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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_06.26.2008Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 4 Meeting June 26, 2008 City of Georgetown, Texas Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 26, 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, Will Moore andWest Short Members Absent: Linda McCalla Staff Present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner; Elizabeth Cook, Planning Director; Dave Hall, Building Official; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary Regular Session: To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Chair O’Donnell called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. 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 May 22, 2008 regular meeting. 2. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for signage at Morrow Addition, Block O, located at 1205 South Austin Avenue. (CDC-2008-019) 3. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for signage at City of Georgetown, Block 42, Lots 3&4(PTS), located at 708 Rock Street. (CDC- 2008-025) Motion by Gonzalez to approve the consent agenda items. Second by Moore. Approved 5 – 0. (Short not present at this time.) Regular Agenda: Chair O’Donnell excused himself from the dais for the following item claiming a conflict of interest. This affidavit is on file with the Recording Secretary. Gonzalez took over as Presiding Chair. 4. Conceptual Review and discussion with the applicant on proposed exterior renovations to City of Georgetown, Block 50, Lots 2&3(E/PTS), located at 213/215 West 9th Street. Wyler introduced Mr. Kostka, who represented the Palace Theatre. Mr. Kostka explained that the Palace Theatre had purchased the building behind the theatre and was renovating it. He presented the current ideas and was soliciting comments from the Commission before moving forward. The Commissioners asked questions. Provided comments that they liked Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 2 of 4 Meeting June 26, 2008 the concept, suggested an awning over the future front door on 9th Street, leave as many windows as possible and consider painting a mural or something on the east side of the building facing the alley. Mr. Kostka thanked the Commission and said he would return at a later date. Mr. O’Donnell returned to the dais and took over as Chair. 5. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for signage to Lost Addition, Block 13, Lots 3&4, 7&8, located at 1005 South Austin Avenue. (CDC-2008-024) Wyler presented the staff report. This application was originally taken to the Sign Subcommittee, who made suggestions and deferred to the main Commission. The applicant made changes to the awning sign as suggested and was seeking approval. Mr. Kidd was present to discuss any further changes and answer questions. He stated the existing awning would remain underneath the new awning but the signage behind the original awning would be removed. Motion by Gonzalez to approve the CDC for the awning as updated and resubmitted. Second by Johnson. Approved 5 – 0. 6. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance Amendment for facade changes to Lost Addition, Block 13, Lot 2, located at 1008 South Main Street. (CDC-2008-014) Wyler presented the application. This was an amendment request for an existing CDC of a building remodel. The applicant was proposing shorter windows on the south side elevation for restroom and break room privacy and convenience. And the removal of one window on the north elevation of the building for interior wall placement. The applicant was not present and the Commissioners discussed the changes. Motion by Gonzalez to approve the CDC facade changes as requested. Second by Short. Approved 5 – 0. 7. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance Amendment for facade changes to Cody’s Addition, Block 1, Lots 1, located at 1201 Church Street. (CDC-2007-018) Wyler presented the background and the applicant’s proposal. On July 26, 2007, the applicant came to the Historic and Architectural Review Commission (HARC) with an application to modify the roof design of an existing structure as part of an overall project to allow for a future restaurant tenant (CDC-2007-018). After working with the commission on a few design concepts, a final approval was given at the August 30, 2007 meeting. Approval was based upon the idea that the footprint of the structure would not be changed and that the elevation would match that of the rendering provided at the final meeting. The approved design has been provided as Exhibit A. On June, 5, 2008, staff met with the architects and contractor on the project to discuss concerns being expressed on the design of the building now under construction, especially the south end. At the meeting, it was concluded that the design of the south end of the building was not in compliance with the August 2007 HARC approval or the building permit. Subsequently, the applicant and agent have proposed an amendment to CDC-2007- Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 3 of 4 Meeting June 26, 2008 018 for HARC’s consideration. The amendment consisted of roof elevation changes in both height and width. The applicant’s agent, Karalei Nunn with 1113 Architects was present for comments. She stated that they wanted to comply and develop a compromise at this point. She also