HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_05.22.2008Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 4
Meeting May 22, 2008
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, May 22, 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; J.C. Johnson, Nancy
Knight, Linda McCalla, West Short and Will Moore.
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner; Elizabeth Cook, Planning Director; Trish
Carls, City Attorney; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
Regular Session: To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m.
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chair O’Donnell.
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 April 24, 2008 regular meeting.
Moore noted on page 4, paragraph 2 of the minutes that a statement needed to be reworded
and corrected. In regards to a Special Use Permit, the question was raised whether a Permit
could be issued without a Certificate of Design Compliance. Minutes stated that Wyler
confirmed this. It should state that a Special Use Permit and a Certificate of Design
Compliance can be issued independently of each other, but the applicant must receive both
to move forward with the proposed use. Wyler confirmed that. Motion by Gonzalez to
approve the minutes of the April 24, 2008 meeting with the amendments as stated. Second
by McCalla. Approved 5 – 0 with 1 abstention. West Short abstained due to not being at the
April 24th meeting.
Regular Agenda:
2. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
facade updates at Lost Addition, Block 14, 0.165 acres, located at 1100 South Main Street.
(CDC-2008-018)
Wyler presented the staff report. The applicant is proposing an update to the Main Street
Baptist Church Youth Center facade by changing the retail look of the structure and taking
down existing awnings. The new look will be similar to that of the Ministry Center located
on 10th Street. Wyler read the Guidelines that were applied to this application.
Commissioners asked questions for clarification of the details. Jim Cummins of Steger &
Bizzell spoke for the applicant. He spoke to the exterior materials, stating they were trying
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Meeting May 22, 2008
to make it look like the Ministry Center building across the street and using stucco instead of
glass, and painting over the brick or adding stucco material over it where necessary. David
Voelter also represented the applicant and explained that the brick would be resurfaced, not
replaced, to match the stucco. Knight asked about the delineation of the brick showing
through. Voelter said that even with the stucco material put over the bricks, the delineation
will still show through.
McCalla stated she felt that leaving some of the glazing on the south side would be better.
Cummins said the doors to the building would be on both the east and the south side.
Motion by Johnson to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance for 1100 South Main
Street based on compliance with the applicable Design Guidelines. Second by Moore.
Knight moves to amend the original motion to indicate that if the color or texture changes
from looking like brick, the item must come back to the Commission for additional review.
Second by Moore. Approved 6 – 0.
Original motion voted on, approved 6 – 0.
3. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
signage and facade updates at Morrow Addition, Block O, located at 1205 South Austin
Avenue. (CDC-2008-019)
Wyler presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking a CDC to update the gutters on the
structure, add an ADA compliant ramp to the rear of the structure and to install a pole sign
to the front yard. He read the Guidelines that were used to review this property.
Questions were raised by the Commissioners. Knight asked about the signage type that was
requested versus putting the sign on the structure as in other applications. Wyler explained
that it was based on different zoning classifications allowing different types of signs. There
was discussion about the materials and colors of the sign. The Commission was in
agreement that the requested shiny gold seems out of character with the area.
Motion by Knight to approve the facade updates as requested with the condition that the
sign CDC application comes back to the Sign Subcommittee for further review and
discussion. Second by McCalla. Approved 6 – 0. Moore commented that the applicant
went to great lengths to maintain the residential character of the structure. He suggests
eliminating pole signs in the downtown overlay district. Short suggests telling the
applicant to change the font size and type and to make the sign more legible.
4. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
awnings at City of Georgetown Block 39, Lots 1-4 (PTS), located at 107 East 7th Street. (CDC-
2008-021)
Wyler presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking a CDC to add two small awnings
to the building’s 7th Street facade. Wyler read the Guidelines that were applied.
The Commission questioned the location of the awnings in comparison to the neighboring
awnings. They discussed options. The Commission as a whole stepped outside the Council
Chambers to look at this building and the adjacent buildings. Then the Commission stepped
back on the dais.
