HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes HARC 6.9.2022City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Minutes
June 9, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
Council and Courts Building
510 West 91h Street Georgetown, TX 78626
Members Present: Michael Walton, Chair; Lawrence Romero; Jennifer Powell; Alton
Martin; Tom W. Davis; Alternate William "Jud" Harris; Alternate Pierce P. Macguire
Members Absent: Linda C. Burns, Vice -Chair; Karalei Nunn
Staff present: Nat Waggoner, Assistant Director; Kimberly Spencer, Development
Administration Program Manager
Meeting called to order by Chair Walton at 6:02 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 May 26, 2022, regular
meeting of the Historic and Architectural Committee - Kimberly Spencer, Development
Administration Program Manager
Motion to approve Item B as presented by Commissioner Davis. Second by Commissioner
Romero. Approved unanimously 7-0.
C 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 and an addition that creates or adds to an existing street facing facade for the
property at 1415 Ash Street, bearing the legal description 0.489 acres, Block 8 (SW/PT), Hughes
Addition (2022-1.3-COA)- Nat Waggoner, Asst. Planning Dir. - Long Range
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The property located at 1415 Ash Street is a high priority structure which was accepted into the
National Register of Historic Places in 1987 for significance in local architecture and
politics/government. The home and occupants are described in the 1987 national registry nomination
form.
In their Letter of Intent, the applicant states, that the placement of the fence beyond the street side
(south) property line along 15th Street is to avoid the root system of a pecan tree and to match the
distance from the sidewalk to the fence (18") as the fence on Ash St. According to the applicant, this
will create a balanced design, and optimize curb appeal. The applicant is requesting a height of 3'6"
to account for the airiness of a thin wrought iron fence, adding another 6" wouldn't make the fence
look heavy, busy, or walled off, to provide privacy and additional ornamentation along the front
property line. The porch addition will extend the porch and porch roof without the screens. The LOI
states that the design "incorporates the roof to "tie in" to the existing shed roof line and at the 5'
midpoint drop down" to form a gable roof. The application states that the homeowner is seeking to
add a non -screened
outdoor sitting area.
The proposed fence design is similar in materials and height to other properties in the immediate
area and within the Old Town District including the immediately adjacent property at 1503 Ash. The
subject property. The proposed fence will use brick, giving it a polished look that will match the
brick chimney and used for planting borders throughout the front yard. The iron work is custom for
the proposed fence. The iron is powder -coated black with dulled tips on each end. The iron features
a club as an ornamental detail. At its highest point, the fence will measure 3'6". The wrought iron
component will measure 30" and will be placed on top of a brick base measuring 8" tall. There is
about a 24" gap between the base of the iron and the top of the brick. The total height of the wrought
iron and brick base component will be 3'6". The brick base will lead into seven (7) brick posts that
will measure 18" by 18" and will be 3' 6" tall. The proposed fence would screen the view of the
house, but only slightly as the proposed fence is about 95-98% transparent. The fence does not affect
the integrity of the home as it is removable without causing harm to the structure. The brick columns
support the original chimney which is a notable architectural feature. The porch is a 10' x 10' wood
deck to be located on top of the existing 28" tall porch slab. The porch addition will be constructed
using wood. The finishes will include brick veneer pavers installed as flooring to match the existing
screened back porch, white Hardie board trim to match the existing, a premade lattice and pre -made
balustrades, and asphalt shingles for the roof to match the existing. The gable roof will "tie into" the
existing porch's shed roof to complete the gable. The addition of the overhang increases the roofline
to be 12'6".
The fence is 3' 6" in total height and consists of an 8" brick base with 30" powder -coated custom
wrought iron pickets and 716"x16" brick posts, to match the existing chimney and anchor the
corners. The applicant is proposing the fence to be located at the front property line (west) and
beyond the (south) side street property line approximately 18" from the sidewalk on 151h St.
Currently the property line is 4 feet off the sidewalk). The applicant is concurrently seeking a
License to Encroach on public right of way through a separate application and agrees to the
removal of the fence, if the area is needed for future utilities, at their expense.
