HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes HARC 09.09.2021Historic and Architectural Review Commission Page 1 of 5
Meeting: September 9, 2021
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Minutes
September 9, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Council and Courts Building
510 West 9th Street Georgetown, TX 78626
Members Present: Terri Hyde; Michael Walton; Lawrence Romero; Steve Johnston; Karalei Nunn;
Catherine Morales; Faustine Curry; Pamela Mitchell
Members Absent: Robert McCabe
Staff present: Britin Bostick, Historic Planner; Nat Waggoner, Assistant Planning Director; Mirna
Garcia, Program Manager
Meeting called to order by Chair Curry at 6 pm.
Public Wishing to Address the Board
On a subject that is posted on this agenda: Please fill out a speaker registration form which can be
found at the Board meeting. Clearly print your name, the letter of the item on which you wish to
speak, and present it to the Staff Liaison, preferably prior to the start of the meeting. You will be
called forward to speak when the Board considers that item.
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/.
A. At the time of posting, no persons had signed up to address the Board.
Legislative Regular Agenda
B. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the August 12, 2021 regular
meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission. - Mirna Garcia, Program
Manager
Motion to approve the minutes by Commissioner Johnston. Second by Commissioner Nunn.
Approved (7-0).
C. Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
for the demolition of a medium priority historic structure at the property located at 404 E.
4th Street, bearing the legal description 0.165 acres, being the west half of Lots 1 & 2, Block 32,
Glasscock Addition. – Britin Bostick, Downtown & Historic Planner
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Meeting: September 9, 2021
Staff report by Bostick. The subject property in this application, the west half of Lots 1 & 2, was
sold by Eunice Dunham to her children in 1980. They sold the property to Joel Goode in 1983,
and Joel and Lynn Goode owned the property for nearly a decade. Willie Mae Montgomery
purchased it in 1991, and the current owner purchased the property in 2021. The 1964 and 1974
aerial photos of Georgetown show two very similarly shaped houses next to each other at 404
and 406 E. 4th Street. The 1984 Historic Resource Survey did not capture the houses as they had
not met the 50-year criteria for inclusion on the survey, but the houses were recorded on the
2007 survey. The house on the east half of Lots 1 & 2 was approved for demolition by HARC on
November 20, 2008. The subject structure was included in the 2016 Historic Resource Survey as
a medium priority structure; however, it was categorized as low priority on the 2007 survey.
Despite the 2016 survey’s estimation that the structure is unaltered, the porch at the entrance
appears to have been altered from a simpler original entrance. Unusually, the house appears to
be positioned with its side as the primary façade, with the entrance through a side porch rather
than through a distinct front door. The house formerly next door was similarly constructed and
oriented, without the porch addition. Although listed as a medium priority structure
constructed in 1940 on the 2016 Historic Resource Survey, research has indicated that the house
was constructed in 1950 as an exact or near-exact copy of the house previously next door and
approved by HARC for demolition in 2008. Although the house is distinctive in its orientation
to the side, it does not clearly represent a particular style or period of architecture or
surrounding development patterns.
Romero asked if foundation was ever looked at by engineer. Applicant commented that they
have not had engineer evaluate it.
Romero asked the Commission to include an archive requirement when the motion is made
since it is a medium priority structure.
Commissioner Hyde asked for a demolition subcommittee report. Chair Curry asked
Commissioner Nunn and Johnston to provide a little explanation when they held the
demolition subcommittee meeting.
Commissioner Nunn and Johnston commented that there was nothing unique associated with
the structure. Bostick explained the report, including that there were no significant changes
made to the structure.
Chair Curry opened and closed the Public Hearing as no one signed up to speak.
Motion to approve Item C (2020-34-COA) with the condition of archival by Romero. Second
by Morales.
The Commission discussed with the applicant what it would mean to do an archival, and cost to
applicant. Bostick explained the archival process and what it would include.
Motion approved 7-0.
D. Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
for new residential (infill) construction and a 5’-0” setback encroachment into the required 20’-
0” front setback to allow a residential structure 15’-0” from the front (north) property line at the
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Meeting: September 9, 2021
property located at 404 E. 4th Street, bearing the legal description 0.165 acres, being the west half
of Lots 1 & 2, Block 32, Glasscock Addition. – Britin Bostick, Downtown & Historic Planner
Staff report by Bostick. The applicant is requesting HARC approval of a new 2,544 sq. ft. two-
story residential structure with a 484 sq. ft. detached garage at the rear. The proposed structures
would have fiber cement siding and standing seam metal roofs and be modeled after a two-
story farmhouse with detached rear garage. The front porch is proposed to be 6’ deep with a
shed roof and slender columns and extend the width of the front facade. The house has a
centered front door and symmetrical 4/4 windows on the first and second floors. The applicant
has provided a photo of the design inspiration in the attached Exhibit 3. A 15’ Public Utility
Easement (PUE) exists at the rear of the property and the new structures cannot be constructed
to the rear 10’ setback as structures cannot be located within a PUE. The applicant is therefore
requesting a 5’ front setback modification, which would shift the structures 5’ closer to the front
property line to account for the PUE, and which would also align the front façade with
structures on adjoining properties and along the block.
