HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes HARC 09.24.2020City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Minutes
September 24, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Teleconference Meeting: https://bit.ly/2FBeXXT
The regular meeting convened at 6:OOPM on September 24, 2020 via teleconference at:
h t tp s: //b i t. l y/2 F B e XXT
To participate by phone: Call in number: (346)248-7799, (669)900-6833, (253)213-8782, (929)205-
6099 Webinar ID#: 986-0859-0841 Password: 357876
Public Comment was allowed via the conference call number or the "ask a question" function on
the video conference option, no in -person input was allowed.
Members present: Amanda Parr, Chair; Art Browner, Steve Johnston, Terry Asendorf-Hyde,
Catherine Morales; Pam Mitchell
Members absent: Faustine Curry, Robert McCabe, Karalei Nunn
Staff present: Britin Bostick, Historic Planner; Mirna Garcia, Management Analyst; Nat Waggoner,
Long Range Planning Manager; Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
Call to order by Commissioner Parr at 6:01 pm.
Regular Session
(This Regular Session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for any
purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.)
A. Discussion on how the Historic and Architectural Review Commission virtual conference will
be conducted, to include options for public comments and how the public may address the
Commission. — Sofia Nelson, CNU-A, Planning Director
B. The Historic and Architectural Review Commission, appointed by the Mayor and the City
Council, is responsible for hearing and taking final action on applications, by issuing
Certificates of Appropriateness based upon the City Council adopted Downtown Design
Guidelines and Unified Development Code.
Welcome and Meeting Procedures:
- Staff Presentation
- Applicant Presentation (Limited to ten minutes unless stated otherwise by the C'r,,,,mission.)
- Questions from Commission to Staff and Applicant
- Comments from Citizens*
- Applicant Response
- Commission Deliberative Process
- Commission Action
*Once staff and the applicant have addressed questions from the Commissioners, the
Chair of the Commission will open the public hearing. If a member of the public would
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Meeting: September 24, 2020
like to provide comments on the agenda item under discussion, the chair will ask if
anyone would like to speak. To speak, please identify yourself by either
entering your name, address and item number on the Q/A chat on your
screen. When your name is called you will have up to 3 minutes. A speaker may allot
their time to another speaker for a maximum of 6 minutes. If a member of the
public wished to allot their time to another speaker, they may do so when their name is
called by the Chair. Please remember that all comments and questions must be
addressed to the Commission, and please be patient while we organize the speakers
during the public hearing portion. After everyone who has asked to speak has
spoken, the Chair will close the public hearing and provide a few minutes of rebuttal
time to the applicant if they so choose.
On a subject not posted on the agenda: Persons may add an item to a future Board
agenda by filing a written request with the Staff Liaison no later than one week prior to
the Board meeting. The request must include the speaker's name and the specific topic to
be addressed with sufficient information to inform the board and the public. For Board
Liaison contact information, please logon
to http://government.get)rgetown.org/category/boards-commissions/.
Public Wishing to Address the Board
C. At the time of posting, no persons had signed up to address the Board.
Legislative Regular Agenda
D. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the September 10, 2020 regular
meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission. - Mirna Garcia, Management
Analyst
Motion to approve Item C by Commissioner Morales. Second by Commissioner Johnston.
Approved (5-0).
E. Conceptual review of a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for new building
construction (infill development) at the property located at 405 S. Austin Avenue, bearing the
legal description 0.7434 acres, being Lot 9, Replat of Block 24, City of Georgetown.
Staff report presented by Bostick. The applicant is requesting HARC approval of a new, three
story bank and office with a drive-thru located on the east side of the building. The new
building is proposed to be a total of 22,702 sq. ft., with a 40' building height as defined by the
Unified Development Code (UDC) and a 47' parapet height. The proposed exterior materials
are cast stone or cut limestone and stucco, with dark aluminum frame windows and non -
reflective glazing. The proposed design includes decorative stucco details at the first and top
floors, as well as stone and stucco details to highlight the building entrances on the north and
south elevations and the center section of the Austin Avenue (west) fagade. Signage is not
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Meeting: September 24, 2020
proposed as part of this application, but the submitted plans show building signage areas on
each of the three street facades. The highest point of the roof parapet at 49' is proposed for the
cornice details in the center of the street -facing facades, while the parapet surrounding the roof
("mid parapet") is 47' in height. This parapet acts to screen rooftop mechanical equipment from
view, while the "low parapet" is a decorative element.
There were questions regarding the drive-thru and vehicle access by the Commission. Bostick
provided an explanation of how customers would access the drive-thru from Austin Avenue.
There was also discussion about impact to the courthouse view, and further clarification was
sought regarding the exemption process. Bostick explained that this is one of additional
applications submitted, one which includes a Site Development Plan. The Site Development
Plan will help address other issues such as drainage and impervious cover. The courthouse
zone protection is a special overlay that is implemented to consider the impact the project will
have on the view of the courthouse from Austin Avenue and I11-35. The evaluation process is
done through the Administrative Exception process where staff determine whether the
proposed height of the project will block the courthouse view.
The Commission also discussed the size of the windows for the proposed project and asked if
the applicant will reconsider windows that are more similar to others in the area for a more
historic feel, with a proportion of taller than wide. The Commission asked if the Austin Ave.
street facade could have more variation or consideration toward pedestrians.
Bostick also requested feedback from the Commission, and asked if there is anything else they
would like to see for the next time this item is presented. Commissioner Morales asked that for
items that partially comply, staff continue to provide enough explanation and data to support
why the criteria partially comply.
Chair Parr also requested to see what materials will be used and how, for the next presentation
of this project.
Whitney Koch, the project's architect, provided an explanation and reviewed the materials that
will be used and provided examples for the Commission.
P. Updates, Commission questions, and comments. — Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
Staff provided updates on the Design Guidelines update project.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Morales. Second by Commissioner Johnston. .
Meeting adjourned at 7:47 pm v
Approved, Amanda Parr, Chair
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Meeting: September 24, 2020
Attest, 4, Secretary
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