HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_02.27.2014Ciry of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural R¢v w Commission Meering
Minu res
Thursday, February 29, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
Council and Courts Building
101 E. 9a^ Street, Geor etown, TX 98626
Members present Nancy Karight, Acting Chair; 7entvfer Brown; David Paul; and Richard Mee.
Commissioners in Training present Martine Rousseau and Raymond Wahrenbrock
Commissioners absent: Anna Eby, Mary Jo Winder and Tim Urban
Staff nb Matt Synatschk, Historic Planner; Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager;.
Andreina Davila, Project Coordinator; 7ackson Daly, Executive Assistant; Dave Hall, Building.
Official;Skye Masson, Asst. City Attorney; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary.
Call to Order by Knight at 6:00 p.m. with the reading of the meeting procedures.
Those who speak must turn in speaker Eorm, located at the back of the r m, to the
ord ing s retary before the item that they wish to address begin Each speaker will be
permitted tocaddress the Commission one time only For a maximum of three (3) mmutea.
This Regular Session may, at any torte, b¢ recessed to convene an Executive Session for any
purpose authorized by the Open Meering Act, Texas Govemnrent Code 551.
Leeislativ¢ A¢¢nda:
A. Public Hearing and possible acrion o a Certificate of Design Compliance request Eor exterior
alterations at City of Georgetown, Block 41, Lot 6 — 8 (PTS), .14 acr¢s, 1¢cated at 918 South
Austin Ave. (CDC -2014-001)
Synatschk presented tragi staff report The proposed project at 918 S. Austin Avenue includes a
projecting sign, c ropy mounted signage and window and door signage. Additionally, the
applicant seeks approval for a playbill box on the south fagade and n exterior Bghting. along
the s uth fa4ade. The structure is identified in the 2009 Historic Resour a Survey as a medium
prioroity structure. However, the completed restoration project removed the slip cover and
restored many of the character defining Features, leading to a High priority designation.
The proposed signage inctudes door mounted signage in orpora ted in to the new door handles,
canopy m orated alumiar m letters, w ndow signage, a hanging sign and a projecting sign o
the s uth Fagade. The applicant had also requested replacing the front doors with wooden n
doors, but that w s denied by staff based on the Secretary of the Interior`s Standards. Sint
there was n ord of wooden doors previously, the alumin m frame doors sh ould remain
alumit�um frame doors. Staff recommended approval of the signage and lighting.
There were no questions of Ste cosamissioners. Knight opened and closed the Public Hearing
with no speakers coming forth for tktis item.
Motion by Mee to approve the application for the CDC as submitt¢d_ Second by Paul.
Approv¢d 4 — O.
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B. Pvblic l Iearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Com pliaace for Demolition
request to demolish the 1-.istoric structure locatr-d at v06 W 14�^ St, bearing tf.e legal descriprion
of Lot 1, Bloch A, Friendly Will Baptist Church Subdivision, Section 1. (CDC -20]4004)
Synatschl< presented the staff report The applicant seeks approval Eor a Certificate of Design
Cmnpliance ("CDC") for Demolition to demolish the historic structirre located at 906 W 14th St.
The sivzg strudva�e s listed as a Low pr riry structur n the 1954 Histo xc Re s Sv ey
ed a Medium priority structure on the 200'7 I-Iistoric Resources Survey. The applicant wishes to
demolish the a sting structure toe nstruct a w 9,400 -square foot strucm r¢ with as rated
parking o � the subject property to ace odate the growth of church members since the
existing structure was built, and to meet all their current needs.
Syeatschh stated khat Section 13.03.010 D of the Unified Developmeat Code, a ost r ntly
updated in 2[)11 requires a CDC for demolition of any property that is listed on the List of
Priority Structures ie the historic Resources Survey. Syeatschh r'ad dze definition of a Medium
Priority Structure. He also explained that Dr. Tara Dudley, a professional archieec[ural
historian with edu ca Hon and experience to fully satisfy the Secretary of the Interior's
Professional Standards, ntly c nductcd r arch on the historic c ntext of this structure i
els Hon to pr sly designated histor. rhe related to George>towri s Afric n -Am
pity. "1'he . alt of the report w s that this property m els the ey requ nis fo
High Priority Structure with a Ices] Level of significance Synacschk alsorr¢ad the deFiuitiov of a
High Priority Srru cru res. 'These properties c niributc- significantly to the local history o
broader historical pattern wrd are considered to be the most significant resources tri the city.
