HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_09.25.2008Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 3
Meeting September 25, 2008
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, September 25, 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, Will Moore and West Short
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner; Elizabeth Cook, Director, Planning and
Development; Donna Heimburg, Code Enforcement Officer; Julie McCartney, Chief Code
Enforcement Officer; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
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:
Regular Session: To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m.
The meeting was called to order by Chair O’Donnell at 6:07 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 September 11, 2008 regular meeting.
2. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
signage at City of Georgetown, Block 40, Lot 1, 4 located at 114 East 7th Street. (CDC-2008-
030)
Item #2 was moved to the regular agenda for discussion by the Sign Subcommittee.
Knight stated she would like to see more details included in the minutes, specifically on
more controversial items. Motion by Gonzalez to approve the minutes with a note to
include more details in the future minutes and to keep the audio tape as record of the
meetings. Second by Short. Approved 5 – 0.
Regular Agenda:
Item #2 above was presented by Wyler for discussion. He gave the guidelines that were
applied as basis for staff recommendation of approval. O’Donnell questions the light source.
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Meeting September 25, 2008
Wyler explained and showed the example in the packet. Moore questioned the size of the
sign in comparison to the size of the building. Wyler stated it was in compliance and the
building section used for compliance was 24 feet. Knight stated she thinks the lighting is not
the right type for this sign.
Motion by Gonzalez to approve the sign as designed, with the exception of the lighting
source which must be brought back before the sign subcommittee. Second by Johnson.
Approved 6 – 0.
3. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
facade and site updates at City of Georgetown, Block 50, Lots 2-3(E/pt), located at 213 West
9th Street. (CDC-2008-031)
Chair O’Donnell recused himself from the dais with a conflict of interest affidavit filed.
Gonzalez took over as Chair for this item. Wyler presented the staff report. The Palace
Theatre plans to renovate its building located directly behind the theatre along 9th Street.
The building is 50 feet wide by 112 feet deep. Mr. Kostko owns the private alley located
around the subject building so no allocations to the City will be needed for items proposed
within that space. The applicant proposes repainting most of the facade and updating
window and door features, along with the 9th Street canopy. The colors and proposed
locations and renovations are included in the packets.
Commissioners discussed the possibility of a mural on the alley side of the building. Kostko
responded that had been looked at, but the metal siding with strips makes that difficult.
There was a discussion about the size of the canopy in the alley. It is designed at only eight
inches so it will not impede truck traffic in the alley. The owner was told he may want to
look into a License to Encroach if a bigger canopy is desired.
Short shared his historical knowledge of this building and the alley. He stated the alley was
owned by John Hoyt, Sr. and that a previous Mayor had requested that Mr. Hoyt deed half of
the alley to the City. Short stated he believes that happened and the city should be involved
in the decision about the encroachment into the alley.
Motion by Short to approve the Certificate for Design Compliance as presented, but subject
to determination of the ownership of the alleyway and if the city owns it a license to
encroach is authorized by the city for the extended awning. Second by Knight. Approved 5
– 0.
4. Consideration and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Design Compliance for
facade updates at City of Georgetown, Block 41, Lot 4(PT), located at 708 S. Austin Avenue.
(CDC-2008-032)
Chair O’ Donnell reseated on the dais. Donna Heimburg, Code Enforcement Officer for the
City, gave a brief history of this property. She introduced Ginger Willette, the tenant
applicant and owner of the Loading Dock. Ms. Willette asked for approval of an existing
patio feature located at the rear of the building facing the alley and proposed making a few
minor updates to improve the look of the back of the building.
The Commission debated the look and style of the balcony. The also discussed the processes
that led to this balcony being non-conforming. They questioned whether a tenant that
receives a CDC gets a new CDC, does that negate the previous CDC. Cook responded yes
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Meeting September 25, 2008
and that the CDC goes with the tenant. Julie McCartney, Chief Code Enforcement Officer,
spoke to the Commission regarding the handling of this specific case.
Motion by Moore to approve the CDC based on the application to paint the metal structure,
add a gate to the wooden fence and replace the roof over the second story entrance, with the
condition that materials and design for the roof over the door must come back to HARC
before being built. Second by Gonzalez. Approved 6 – 0.
5. Consideration and possible action to reschedule the October 23, 2008 meeting to October 30,
2008.
The Commission agreed to move the meeting. Knight and Short will be absent on Oct. 30.
6. Comments from the Director.
Cook reported the Commission will be having workshops with Nore Winter and Company
to work on the Design Guidelines, November 11 through 13. One of the workshops will be
open to the public. And one of the meetings will be a night meeting. Specific locations and
times will be sent out. There will not be a regular HARC meeting in November. The regular
meeting falls on Thanksgiving, and Christmas in December, so the rescheduled date for
those two combined meetings is December 11. The City Council will hold a joint workshop
with HARC on November 24. More information to come on that workshop.
There was a question on sidewalks in the downtown area and what is allowed to be
displayed on the sidewalks. McCartney reported that HARC does not have jurisdiction over
the sidewalks and displays. Obstructing a sidewalk is a violation of the Nuisance Code
which states three feet of passageway must be clear for pedestrians. Short asked that
sidewalk concerns be considered and addressed more thoroughly in the Unified
Development Code and Design Guidelines.
7. Adjournment
Chair O’Donnell adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
__________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, Rick O’Donnell, Chair Attest, Nancy Knight, Secretary