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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_12.13.2007Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 5 Meeting December 13, 2007 City of Georgetown, Texas Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 13, 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, Nancy Knight and Linda McCalla. Members Absent: none Staff Present: Elizabeth Cook, Principal Planner; Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary The meeting was called to order at 6:04 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 October 25, 2007 regular meeting. 2. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for signage at Lost Addition, Block 64 (pt), 0.778 acres located at 206 W. 10th Street, if referred by the HARC Sign Subcommittee. (CDC-2007-034) Motion by Gonzalez to approve the Consent Agenda. Second by Chapman. Approved 4 – 0. Chair did not vote and Damon was not present at this time. Regular Agenda: 3. Consideration and possible action on a request for Certificates of Design Compliance for change in use from residential to office; building renovation; paint color and site design changes; demolition of a garage; and signage for Lost Addition, Block 63(pt), ±0.14 acres located at 1006 Rock Street. (CDC-2007-022, CDC-2007-033 & CDC-2007-036) Robbie Wyler presented the application. The owner of the property is seeking approval to change the use of the existing house to allow for offices, demolish the existing garage to allow for the construction of a parking lot behind the house and to expand the driveway to allow for it to loop back out to the street. In addition, the owner wants to make some minor exterior changes to the house, plant two trees, replace rotten wood as needed, replace the AC Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 5 Meeting December 13, 2007 with more efficient unit, and place a freestanding low-profile sign in the front of the property. The rezoning was approved on Sept 11, 2007 to Mixed Use Downtown, allowing for the office use. The applicant was available for comment or questions. Gonzalez stated he would like to see the handicap ramp on the side of the structure instead of the front. Johnson does not believe the garage should be demolished for convenience sake. Wyler reported the subject property is identified as a Low Priority structure in the 1984 City of Georgetown Historic Resource Survey and a Medium Priority structure in the draft of the 2007 Resource Survey update. The outbuildings are not noted in the 1984 Survey. Motion by Gonzalez to approve the Certificates of Design as requested and based on compliance with the applicable Design Guidelines as described in the staff report. Second by Chapman. Approved 5 – 0. 4. Consideration and possible action on a request for Certificates of Design Compliance for change in use from residential to office; building renovation; paint color and site design changes; demolition of a garage/carport; and signage for Lost Addition, Block 64(pt), ±0.149 acres located at 1005 Rock Street. (CDC-2007-023, CDC-2007-032 & CDC-2007-035) Robbie Wyler presented the application. The owner of the property is seeking approval to change the use of the existing house to allow for offices, and as part of that redevelopment would like to demolish the existing carport and shed to allow for the construction of a parking lot. He would also like to make some minor exterior changes to the house and place a freestanding low-profile sign in the front of the property. (same as application for 1006 Rock Street listed above.) On December 13, 2005, the City Council approved a rezoning of this property to Mixed Use- Downtown. The subject property is identified as a Low Priority structure in the 1984 City of Georgetown Historic Resource Survey and a Medium Priority structure in the draft of the 2007 Resource Survey update. The outbuildings are noted in the 1984 Survey. On September 27, 2007, HARC postponed action on a CDC for the demolition to allow the applicant time to submit the request to redevelop the property. The applicant was present for questions and stated that he still wants to demolish the garage and has no intent to add lighting to the sign at this time. Johnson stated he still does not want the garages demolished but feels this is the only way to get the property improved. Motion by Johnson to approve the application as submitted and recommended by staff, with exceptions as noted in the staff report. Second by Gonzalez. Approved 5 -0. 5. Consideration and possible action on a request for Certificates of Design Compliance for facade alterations; an alternative landscape plan; and signage for City of Georgetown Block 14, Lot 5, located at 307 Rock Street, Building 2. (CDC-2007-028 & CDC-2007-038) Knight exc uses herself from the dais with a Conflict of Interest Affidavit filed. Wyler presented the application. The applicant wants to renovate an existing garage and change the use to office space. The metal structure will be converted to stucco and stone and Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 5 Meeting December 13, 2007 will be styled to match the existing structure. The garage door will be replaced with a window and half glass entry door. The double doors facing Rock Street will be replaced with glass panel French doors. A white picket fence will be installed to screen the concrete slab on the building and the AC unit. Signage and awnings are also proposed. Staff recommends approval. No comments were made. Motion by Gonzalez to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance for the proposed façade renovations as submitted by the applicant, which will replace the metal with a more appealing stucco and stone siding. The doors, windows, fencing, and awning will be constructed as shown in the renderings and photographs provided by the applicant. Also, approval of the Certificate of Design Compliance for the proposed signs as submitted by the applicant, which includes adding a flush-mounted sign to each of the two primary façades and with the understanding that both will be designed as shown in the application. Second by Johnson. Approved 4 – 0. Knight took her seat on the dais. 6. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for facade alternations for City of Georgetown Block 40, Lot 3, .0505 acres located at 707 Main Street. (CDC-2007-029) Wyler presented the application. The owner of the property is seeking a CDC to replace the existing front door so it would be similar in appearance with an adjacent door and to make the building more energy efficient. Shifting has occurred and the adjacent door is not actually a door but a renovation that was made to look like a door, and is part of another building space. Wyler recommend approval of the CDC but to replace the door in the same style as the original and not altered to look like the adjacent. The owner, Donna Josey, was present for discussion. She stated she researched the history of the building and could not find a historical picture for a match. The Commission discussed different option of replacing the door. Ms. Josey’s contractor was present and this item was put on hold until they could consult about the feasibility of changing the design. 7. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for awning, paint color, and signage changes for City of Georgetown, Block 52 (s/pt), 0.0707 acres located at 809 Main Street. (CDC-2007-037) Wyler presented the application. The applicant /tenant is proposing an update to the existing facade features by replacing the awnings on both buildings, adding lettering on the doors to each entrance, repainting the window trim and placing new flush-mounted signs on both storefronts. The color of red has been changed from the original application to be a “jockey red”. They are also requesting to use the logo on the awnings. The owner presented two options for signs and opened discussion of which one the commission preferred. The commission determined that they prefer the boot logo and that it could be placed between the bands of the architectural design on the front of the building, and on the awnings if the total sign calculations do not exceed the amount of signage allowed for this space. Motion by Knight to approve the Certificates of Design Compliance for the proposed facade changes which includes the replacement of the existing awnings as shown on the application , the addition of signage on the door, the addition of two wall signs that will use Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 4 of 5 Meeting December 13, 2007 the “boot logo”, the painting of the window trim to match the colors presented and signage on the awnings after staff has calculated the total amount of signage to be used and the extra signage on the awnings meets the design guidelines. Second by Gonzalez. Approved 5 – 0. At this time, item number 6 was revisited. Ms. Josey stated that after consultation with Mr. Dimilio, the contractor, they have a proposal. Mr. Demilion explained that they would like to extend the gray framing member that is above the brown door across to the second door, extending the board across the top of both doors at the same level. To place four pieces of glass above the doors to give the appearance of a transom, and put in a new door on the left, painting it gray and having it match the color and height of the existing faux door. The Commission liked the idea. Motion by Gonzalez to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance for 707 Main Street to replace the door as described by Mr. Dimilio. Second by Chapman. Approved 5 – 0. 8. Receive an update on the building renovations to 702 South Austin Avenue – Steve Quenan. Robbie Wyler brought an update of the building construction located at 702 South Austin Ave. The owners were not present as requested to answer questions. Wyler mentioned items that from observation were not built according to prior approvals. Those included keystones above the window being omitted, awnings over the windows were lowered to hide the missing keystone detail, no shutters or keystones were placed on the 7th Street side of the building, the upper windows were installed with 4 panes instead of 8 as shown – missing muntins, and the number of windows on the back of the building were different than the approved plans. O’Donnell expressed concern about the lack of details and lack of brick on the front of the building. The Commission discussed setting precedents of allowing buildings to be constructed without constant oversight of the process. There was discussion of monitoring bigger projects and how to move forward after this mistake. The general concensus of the Commission was that they wanted the owner to fix everything on the building that could be fixed and to come back to the Commission and discuss those items that cannot be changed. Wyler agreed to contact the Quenans and ask for a special meeting between them and the Commission to discuss the owner’s options and for the Quenans to explain the reasons for the changes from the approved CDCs. There will not be any action taken at this meeting, only discussion. 9. Comments, questions and general discussion from Commission and/or staff and reminder of the next meeting of the Commission on January 24, 2008. Gonzalez made a motion that the Sign Subcommittee meetings, scheduled on the second Thursday of each month, be changed from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. These meetings will still be located in the Williamson Conference Room of the Georgetown Municipal Complex unless otherwise notified. Second by Knight. Approved 5 – 0. Elizabeth Cook announced that the CLG Grant that was received by the City to recover a portion of the cost of the Historic Survey update, was increased by $18,000. She is proposing to use that extra money to update the Design Guidelines. The Commission was in agreement. Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 5 of 5 Meeting December 13, 2007 Motion by Chapman to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. __________________________________ _________________________________ Approved, Chair, Rick O’Donnell Attest, Secretary, Nancy Knight