HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_01.26.2017City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Minutes
Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
Council and Courts Building
101 E. Th Street Georgetown, TX 78626
Members present: Lee Bain, Chair; Nancy Knight, Vice -Chair; Justin Bohls; Patty Eason; Shawn Hood,
Richard Mee and Lawrence Romero.
Commissioners in Training present: Lynn Williams and Michael Friends
Commissioners absent: CIT Jan Daum
Staff present: Matt Synatschk, Historic District Planner; Sofia Nelson, Planning Director; and Karen
Frost, Recording Secretary.
Cain to Order by Chair Bain at 6:02 p.m. with the reading of the meeting procedures.
Regular Session
A. Welcome and Meeting Procedures
Legislative Regular Agenda
B. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2016 regular
meeting.
Motion by Eason to approve the minutes as submitted. Second by Knight. Approved 7 - 0.
C. Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for
exterior alterations for the property located at 809 South Main Street, bearing the legal description
of City of Georgetown, Block 52, Lot 3 (S/PT), 0.1106 acres.
Synatschk presented the staff report. The applicant is requesting to reconstruct a tie rod canopy
on the primary fagade of the structure. The canopy will replace a previously removed awning,
which replaced the original tie rod canopy. The Design Guidelines state that reconstruction of
missing architectural elements shall be based upon documented evidence of the original element.
The original tie rod hooks remain embedded in the building facade, indicating the presence of the
original canopy.
Canopies serve an important role for historic buildings, by providing shade and protection for the
entrance and storefront and represent a character defining feature of historic commercial
buildings. The proposed canopy will be of similar construction to the original one, and will be
mounted between the storefront windows and the transom windows. The project complies with
the Downtown and Old Town Design Guidelines as presented. Staff recommends approval.
There were no questions by the Commission and the Chair opened the Public Hearing. With no
speakers coming forth, he closed the Public Hearing.
Motion by Knight to approve the application for COA for 809 South Main Street as submitted.
Second by Eason. Approved 7 — 0.
D. Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for
exterior alterations for the property located at 1803 South Main Street, bearing the legal
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Meeting: January 26, 2017
description of Eubank Addition, Block 4, Lots 13-14 (PTS), 0.195 acres.
Synatschk presented the staff report. The applicant is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness
for the Low Priority historic structure located at 1803 South Main Street. The structure was built
in 1947, and significantly altered in the 1970s. The alterations included construction of a new
porch with nontraditional details, specifically the decorative porch columns. The alterations also
included cladding a portion of the primary fagade with brick.
The proposed project removes the existing porch, brick cladding and vinyl siding from the house,
and constructs a new porch on the primary fagade. The new porch would continue the front gable
design of the existing porch, but add inappropriate architectural elements to the structure. The
house is generally classified as a "Minimal Traditional" style, built from the mid -1930s to the late
1940s. Minimal traditional houses were simplistic in their design, but still offered many of the
structural components of earlier designs, including front porches. However, the front porches
lacked the architectural detailing of previous styles, including Craftsman, Italianate and other
early 20th century designs
The proposed porch is a simplified design, but incorporates one style feature from a different
architectural style. The proposed porch columns include a boxed base, indicative of a Craftsman
style porch. Adding conjectural features is not supported by the Downtown and Old Town
Design Guidelines, due to the adverse impact on the architectural style of the original structure.
Overall, staff supports the request for the new porch, but recommends a simple 6" x 6" porch
column, replacing the proposed boxed columns.
Robyn Clay, the owner of the property, asked for the commission to consider allowing her the
boxed columns.
Chair Bain opened the Public Hearing and with no speakers coming forth, closed the hearing.
Motion by Knight to approve the application for a COA for 1803 South Main Street as
requested by the applicant. Second by Hood. Approved 7 — 0.
E. Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for
infill construction for the property located at 205 Rock Street, bearing the legal description of City
of Georgetown, Block 9, Lots 5-6, 7-8 (W/PTS).
