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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_09.22.2005Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 4 Meeting September 22, 2005 City of Georgetown, Texas Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 22, 2005 at 6:00 pm. City Council Chambers 101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626 Attending Members: Mike Sparks, Chair; John Chapman; Clare Easley; Beebe Gray; Rick O’Donnell; Chris Damon; and John Truehardt Absent: Karalei Nunn; Linda McCalla, alternate; and Nancy Knight, alternate. Staff Present: Rebecca Rowe, Historic Review Planner; Karen Frost, Recording Secretary. The Historic and Architectural Review Commission 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. This is a regular scheduled meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission, for consideration and possible action on the following: 1. Chair may appoint alternate(s) to serve at this meeting. No alternates were appointed to serve at this meeting. 2. Review and possible approval of the minutes from the June, July and August meetings. Motion by Commissioner Easley to approve the minutes of the June, July and August regular meetings as written. Second by Commissioner Chapman. Approved 7-0. 3. Election of new HARC secretary. Nomination by Commissioner Chapman to elect Rick O’Donnell as HARC Secretary. Second by Commissioner Truehardt. Approved 7-0. 4. Main Street presentation of façade grants. Shelly Hargrove, Main Street Manager announced grants were given to The Golden Bough, a matching grant of $10,000 for a new roof and paint; Brian and Marsha Farney received a grant to renovate the old True Value Hardware Store; and Anna Marie’s/ Diva’s received a remodeling grant. Hargrove reported that during the last fiscal year, the Main Street Façade Fund had granted over $36,000 to nine downtown business owners. The money is funded by the Red Poppy Festival proceeds and the City Council. 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. 5. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for arches added to the east elevation and for new signage for Lost Addition, Block 14 (SE/PT), 0.33 acres also known as Dos Salsas restaurant, located at 1104 South Main Street. Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 4 Meeting September 22, 2005 6. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage for City of Georgetown, Block 40, Lot 3, located at 707 Main Street, Suite 201. 7. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage for Lost Addition, Block 65(e/pt), 0.8815 acres, also to be known as Village Cleaners, located at 1102 South Austin Avenue, Suite 108. 8. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage for City of Georgetown, Block 41, Lots 1, 2, 4 (pts) also to be known as Chupa Rosa, located at 704 South Austin Avenue. Ms. Rowe pulled item number 7 for a slight change to be made. Motion by Commissioner Chapman to approve items 5,6, and 8 as written and recommended by staff. Second by Commissioner Truehardt. Approved 7-0. Item 7. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage for Lost Addition, Block 65(e/pt), 0.8815 acres, also to be known as Village Cleaners, located at 1102 South Austin Avenue, Suite 108. Ms. Rowe explained the difference in the application is a new logo. The signage remains the same just with the new logo, which she reports is consistent with the Design Guidelines. The Applicant was not available for comment. Motion by Commissioner Easley to approve the signage for Village Cleaners, consistent with Exhibit B as presented at the meeting. Second by Commissioner Truehardt. Approved 7-0. Regular Agenda: 9. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage for City of Georgetown, Block 13 also known as Williamson County and Cities Health District, located at 312 South Main Street. Ms. Rowe described the signs that were proposed for the buildings on this block, and reported the request was consistent with the Design Guidelines and was not on consent agenda because of the number and content of signs. Gordon Baker, the applicant, reported that of the eleven signs proposed, six of them were replacement signs. Motion by Commissioner Truehardt to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance for the signs as presented. Second by Commissioner O’Donnell. Approved 7-0. 10. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for paint color and mural design for City of Georgetown, Block 38, Lot 4 also known as the Georgetown Visitors Center and City offices, located at 101 and 103 West 7th Street. Ms. Rowe reports that the Visitors Center will be repainted and a mural will be painted on the side of the building. She also stated that per the Guidelines, this mural would have to be maintained to HARC specifications. This is considered a painted sign or downtown public art and is allowed by the Guidelines. Sarah Jane Blankenship of the Main Street Board was available for questions. The application is to paint the mural directly on the brick wall. It might possibly have a wooden frame put around it at a later date. Motion by Commissioner Truehardt to approve the application as submitted in the Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 4 Meeting September 22, 2005 application. Second by Commissioner Chapman. Approved 7-0. 11. