HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_12.09.2010Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 5
December 9, 2010
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, December 9. 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: 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 Moore called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. There was a slight delay due to technical difficulties
with the computer programs and projector.
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.
(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.)
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 September 23, 2010 Regular HARC
meeting.
Pergl stated the Sign Subcommittee approved the other consent agenda items and there
would not need to be another vote on those items. He then moved to approve the minutes of
the September 23 meeting as written. Second by Rapp. Approved 6 – 0.
2. Consideration and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage at
Glasscock Addition, Block 22, Lots 5-8, also known as Main Street Baptist Church, located at
1001 S. Main Street. (CDC-2010-027)
3. Consideration and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage at
City of Georgetown, Block 39, Lot 1 (pt) & Lot 4 (pt), also known as Mecca Hair Salon,
located at 117 E. 7th Street. (CDC-2010-028)
4. Consideration and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage at
City of Georgetown, Block 50, Lot 1 (s/pt), also known as the Moksha Yoga on the Square,
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 5
December 9, 2010
located at 824 S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-2010-029)
Regular Agenda:
5. Consideration and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for infill at City of
Georgetown, Block 3, to be known as River Place, located at 100 S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-
2010-030)
Robbie Wyler gave background of the property and the applicants provided a summary of
the proposed site plan. Wyler: A prior applicant received CDC approval from HARC in 2005
on an infill project, to be called River Place, which was to occupy all of Block 3.
Simultaneously, that applicant went through the Site Plan review process and was granted
approval from both HARC and Staff. The project was to be constructed in phases, with
eventual office and retail in separate buildings where parking was originally planned. Phase
one included restaurant space in addition to some office and retail.
The new applicant returns to HARC requesting Certificate of Design Compliance approval
for a similar site layout and an updated building elevation. The new proposal, also
positioning the restaurant to overlook Blue Hole on the South San Gabriel River, will contain
approximately 7,000 square feet of interior space, a 4,200 square foot dining courtyard and a
2,000 square foot deck with seating for approximately 300 people. As part of the project there
will be sidewalks, street furniture, landscaping and street parking on 2nd and Rock Streets.
There are also future plans for traffic and pedestrian signals at 2nd and 6th Streets respectively,
that will improve the pedestrian experience along Austin Avenue and connect River Place to
the Square.
Cliff Whittingstall with Overland Properties introduced himself and why Overland
Properties was doing this project, along with a brief history of their company. He stressed
that he and his company felt this property is a gateway site and is important to Georgetown
and they want to be a part of that.
Whittingstall introduced the Commission to Sketchup, the software that allowed him to
show 2-D images of the entire site plan. He started with a walk-through of the property,
beginning when the customer parks on the decomposed granite parking court and
continuing through the courtyard with a rammed earth wall. The restaurant building design
is contemporary, reminiscent of vernacular commercial buildings. The building will be
faced with antique old Chicago brick and high -efficiency aluminum windows modeled after
steel window systems used in commercial and industrial buildings. The single story
building will have a flat roof with parapets to fully conceal all rooftop mechanical systems.
A wrapping trellis system will be utilized at the outdoor seating area along the river and
water and landscape features will be incorporated for visual appeal. The building will be
oriented around a heavily landscaped central dining courtyard.
Mark Wood of Word Design from Austin designed the landscaping and explained their
ideas. They are attempting to unify the new and old elements of the property. They
designed a thin profile parapet over the courtyard and used stone encased columns
throughout. The sidewalk from Austin Avenue brings pedestrians through a garden and
green vertical trellis. They designed wire boxes along Austin Avenue that will have vines
growing on them and will separate the parking areas and traffic from the restaurant. A
wooden service gate has been designed that will help the back of the restaurant not look so
much as a service entrance on Austin Avenue. They have designed all the landscaping with
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 5
December 9, 2010
a focus on native and well adapted plants to reduce water usage, have low maintenance and
using plants that are drought and freeze tolerant.
Chair Moore thanked the presenters. He opened the Public Hearing at 6:42 p.m. and as there
were no speakers coming forth, closed the Public Hearing.
Moore invited the commissioners to make comments or ask questions.
Commissioner Susan Firth began by thanking the applicants for designing a beautiful
building. She asked about the back patio and whether it would be covered or not.
Whittingstall answered that they were still doing “sun studies” and that it could be trellised,
or maybe use trees and umbrellas for shading. Firth expressed concern over not having a
specific design in that area for review. She then went on to discuss the service area gate,
stating she felt it was not in character with the rest of the building.