The applicant is proposing the construction of a Children's Education Center and Theater on the
southeast corner or Rock and 2nd Streets. The project consists of a single structure, housing
classrooms, offices and performance spaces, and is 40 feet in height. The Mixed Use Downtown
zoning district allows for zero lot line development, with 95% impervious cover, allowing for a
dense development on a restricted parcel.
The applicant originally presented to the HARC for conceptual review at the August 25th
meeting. The original design incorporated metal on the second and third floors, with a synthetic
stone for the first floor. The new proposed design incorporates the comments from the HARC,
which included utilizing stone on the first floor, with additional accents, and limiting the metal
cladding. Staff also requested changes to add building articulation, primarily along the west
fagade.
The majority of the structure is three stories in height, with the east side theater space only
extending to the second floor of the structure. The building walls are articulated through the use
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Meeting: January 26, 2017
of different materials, windows and the primary entrance. The project incorporates a mix of
materials, including metal panels on the third floor, with a mix of metal and natural limestone on
the first and second floors of the structure. The portions of the limestone extend to the second
floor to add articulation to the western wall, facing Rock Street. The predominant materials in the
Downtown Overlay District are brick, stone, wood and metal.
The architectural style of the structure creates a compatible structure for the Downtown Overlay
District, while maintaining a modern feel. The design protects the character of the district, but
also allows the project to be identified as new construction, which is appropriate for the district.
Staff recommends approval of the application and of the options provided by the applicant,
would choose more limestone on the 2nd floor with splitting up the solid metal wall. Limestone
and metal material samples were provided.
Knight questioned the Administrative Exceptions (AE). Synatschk explained that the Planning
Director has the ability to issue an AE allowing an alternative design standards of the UDC if it
provides for a better product. in this case, the AE's were issued for an alternative parking plan "
and for material standards. This gives staff the opportunity to work with the applicants. Knight
asks if this is a conflict because the Commission must comply with the Design Guidelines.
Synatschk explained that the standards must comply with the UDC criteria, and altered standards
with AE, before coming to the Commission for review with the Design Guidelines.
Bain asked for the dimensions of the building. The height is 40 feet tail. Bain confirmed that iiie
Commission's approval of the application would include the exceptions already granted.
Eason asked about the staff findings. Item 13.10 in the Design Guidelines states, "Traditional
building materials such as wood, brick, and stone are encouraged." Staff stated this application
complies with this statement, but there are is not any brick or wood on this building. Then the
staff analysis states "The predominant materials in the Downtown Overlay District are brick,
stone, wood and metal." Adding metal as an accepted use does not comply with page 131 of the
Design Guidelines which states "Metal panels and large areas of featureless stucco are often used
and these are out of character and not of human scale." She argued that seems to contradict
staff's analysis. Synatschk replied that by adding articulation through the use of stone and the
metal panels, human scale was added. And metal is found in the downtown historic district and
he cited examples. Eason argued this building would have more metal than even the 100% metal
building.
The applicant, Gary Wang gave a short presentation of the proposed project. Bain asked what
drove the choice of metal for a large portion of this building. Wang explained he likes it and so
does the client. The windows on the north and west side would be painted red and blue metal.
The glazing on all windows would be transparent, not mirrored. There was discussion of the
added cornice and it was decided that it was not preferred or needed, by the commissioners and
the applicant, for screening of the rooftop units. The cornice was a request by the city to help
reach compliance with the UDC and Design Guidelines. Staff requests of the applicant included
ways to achieve better building articulation, which included options with the shade.
Chair Bain opened the Public Hearing:
Doug Smith, 300 San Gabriel Village, benefactor of the Performance Center. Mr. Smith stated he
likes the design that was originally submitted by Mr. Wang. He feels the building represents the
feel that is intended. He asked for approval for the children, stating the metal was more cost
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Meeting: January 26, 2017
effective and this building would provide a functional, education system for many years to come.
Dana Barnes, 208 Innwood Drive. Her children benefit from participating in the Palace programs
and she asked the Commission to not let architecture get in the way of the programs.
