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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_08.28.2025Minutes of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, August 28, 2025 The Georgetown Historic and Architectural Review Commission met on Thursday, August 28, 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 Citil Secretarp's Office, at least three Qii darja�yrior to the scheduled meetinai d%t w-af(*IVA 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, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner, Michael J Walton, Heather Smith Public Wishing to Address the Board IOWA' 1 1000 011 L* HINXI dn* Ioresent nRov'! Liailoln "jor o tne start ot tne meeting. TOU Will be called Torwair 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 spe.k, No more than six Ma and be present at the meeting. On a subiect not posted on the aizenda- 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 August 14, 2025, meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission -- Erica Dunlop, Planning Specialist Mil WMA. toil •111110— 16, -M- Motion Approved: 6- 0 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner, Michael J Walton, Heather Smith Voting Against: None 1. B 1603 S Church Street (2025-,29-COA) Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for a setback exception to allow a new porch, patio, or deck 15-0" into the required 20'-0" front setback for the property located at 1603 S. Church Street, bearing the legal description of .14 Acres out of the northwest part of Block 1, Southside Addition ill !!11111111 -70= Allyson liams, Preservation and Redevelopment Manager, approached the microphone to address the commission and confirmed that a fence permit was approved in 2018 for a three-foot picket fence. Commissioner Hein asked that the applicant speak to the additional posts along the fence, I I ASPIPAT txplained that the additional posts were trellises. Commissioner Hein asked how the posts would be categorized. Beams explained that according to the Buildings and Inspections Department, something becomes a structure when it has a covering element. liams explained that the structure was under review due to its placement in front of the front fagade and added that there was no applicability for the structure on the side of the home. Hargroder acknowledged that he wasn't aware of the regulations and was willing to compromise. Chair Walton opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers coming forth. Chair Walton opened the floor to a motion. Moved by Evan Hein; seconded by Stuart Garner to Approve with conditions that parts of the structure that were exceeding a 12-foot encroachment to be removed. Motion Failed: 2- 5 Voting For: Evan Hein, Stuart Garner Votin,X-Against: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Bums, Robert Blommuist, Mlchae� J W—iftxin, Heather Smith Due to the failed motion, Chair Walton asked for another motion from the commission. Moved by Lawrence Romero; seconded by Robert Blomquist to Deny as presented. Motion Approved: 5- 2 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Robert Blomquist, Michael J Walton, Heather Smith Voting Against: Evan Hein, Stuart Garner I-C 502 E 2nd Street (2025-3-COA) Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for a new addition that does not comply with the zoning standards of the historic overlay district, a setback modification to allow a proposed addition 2'-10" into the required 6'-0" side setback, and a 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 28-4". for the property located at 502 E 2nd Street, bearing the legal description of Part of Block 22, Outlot Division C (2025-3-COA) -- Olivia Beams, Historic and Downtown Planner Chair Walton referred to Section 3.13.010 of the Unified Development Code, uDc, and stated that it did not have a reference to non-contributing structures, Beams shared that a non-contributing structure was not reviewed for removal or demolition. Beams explained that staff found that the absence of non-contributing structures in the code lead staff to believe that they do not have authority to review the request. Chair Walton believed that the request would be more fitting as a demolition with new construction based on the designs provided and previous experience with similar requests. Chair Walton shared that if the structure was not on the historic survey, then it should receive a permit without going through HARC for review. UBMATU- ma Wgi Ifet"IMS T17cf contributing structure. Moulis shared that they currently live in the house. *d�qh 24- e3i'4 r reviewed by HARC as an infill. Beams explained that the definition of demolition in the design guidelines and the code did not apply with this request. Chair Walton inquired about why the applicant was brought forth to HARC despite the lack of an addition or demolition. Beams explained that the design did not meet all the design guidelines, so the Historic Preservation Officer, HPO, review was appealed to HARC. Commissioner Burns asked why the new encroachment request was necessary. Moulls explained that the garage design included the standard garage measurement and continued to explain that the footprint of the structure was within the setback, but the overhang would touch the setback. Commissioner Hein asked if the applicant's intention was to demolish the house or to preserve the house. Moulis shared that the preference would be to preserve the house because they currently live in it. Chair Walton opened the public hearing. Liz Weaver, 1221 South Main Street, approached the podium to address the commission and believed that the east side setback was a matter of convenience. Weaver referred to homes on Church Street and Main Street with a similar request which required design changes in order to meet the setback requirements. Weaver urged the commission to postpone the item so that the applicant could follow setback requirements as there was plenty of room in the backyard to build a garage. Chair Walton closed the public hearing. Moulis explained that when the home was built, the garage was designed to be in the front of the structure. Moulis added that if it were to remain an attached garage, it would be difficult to maneuver around the back to park the vehicles due to the proximity of the setback. Commissioner Hein acknowledged that some of the design guidelines would need to be adjusted as post war homes are historically designated. With no further discussion from the commission, Chair Walton asked for a motion. Moved by Evan Hein; seconded by Lawrence Romero to Approve as presented. Motion Approved: 7- 0 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner, Michael J Walton, Heather Smith Voting Against: None Chair Walton announced a recess at 7:31 PM. The meeting was reconvened at 7:38 PM. 1.1► 401 S. Walnut Street (2024-75-COA) Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for, the demolition of a street -facing fagade, a new addition that does not comply with the zoning standards of the historic overlay district, a setback exception to allow encroachment by 6'-T into the required 15'street-side setback, and a V-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 16-13" 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 IMMIN =1 Anne Banks, owner, approached the podium to address the commission and acknowledged that she listened to the commission's feedback from the May 22, 2025, HARC meeting and made appropriate changes. Banks highlighted that the kitchen offse was now designed as a straight line and added that the addition of the new space would be only 600 sq feet of air-conditioned space. Banks explained that the setback of the home was 8 foot 6 inches from 4th street but noted that the setback from the curb would be 23 feet. Banks highlighted that the front setback requirement was 20 feet and shifting the home towards the inner lot was because the other lot may not meet the minimum lot specifications for the City of Georgetown and would therefore be unbuildabif- ------------- - Alit A] R-11-1 MA r-11 the updates. Liz Weaver, 1221 South Main Street, signed up to speak, but was not present at the tim—e of the public hearing. Moved by Evan Hein-, seconded by Robert Blomquist to Approve as presented. Motion Approved: 7- 0 Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Evan Hein, Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner, Michael J Walton, Heather Smith Voting Against: None 1.E Discussion Items General updates, and Commissioner questions and comments -® Allyson liams, Preservation and Redevelopment Manager Commissioner Romero asked staff for guidance on how to address emalls sent to commissioners' personal email addresses from the public. liams acknowledged that staff does not have authority in preventing the public from sending different forms of communication to the commission. liams explained that when receiving communication • the public, commissioners may choose not to respond • provide a response suggesting that they reach out to the planning department so that staff may review the questions or comments and provide HARC with responses to those questions or comments. liams reminded the commission that engagement with applicants, citizens, or developers regarding a specific project outside of the public meeting may result in an ethics violation and may also be subject to an open records request.