HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_01.22.2009Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 2
Meeting January 22, 2009
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, January 22, 2009 6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, TX 78626
Members Present: Rick O’Donnell, Chair; Tommy Gonzalez, Vice-chair, J.C. Johnson; Nancy
Knight; Linda McCalla; Will Moore; West Short
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
Regular Session: To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m.
Chair O’Donnell opened the meeting at 6:02 p.m.
Consent Agenda:
The Consent Agenda includes non-controversial and routine items that the Commission may act
on with one single vote. A Commissioner or any member of the public may request that any
item from the Consent Agenda be pulled in order that the Commission discuss and act upon it
individually as part of the Regular Agenda. The Historic and Architectural Review
Commission's approval of an item on the Consent Agenda will be consistent with the staff
recommendation described in the report, unless otherwise noted.
1. Review and possible approval of the minutes from the December 11, 2008 regular meeting.
2. Consideration a Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design
Compliance for signage at City of Georgetown, Block 40, Lot 7(NW/PT), located at 715 S.
Main Street. (CDC-2008-047)
Motion by Knight to approve the items of the consent agenda. Second by McCalla.
Approved 6 – 0. Chair abstains from voting.
Regular Agenda:
3. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
facade and site changes along with an alternative parking plan at Sparks Addition, Block 1,
Lots 7&8, located at 1905/1907 S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-2008-046)
Wyler presented the staff report. The McFarlin Family owns a non-historic, white metal
building located at the south end of Old Town, along Austin Avenue. Recently, two tenants
have agreed to lease space inside the building. One tenant, Curves, has since moved in and
is now open. The second tenant, Covenant Life Church, requires approval from HARC for an
alternative parking plan that will enable the Church to meet its required parking as stated in
the Unified Development Code (UDC). As the applicant wants to update the exterior of the
building and because this property is a commercial use within Old Town, CDC approval
from HARC is required in addition to approval for the alternative parking plan. Finally, the
applicant proposes to install additional landscaping in order to meet City requirements as
well as beautify the property.
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 2
Meeting January 22, 2009
Staff recommends approval of the application with the submitted landscape plan and
alternative parking plan. Guidelines used to justify the recommendation are 5.9, 7.1, 7.7,
8.10, 8.27, and 10.1.
The applicant declined to comment at this time. Gonzalez questioned the continuity of the
parking agreement. Kevin Hall, Sr. Pastor of the church stated that the parking agreement is
for 9 -1 am on Sunday and 7 – 9 pm on Wednesdays and that it is signed and notarized, and
the document gives a 60 day notice of cancellation clause to each party. Wyler explained
that the parking agreement is based on usage of the building and that if the usage changes,
the parking agreement will dissolve. The agreement is also a condition of the Certificate of
Occupancy. If the parking agreement is voided by the owner, the Certificate of Design
Compliance and the Certificate of Occupancy would be out of compliance with the code and
code enforcement procedures would be put into effect.
O’Donnell questioned the maintenance of the landscaping. Wyler stated the maintenance of
the planters becomes a code enforcement issue. Moore wanted to know why the
Commission was approving landscaping since it is approved by staff. Wyler explained that
since it was a proposed condition of the CDC, he was asking the Commission to verify the
plan.
Motion by Gonzalez to approve the CDC for 1905 S. Austin Avenue as presented in the
application, with the landscaping plan and issues to be handled by staff and the parking
agreement is to remain in effect for the building to remain in compliance with the CDC.
Second by Knight. Approved 6 – 0.
4. Reminder that the next regular HARC meeting will take place on February 26, 2009.
5. Adjournment
Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
__________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, West Short, Chair Attest, Susan Firth, Secretary