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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 Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 3 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 Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 3 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