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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-15 HPC MINi I I \ i's'Ater THE OIRTIIPLACE OF NINNESOTA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING June 15, 2022 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairwoman Mino called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Thueson, Commissioners Finwall, Heimdahl, Holmes, Mino, Summers, Councilmember Junker Absent: Commissioner Larson Staff: Community Development Director Gladhill APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of May 18, 2022 Regular Meeting Commissioner Mino asked to add "She said" before "It's extremely unfortunate" on page 6. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Holmes, to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2022 meeting as amended. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Case No. 2022-42. Request for Design Permit for Window Replacement at 125 Main St S; Case of Nordik LUV, LLC Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Summers, to adopt the Consent Agenda. All in favor. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Case No. 2020-27. Consideration Design Permit Amendment for rooftop improvements. Property located at 223 Main St S; Case of White Bear Ventures. Tabled in part from the May Meeting Mr. Gladhill stated this case was removed from the agenda at the applicant's request. Case No. 2020-32. Request for Design Permit Amendment for 200 Chestnut Apartments for Union Alley Wall; Case of Reuter Walton. - Tabled from the May Meeting Mr. Gladhill informed the Commission that after redesigning the retaining wall to a combination of 2- 4' retaining wall with fencing and landscaping, per the HPC's request during design review, the property owner had to modify the design plan again to accommodate underground parking. This necessitated raising the basement elevation which increased the height of the terrace and the wall along Union Alley. Additionally, the terrace area was repurposed to accommodate stormwater drainage on site through a green roof system. The plans now show a 4'6" wall with horizontal railing above. The wall will be stamped in a vertical, woodgrain pattern. The HPC reviewed this proposal at its April 20, 2022 meeting and suggested further design revisions including consideration of brick and Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting June 15, 2022 brick alternatives, as well as incorporation of public art as part of the proposed Union Art Alley project. Staff requests final direction on the wall design. Joel Hauck, ESG Architects, explained that they prefer a concrete wall over thin -set brick, for better durability and aesthetic. The wall will have a wood grain texture, with a smooth "picture frame" recessed area for artwork and a 42" tall (guardrail height), very thin -profile railing that allows visibility into the area to address safety concerns and code. The amount of soil in the garden has been reduced, allowing them to bring the wall down intermittently by 4", creating a bit of up and down. They also added brick facade to the middle of the building with this design change. Ari Parritz, Reuter Walton Development, added that artwork in the indentations will add color and the greenery will add dynamism. Commissioner Holmes asked about survivability of the plantings. Mr. Hauck replied there will be a landscape edge to protect the plants as much as possible. The garden area above is part of the stormwater management strategy, required by the City to be regularly maintained. Bob Loken, ESG Architects, added that the elevated edge around the plantings will help keep salt from getting into the soil. Commissioner Summers voiced concern that snow removal equipment could damage the edge of the planters. Mr. Hauck replied that they could run the edge all the way so it does not go in and out around the planting beds to make it easier to maintain the sidewalk. Commissioner Holmes suggested a grid that the vines could climb, which would provide more visual interest in winter. Commissioner Finwall asked if the concrete could be dyed. She said she likes the idea of adding river rock and a green screen to add interest. Mr. Hauck replied they can add color to the concrete or paint it, depending on the final aesthetic. Commissioner Mino asked how will the art rotation be managed? Mr. Parritz said art could be painted directly onto the concrete and then painted over when changed. There are many ways to handle it. Chair Thueson suggested making the art recesses larger. Motion by Commissioner Finwall, seconded by Commissioner Heimdahl, to approve Case No. 2020-32, Design Permit Amendment for 200 Chestnut Apartments for Union Alley Wall, adding Condition *1 stating that the applicant shall extend the edging along the sidewalk with river rock in line with the planting boxes; Condition #2 that the applicant shall add a vine grid; Condition #3 that the applicant shall add a slight tint to the concrete; Condition #4, that the mural spaces be enlarged; and Condition #5 that murals must comply with the mural guidelines in City Code. Commissioner Mino asked for the applicant's comments on tinted concrete. Mr. Loken said color tends to fade over time and can be cumbersome to apply. The preference is for all standard gray concrete. Commissioner Holmes proposed an amendment to the motion removing Condition #3. Commissioners Finwall and Heimdahl agreed with the friendly amendment. Commissioner Holmes asked if the motion can be specific about the size of the art murals. Page 2 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting June 15, 2022 Mr. Hauck said 30x48" would be a good proportion. Commissioner Finwall and Heimdahl agreed to the friendly amendment to Condition #4 to increase the mural spaces to 30"x48". All in favor of the motion with the four Conditions as amended during the discussion. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2022-30. Request for Variance for Building Addition at 1204 4th Ave S.; Case of Michael & Nicole Willenbring Mr. Gladhill explained the case. The Planning Commission tabled action on this request for Variance and referred to the HPC for recommendation. City Code does not require the HPC review Variances in the Neighborhood Conservation District but the Planning Commission found that it was important to seek an HPC recommendation before acting on the request. The owners are requesting a Variance to the Side Yard (Exterior) Setback in order to construct an addition. The lower level of the addition would include an attached garage. The upper level of the addition would be additional living space. The project would also include demolition of an existing deck and detached garage. The required side yard (exterior) setback for this improvement is 20 feet; an 8 foot, 10 3/4 inch setback is proposed. Staff recommends approval. Nicole Willenbring, applicant, said they want to expand the home for their growing family. Katie Kangas, Pasque Architecture, LLC representing the applicants, spoke to the Willenbrings' passion for the historic home. The existing porch will not be touched. Design features of the original home will be carried forward in the addition, though details will be slightly different to indicate that it is not original. The setback of the addition will align with the modification that received a Variance in 2015. Four-sided design is being used. