HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_06.28.2007Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 2
Meeting June 28, 2007
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
Georgetown Municipal Complex, Glasscock Room
300-1 Industrial Ave, Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members Present: Rick O’Donnell, Chair; Tommy Gonzalez, Vice-chair; John Chapman, Chris
Damon, J.C. Johnson, Nancy Knight, and Linda McCalla.
Staff Present: Elizabeth Cook, Principal Planner; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by Chair O’Donnell.
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:
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 May 24, 2007 meeting.
2. CDC-2007-015 – Certificate of Design Compliance for signage at City of Georgetown, Block
51, Lots 6-8 (parts), a 0.271396-acre portion located at 817 Austin Avenue, Suite 101, if
referred by the HARC Sign Subcommittee.
Motion by Knight to approve the consent agenda items. Second by Gonzalez. Approved 4 –
0. (Chair abstained, and Chapman and Damon were not present at this time.)
Regular Agenda:
3. Consideration and possible recommendation on a conceptual review of a proposed facade
and roof remodel at the northwest corner of Austin Avenue and 9th Street.
Cook presented the concept of the building redesign. Commissioner Chapman was seated on
the dais. The applicant is proposing to redo the facade of the building to look like several
small building fronts with different building materials and colors on each. There is not a
tenant for any of these spaces at this time. The applicants have met with the assistant city
manager and were asking for the commission’s initial comments.
Gonzalez questioned the parking accommodations for this building. The applicant has the
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 2
Meeting June 28, 2007
city manager’s approval and the design guidelines allow for shared parking spaces in the
downtown district. Commissioner Damon was seated on the dais. Chair O’Donnell
suggested the articulation be more exaggerated. Commissioner McCalla expressed concern
that the multiple elevations do not feeling “truthful” because the tenant spaces will not
match the breakdown of the façade. Others agreed. They suggested the building have more
integrity with the interior number of tenants versus a faux historicism as was presented.
They feel the true nature of the building is not what is being presented. The architect stated
he would work on the design and appreciated the comments.
4. Consideration and possible recommendation on a conceptual review of a proposed facade
and roof remodel at the southeast corner of East University Avenue and Church Street.
The architect, Tom Nichols presented the concept of the building redesign. He discussed the
fact that the roof is unsound and that the owners want to lower the existing roof façade to be
more in line with the neighborhood and pedestrian scale. This property has an existing
100% impervious cover and any landscaping would be potted plants or possibly islands that
the owner adds later. The Commission discussed the concept and said they were
comfortable with all the elements.
5. Consideration and possible action on the HARC Sign Subcommittee review of sign
applications.
There were no applications brought forward from the Sign Subcommittee.
6. Comments, questions and general discussion from Commission and/or staff and reminder of
the next meeting of the Commission on July 26, 2007.
Cook discussed bringing sign applications to the full commission when the sign application
is submitted with an entire site plan or building CDC application. The Commission agreed
that is what they prefer.
Motion by McCalla to adjourn. Second by Chapman. Meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
__________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, Chair, Rick O’Donnell Attest, Secretary, Nancy Knight