HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-07 HPC MIN
City of Stillwater
Heritage Preservation Commission
May 7, 2007
Present: Howard Lieberman, Chairman, Phil Eastwood, Gayle Hudak, Jeff Johnson and Roger
Tomten , Council liaison Robert Gag
Staff present: Planner Mike Pogge
Absent: Larry Nelson and Scott Z ahren
Mr. Lieberman called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Approval of minutes : On a motion by Mr. Lieberman, the minutes of April 5, 2007, were
approved 5 - 0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
DEM/07 - 19 Consideration of a request from Lee Slagter, Sussel Corporation, repr esenting
Diana Ensign, for demolition of a garage at 1317 Second St. S. in the RB, Two Family
Residential District.
Ms. Ensign was present. Mr. Lieberman reviewed the staff report and the requirements of the
demolition ordinance.
Mr. Lieberman opened the public hearing. No comments were received, and the hearing was
closed. Mr. Lieberman noted the application for the requested demolition permit was very
thorough and moved for approval. Mr. Tomten seconded the motion; motion passed 5 - 0.
DESIGN REVIEWS
Cas e No. DR/07 - 15 Design review of signage at 610 N. Main St., Crabtree Lawyers, in the
CBD, Central Business District. Todd Crabtree, applicant.
The applicant was present. Mr. Lieberman reviewed the request. Mr. Tomten said the proposed
sign does not follow the original sign plan for the building; if this request is approved, he said the
HPC would have to change the original plan. Mr. Lieberman suggested that a new sign plan
should be developed for the building, recognizing the reality of commercial tenants on the
second and third floors. Mr. Eastwood said he would be inclined to approve the request with the
understanding that if at some point in the future the building association develops a new sign
plan, the applicant may have to go to the expense of remov ing/changing his sign if it does not
conform to the new building plan. The applicant stated the building association has already
approved of his proposal. Mr. Johnson expressed a concern that this proposal may limit the
placement of signage for future tena nts; he suggested placing the sign over the more northerly
windows to accommodate space for any future tenants/signage.
Mr. Johnson moved to approve the sign, limiting the size to 25 square feet and requiring that the
sign be placed in the area above the north windows of the main floor on the east elevation, with
the additional conditions that the sign not be lighted and that the two shepherd hook lights that
were placed at the third floor level be removed. Mr. Johnson clarified that this would be the only
signage, other than window glass lettering, allowed by ordinance. Mr. Eastwood seconded the
motion. Mr. Lieberman noted that the HPC would be approving this request in lieu of a sign plan
and the applicant may have to move/change the sign if a plan is dev eloped in the future or
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City of Stillwater
Heritage Preservation Commission
May 7, 2007
another tenant requests signage. Mr. Johnson clarified his motion with an additional condition
that approval of this sign is contingent on any relocation that may be required to make it
conform to a complete building sign plan, should one be developed in the future. The seconder
agreed to the additional condition. Mr. Tomten noted there is still no sign plan for the building,
what is being approved is a sign location, and suggested that the issue of submitting an overall
plan for the building ought to be addressed at this time. Motion passed 3 - 2, with Mr. Johnson,
Mr. Eastwood and Ms. Hudak voting in favor, and Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Tomten voting no.
Mr. Johnson moved to direct staff to send a letter to the building association advising of the
need for a sign plan for any additional commercial/retail tenants. Ms. Hudak seconded the
motion; motion passed unanimously.
Case No. DR/07 - 16 Design review for construction of a new loading dock at 1815 Greeley St. S.
in the BP - I, Business Park Industrial District. Tim Sauro, 1815 Greeley Street LLC, applicant.
Mr. Johnson noted this request is for a dock at the rear of the building that is not visible from the
street or to any property owners in the rear. There would be no additional lighting, the applicant
said. Mr. Tomten moved approval, with the condition that there be no additional lighting. Mr.
Johnson seconded the motion; motion passed unanimously.