Chair Curry opened and closed the Public Hearing as no one signed up to speak.
Motion to approve Item D (2020-34-COA) by Commissioner Nunn. Second by Commissioner
Romero. Approved 7-0.
E. Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
for modifications to exterior steps, stairways and ramps at the property located at 711 E. 7th
Street, bearing the legal description 0.14 acres, part of Block 17, Shell Addition. – Britin Bostick,
Downtown & Historic Planner
Staff report by Bostick. The Applicant is requesting HARC approval for changes to the front
porch, which include replacement of the wood railing with metal railing and changes to the
porch decking, stairs and skirting. Due to ongoing issues with water drainage back toward the
foundation of the house and a need for more secure and safe stair railings, the property owner
found it necessary to replace the prior wood railings with metal railings, add railings for the
stairs, and to add wood flooring to the porch to correct a slope issue and provide a safer
walking surface. The owner is also proposing to install painted fiber cement siding around the
porch sides to cover the current exposed concrete. This project is in partnership with
Preservation Georgetown’s Historic Preservation Grant Program.
Commissioner Walton commented that the project does not look finished and he would like to
see the wood stained or treated.
Chair curry opened and closed the Public Hearing as no one signed up to speak.
Motion to approve Item E (2021-38-COA) with the condition that the project be completed,
specifically that the wood surfaces be treated or stained by Commissioner Walton. Second by
Commissioner Hyde. Approved 7-0.
F. Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for
replacing a historic architectural feature with a non-historic architectural feature at the property
located at 115 W. 7th Street, bearing the legal description 0.114 acre, being part of Lots 1 & 2,
Block 38, City of Georgetown. – Britin Bostick, Downtown & Historic Planner
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The Applicant is requesting HARC approval to replace the upper floor 1/1 wood windows on
the front façade with new 1/1 wood windows using the same window product approved for the
replacement of the Lockett Building upper floor windows. The existing wood windows, which
have deteriorated and are leaking and causing water damage, do not appear to be the original
windows. The building is known to have undergone a rehabilitation project prior to 1989, and
the windows may have been replaced in that project, however it is not clear from historic
photos if the windows were repaired or replaced. The current windows either have a tinted
glass or a tinted window film applied to the glass on 5 of the 6 upper floor windows, which has
been in place since at least 2008. The windows do not appear to have been tinted in a c. 2003
photo of the building. The proposed new windows would have clear, insulated glass and use
the same window style and configuration as the existing.
Chair Curry asked Bostick to explain insulated glass. Bostick provided further explanation.
Chair Curry opened and closed the Public Hearing as no one signed up to speak.
Motion to approve Item E (2021-39-COA) with the conditions the windows be one over one
configuration and clear glass by Commissioner Johnston. Second by Commissioner Nunn.
Approved 7-0.
G. Public Hearing and Possible Action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
for a new fence, railing or wall that is inconsistent with the overlay district's characteristics and
applicable guidelines at the property located at 1102 E. University Avenue, bearing the legal
description 0.25 acres in Block 9, Snyder Addition. – Britin Bostick, Downtown & Historic
Planner
Staff report by Bostick. The applicant is requesting HARC approval of a new 5’ tall iron fence
along the side street property line to enclose the rear yard with a taller fence than the 3’ tall
fence planned for the front yard. In the Old Town Overlay District, fence height along front and
side street property lines is limited to 3’ in height and 50% transparency unless an alternate
fence is approved by HARC. The proposed iron fence has more than 50% transparency and
includes decorative details similar to the existing fence on the abutting property to the east of
the subject property. 6’ tall privacy fences are permitted if they are set back a minimum of 15’
from the side street property line, and the applicant would be able to construct the requested
fence behind that 15’ setback; however, they are requesting the 5’ fence along the side street
property line to be able to enclose a larger portion of the rear and side yard for pets.
Commissioner Romero sought clarification regarding the location of the fence. Bostick
explained the height and where the new fence will be.
Chair Curry opened and closed the Public Hearing as no one signed up to speak.
Motion to approve Item G (2020-41-COA) by Commission Hyde. Second by Commissioner
Morales. Approved 7-0.
H. Updates, Commissioner questions, and comments. – Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
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Meeting: September 9, 2021
Bostick explained that there will be no cases at the next meeting. However, Commissioners will
receive design guidelines books and will vote to select an alternate member to the demolition
subcommittee.
Commissioner Walton commented on the training he attended and would like to provide the
materials to the rest of the Commissioners.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Romero. Second by Commissioner Morales. Approved 7-0.
Adjourned at 7:35p.m.
________________________________ _________________________________
Approved, Faustine Curry, Chair Attest, Terri Asendorf-Hyde, Secretary
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