structures, within the Old Town overlay, into compliance. Nelson recommended that HARC focuses on the design instead of the setback issues and compliance with the current ordinances. Nelson explained that the UDC is focused across the whole city, whereas the design guidelines are for HARC to focus on with regard to the character of Old Town. Chair Walton inquired about the utilization of the remaining portion of the lot. Ann Banks, property owner, approached the podium to address the commission and shared that she wanted to keep it in a close proximity as the plan was to expand and remodel the home. Banks added that the remaining area was preserved for the possibility of a new home. Chair Walton opened the public hearing. Liz Weaver, 1221 South Main Street, approached the podium to address the commission and shared that the home was a Belford house. Weaver shared that the home was built in 1929 by Turner Shell. Weaver explained that the home remained within the family until 1942 and that the current owner purchased the home in 1999. Weaver highlighted that the section of the home setback on 4th street was brought back to the front in the proposed plans which would require a significantly flatter roof. Weaver continued to highlight that the L-plan historic feature of the home would be lost. Weaver highlighted that the project met 16/39 of the approval criteria. Weaver shared concern of another home in the area that resulted in the demolition of most of the home. Weaver concluded by requesting that the commission deny the request so that the applicant could return within 180 days if they eliminate the issues of the setback. Chair Walton closed the public hearing. Commissioner Romero mentioned that the mass was a concern. Commissioner Romero added that the garage should be pushed back due to the separation between the garage and home. Commissioner Romero did not support a variance for the setback. Discussion regarding the setbacks between Beams and Commissioner Garner. Hudson explained that the existing structure is non -conforming and mentioned that the Commissioner Hein mentioned concern with the deck and the scale and imbalance of the second story of the garage with recommendations to mitigate it by setting the structure back, utilizing dormers, utilizing space on the lot, or creating a one-story structure with a larger footprint rather than the height and scale. Commissioner Hein noted that he was less concerned with the setback that's in keeping with the existing Moved by Evan Hein-, seconded by Lawrence Romero to Postpone to Date Certain the 401 S Walnut project to the June 26, 2025, Historic and Architectural Review Commission meeting to allow the applicant to make revisions by addressing the violatio of the deck/balcony facing the street, height of the garage, and the mass and scale of th structure. 11 Chair Walton moved to amend the existing motion. Moved by Michael J Walton-, seconded by Lawrence Romero to Amend to include addressing the setback violation in the design. Motion Amended: 3- 1 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Michael J Walton, Stuart Garner Voting Against: Evan Hein Following the vote on the amendment, the commission moved forward with a vote on the original motion. Motion Postpone to Date Certain- 4- 0 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Michael i Walton, Evan Hein, Stuart Garner 1,C Discussion sterns General updates, and Commissioner questions and comments -- Sofia Nelson, Planning There were no discussion items. Adjourt'iment These minutes were approved at the meeting of _1"q� Chair Attest