HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes HARC 10.12.2023Minutes of the
Historic and Architectural Review Commission
City of Georgetown, Texas
Thursday, October 12, 2023
The Georgetown Historic and Architectural Review Commission met on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at
6:00 PM at Council and Court Building, 510 W 9th Street.
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The following Members were in attendance:
Present were: Robert Blomquist, Stuart Garner, Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J
Walton, Evan Hein, Alton Martin, Jennifer Powell
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 on the
table at the entrance to the meeting room. Clearly print your name and the letter of the item on which you
wish to speak and present it to the Board Liaison prior to the start of the meeting. You will be called forward to
speak when the Board considers that item. Only persons who have delivered the speaker form prior to the
meeting being called to order may speak. Speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to speak. If you wish to
speak for six minutes, it is permissible to use another requestor's granted time to speak. No more than six
minutes for a speaker may be granted. The requestor granting time to another speaker must also submit a form
and be present at the meeting.
On a subject not posted on the agenda: A request must be received by the Advisory Board or Commission
Liaison prior to the day the agenda for this mee ng is posted. Each speaker will be given three minutes to
address the Board or Commission members. No action can be taken.
1. Regular Session
1.A Meeting Minutes
Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the September 14,
2023 regular meeting fo the Historic and Architectural Review Commission -- Jessica
Lemanski, Associate Planner
Moved by Lawrence Romero; seconded by Evan Hein to Approve the minutes from
September 14.
Motion Approved: 6- 0
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J Walton, Evan Hein,
Alton Martin, Jennifer Powell
Voting Against: None
1.B 2023-30-COA (605 E. University Avenue)
Public hearing and possible action on a request for new signage that is inconsistent with
the applicable guidelines for the property addressed at 605 E University Avenue, Suite
101, bearing the legal description of Acadamia East Condo, Building 605, Unit 101
(2023-30-COA) -- Maddison O'Kelley, Preservation and Redevelopment Manager
Maddison O'Kelley presented the staff report.
James Guerra, Applicant, approached the podium to address the Commission and
spoke to the original owner of the property who did not provide a master sign plan.
Guerra established that he is open to working with staff and the Commission to gain
approval of this project, and explained that the purpose of the secondary sign proposed
on S College Street is to increase the visibility from the street. Guerra noted that they
plan to hire a local business to complete the work on the sign.
Chair Walton asked how a Master Sign Plan would affect this application if one were to
exist on the property. O'Kelley explained that in addition to reviewing the application
against the UDC and Design Guidelines, staff would also review the request against the
approved Master Sign Plan.
Commissioner Burns asked if other tenants in the building have the opportunity to provide
signage on the building. O'Kelley established that other tenants could apply for signage
on the building and point to this sign for consistency across the fagade.
Chair Walton opened the public hearing.
Peter Dana, 1001 Walnut St., approached the podium to address the Commission and
established that he has lived across the street from this property for 7 years and is
concerned about the signs popping up in Old Town. Dana spoke to the purpose of signs,
including wayfinding and advertising, and noted that since this sign is on a multi -tenant
building, it could be confused for a sign for the entirety of the building. Dana stated his
objection to this request and is concerned that other tenants in the building would not be
able to get signage for their business should this be approved.
Chair Walton closed the public hearing.
Chair Walton asked what the reasoning was behind Commissioner Hein's condition on
the item. Commissioner Hein explained that this was to remain in compliance with the
Design Guidelines that there should only be one primary sign.
Moved by Evan Hein; seconded by Lawrence Romero to Approve the signage along
University Avenue as presented and deny the signage on College Street as it does not
comply with the requirement for one primary sign. Motion Approved: 7- 0
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J Walton, Evan Hein, Alton
Martin, Jennifer Powell, Jim Kirpach
Voting Against: None
1.0 2023-43-COA (1415 Ash Street)
Public hearing and possible action on a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness
(COA) for the replacement of historic architectural features for the property addressed at
1415 Ash Street, bearing the legal description of 0.4774 acres out of the SW/PT of Block
8, Hughes Addition (2023-43-COA) -- Maddison O'Kelley, Preservation and
Redevelopment Manager
Maddison O'Kelley presented the staff report.
Commissioner Burns commented that she has seen other homeowners leave a
secondary door in place and change the interior so as to preserve the historic nature of a
house's fagade.