Firth questioned staff on the use of parallel parking on Austin Avenue. Wyler responded
that it was under review by staff with the site plan and that it would probably not be
allowed. He also stated sfaff was concerned about the one point ingress and egress of the
parking lot.
Rusty Winkstern, the owner/ applicant, responded that as the property was built out, with
the additional office and retail spaces, the parking would be placed off-site. They have
already purchased the land for this purpose. He also stated that he is asking as part of the
Development Agreement with the city that the speed on Austin Avenue be reduced to 30
mph and that a pedestrian crossing light be installed along Austin Avenue.
Commissioner Larry Moseley expressed his concern about the building’s design being too
atmospheric. Winkstern stated he felt the design was appropriate with the history of the site
and the location of the restaurant.
Commissioner Dee Rapp expressed that she likes the concept and that this is exciting for
Georgetown. She expressed concern about the view from Austin Avenue. She stated that the
elements along the other sides of the property are very nice, but that the vines that will be
used on the Austin Avenue “screens” will n ot be evergreen and therefore not provide the
screening that is desired. Mark Word responded that seasonal plants will be switched out on
all sides of the building to keep the property well landscaped. He also explained that the
evergreen boxes/ screens will only be bare in the first couple of winters but that other plants
will be placed behind them to cover the brick walls and service area wall. Rapp still
expressed concern about the service area being unattractive from the Austin Avenue side.
Commissioner J.C. Johnson questioned who will switch out the landscape once the landscape
architect was finished with the job. Winkstern stated he would be responsible for that as he
currently was doing at the Monument Café, his other restaurant property on Austin Avenue.
Johnson stated he did not like the decorative gate as well and felt it could be plainer and fit
in with the character of the building. He also questioned the flood plain and whether the
building could weather a high-rising river. Whittingstall explained the 500 year flood plain
is listed at 697 feet and the building foundation is built to 698.5 feet, an extra 18 inches.
Chair Will Moore stated he does not have any concerns about the building but that he
supports the idea of reduced speed on Austin Avenue. He is also concerned about the back
of the building facing Austin Avenue and the lack of the pedestrian quality that is trying to
be maintained in the Downtown area.
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 4 of 5
December 9, 2010
Commissioner Moseley questioned the parapet material. Whittingstall explained it is to be a
cast stone cap that will be the same color as the rammed earth wall. Moseley then
questioned the amount of parking needed for this restaurant and how that was calculated.
Wyler responded that per the Downtown Design Guidelines, 1 spaces was required per 500
square feet of restaurant seating area, meaning that 42 spaces are required for this restaurant.
62 spaces are provided offsite at this time, and the applicant is looking into valet parking
during peak hours.
Commissioner Pergl stated he thinks the applicant is missing an opportunity to open up the
restaurant views to the water of the river. He expressed he felt the windows along the back
were a good idea, but that they are still closed and the applicants should look into that. He
suggested looking at the fenestrations and facades and open up the kitchen area with more
windows also. Whittingstall explained that phase 2 of the development project would
actually cover the service wall of the restaurant from Austin Avenue and place a building
along Austin Avenue, showing more urban and bringing the downtown “feel” closer.
Rapp questioned the timing of the project. Winkstern responded that his intent was to have
the restaurant built first to bring energy to the area and then bring in the retail and office
components.
There was discussion amongst the commissioners regarding the presentation being different
than the original submission.
Motion by Moseley to approve the CDC with the following conditions:
That the applicant continue to work with staff and HARC on solutions to enhance
the street view for pedestrians and drivers along Austin Avenue,
And continue to look at possible solutions for the river front to include features of
fenestrations or trellising on the patio.
Second by Pergl. Moseley then amended his motion to state that the applicant was to work
with staff to bring a presentation back to HARC for the features that were listed.
Amendment seconded by Pergl. Motion and amendment passed 6 – 0.
Discussion of timing of future meetings and the applicants need to apply for a building
permit in January.
Chair Moore called for a brief intermission for commissioners to check calendars.
Chair Moore called the meeting back to order at 7:50 p.m.
Elizabeth Cook pointed out that there is a decomposed sidewalk from Austin Avenue to the
restaurant that might not have been seen earlier but that is on the plan for pedestrian access.
Motion by Pergl to continue this meeting on December 20, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in the
Georgetown Municipal Complex and to keep this item open for further discussion, looking
at the two conditional items. Second by Rapp. Approved 6 – 0.
6. Reminder that the next regular HARC meeting will take place on January 27, 2010.
7. Adjournment. This meeting was not adjourned but ended at 7:58 p.m.
__________________________________ _________________________________
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 5 of 5
December 9, 2010
Approved, Will Moore, Chair Attest, Susan Firth, Secretary