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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_02.25.2010 Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 5 February 25, 2010 City of Georgetown, Texas Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 25. 2010 at 6:00 p.m. City Council and Courts Building 101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626 Members Present: West Short, Chair; Susan Firth; J.C. Johnson; Will Moore; Larry Moseley; Ron Pergl and Dee Rapp Members Absent: none Staff Present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner; Elizabeth Cook, Community Development Director; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Chair Short called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. (Commission may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an Executive Session at the request of the Chair, a Commissioner, the Director or legal counsel for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551.) This is a regular scheduled meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission for consideration and possible action on the following: 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 regular meeting of January 28 and February 1, 2010 and the special meeting held February 8, 2010. Motion by Moore to approve all the minutes as presented. Second by Johnson. Approved 7 – 0. Regular Agenda: 2 Certificate of Design Compliance for façade changes, including new paint, the replacement of light fixtures and doors, re-exposing windows, and the addition of a handicap access button and mechanical units, at City of Georgetown, Block 40, Lot 2 (s/pt), located at 703 S. Main Street. (CDC-2010-001) Short requested that items 2 and 3 be heard and considered at the same time since they are adjacent properties, with the same applicant/ owner and receiving the same applications. Wyler presented the staff report for both properties. The applicant seeks Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC) approval for minor alterations to the buildings’ exterior, including replacing light fixtures and doors, exposing two rear windows, repainting, adding a handicap access button to the front of the building and installing new rooftop mechanical units. These exterior changes are part of a larger building renovation of both the interior and Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 5 February 25, 2010 exterior. Wyler went on to describe the changes in detail as outlined in the written staff report. The owner, Ken Horak was introduced and available for questions from the commissioners. Johnson questioned the working of the light fixtures in the back of the buildings. He indicated concern over the amount of on and off action that the lights would have if they were on a motion sensor as indicated. Mr. Horak explained that the lights were two-level lights. They would come on in the evening at a low level light, run by light detectors made to determine a certain level of darkness, and then the lights at night would be activated to a brighter light by motion detectors. Commissioners Firth and Rapp expressed concern over other businesses being affected by the brighter lights. Horak explained that the only window in the alley is from Amante’s and their window is covered by an electric power source box and should not be bothered by the lighting in the alley. He also indicated their window was located in a storage area on the inside of the building. Horak confirmed for the commissioners that he was replacing the metal door at 703 Main Street with a wood door that would be painted green, and refinishing the existing wood door at 705 Main Street and painting it the same green. The windows at the back of the building are being replaced with fixed windows, 6 over 6, not operable windows. Mr. Horak stated he was still working with the electric department to determine the location of the power source for these buildings. There is concern about the current location and the box could be moved to another location at the back of the buildings. Discussion moved to the lighting at the front of the building. Firth and Johnson indicated concern over the type of lights that were being requested. They did not like the proposed style or the placement. Firth suggested using canopy lights as an alternative to lighting the sidewalk. Horak said that was too expensive at this time. Johnson suggested the existing lights should look more authentic. Horak agreed to clean and repair the existing fixtures and come back at a later time after a tenant has been selected and further renovations may be done. Mr. Horak indicated he will also be recaulking the windows and probably retouching painted areas with existing paint colors. Johnson expressed concern over the location of the handicap buttons that are to be installed. Horak stated the locations are dictated by the ADA laws and he did not have a choice. Motion by Johnson to approve the items for Certificate of Design Compliance for both 703 and 705 Main Street, with the exception of the light fixtures at the front of the building. Second by Short. Approved 7 -0. 3. Certificate of Design Compliance for façade changes, including new paint, the replacement of light fixtures, re-exposing windows, and the addition of a handicap access button and mechanical units, at City of Georgetown, Block 40, Lots 3 (n/pt), located at 705 S. Main Street. (CDC-2010-002) See item above for action taken. 4. Certificate of Design Compliance for façade and site changes, including new paint, the addition of stone to the façade, the replacement of doors and windows, new light fixtures, the installation of an exterior vehicle lift and tire rack, landscaping, and new signage, at Morrow Addition, Block G (pt), to be kn own as Whitestone Tire Center, located at 114 E. University Avenue. (CDC-2010-003) Wyler presented the staff report. The applicant seeks CDC approval to renovate a non- Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 5 February 25, 2010 historic auto repair station located at the southwest corner of Church Street and University Avenue. The renovation includes repainting the façade and canopy, placing limestone along the bottom of the building, replacing doors, windows and light fixtures, creating a new outdoor seating area, placing new vehicular lifts and a tire rack outside the building, minor landscaping and new signage. Wyler went on to describe the changes in detail as outlined in the written report. Rapp begins by questioning the type of lighting that will be used on the front of the building and in the parking lot. Mat Canava, owner and applicant, explains that the light fixtures are silver gooseneck lights that were chosen to match the age and