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Meeting: June 9, 2022
The applicant is also proposing a 10'x10' (open) wood deck addition within the side yard of the
property making use of the primary structure's roofline. The wood deck will be added to the north
facade, parallel to Ash Street.
Staff has reviewed the request in accordance with the Unified Development Code (UDC) and other
applicable codes. Staff has determined that the proposed request meets 6 of the 7 applicable criteria
established in UDC Section 3.13.030 for a Certificate of Appropriateness, as outlined in the attached
Staff Report.
Staff has determined that the proposed project complies with 25 of the 25 applicable Historic District
Design Guidelines in Chapter 3 as detailed below in the Applicable Design Guidelines section below.
Based on the findings listed above, staff recommends approval of the request.
Applicant is present for questions but declines to add to Waggoners presentation.
Chair Walton opened the floor to commissioners for Questions. No questions.
Chair Walton opened the Public Hearing and closed it with no speakers coming forth.
Motion to approve Item C as presented by Commissioner Martin. Second by Commissioner
Powell.
Chair Walton opens the floor for discussion on the motion.
Commissioner Romero requests clarity on the UDC changes. Waggoner clarifies that the UDC
guidelines have been updated, however, the UDC itself has not been updated. Completion of
the update is forecasted for this summer.
Commissioner Romero asked for clarification on the homes National Registry designation.
Waggoner shared that with the National Registry designation for this home, modifications do
not require additional review outside of HARC.
Overall, commissioners expressed gratitude towards staff and the applicant for returning with
requested information and additional detail as it pertains to the request.
Commissioner Romero requested clarification on what the process would be if applicant had
slight design changes when the fencing permit is pulled. Waggoner shared that planning staff
would have the ability to review the changes and determine if revisiting HARC would be
required.
Chair Walton returned to the motion and opened the floor to the commissioner for a vote.
Approved unanimously 7-0.
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D Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for
an addition that creates a new, or adds to an existing street facing fagade and a 6'-0" encroachment
into the required 6'-0" side setback, to allow a garage addition 0' from the side (north) property
line for at the property located at 1511 Ash Street, bearing the legal description of .26 acres, Block
12 (SW/CTR), Hughes Addition.
Nat Waggoner presented the staff report. Shared the applicant is requesting HARC approval to
construct a carport and garage/workshop in a location on the property currently occupied by two
noncontributing structures, a detached garage and shed.
The applicant's existing carport encroaches into the 6' side setback, and the proposed new carport
and garage will also encroach, requiring a 6' side setback modification.
Along the west western fagade (facing Ash St.), the applicant also intends to install new windows
and re -orient a north facing the side entry door to street facing fagade (facing Ash St.).
Along two non -street facing facades, the applicant intends to re -size two windows and installing a
window in the place of the relocated door (north facade).
The subject property located at 1511 South Ash Street is a one-story, irregular -plan, Minimal
Traditional style house clad in wood siding with a cross -hipped roof, detached garage, and an
entry stoop with a single front door. The 2007 and 2016 Historic Resource Surveys identify this
property as a medium priority resource as it retains a relatively high degree of integrity; property
is significant and contributes to neighborhood character.
Requested Changes: The applicant is requesting HARC approval to construct a carport and
garage/workshop in a location on the property currently occupied by two noncontributing
structures, a detached garage and shed. The applicant's existing garage and shed encroach into the
6' side setback, and the proposed new carport and garage will also encroach, requiring a 6' side
setback modification. Along the west western fagade (facing Ash St.), the applicant also intends to
install new windows and re -orient a north facing the side entry door to street facing fagade (facing
Ash St.). Along two non -street facing facades, the applicant intends to re -size two windows and
installing a window in the place of the relocated door (north fagade).
Justification for Requests: In the Letter of Intent, the applicant has stated that the existing carport
does not fit their camper van. The proposed garage and workshop are to provide additional
storage and working space for the homeowner.
Technical Review: The existing garage located at the side setback (north property line) measures
24' 3" long by 12' 9" wide. The proposed carport measures 21' long by 14' 11" wide by and is set
approximately 8'feet back from the location of the existing garage. The proposed carport is 16' 2"
feet tall and will be slightly smaller than the existing garage.
