HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_09.27.2007Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 3
Meeting September 27, 2007
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers, located at 101 E. 7th St.
Georgetown, TX 78626
Members Present: Rick O’Donnell, Chair Tommy Gonzalez, Vice-chair; John Chapman, Chris
Damon, J.C. Johnson, and Nancy Knight and Linda McCalla.
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Elizabeth Cook, Principal Planner; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 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 August 30, 2007 meeting.
Motion by Gonzalez to approve the minutes as written, with the exception that Chris Damon
should be counted as absent not present. Second by Knight. Approved 6 – 0.
Regular Agenda:
2. Consideration and possible action to appoint a member of HARC to serve on a panel of the
Arts and Culture Board to select a sculpture that will be placed in the downtown. Eric P.
Lashley, Library Services Director
Motion by Knight to appoint Chris Damon to serve on the panel. Second by Gonzalez.
Approved 6 – 0.
3. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for an
awning and signage at Lost Addition, Block 13, Lots 5-6, ±0.3305 acres located at 1009 South
Austin Avenue. (CDC-2007-021)
Cook presented the staff report. The owner of the new business, Gatherings, is proposing t he
placement of a drop awning in walnut brown tweed along the full length of the lease space
they occupy in a larger commercial strip center facing South Austin Avenue. Signage is also
proposed for the awning.
Motion by McCalla to approve the request for a CDC for the proposed awning and sign
based on a determination that the application is consistent with the Design Guidelines
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Meeting September 27, 2007
pursuant to Section 3.13.020 of the Unified Development Code. Second by Chapman.
Approved 6 – 0.
4. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
demolition of a garage at Lost Addition, Block 63(pt), ± 0.14 acres located at 1006 Rock Street.
(CDC-2007-022)
Cook presented the staff report. The applicant is proposing to change the use of the existing
house to allow offices, and as part of that redevelopment would like to demolish the existing
garage to allow for the construction of a parking lot. Staff recommends that HARC postpone
action to allow time for the applicant to submit a site design of the proposed non-residential
use of the property.
Motion by Gonzalez to postpone action of the Certificate of Design Compliance, with the
applicant’s concurrence, to allow time for the applicant to submit a request for a Certificate
of Design Compliance for the site design of the proposed non-residential use of the property.
Second by Knight. Approved 6 – 0.
5. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
demolition of a garage/carport at Lost Addition, Block 64(pt), ±0.149 acres, located at 1005
Rock Street. (CDC-2007-023)
Cook presented the staff report, stating this was the same type of application and located
across the street from the previous item. The staff recommendation is the same for this
application with the same applicant.
Motion by Gonzalez to postpone action of the Certificate of Design Compliance, with the
applicant’s concurrence, to allow time for the applicant to submit a request for a Certificate
of Design Compliance for the site design of the proposed non-residential use of the property.
Second by Chapman. Approved 6 – 0.
6. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
awnings and site design at City of Georgetown, Block 40, Lots 1 & 4, ± 0.33 acres, located at
114 East 7th Street. (CDC-2007-024)
Cook presented the staff report and photos to show the intent of the proposed sidewalk
remodel. The applicant has presented a concept to have a series of restaurants along 7th
Street that include outdoor dining. To facilitate this proposal he is requesting a Certificate of
Design Compliance approval to add awning, expansion of the sidewalk to allow outside
seating, and add 45-inch high ornamental iron fence at the edge of the sidewalk along the
street.
Kenny Nguyen, the applicant, was available for questions. He stated he was trying to
increase foot traffic on this part of the street and that the railing is removable if necessary.
Commissioners offered several comments. There was much concern about the actual design
of the sidewalk and how it should match the rest of the downtown standards. They
suggested he talk to the City Council and streets department about getting the right
sidewalks installed prior to any renovations. They also did not like the railing, saying it
didn’t fit the character of the area and suggested landscaping in pots instead to establish a
boundary and “sense of place”.
Motion by Knight to postpone action to allow the applicant to submit more details and
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Meeting September 27, 2007
possible engineering on the sidewalk. Second by Johnson. Approved 6 – 0.
Night urged the applicant to talk to City Council about fixing the sidewalks. Cook agreed to
draft a resolution from HARC regarding the sidewalk on that side of 7th Street.
The Commission took a 5 minute break. Damon left but there was still a quorum.
7. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
demolition of an outbuilding during the change to office from residential use, paint colors,
signage, and site design with an alternative landscape plan at Lost Addition, Block 68 (pt.),
±0.4133 acres, located at 407 West University Avenue. (CDC-2007-025)
Cook presented the staff report. The owner of an existing house is proposing to use the
property for offices and is seeking a Certificate of Design Compliance approval to demolish
an outbuilding, change paint colors, install signs, and to make site design changes with an
alternative landscape plan.
Motion by Johnson to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance as presented and
recommended by staff. Second by Gonzalez. Approved 5 – 0.
8. Receive an update on neon signs in Downtown.
Cook opened the discussion of the inventory of neon signs that was done in 2003. Staff will
do a re-inventory of neon signs currently in businesses downtown and discuss with Code
Enforcement the process to be used to eliminate any violations.
9. Receive an update on Parking Agreements Downtown.
Cook opened the discussion of demolition of garages and structures in the downtown
overlay district to put parking behind the building. There was a concern about allowing
Mixed Use zoning in the overlay and those standards pushing parking areas into the
neighborhoods. The Commission wanted it noted that they would like the ordinance
changed that orders 1 parking space per 500 square feet of building. They suggested forming
a downtown parking study committee to address this problem.
10. Comments, questions and general discussion from Commission and/or staff and reminder of
the next meeting of the Commission on October 25, 2007.
11. Consideration and possible action to reschedule the November 22, 2007 Commission
meeting.
Motion by Gonzalez to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
__________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, Chair, Rick O’Donnell Attest, Secretary, Nancy Knight