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for exterior rehabilitation for Lost Addition, Block 64, 0.1148 acres, located at 212 West 10th Street. Ms. Rowe reported that this is the second application for this location. The applicant is not present because he was stuck in traffic. The application is for window and door replacement, paint, remodel and parking. Commissioner Sparks questioned the available and required parking. Ms. Rowe stated that he meets the required four parking spaces, based on the square footage of the residence being converted to office space. The trees will only be taken down if necessary to meet the site plan requirements. Motion by Commissioner Easley to approve the application as recommended. Second by Commissioner O’Donnell. Approved 7-0. 12. Discussion and possible action on alternative parking in the Downtown Overlay District. Ms. Rowe stated that maps were not available and the statement from City Hall was delayed due to the emergency response meetings that were held due to Hurricane Rita. Ms. Rowe made a temporary map to identify areas of alternative and shared parking in the downtown area. The only location that there is a problem is near the library and that problem no longer exists because the building that had received the alternative parking plan approval no longer exists. There was discussion about the requirements of developers in relation to alternative parking plans and whether street striping is required if street parking is allowed. Ms. Rowe will check into this and report. Specifics of individual properties were discussed, i.e., Main Street Baptist and the Presbyterian Church that are allowed parking in the City lot on Sundays. Ms. Rowe will ask Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager, to attend the next meeting to address further shared and alternative parking issues. 13. Updates on upcoming training and miscellaneous items from staff. There will be a Commission training session, given by Marcel Quimby, on Thursday, October 20 to discuss “site plan and infill review”. More information will be forthcoming. A Subcommittee meeting will be held during the next week to discuss the new Library and the final revisions needed for that review. Please let Ms. Rowe know if you are interested in serving on that subcommittee. Copies of the Commission’s Bylaws were included in the packet. Commissioners were asked to review the attendance policy shown in Section 4.4. To remain in good standing on the Commission, attendance is required at 75% of the meetings, and based on excused absences. No more than four meetings in a year are to be missed. This applies to regular appointed members, not alternates. A list of City Planning Staff was given. If a Commissioner is to be absent, they should contact Karen Frost. If a Commissioner has a problem with receiving information packets, they should contact Jim Babcock. All HARC review issues should be directed to Rebecca Rowe. Ms. Rowe ensured that all Commissioners have a copy of the Design Guidelines and the Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 4 of 4 Meeting September 22, 2005 Downtown Master Plan. She also suggested that the HARC review sections of the UDC that apply to their approvals and review. She will be bringing those sections to each meeting for discussion. Ms. Rowe discussed Subcommittees and Administrative Approval of certain Certificates of Design Compliance. Section 2.50.050 Delegation of Authority, of the bylaws states “The HARC shall have the express authority to delegate review of minor projects (as defined by majority vote of the HARC) to either: 1.) A subcommittee of the HARC composed of at least three members; or 2.) City staff as designated by the City Manager.” Ms. Rowe stated she is the City Manager’s delegate at this time. She wanted to define the “minor projects”. Ms. Rowe proposed signage, amendments to approved CDC’s, landscaping that does not require a site plan, not parking spaces or added impervious coverage, and temporary banners which are only allowed for 45 days a year be reviewed for administrative approval. Items to be considered by subcommittee would be such things as permanent signage, and structural amendments to approved CDC’s – brick to stone for example. If the subcommittee is not comfortable making a recommendation, the item is referred to the full Commission. If an item is denied approval by the subcommittee, the appeal is to the full Commission. She is proposing bringing forth language in the future to amend the Unified Development Code, codifying these changes. Clarification was made that there is not a standing subcommittee, it is based on availability of Commissioners. This has been discussed by the Commission before but this needs a definition and amendments to be codified. Commissioners agreed that they were amenable to this and Ms. Rowe should come forth with specific language. Ms. Rowe asked for a subcommittee to review the Library revisions. Siding, windows, fountains and roofline gables were changed. Would this be a subcommittee review? The Commission proposed a subcommittee review these new changes. Chair Sparks asked for volunteers. Commissioners Gray, Chapman, Easley and O’Donnell volunteered and were to be contacted to meet regarding this review. 14. Comments, questions and general discussion from Commission and/or staff. A. Reminder of the next meeting, October 27. Chair Sparks stated that a new alternate has been appointed, Nancy Knight, and that she is unavailable for the next couple of meetings and the training session coming up on October 20, 2005. Motion by Commissioner Easley to adjourn. Second by Commissioner Chapman. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. _______________________________ _________________________________ Approved, Chair Mike Sparks Attest, Secretary Rick O’Donnell