Breck Craparo, Architect, approached the podium to address the Commission and
commented that the second door creates tension and competition with the main front
door on the facade. Craparo noted that the door was most likely a convenience factor to
gain access to the master bedroom from the sitting area on the front porch.
Kelli Fuhrer, Owner, approached the podium to address the Commission and established
that she is requesting to remove the door as it is a safety concern for her. Fuhrer noted
that package delivery services have been confused on which door to place her packages
near.
Chair Walton asked if they had considered putting a window there instead of a door or
completely closing off the wall. Fuhrer established that because there is already a window
in the master bedroom, which is meant to be the focal point of the room, she has not
considered that option. Craparo noted that since this faces the street, a window would be
closed most of the time anyways.
Commissioner Powell asked if removing the historic door would downgrade the property
to a lower priority. O'Kelley noted that the property would be assessed upon the next
historic resource survey.
Commissioner Romero recommended to install a window instead of completely
removing the feature on the facade since the house is high -priority and there has
always been a feature of some sort on that part of the house. Commissioner Burns
noted that removing the door would still be removing a historic feature on the house.
Chair Walton opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers coming forth
Moved by Lawrence Romero; seconded by Linda C Burns to Continue to the November
9th meeting to see if the applicant can come up with a solution other than pulling the door
out.
Motion Approved: 6- 1
Voting For: Lawrence Romero, Linda C Burns, Michael J Walton, Evan Hein,
Jennifer Powell, Jim Kirpach
Voting Against: Alton Martin
1. D 2023-44-COA (402 E. 10th Street)
Conceptual review for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for an addition that creates
a new, or adds to an existing street facing facade and the replacement of historic
architectural features for the property located at 402 E. 10th Street, bearing the legal
description of 0.165 acres out of Lot 7-8 (W/PT), Block 26, Glasscock Addition (2023-44-
COA) -- Maddison O'Kelley, Preservation and Redevelopment Manager Maddison
O'Kelley presented the staff report.
Gary Wong, Applicant, and Kimberly Beal, Owner, approached the podium to address the
Commission and noted that in their research of the property, they found that previous
owners only lived at this property for 2-3 years due to the design of the house. Beal noted
that adding on to the home would allow them space to make it more of a family home and
therefore allow them to stay longer. The previous owner made an addition to the house
that they would like to remove since it is not a sound structure. Wong added that they are
proposing the front porch overhang for increased functionality.
Chair Walton opened the public hearing.
Janis Shields, 1002 S. Elm St., approached the podium to address the Commission and
established that she lives across the street from this house and is excited at the prospect
of a remodel to bring the house back to life. Shields noted that the original quality of
construction was not good, and the front porch is rendered useless due to its small size
and no overhang. Shields is in favor of the porch extension and believes the request
would be an improvement to the neighborhood.
Chair Walton closed the public hearing.
O'Kelley noted that the demolition of the addition is not under HARC's purview since it is
not street -facing and not historic in nature.
Commissioner Powell commented that the addition seems and appropriate size, and
she loves the idea of the front porch being utilized more to interact with the
neighborhood. Commissioner Powell believes this request is an improvement to the
area.
Commissioner Burns asked if the asbestos siding is remaining. Wong noted that they
are not matching the original addition's siding and will not be replacing it.
Commissioner Burns asked if the rails are original. Wong noted they are planning to
replace those rails with wooden ones since they are unsure if they are historic.
Commissioner Burns, Commissioner Martin, Commissioner Hein, and Commissioner
Romero echoed Commissioner Powell's comments and voiced their support for the
project.
Commissioner Hein asked if the front porch si original to the structure. O'Kelley noted
that the front gable indicated that a smaller porch may have been expanded in the past,
but they have had a hard time with historic research on this property.
Commissioner Kirpach asked if they are planning to replace the windows. Wong
established that their intent is to change out the windows. They are requesting
composite windows in their formal application.
No action was taken by the Commission on this item.
1. E Discussion Items
Updates, Commissioner questions, and comments -- Maddison O'Kelley, Preservation
and Redevelopment Manager
Discussion on items that could be compiled into a list to be considered during the UDC
rewrite process. Chair Walton spoke to the discussion at the UDC Steering Committee
meetings and requests that Commissioners bring items they have trouble with in the
UDC forward to himself and staff. Sofia Nelson noted that the Downtown Master Plan
rewrite will also play a part in future HARC decisions.
Adjournment
These minutes were approved at the meeting of 0 &Z
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