Robert McCabe, 114 Dawana Ln. Mr. McCabe stated he has a daughter in the Palace program
and he owns a nearby building. He will be looking at the new building a lot and supports the
design.
Scott Mohon, 105 N Austin Ave, Executive Director of the Palace. He explained that the Palace
provides a nurturing environment for children and this new building not only celebrates and
honors the history of the Palace, but will be creating a new history.
Monti MacMillan, 6108 Harrogate. Mr. MacMillan read a letter of support from Brookwood,
another local non-profit organization.
Dustin and Maya Tahmahkera, 803 Bedford Court. Dustin introduced his daughter Maya, who
participates in one of the children's program at the Palace. She spoke in favor and support of the
new facility.
Trina Sherman, 251 Tower Rd, Liberty Hill. Ms. Sherman is Maya's teacher and she was there to
support Maya and talk about the Palace. She read a letter from Ron Shelley in support of the new
facility because the programs have outgrown their current location.
Barbara Dorrah,101 Daisy Path. Read a letter from Art Rodriguez, the Palace Board President,
explaining that they have been planning for this arts education building for three years and they
feel it is an attractive and utilitarian design.
Jonathan Young, 516 W. 8th Street. Read a letter from the Springers, the original founders of the
Palace, stating what happens inside the building is not affected by the exterior of the building.
Rebecca Pfiester, 403 Elm Street. She explained there is not a person in the room that does not
want the Palace to thrive and grow, but she asked that they consider that it should still be a
"gem" of the community in 100 years.
Sam Pfiester, 403 Elm Street. Mr. Pfiester owns the property immediately to the south of the
subject property and has donated the land for this project. He expressed his preference to have
more stone on the 2nd floor of the west side of the building. He is proposing street trees and has
hired a landscape architect to design a plan to make Rock Street more pedestrian friendly and to
fit contextually with the properties in that area.
Trenton Jacobs, 504 E. Th Street. He supports the architectural design of the building and says it is
refreshing to see something that makes you think. He says this design sets itself apart and too
much stone would make the building feel "heavy", like the jail down the street.
Chair Bain closed the Public Hearing with no more speakers coming forth.
The Commissioners deliberated the application and the different options presented.
Motion by Hood to approve the application contingent on the use of stone on the 2nd story and
choosing the option of Elevation 18, without the cornice. Second by Eason. Commissioners
commented. Vote, 3 — 4. (Hood, Eason and Bain for; Bohls, Knight, Mee, and Romero
opposed.)
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Meeting: January 26, 2017
Motion by Hood to approve the application as submitted, without any additional stone on the
2nd floor, but without the cornice. Second by Mee. Approved 6 —1. (Eason opposed.)
F. Staff update and reminder of future meetings.
• The Historic Resource Survey draft should be sent to Synatschk by January 31. There will
then be a 30 day staff review. Public comments and a public meeting will be held in
March and April. Notifications of the survey being posted on the website, and an
explanation of the survey will be going to all property owners per the Cox -McClain
contract agreements. A full document will be available at the library and in the Planning
Department office.
• The Austin Avenue Bridges were discussed at a third public meeting and staff is looking
at options. More information will be coming at a later date.
• The Fixed Bus Route has been approved with the main stop at the Public Library. See the
website for the routes. The system starts in late summer.
• Downtown West drawings will be available for public viewing in May, with construction
starting in fall 2017.
• Street signs printing for the Downtown and Old Town Overlay Districts will be put out to
bid soon. There are 247 intersections that will receive new signs. Old (currently existing)
signs will be offered for sale at the Visitor's Center.
• Sidewalk work in Downtown begins soon. Work will be done on Church Street between
9th and 111h Streets, on 8th Street between Rock St and MLK, and on 8th Street between
Church and Myrtle Streets.
• The next HARC meeting will be February 23, 2017.
G. Comments or Questions by Commissioner -in -Training. No comments.
Adjournment
Motion by Knight, second by Romero to adjourn at 8:07 p.m. Approved 7 — 0.
Approved, Lee Bain Chair
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Meeting: January 26, 2017
Attest, Lawrence Romero, Secretary
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