HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes HARC 11.12.2020City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Minutes
November 12, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Teleconference Meeting: htt s:Hbit.l /30PPuBH
The regular meeting convened at 6:OOPM on November 12, 2020 via teleconference at:
https://bit.ly/30PPuBH
To participate by phone: Call in number: (301)715-8592 or Toll Free: 833-548-0276 Webinar ID#:
922-4336-7356 Password: 541609
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; Catherine Morales; Karalei Nunn; Faustine
Curry; Terry Asendorf-Hyde; Pam Mitchell; Robert McCabe
Members absent: Steve Johnston
Staff present: Britin Bostick, Historic Planner; Mirna Garcia, Management Analyst; Nat Waggoner,
Long Range Planning Manager
Call to order by Commissioner Parr at 6:00 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 Commission.)
- 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
like to provide comments on the agenda item under discussion, the chair will ask if
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Meeting: November 12, 2020
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.georgetown.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 October 22, 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 Nunn.
Approved (6-0).
E . Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
for the demolition of a low priority residential structure at the property located at 1103 Rock
Street, bearing the legal description 0.129 acres out of the northwest part of Block 65, Lost
Addition. — Britin Bostick, Downtown & Historic Planner
Staff report by Bostick. The applicant is requesting HARC approval for the demolition of a Low
Priority structure under the criteria of loss of significance found in UDC Sec. 3.13.030.F2.a. The
Demolition Subcommittee met on 10/15/20 and recommended approval of the request with
condition that the food floor and clawfoot tub be salvaged if practicable and that if asbestos is
present, that it be removed in accordance with City procedures and State requirements.
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Meeting: November 12, 2020
The 1905 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from November of that year shows only two structures
on that half of the block, one of which was likely a shed or barn and the other an outbuilding for
a large home on the southeast corner of the block. By 1925, when the next Sanborn map was
drawn, the house had been altered again to have a large porch along the rear south side, which
has since been partially enclosed, and the same porch on the north side, which has since been
removed. G. W. Risner owned the property from 1919 to October 1, 1925, when he and his wife
Elpha sold the property to W. M. Waxler for $2,500. The Sanborn map from that that same
month indicates that the modifications were made by the Risners. The aerial photos from c.1934
provided by Special Collections at Southwestern University do not provide a clear view of the
house, although the roof appears to be consistent with the 1925 footprint. William Waxler died
on February 6,1934, and his heirs sold the property to Walter Barker on April 4,1939 for $700.
Walter and Mamie Barker sold the property to C. B. and Maud Lunsford on September 20,1939
for $750, and Lunsford sold it to Ann Anderson on December 6,1956 for $4,500. Ann Anderson
was likely the owner when the asbestos siding was installed, which is when the north side
porch may have been removed, and her heirs sold the property to Wanda Ross on August 28,
1995. It is not clear when part of the rear porch was enclosed, and that portion of the house does
not currently have asbestos siding. The 1984 Historic Resource Survey photo of the property
shows that the second -floor addition was added after 1984, and it may have been added during
Ross's ownership, from 1995 to 2019. Patti Colbert purchased the property on August 7, 2019,
and Landon Smith is the current owner.
The style of the house that remains visible can be described as Folk, Side -Gabled Hall -and -
Parlor with a rear extension. The house may have had more ornamentation at one time, but it
appears to have been a simply constructed, vernacular (domestic and functional) house with
gabled ends, wood siding and windows and a gable feature over the front porch. The Sanborn
maps indicate that the original house on this property evolved over time and changed footprint,
porches and likely the roof, but remained a single story until the second floor and balcony were
added, likely after 1995. The house has a simple floor plan with a front bedroom, living room,
dining area and kitchen, and the portion of the enclosed porch has been turned into a bathroom
and laundry area. The second -floor addition provided additional living or bedroom space. The
interior of the first floor is in fairly good condition; however, the pier and beam foundation is
experiencing failure and the second floor addition both has and is causing water damage. The
pier and beam foundation is currently supported by a number of stacked concrete blocks, many
of which are leaning to the side rather than providing stable support, and the floor joists and
beams show signs of deterioration, including termite damage, and will require replacement.
The second floor addition, which is neither compatible with the historic portion of the structure
nor well -constructed, has caused water damage to the front porch roof and some of the
construction materials appear to have been left in the porch feature, which was once a gable.
The wood windows are intact and some may be repairable, but the wood siding, of which there
are several different types visible, is brittle and would not be successfully reused. Based on the
condition of the foundation and the exterior, as well as the impacts of the second floor addition,
the historic fabric of the structure has decayed to the point that much of it would require
replacement, and extensive removal of flooring and walls may be required to replace the
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Meeting: November 12, 2020
foundation and secure it for future use. Replacement of most of the roof structure would also be
required, effectively leaving little historic fabric.
The applicant, Landon Smith, addressed the Commission. He explained that he obtained bids
from contractors and showed a letter to the Commission describing the bid and cost for the
project. He also explained other bids obtained; one contractor did not provide a bid because
they could not salvage the structure, another bid charged minimum $25,000 for foundation
repair only. Smith wants to salvage the structure but it is difficult to obtain a bid because
contractors are unsure of the structure's stability.
Chair Parr explained to the Commission that she asked Smith to provide these bids to the
Commission. The Demolition Subcommittee approves with the conditions by staff.
There was discussion by members of the Commission about what can be salvaged. Smith also
explained that a letter was mailed to surrounding homeowners about the project. He received
letters in support, no one was opposed.
Chair Parr opened and closed the Public Hearing as no one signed up to speak.
Motion to approve Item E (2020-48-COA) as presented by staff by Commissioner Morales.
Second by Commissioner Curry. Approved (6-0).
F. Presentation and discussion of the Local Historic Landmark Designation
Presentation by Bostick. Bostick explained that the Commission has never reviewed Historic
Landmark Designation applications before. However, this is a new application type that the
Commission will start to see as new applications are submitted. Staff want to ensure the
Commission is familiar with the application type, as one was received. Bostick explained the
process to designate a local landmark, the criteria used to designate a Historic Landmark, and
the review requirements for changes to the property created by the Historic Landmark. Bostick
also presented the flyer that was created to provide information about Historic Landmark
Designation.
Landmarks are resources that have been officially recognized by the City of Georgetown for
their outstanding historical, cultural, or architectural significance. Designation as a historic
landmark requires approval by HARC and City Council, and the property owner must be in
support of the designation and sign the application. The historic landmark designation applies
requirements for the approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior modifications to
the landmark.
G. Updates, Commissioner questions, and comments — Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
Waggoner provided an update to the Commission regarding small area planning. Waggoner
explained the directive from City Council regarding the San Jose and TRG neighborhoods, and
the work that has been completed to obtain feedback from the neighborhoods. A request for
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Meeting: November 12, 2020
proposal for professional consultant assistance to help develop plans for the neighborhoods has
been submitted.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Asendorf-Hyde. Second by Commissioner Morales.
Meeting adjourned at 7:22 pm
IV 1
Approved, Amanda Parr, Chair Attest, T zd-Ase-nd.or -1iy e, Secretary
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Meeting: November 12, 2020