style of the building, to angle the lights away from pedestrians, and to be high enough to not affect drivers on University Avenue. He also stated the angled light will not shine into the nearby residences on Church Street. Commissioner Johnson concurred that if the lights were too bright, the City code enforcement officers would address the problem according to regulations. Rapp questioned the location of the fence and the back door, stating if the property on Church Street sells and the fence is put on the property line, the back door will not open. Wyler responded that the Fire Inspector reviewed this and accepted it based on the fact that the back door is not the only way of egress from the building. Pergl questioned whether the canopy lights would be used. Canava stated they would, but the sign letters on the front of the canopy would not be lit. The question was raised as to whether the existing canopy lights are compliant with the code and Wyler stated they were. Moore questioned the existing tire racks and whether those would be used. Wyler responded that the owner has the option to use them since this is an existing use and they were installed before. However, Mr. Canava has stated he would like to utilize mobile tire racks that could be rolled into the garage at night and during non-business hours. Moore stated he would rather the mobile tire racks be used and that they be displayed during business hours along the front wall of the building. Mr. Canava concurs. Moore stated he would still prefer a shield on the light fixture located at the corner of University Ave. and Church Street. Moore questioned the need for a trash receptacle or dumpster and the placement on the property. Mr. Canava stated a single green rolling canister would be enough and would be placed in the garage until pick-up day. Firth questioned any future plans for the canopy and expressed that she would like it to be taken down since it is out of proportion to the building. Mr. Canava stated he has some ideas but nothing to bring to the commission at this time. Short opened the public hearing. Herb Hanson, of 1252 Austin Avenue, stated he has lived in the neighborhood and been a client of this business and that Mr. Canava runs a very clean operation and he is looking forward to his new location. Short closed the public hearing as there were no more registered speakers. Motion by Moore to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance as requested, with a waiver for tire rack placement to include three mobile racks that must be brought in during non-business hours, and that the outside lights should be shielded to comply with all UDC regulations. Second by Pergl. Pergl asked to amend the motion to include that the mobile tire racks be displayed against the front wall during business hours. Moore agreed to the amendment, Pergl seconded. Approved 7 – 0. 5. Certificate of Design Compliance for façade and site changes, including an addition to the Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 4 of 5 February 25, 2010 main structure, a new stone floor in the courtyard, new courtyard railings, and the addition of tables and umbrellas, at City of Georgetown, Block 39, Lots 1 – 4 (pts), also known as Galaxy Cupcakes, located at 107 E. 7th Street. (CDC-2010-004) Wyler presented the staff report. Due to expansion needs, the applicant seeks Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC) approval to build an addition onto the side of the building as well as modify an existing courtyard area to accommodate outdoor seating. Wyler read specific details of the project from the written staff report. Firth opened the discussion by stating she was thrilled the new business was doing so well on the square that they needed to expand. Firth asked questions regarding gutters and the fence that is to be installed. Cheryl Wilhite, owner and applicant, stated she had not intended to put in gutters on the east side of the building but she will look into it if they are necessary. Wilhite also explained that there would be a gate on the 7th Street side of the fenced in area. She also responded that the gated area would be paved with the same pavers that are currently installed in the back of the property. There was discussion regarding the driveway and curb cut that enters the property on the 7th Street side of the property. Wilhite stated she would rather have a sidewalk there instead of a driveway that doesn’t go anywhere. City staff stated they would look into the situation since the sidewalk right-of-way is city property. There was discussion about the proposed height of the fence of the courtyard. It is proposed at 40 inches high. Wyler and Wilhite explained that that was to promote a more open sidewalk seating area. Wilhite stated the high fence felt more like a prison area than an outdoor seating area for her shop. Moseley stated he liked the proportion of the higher fence to separate the parking area from the outdoor seating, but could understand the desire for a more open area that still needed to be enclosed. Motion by Short to approve the CDC as requested. Second by Johnson. Approved 7 – 0. 6. Review and discussion about the Certificate of Design Compliance application checklist. The checklist was opened for review. Rapp commented that although the applicant may have a vision of what they want to accomplish, they many times need guidance in expressing and defining that vision. She would prefer that the word “drawings” be changed to “sealed drawings” where referenced so that a professi onal architect or engineer was developing the drawings. She also requested that all color renderings be accurate and state when the color is not the true color. Short suggests adding the statement “if feasible” to both of these requests. Rapp also requested that in the instance of a submitted photo or drawing that the statement or note be added to those documents that are not accurate, not to scale, not the exact color, etc. Kreger stated all these changes can and will be made to the soon-to-be-updated checklists. 7. Reminder that the next regular HARC meeting will take place on March 25, 2010. Short reminded everyone of the next meeting and stated he has enjoyed working with everyone. Wyler stated that at the time of the meeting, there were not any appli cations for the March 25th meeting and it will probably not be called. Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 5 of 5 February 25, 2010 Firth thanked Short for his service to the Commission and stated he will be missed. All concurred. 8. Adjournment Short adjourned the meeting at 7:37 p.m. __________________________________ _________________________________ Approved, Will Moore, Chair Attest, Susan Firth