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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_03.17.2006Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 3 Meeting March 17, 2006 City of Georgetown, Texas Historic and Architectural Review Commission Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Friday, March 17, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Georgetown Municipal Complex 300-1 Industrial Avenue, Georgetown, Texas 78626 Attending Members: Mike Sparks, Chair; Chris Damon; and Nancy Knight Staff Present: Rebecca Rowe, Historic Review Planner and 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 sign subcommittee meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission, for consideration and possible action on the following: Regular Agenda: 1. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for signage at City of Georgetown, Block 51, Lot 3 (pt) a 0.0531 acre portion located at 110 West 8th Street. Rowe presented the application for window signage and the refacing of a flush mounted wall sign. The plan for the wall sign proposes to reuse the existing sign which is 32 sq. ft. The property only has 21 linear feet so the current sign is non-conforming. Rowe explained that Section 14.06.020 of the UDC allows for non-conforming signs that are being refaced to remain the non-conforming size. Staff recommended approval. Motion by Commissioner Knight to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance for re-lettering of the existing wall sign and new window and door signage. Second by Commissioner Damon. Motion approved 3-0. 2. Request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for signage at City of Georgetown, Block 51, Lots 6 & 7 a 0.144 acre portion, located at 109 West 9th Street. Rowe presented the application for wall and door signage. Both meet the Design Guidelines and an existing projecting sign for the previous business will be removed. Staff recommended approval. Motion by Commissioner Knight to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance for new door and wall signage. Second by Commissioner Damon. Motion approved 3-0. 3. Request for an amended Certificate of Design Compliance for street furniture and awning colors at Lost Addition, Block 65 (pt), located at 1102 South Austin Avenue. Rowe presented the application for new awning colors proposed by the tenants in the two spaces that will have canvas awnings as opposed to the fixed metal canopies. The previously approved awning colors were a green on green stripe. The suite fronting Austin Avenue is proposing black awnings and the suite on the southwest corner is proposing a tonal brown and tan stripe. The subcommittee felt that they were able to approve black awnings without seeing a sample but wanted to see the sample of the stripe before giving final approval. The applicant for that suite was agreeable to having a sample available at his store for the subcommittee to see over the weekend before Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 3 Meeting March 17, 2006 giving final approval. Rowe also presented the applicant’s proposal for reducing the number of benches to be placed along Austin Avenue. The applicant was previously approved for six benches to be located between planted trees placed perpendicular to the street. The applicant felt that this number of benches would create a cluttered appearance in that area and was proposing to reduce the number of benches to two. Rowe also pointed out that the applicant was seeking approval for under-canopy lighting but no picture was provided showing the fixture. Staff was not able to make a recommendation as to the lighting without a sample. Staff recommended approval of both the awnings and the reduced number of benches. Motion by Commissioner Knight to approve the amended Certificate of Design Compliance for the new awning colors, contingent upon the subcommittee viewing and approving the striped awning sample; to allow staff to administratively review the under canopy lighting fixture when a picture was available; and to approve the reduction in number of benches from six to two. Second by Commissioner Damon. The subcommittee had some difficulties discerning the previously approved locations of the benches and the proposed new locations. No information was given by the applicant as to how the benches would be placed. The subcommittee debated as to whether or not 2 benches would create the pedestrian oriented streetscape that the c ity is looking for, if there should be a bench located nearer to the corner of Austin and University for bus routes and whether or not the benches should be positioned to face Austin Avenue or the buildings. Rowe pointed out that the Design Guidelines call for a buffer between benches and traffic so facing the buildings might be more appropriate. The subcommittee felt that they would better be able to discuss the issues on site. The previous Motion by Commissioner Knight with Second by Commissioner Damon failed, 0-3. Motion by Commissioner Knight to approve the new colors of the awnings contingent on subcommittee approval of the striped material. Second by Commissioner Damon. Motion approved 3-0. Motion by Commissioner Knight to approve under-canopy lighting fixtures subject to staff’s final approval of the design of the fixtures. Second by Commissioner Damon. Motion approved 3-0. Motion by Commissioner Damon to reconvene the subcommittee meeting at 1102 South Austin Avenue in 10 minutes to discuss the issue of benches on site. Second by Commissioner Knight. Motion approved 3-0. On site at 1102 South Austin Avenue, the subcommittee expressed that they felt more than two benches could be managed by the site and not feel too crowded. The site plan presented proposed the benches be located at two of the planters. Since there are a total of five planters on site the subcommittee discussed having a bench at each planter. They did agree that the previously approved configuration was not accurately represented on the site plan and did not appear to work. The subcommittee noticed that some of the under-canopy lights had already been installed. While they did not necessarily object to the appearance of the fixtures they did feel that they could perhaps be further recessed. Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 3 Meeting March 17, 2006 The commissioners asked staff to raise this issue with the applicant. Motion by Commissioner Knight to approve the reduction of the number of benches from six to five; benches to be located in front of each planter, facing the buildings, and a minimum of 6 feet long. Second by Commissioner Damon. Motion approved 3-0. Motion by Commissioner Damon to adjourn. Second by Commissioner Knight. Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. _______________________________ _________________________________ Approved, Chair Mike Sparks Attest, Commissioner Chris Damon