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Holmes, to recommend that the Planning Commission approve Case No. 2022-30, Variance for building addition at 1204 4th Ave S. All in favor. Case No. 2022-40. Request for Design Permit for Storefront Painting at 120 Main St S.; Case of Scandinavian North Mr. Gladhill explained the application for a Design Permit to change paint color on the wood accents to white, to better match their brand colors. They also want an additional sign which would be under staff review and authority. Staff suggested introducing at least one additional color to be consistent with other buildings, and is seeking direction from the HPC. Martin Hallkvist, applicant, explained that the business has been in town for 7 years and last year, moved into its own storefront on Main Street. They want to make the storefront colors mimic the inside - very bright white, simple, open and uncluttered. The shade of white has not been chosen. The panels above the windows are not symmetrical, they are off center, which pre-empts placement of a sign there. The panels will create some shadows which may give the effect of a second color. He gave examples of other buildings that use white. There will be black trim around everything to frame the white, similar to the architects' office on Chestnut Street. Commissioner Mino suggested the shade of white be muted since the design guidelines recommend muted colors. Commissioner Holmes noted that each of the three side by side tenant spaces have raised panels that vary in size, which were likely installed to replace former windows. He supports making them less prominent by painting them a single color, perhaps with a slightly darker or slightly lighter white in some areas so it doesn't look like it was only primed. Page 3 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting June 15, 2022 Commissioner Summers said the historically accurate whites would have been shades of gray. Perhaps the applicant can use a white shade that was available at that time the building was constructed. Commissioner Holmes suggested using a shade that is compatible with the shade of the stone. Chair Thueson commented that the middle part of the building will stand out as different from the two areas on either side of it. Commissioner Holmes suggested that the middle entrance be painted white with a black door as well. Mr. Gladhill stated this applicant does not control that space - it's an entrance to the upper level office of the building owner. Mr. Hallkvist said the building owner, Mike Lynskey, would probably approve painting of the area above his sign white. He offered to suggest this to Mr. Lynskey. Councilmember Junker recalled there was a lot of discussion of the building just to the south of this location. Main Street would change dramatically if every store owner used their logo colors instead of staying consistent. He feels a muted white will be an improvement. Commissioner Heimdahl said he is concerned that solid bright white and black metal frames on the door will really stick out on Main Street. He suggested incorporating some reds, blues or yellows reflecting the Swedish theme. He recalled that a condition of the previous project (soda shop) was that there would be differentiation between the panels and not just a solid color. Mr. Hallkvist agreed that red and white are traditional Scandinavian colors, but his store reflects modern Scandinavia. Adding another color (white) may make the block very colorful but comparing the four storefronts, his fits the best with the building period. Commissioner Finwall and Chair Thueson asked staff to research the approval for the nearby soda shop facade. Mr. Gladhill suggested staff spend time refining this proposal with the business owner based on the Commission comments, and bring the application back to the next meeting. Motion by Commissioner Summers, seconded by Commissioner Holmes, to table Case No. 2022-40, Design Permit for Storefront Painting at 120 Main St S., directing the applicant to bring back a more detailed proposal including color samples. All in favor. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS Concept Plan 9xx 1st St N.. pre -application feedback for proposed single-family dwelling Mr. Gladhill provided information on the proposed design of the home for informal HPC review, as requested by the applicants who may purchase the property. A modern home is being considered with a ground level garage and upper level on top of the steep slope. A steep slope variance or a setback variance will be needed due to the topography. The applicant is unable to be here tonight. Councilmember Junker pointed out there are many different housing styles in this block. He asked where utilities would come in for this lot. Mr. Gladhill replied the applicant would have to drill a private well through some limestone. Sanitary sewer is available. This has been reviewed with the Public Works Director. Chair Thueson asked if there is discussion of a height variance. Mr. Gladhill replied there is potential for a height issue but probably not. Either a variance to put it on the front property line, or a variance to put it in the steep slope will be required. Page 4 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting June 15, 2022 Chair Thueson noted the HPC supports modern style as long as it has four sided design and meets other guidelines. Historically, this block had 2-3 houses that were right on the line of First Street. He feels a front setback variance would be reasonable and there is some historic precedent for it. Commissioner Summers said he believes the original steep slope provisions were designed more to protect the area around the St. Croix River than individual slopes throughout the City. He is open to development only if they can use that slope in a different way. Commissioner Finwall commended the applicants on designing the house to fit the lot. She asked that they consider bird safety if large windows are used. She would support the front yard setback rather than building toward the bluff. FYI Commissioner Heimdahl said he and Commissioner Finwall have been working on proposed draft guidance for murals which is almost ready to send out for review by Commissioners and staff. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Finwall, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 p.m. .ATTEST; Tim 41adhi1l, Community Development Director Matt Thueson, Chair Page 5 of 5