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Meeting January 24, 2008
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, January 24, 2008 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: Robbie Wyler, Historic District 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 December 13, 2007 regular meeting.
2. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
signage at Glasscock Addition, Block 10, Lots 1-2, 7-8, and 3-6 (PTS) located at 703 S. Church
Street. (CDC-2007-039)
3. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
additional signage at City of Georgetown, Block 51, Lot 8(s/PT), located at 823 S. Austin
Avenue. (CDC-2007-040)
4. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
signage at Glasscock Addition, Block 22 1/2, Lot 1 and 2 (PT), located at 1104 S. Church
Street. (CDC-2007-044)
5. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
signage at City of Georgetown, Block 41, Lot 1(PT), located at 700 S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-
2007-045)
Motion by Gonzalez to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2007 meeting. The other
items of the consent agenda were approved at the previous Sign Subcommittee Meeting.
Second by Chapman. Approved 7 – 0.
Regular Agenda:
6. Consideration and possible action on a request for an amendment for a previously approved
Certificate of Design Compliance at City of Georgetown, Block 41, Lot 1(PT), located at 700
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Meeting January 24, 2008
S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-2007-042)
Wyler presented the application for amendment of the previous CDC. The applicant made
several changes in constructing the building and is proposing to remedy some of the items.
Some of the items are too costly after being constructed another way, or were constructed
based on building permit code issues. Main features that were not constructed as to plan and
CDC approval were the number and size of windows, the front facade was faced with a
stucco finish instead of a brick finish, and keystones were not installed on the windows.
The applicant is proposing to install keystones above the second floor windows on both
Austin Avenue and 7th Street, but not on the first floor windows beneath the awnings. The
wood trim that is installed on the front of the building and around the windows will be
painted black. Shutters will be installed on second floor windows and will be painted black
to match the existing shutters. Dentil molding will be put in above the 7th Street entrance
and a black, wrought iron railing will be installed along the 7th Street ramp.
The applicant/owner, Steve Quenan was available for a report on the progress of the
construction. He stated the shutters had been made and the painter picked those up the
week before and was painting them before installation. The dentil moldings were being
installed. The trim pieces were to be constructed the following week. He questioned
whether to install an awning over the 7th Street entrance. The Commission debated and
decided the original application for CDC did not include that awning. If Mr. Quenan
determines that another awning is needed, he will return to the Commission for further
approval.
Chair O’Donnell questioned the possibility of faux brick on the front facade of the building,
since brick was originally approved. Mr. Quenan stated he investigated the brick facing and
found it was cost prohibitive and the installer had stated the brick facing would not stick
well to the existing stucco. Mr. Quenan stated that there just wasn’t enough existing brick
left over from the renovation to install on the front of the building. The Commission agreed
that the aesthetics of the lack of brick on the front facade was disappointing and that brick
had been approved.
Motion by Gonzalez to approve the change in the front building facade to be stucco face
instead of brick. Second by Knight.
Jack Hockmeister of 704 S. Austin Ave, next door to the Quenan’s building, asked to speak.
He presented pictures of the building in question from around the turn of the century in
which the facade was stucco. Chair O’Donnell thanked the guest for speaking and bringing
this forward. The Vote was called for previous motion. Approved 5 – 1. (Chair did not vote.)
Motion by Knight to approve the amended CDC as recommended by staff and as presented
in the staff report attached to the agenda. Second by Gonzalez. Approved 6 – 0.
Comments, questions and general discussion from Commission and/or staff and reminder of the
next meeting of the Commission on February 28, 2008.
Knight wanted to address the new practice of applicants placing a website address on a sign
face. She didn’t necessarily think that was appropriate in a historic district. Gonzalez stated
the Commission is not allowed to dictate what is or isn’t placed on a sign as long as it’s not
vulgar or inappropriate. Wyler mentioned that the Design Guidelines would be up for
review soon, he is working on a schedule and the process that would be followed, and this
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Meeting January 24, 2008
issue can be addressed during those discussions. Knight indicated there are already several
items on a list that need to be addressed.
Damon stated he would like to see an interim approval of some sort for developers seeking
financing for their projects. He indicated developers need to have basics approved, whether
at a concept level, or whatever is described, that would allow the developer to take the
approval to the bank. There was discussion about what constitutes “approval” and the
different levels of such.
Knight expressed concern about staff follow-up and inspections after a CDC is issued. Wyler
stated that is definitely being addressed by him doing regular inspections of all projects
downtown, and regular contact with owners/developers.
Chair O’Donnell adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
__________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, Chair, Rick O’Donnell Attest, Secretary, Nancy Knight