The applicant uotiFied staff of their intent to submit a CDC request For demolition in November
2013 and a demolition subcommittee me[ with [hem in Jan ary 2014 in discuss the application
requirements. The subcommittee had a site visit and met with the applicants. The
ubcommittee requested that the applicant submit a cstoration bid From a estoration
etractor, a historic c ntext and natioaal register a aluation report to docu meat the
significance of the structure to the congregation and the community, and discuss possible
mitigation options as well.
Synatschh explained the criteria that commissioners must use to determin a demolition
approval, and r ad Section 3.13.020 D.1 of the UDC. He also read from Chapter 7 of the Design
Guid elfin reference to Demolition. He included Section 3.13.040 Supplemental Criteria —
Demolition Ur Relocation Approval which gives additional criteria to be considered.
He also explained that since there w only four members present that the vote of the
c - uld need to be u s (4 — O) to meet the requirements of the UDC. He also
eoxplamed that the design of the- p oposed n church w uld not be r wed by HARC as it is
utside the Old Town Overlay District 'The applies cion for CDC is For demolitim� Duly. 'I'hc
hers uld approve rhe CDC, approve the CDC with c editions, or deny the CDC S
the CDC•w .approved, the applicant w uld be able to apply Ibr a demote on pernut by
Ma ch 2H, 2014, 60 days after the . osce w s posted on the property. He els xpla ed pe
SE-cHon 3.13.0'70 Hie requiremenks that must be met before a demolition permit w uld bei ed.
Then Section 3.13.OIO.D.2, if the c a n does not approve the CDC for demolition. If the
application is delayed, Section 3.13.050 must be Followed.
The applicant, Jerrod Worsham, Estimating VP of Timmy 7acobs Construction, was available Eor
H19to\YC acid Acchtt¢ctural Rcvi¢w Comwiss�ou X¢ 2 of 6
M¢¢tlng F¢bcuary 2Z 2U14
questions and c nts. Worsham wanted ko e - e that the c s knew the cost of
refurbishia�g the misring structure c •c -dc -d demolition and new c nstxvetion costs. He read a
list of the structural problems of thexstructure.
Pastor Rudy Williams stated xhat in the present situation, the church did not have any r m for
classrooms, the church has a ngregation of over 300 m tubers; and they w uld not all fit into
the existing small fellowship hall. They had looked at other options [n keep the building many
years ago, but xhis w s the better option. He stated the -y c uld put on a of and add
fixtures to the building, but that would not be enough for the congregaesonW He seated they
uld r - ugh m ney for a n church, but nor enough for refurbishing the existing
structures Tli s w. s their last resortWKnight quc-stioned the difference in the costs, and
Worsham estimated that then structure w uld cost approximately $1.1 million, while
refurbishing the church, using the current seructu re and adding on, would cost approximately
$1.4 million_
Knight opened die L abbe Hearing, there- were several speakers.
Susan Firth, of 1403 Olive Street, spoke for the Hc-ritage Socic-ty. She asked that the
commssvoaers help with the preservation of this structure and deny the demol cion permit.
Wi11 Jenkin Associate Pastor of the Friendly Will Baptist Church, stated they understand that
[his i a historical builduzg of significance but r coded them that it i also a house of God. 1'he
building :s a part of their heritage, but a hindrance to the culture. 'They want to be proud of the
appearance of where they want to worship. He also stated it was too expensive to keep the old
structure.
Je Ef Flowers, of 119 Aspen, stared the Holy Spirit brought him h-om Chicago and he found
Friendly Will Church. Fie loves The church family and wants to change it for the new century.
Loretta Sedwick, of 2012 Olin Cove, a tuber of the church, stated her entire family a
tubers of the c6 arch and she asked that they be allowed to build a new church for h r
grandson so he would not have to go somewhere else.