Motion by McCalla to approve the CDC for two awnings at the front of the 7th Street facade
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Meeting May 22, 2008
with the stipulation that the awnings be made using the striped material as shown and that
they be made to match the form and detail of the adjacent buildings. Second by Short.
Approved 6 – 0.
5. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for a
new door and sidewalk railing at City of Georgetown Block 40, Lots 1 and 4 (PTS), located at
114 East 7th Street. (CDC-2008-022)
Wyler presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking a CDC to add an additional door
to the 7th Street facade of the building for future tenant use and to add removable iron
railings at the edge of the sidewalk in front of the busi nesses. Staff recommends denial of
both the door and the railing. The applicant was not present for questions or comments.
Commissioners discussed the trough planter concept and the doors not fitting correctly
without replacing the windows too.
Motion by Knight to deny the CDC for the door replacement with the recommendation that
the applicant reapply for a CDC with double doors that will match the existing doors on the
building. Second by Gonzalez. Approved 6 – 0.
Motion by McCalla to deny the CDC for awnings, sidewalk railings and site design based on
noncompliance with Guidelines 10.1, 10.3, 8.2, 8.3, 8.6, 8.7, and 10.4. Second by Nancy.
Approved 6 – 0.
6. Discussion of offsite parking agreements for the Downtown Overlay District.
Wyler presented the parking plan that was in effect before this meeting. Knight requested
that a discussion of this plan be added to the next agenda. Gonzalez asked that a similar
map be made and a discussion held for sandwich board sidewalk signs, troughs and
umbrellas in the sidewalk ROW.
7. Consideration and possible action regarding a response to the appeal to the City Council of
the HARC's April 24, 2008 decision pertaining to the Certificate of Design Compliance for
1903 South Austin Avenue (Montgomery Addition, Block 1, Lots 10 and 11)
This item was postponed until after the Executive Session.
Chair O’Donnell announced that the Commission would be going into Executive Session at
7:34 p.m. in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code,
Vernon’s Texas Codes, Annotated, for consultation with the Attorney, Section 551.071.
Chair O’Donnell announced the Regular Session would resume at 8:00 p.m. Short did not
return to the dais.
8. Comments from the Director and reminder of the next meeting on June 26, 2008.
Wyler reported that 1201 Church Street height and elevation was found to be out of
compliance. He explained the owners may come back to the Commission and work out an
agreeable compromise, or they will not receive a Certificate of Occupancy at the end of their
project. The Commission discussed the process that city staff uses to stop construction or
halt progress when a project changes from the original CDC application and approval. Cook
explained the inspections process and stated the Planning and Inspections Departments
were working with one another to determine inconsistencies in approved plans and field
inspections.
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Meeting May 22, 2008
Executive Session
In compliance with the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code, Vernon's Texas
Codes, Annotated, the items listed below will be discussed in closed session and are subject
to action in the regular session that follows.
9. Consultation with attorney – Tex. Gov’t Code § 551.071 - Advice from attorney about
pending or contemplated litigation and other matters on which the attorney has a duty to
advise the Commission, including agenda items.
Minutes from the Executive Session were taken, transcribed and sealed on June 20, 2008.
Regular Session
10. Action from Executive Session.
Item 7 was discussed. Knight stated she had records that indicate the house in question
has 6 rooms instead of the reported 4, which should change the amount of required
parking spaces. She read sections of a letter that she would like to take to City Council,
explaining the Commissions denial of this application. She discussed removing the UDC
references.
Motion by Gonzalez to ratify and approve a letter to City Council as stated in Executive
Session and discussed for 1903 South Austin Avenue, and that any member of the
Commission may present the letter and represent HARC at the City council meeting.
Second by Johnson. Approved 5 – 0.
Commissioners discussed who would be available for the next City Council meeting, June
10, 2008.
11. Adjournment. Motion by Knight to adjourn. Second by Gonzalez. Meeting adjourned at
8:15 p.m.
__________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, Chair, Rick O’Donnell Attest, Secretary, Nancy Knight