stated that they did not recognize the comments on the building permit, to be in compliance with HARC-issued CDC as well as other technical comments, as direction to change the plans. She suggested that at this point all they could do was to provide a substantial landscape buffer, for example bamboo. Commissioners discussed the need to improve the process to include a closer review of the building plans to match the approved CDC. Wyler explained that in this case a site plan was not required because there was not a change in use or a change in the building footprint. He state the Building Department and Planning Department are now working closer to insure building plans are being reviewed against site plans and approved CDC. There is a movement toward requiring a site plan and more detailed drawings for complete renovation CDC applications. Sam Mason, of 1205 Church Street, the adjacent property owner was present. He stated he likes the building even though he realized the south portion of the building “grew”. He stated he wasn’t able to make a quick decision about the barrier landscape wall or fence that was being proposed. Nunn suggested postponing the barrier decision with Mr. Mason until more information had been gathered. Mr. Mason also spoke to the parking issue, recognizing that there will not be enough parking for the restaurant. Nunn stated the owner recognizes this also, but nothing can be done. Wyler stated no offsite parking agreement(s) were required because there was not a change in use. Sammy Evans, the General Contractor spoke to the issue. He stated the footprint of the building did not change and the walls were put back in the original location. The elevation is different than the original presented and approved version because the original could not be built. The slope was not drawn correctly on the approved drawings. He said they had to screen the mechanical equipment in two places instead of the one on the roof as originally shown. Short expressed he wanted ideas submitted for de-emphasizing scale and mass. Nunn agreed the originally proposed planters would come back and she would develop a plan to help level the scale, including paint colors or materials. Commissioners discussed issues and frustrations that the process did not stop the changes sooner. There was also more discussion on parking problems for this site. Motion by Gonzalez to grant the CDC amendment for facade changes located at 1201 Church Street, with future approval needed for the barrier between the building and the house next door and a plan for deemphasizing the mass and scale must be submitted back to the Commission and on a Commission agenda within 60 days. Second by Moore. Approved 5 – 0. 8. Possible discussion on the Downtown alternative parking agreement map as requested by Nancy Knight at the May 22, 2008 HARC meeting. Commissioners reviewed the map and expressed concerns about future parking and lack of spaces and requirements that don’t mandate a larger number of spaces for businesses. Cook Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 4 of 4 Meeting June 26, 2008 explained the Downtown Overlay has different requirements than the rest of the city. They also have less parking available to them. And a property that is an existing business is not required to have more parking if that use does not change. This is a property rights issue not a HARC issue. Commissioners all expressed knowledge of a problem and concern that there are not regulations to address the problem. Cook expressed that the City is attempting to address these issues by possibly putting in a parking garage on the west side of downtown. Discussions are being held. 9. Comments from the Director and reminder of the next meeting on July 24, 2008. O’Donnell reminded everyone that a training session for the Commission was still being planned. Cook will email possible dates for confirmation in the near future. O’Donnell requested the city address the problem of the lack of checks and balances in the building permitting system, between the HARC approval, the issuance of a building permit, and the actual construction of the building. He suggested tougher applications, requiring more information for more informed decisions to be made. Dave Hall spoke to this and stated that one improvement was that Wyler is now reviewing construction plans in the Downtown Overlay District against the HARC approvals. Wyler is also performing weekly site inspections on the larger projects. Commissioners requested that staff employ more of a police type effort and place stop work orders on jobs if warranted. They also requested that staff come back with recommendations and a punitive type statement that can be placed on HARC CDC’s and building permits. They also requested that exterior elevation inspections be added to the job card and be required for each renovation and building site. O’Donnell requested that a statement be incorporated in the CDC approval that if any changes are made to the original submittal, for fire services, public safety or utility connections, then the CDC must be amended through the HARC process. All verbally agreed. 10. Adjournment Motion by Knight to adjourn. Second by Short. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m. __________________________________ _________________________________ Approved, Chair, Rick O’Donnell Attest, Secretary, Nancy Knight