Case No. DR/07 - 17 Desig n review of signage at 123 N. Second St. in the CBD, Central
Business District. Tim Anderson, applicant.
Mr. Lieberman reviewed the request. Mr. Tomten asked if the applicant could made use of some
existing anchor bolts, rather than do damage to the brick . Mr. Lieberman moved approval as
conditioned, with the additional condition that the sign be mounted on existing bolts or new
mounting drilled into the grout, rather than the bricks. Mr. Eastwood seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
Case No. D R/07 - 18 Design review of signage for rental car agency at 1674 Market Drive in the
BP - C, Business Park Commercial District. Steve Erban, applicant.
Mr. Lieberman reviewed the request. There was no one present representing the applicant. Mr.
Eastwood moved approval as submitted. Mr. Johnson suggested that the front signage be
moved up in the parapet to maintain the elevation of the adjacent sign and be mount at the
same height as the sign on the Highway 5 elevation. Mr. Eastwood accepted Mr. Johnson’s
sugge stion as a friendly amendment to his motion for approval. Mr. Tomten seconded the
amended motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Case No. DR/07 - 20 Design review of exterior signage, painting and awnings at 124 S. Second
St. in the CBD, Central Business Distri ct. Nicole Brandt, representing P. Foley Henry LLC,
applicant.
Liz Schreier was present. Mr. Lieberman reviewed the request, which includes the introduction
of awnings over the three entrances and the request for the applicant’s logo on all three
awnings, as well as new exterior colors for the building. Color samples were provided. Ms.
Schreier stated the request is for awning signage only; the proposal is for no signage on the
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City of Stillwater
Heritage Preservation Commission
May 7, 2007
building itse lf. She noted that two businesses would be located in the building, the retail store
and interior design firm. The very rear entrance on the parking lot elevation provides access to
the design firm, while the Second Street entrance and front parking lot en trance provide access
to the retail business.
In the discussion regarding the awnings, Ms. Schreier noted the proposal is to retain/cover the
existing wood entrance coverings so it would be difficult to install retractable awnings. Mr.
Johnson noted that rather than have the awnings physically retractable, the intent is to utilize a
loose valence type awning, rather than a stretched, rigid frame. Mr. Johnson said the submitted
design indicates more of a traditional shape to the awnings, with a steeper pitc h. Mr. Johnson
said the design guidelines call for a 12:12 pitch, which he thought could be accomplished. Mr.
Lieberman noted the ordinance allows one sign per business; this request is for three signs for
the two building occupants. It was suggested that the applicant could have some kind of
graphics indicating the nature of the business on one of the awnings, with the logo on the other
two awnings, one for the retail business and one for the design firm. It was noted the applicant
could utilize window spa ce for additional signage.
Regarding the exterior modifications, the applicant noted that the existing brick is not historically
significant. The preferred scheme for the exterior, she said, is to paint the brick a flat black color.
Mr. Johnson noted ther e are still practical reasons not to paint masonry, primarily future
maintenance issues. Ms. Schreier noted that as owners of the building, they would make sure
the building is maintained very pristinely. Mr. Pogge echoed Mr. Johnson’s comments/concerns
wi th the proposal to paint the brick. Mr. Tomten suggested that the existing brick could be
replaced with another material, rather than painting. Ms. Schreier said long - term, they would
envision major renovations to the exterior, so painting the brick is vie wed as a short - term
solution. Mr. Johnson said he thought the proposal as submitted, using graphite and tan colors,
was more in keeping with the design guidelines. Ms. Schreier again asked that the Commission
consider allowing the painting of the brick to match the preferred color scheme utilizing black
and white, the same as has been utilized in the interior renovations. Mr. Tomten said he would
rather not go down the road of painting brick, based on trusting the applicant to make future
exterior modificat ions. Mr. Eastwood suggested the Commission needed to deal with the
application submitted.