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The existing shed measures 14' 2" long by 10' 2" wide. The proposed garage measures 13' 3 1/2 " by
26' 3 1/4' and is 16' 2" tall with 12' ceilings and eaves. The garage door will measure 11' by 12'. The
floorplan of the garage creates an L-shape with the proposed workshop that measures 26' 11" long
by 31' 4.5" wide. The proposed carport and garage will be situated 8" from the property line. The
existing carport/garage are on the property line.
The roof for the proposed carport and garage is a hipped gables that will open towards the street
with a 12:5 pitch. The house also has a cross hipped gable roof form with a slight lesser pitch of
12:9. The tallest peak of the house measures 20' 1" tall. The peak of the proposed carport and
garage roofs are subordinate at is 16' 2" tall. The workshop portion of the garage has a shed roof
which will not be visible from the street as the building turns in an "L" shape behind the home.
The peak of the shed roof will measure 14' 6" tall. There is a 1' gap between the carport and the
garage, however the garage and the workshop are connected.
The roof materials for the proposed carport and garage/workshop additions are a grey asphalt
shingle roof. The new windows on the garage/workshop as well as for the home will be clad -wood
double hung with six over six panes to match the style of the existing windows on the home. The
siding material for the proposed additions and for the infill where the windows are to be raised
along the northern side of the home will be a textured, wood grain finished Hardie board, the same
as the exterior for the home. The proposed columns for the carport will match the simple,
rectangular columns found on the porch of the home.
The subject site has a 34.4" diameter tree located towards the rear of the property and close to the
northern property line. The proposed garage and workshop are arranged in an "L" shape that
allows the proposed structure to avoid interfering with the 1/4 critical root zone. The garage and
car port do both overlap the 1/2 critical root zone as well as the "full" critical root zone. The
proposed location of the garage and workshop work well with the tree's root zone. Moving the
structure closer to the tree would likely damage the tree.
The neighborhood context supports a carport as well as a detached addition as these are seen
throughout Old Town and along this section of Ash Street. The carport/garage setback vary from
38 feet, measured from the curb to the opening of the carport or garage, to 131 feet. The existing
setback for the current carport is 93' and the new setback will be about 97'. The proposed carport
setback is appropriate for the context of this neighborhood as well as this block.
Staff has determined that the proposed project complies with 24 of the 28 applicable Historic District
Design Guidelines in Chapter 3 as detailed in the Applicable Design Guidelines.
Based on the findings listed above, staff recommends approval of the request.
Applicant is present for questions but declines to add to Waggoners presentation.
Commissioner Romero requested clarity on why there is a second door. Applicant Gary Wong,
Principal Architect for Wong Architecture approached the podium to assist in answering
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Meclin13: June 9, 2022
Commissioner Romero's question. He shared that it is access from the garage and it acting as a
replacement for the existing door.
Commissioner Alton requested more information on if existing garage and if the setback
requirements were in place back when the existing garage was built. Waggoner notes that that is
most likely the case.
Commissioner Powell requests clarity on neighboring properties having similar setbacks.
Waggoner noted that they did not measure setbacks but based their findings on a visual
assessment.
Commissioner Davis asked clarity on how this would be handled from the building official
standpoint. Waggoner clarified that if HARC approves the COA, building officials would be able
to move forward wit their process.
Chair Walton opened the Public Hearing and closed it with no speakers coming forth.
Motion to approve Item D as presented by Commissioner Davis. Second by Commissioner
Martin.
Commissioner Romero. Spoke to maintenance of the space between garage and property line.
Waggoner shared that they would need their neighbors' permission to maintain their
property.
Approved unanimously 7-0.
E Updates, Commissioner questions, and comments. -Nat Waggoner, Asst. Planning Dir. - Long
Range
Nat Waggoner notes that we do have a demolition application in and will be reaching out to
commissioners to arrange a time and to establish that quorum will be met. This meeting will be
after the 23rd meeting and will be presented for action on July 1211, to the full HARC Commission.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Romero. Second by Commissioner McGuire.
Approved unanimously 7-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
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Meeting: June 9, 2022
/W<a1ton,
Michai Chair
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Meeting: June 9, 2022
Jen fifer Powell, Secretary
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