Melsie Srnitli, of 1306 Hart Sttcet, stated he had been here for 74 years and thougl-it it was time
for a change.
Donald Lewis, of 101 Roble Rojo Dr in Shady Oaks, has been a mbcr of the church for four
years, he adopted the v of the pastor and loves the family,`but can t stay there anymore in
the- current space. He stated he didri t feel the commtsstoners churches look like that.
Bertha Williams, of 2101 Railroad, Apt 3116, a lifetime m tuber of the churcl-i for 99 years, stated
lots of things need to be done away with and this is one of them.
Raymond Wahrenbrock, of ].901 Westwood Ln, suggesxed putting a metal building "inside the
sting r ck stnrcturc and extending beyond the building to nta n rhe historical structure.
He asked the commissioners to delay the demolition until all documents are gathered as
requ ¢ed and photos taken of both the uzxerior and exterior.
Paula Dim ry, has be n there many ye ,her Fathe a pastor the ,she -aid the err quality
m the building w s s bad as an 'elephant sitting on Izerschest" and she meds to be comfortable
when worsh:pping.a
Mee�r.,l;aFee.�, .y �. zotn
Daxu�y Mendoza, of 300 Shale Dr., i m tuber of The cl-lurch and needs a change For the future.
He stated the stone and rocks don t m anything to them tubers, the. building i old and they
want new for the comfort o£ their child er nand the older members.
Elizabeth Martin of 300 Shale Rd, w s born and r s-edm the church, she believes in the
church and feels love there, but needs fresh ear m therchurch.
Paulette Taylor, of 705 W H�^ Street, has been a tuber for o r 60 years. T'he church is 109
years old and in 1905 m n hand mortared the ocics together ro melee the church. They w
looking to make an edifice, not a Foundation. This structure i ntly stifling the growth cof
the church and they will lose m tubers iF there is of enough r m� If they pour money into the
estoration of this building, they will not have enough money for growth. They are a[ a
crossroads.
With no further speakers corsvirtg forth, FGnight closed the public hearing.
Commissioners deliberated. Paul asked Synatschk if conversations had o red with eke
church regarding money For preservation Synatschl< responded rhe church has indicated they
not interested in estoration, only demolition 'There is organization called the Prfen ds of
the Texas Historical Commission that offers assistance, bul they will most likely not be able to
provide enough Fuads for this project.
Mee asked for a definition of _nt threat to public safety". Dave Hall, Building Official,
spoke on the integrity of the structure. F -Ie explained the building needs to be boarded up to
prevent further vagrants from eaoering the building. The building is ntly deemed
hazardous and should not be occupied; however it is oe in immediate danger of collapsing.
There a o plumbing fixtures and the electrical w mg is a fire hazard. He explained that the
exterior walls and rooF would probably not withseand a 90 mph wmd, a required by the
building coda He explained Lhat without maintenance and o e.upan is, the building has
deteriorated to the point that it cannot be occupied at this time.
The Commissioners questioned rhe representative from JJC about what tl-.ought had been put
mto u mg the e fisting stone, at leas[ the front fa4ade, and i orporating that into the n
building. The response w s that the church did not request that and it would cost roo muck. for
them so it was not an option.
Knight explained that HARC c fists because of the foresight of members of the community to
hav a Main Street Program and to have the Design Guidelixzes that help protect and rebuild the
downtown a tF buildings had been demolished inshead of restored downtown, the Square
ould not be what it is today. And m mtenance of those sirucnires i ery important This i
ery emotional discussion, but the Guidelines a ery specific She. stated she did not Feel the
church had done what they c uld do to protect the historical significance of the structure.
Other c asvoners e.ommented ghat there were not enough criteria met to approve the
demolitionm
Pastor Willis stated the- chu ch's first objectiv s to pr vide _w building for the
pity, that they needed a change There was discussion of p ssible opeion For the church
to help m ntain a porion of the history. The JJC representative and the Pastor explained that it
s too expensive to protect or u any of the existing strucrure because each stone w utd have
to be removed, and then rebuilt with new mortar on top of a new slab. The existing base is
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Meet R Ftlbc ary 9. 2Jt4
rubble and not secure. Paul commented that peaple all over the country repair rubble and
ortared stone buIIdings and that it can b¢ done. The response was that the church did not
want to go that direction.
