HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_07.29.2010Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 3
July 22, 2010
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, July 29. 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
City Council and Courts Building 101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members Present: Will Moore, Chair; Susan Firth; J.C. Johnson; Larry Moseley; Ron Pergl; and
Dee Rapp
Members Absent: ; Greg Herriott
Staff Present: Elizabeth Cook, Community Development Director; Valerie Kreger, Principal
Planner; Tamera Baird, Chief Plans Examiner; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m.
Chair Moore called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
The Historic and Architectural Review Commission, appointed by the Mayor and the City Council,
is responsible for hearing and taking final action on applications, by issuing Certificates of Design
Compliance based upon the City Council adopted Downtown Design Guidelines and Unified
Development Code.
Regular Agenda:
1. Discussion and possible action on an item forwarded from the July 22, 2010 Regular HARC
meeting regarding an amendment to the Tamiro Plaza Master Sign Plan.
Kreger opened with saying that there were not changes submitted on this application, but if
the commissioners do not like something in the Master Sign Plan, they need to be specific
about what that is and give direction to the applicants.
Gordon Baker, the owner/ applicant’s agent, stated he has worked on the original Sign
Design Guidelines and the second and he is in favor of limiting signs in Georgetown, but he
feels the Tamiro Master Sign Plan more that meets the Design Guidelines and should be
accepted. He appreciated the time put into reviewing this application by staff and the
commissioners, but they have tenants that need an answer on signage.
Moore stated that this was not a typical application on the Square and that they have had to
look at the application without specific guidelines fitting the scenarios.
Moore opened a Public Hearing as there were citizens that wished to speak.
Virginia Stubbs, President of the Georgetown Heritage Society, stated she was representing
the board and that they encourage HARC to deny anymore signage on the building. They
feel the intent of the Design Guidelines is to be pedestrian friendly and that the frieze signs
do not meet the spirit of the Guidelines.
Renee Hanson, representing the Heart of Georgetown Board, expressed that the Historic
District has expanded beyond the immediate Square area and into Area 2 with the
pedestrian orientation. She stated they want less visual clutter in that area as well. She
asked for consideration of the quality of downtown and that the building not be allowed to
be “wrapped in signage” and does not meet the vision of downtown.
Ross Hunter, Walnut Street, stated that he does not agree with the statement that the
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July 22, 2010
Commission does not have much to work with in the Design Guidelines. It is his hope that
the group can guide the applicant toward a better solution for signage on this building. He
urges the group to deny the application and encourages use of the monument sign.
There were no more speakers, Moore closed the Public Hearing.
Pergl opened the discussion by stating the Sign subcommittee looked at this building as a
transitional building that was breaking the mold on buildings to be built downtown. There
are not any other four story buildings downtown so this is not fitting the mold. Traditionally
if you lease a space with a door on the Square, you get a sign on the door, awning sign, A-
frame sign, hanging sign, etc. for each business. He argued this is what Mr. Choi is
attempting to do, give signage to the tenants that want signage. Pergl went on to say that
typically, larger buildings like this would have a larger monument sign but would also be
located on a larger road.
Rapp concurred and stated that this building does not fit the profile of a pedestrian nature
that it is trying to achieve. She pointed out that tenants should not need individual signs to
direct their customers to the Tamiro Plaza building. It is large enough to be its own sign.
However, she feels the applicant has compromised down below his entitlement of signage
and has compromised as much as he possibly can and still keep his tenants satisfied.
The Commissioners discussed several options of adding another monument sign or
increasing the size of the current monument sign, to include all the tenants or to serve as a
better directory of the tenants in the building. Mr. Choi was not interested in changing the
monument sign or adding another at this time.
Baker suggested looking at the window friezes again and possibly putting all the first and
second floor tenants signs on all the windows on the first floor, not just on the window of the
space they occupied, which would not include the second floor tenants. There was
discussion that the Master Sign Plan would need to be changed again to show the change.
Initially the Master Sign Plan limited the window friezes on the first floor to retail tenants
only. There was further discussion of how many friezes would need to be allocated for new
tenants.
Chair Moore called for a 15 minute recess at 7:15 for the applicant to meet with his agent and
staff for discussion of further changes. Moore reconvened the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Cook reported on the new proposal of the applicant. The n ew Master Sign Plan would
reflect the following changes: 1. The Letter of Intent would change “the first floor retail
tenants” to any tenants, up to a total of nine (9) would be allowed to use the first floor
window friezes, leaving the same color and size specifications; 2. Strike the references to
second and third floor tenants for frieze signs, allowing all tenants on the window friezes –
up to nine; 3. On the Sign Schedule, eliminate the reference to the first floor retail businesses
and first floor tenants, to reflect that all tenants, up to nine, are allowed to use the first floor
window friezes for signage; 4. Remove all references to and pictures of balcony frieze signs;
5. Change picture of first floor window frieze signs to reflect additional usage. Staff needs to
receive a completely redone Master Sign Plan package once these changes are made.
Motion by Johnson to approve the Master Sign Plan as amended by staff at this meeting.
Second by Pergl. Approved 6 – 0.
2. Adjournment
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July 22, 2010
Chair Moore adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
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Approved, Will Moore, Chair Attest, Susan Firth, Secretary