Motion by Knight to deny CDC -2014-004 based on not meeting the criteria set forth in UDC
Section 333.040_ W¢ further would like to include a d¢Iay in the demolition basad on UDC
Cod¢ 333.050 where we as HARC may require additional c editions to be met as part of @tis
delay during ibis period, and during this period for staff to meet with the applicant for other
funding options that would b¢ available to th¢aT, (and) for the applicant to get with the
builder to a certain expenses a fated with the retention of the facad¢.and for that facade
to be incYssded in ih¢ new deaign� Second by Paul. Approved traaxrimoualy, 4 — O.
Then Knight amended the motion to include the applicant can come back (to HARC) as soon
s they are ready. There i no time frame a fated with the main motion, it can be 10 days,
90 days, up to 365 days. Second by Paul. Approved unanimously, 4 — O.
The Commission took a 10 minute recess_ The meeting was. called back to order at 7:53 p. m.
C_ Public H¢arivg and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for Demolition
request to demolish the historic structure located at 1918 Leander St, bearing the legal
description of OtrTlot Division A, Block 12 (PT), .90 acres. (CDC -2014-005)
Synatschk presented the staff report The applicant requested approval to demolish the historic
struchure located 1915 Leander SL Tire existing structure is of listed o � the 1984 Historic
Resources Survey and is listed a a Low priority structure on the 2009 Historic Resources
Survey. The applicant wishes to demolish the existing structure to construct new residential
structures.
The Low priority structure was previously used a a private r sidence and is nUy vacant.
The originat portion of the structure was built in 194'7 and has seen multiple addirions sin a the
biginal date of construction. Most of the additions were completed without permits and do not
eet current building codes_ Most of the character defining features of the structure have been
ved or destroyed, significantly reducing the hiskoric significance of the structure.
Synatschk reporred that this structure is unsalvageable. Staff recommended approval of the
demolition.
IG. fight opened the Public Hearixrg. Synatsch]< presented a letter to the cornnrission ttrat was
written by Susan Pirth, representing the Hersage Society, r nding approval of the
demob cion. Knight closed [tre public hearing wid. no speake sncoming Eorth.
The commis s deliberated and agreed there was nothing left of this structure that was
worth rehabilitating.
Morton by Mee to approve the demolition for CDC -2014-005 as it meets all the criteria as set
forth in UDC Section 3.13.040. Second by Brown. Approved 4 — O.
D. Review and possible action on the enaxrutes from the 7anuary 23, 2014 regular meeting.
David Pass] noted. that he was absent at this meeting but the minutes reflected that he was both
present and absent The minutes will be changed to reflect his. absence:
Hiotoctc a rchl[ea�ial Review Commission f age 5. of 6
Mec-HnX- nebmacY 29. 2014
Motion by Knight, second by Mee to approve the minutes as amend¢d_ Approved 4 — O_
Synatschk remir.d¢d everyon¢ of the next Few meetings_ He also stated that this would have
b¢¢n Tim Urban s last meeting and that he would be missed.
The Downtown Master Plan Final Draft will be presented to the public on March 3 at 530 in the
library.
HARC training will be held on March 19 at 4:00 in the library.
The next HARC regular meeting will be Thursday, March 29 at 6:00 in the council Chambers.
No sign subcommittee has been appou�t�d yet, so tl-\ere will not be a subcommittee meeting
unril atter March 29.
Raymond Wahrenbrock, CTT, i mg to the Building Standards Commission. H¢ will be
ma sed and he was thar.tc¢d For Ms years of service to the commission.
Adjournment Motion by Knight to. adjourn_ Second by Mee. Meeting adjourned at S:OS p.m.
L
Approved, N Knight, ACHrag Chair Attest, Richa d
oc\c ar XchltecM1a[al Aevaew Comm)yeio� Pa gc 6 of 6
MeoHrg: F¢br,aary29, 2014