Mr. Johnson moved to approve the exterior schematic/exterior colors as submitted in the
application, allowing signage on the awning on Second Street for Schreier H ome and an awning
sign at the most westerly entrance for Jeff Schreier and Associates, with window area to be
utilized for all other signage, along with the condition that there be no exterior lighting. Mr.
Tomten seconded the motion; motion passed unanimo usly.
Case No. DR/07 - 21 Design review of an outside bar at 324 S. Main St., Stone’s Restaurant, in
the CBD, Central Business District. Eric Hawkins, applicant.
The applicant was present. Mr. Lieberman reviewed the request and staff recommendation,
includ ing the recommendation that the requested sign on top of the outdoor bar not be allowed.
The applicant stated he was comfortable with that condition. Mr. Johnson asked about the
space during the winter. Mr. Hawkins explained two different options for closi ng the space, Mr.
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City of Stillwater
Heritage Preservation Commission
May 7, 2007
Johnson asked about colors; Mr. Hawkins said colors would be consistent with the restaurant.
Mr. Hawkins noted that the structure is only visible from the parking lot and restaurant.
Mr. Tomten moved approval as conditioned, with the additional condition that color samples be
submitted to and approved by staff and that the colors tie in with existing building colors. Mr.
Eastwood seconded the motion; motion passed unanimou sly.
Case No. DR/07 - 22 Design review of signage at1987 Industrial Blvd. in the BP - I, Business Park
Industrial District. James A. Schulte, applicant.
Mr. Lieberman reviewed the request, a request for two signs, one facing Industrial Boulevard
and one faci ng Greeley Street. The applicant was present. Mr. Pogge noted that if the HPC
approves this request, it will go before the Planning Commission for consideration of a variance.
Mr. Schulte explained the nature of his business and the rationale for the reque st for two signs.
Mr. Johnson said he thought the sign on the main entry is fitting for the building and works with
the business. Mr. Johnson said he understood the rationale for the second sign, but with no
frontage on Greeley Street, the ordinance prohib its that sign and would require a variance. Mr.
Pogge noted that only one sign per business is allowed in the BP - I. The applicant listed a
number of businesses in the area with two signs. Mr. Lieberman pointed out the HPC cannot
grant a variance. Mr. Johns on suggested that the Commission could simply indicate it approves
of the location and design of the signage without approving the number of signs. Mr. Johnson
moved to approve the sign size, lettering, shape and lighting as submitted and approve the
place ment of the sign in one of the requested locations, at the applicant’s discretion. Mr.
Eastwood seconded the motion. Mr. Tomten suggested that the proposed all white acrylic face
could create visibility problems. Motion to approve the one sign passed unani mously. The
applicant asked if the sign could be installed immediately; it was noted there is a 10 - day waiting
period.
Case No. DR/07 - 23 Design review of roofing material for Steeple Towne condos at 108 S. Third
St. in the CBD, Central Business District.
Mr. Lieberman reviewed the request. It was noted the project is nearly complete. A
representative of the homeowners’ association explained that the project was started due to a
misunderstanding – an understanding that if the new roof was similar to the ot her buildings in
the area, a permit wasn’t needed. She noted there had been lots of problems with the old roof.
Mr. Johnson said the color and material seems appropriate to maintain the historical integrity of
the building. Mr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Hud ak, moved to approve the Steeple Towne
roofing project as submitted and conditioned; motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Lieberman informed the Commission that he had received a letter from Susanna Patterson,
identified as the coordinator of Cit izens for Neighborhood Integrity, 1018 W. Olive St. The letter
expressed concerns about exterior modifications being made to the house at 109 S. Owens,
with the houses at 121 and 125 S. Owens likely next in line for the “frontier theme park”
treatment. The letter also expressed concern about the operation of a residence in the area as a
“motel, hotel” without a permit. There was discussion about the issues raised in Ms. Patterson’s
letter. Mr. Pogge said he would bring this issue up with staff so determine possible recourse. It
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City of Stillwater
Heritage Preservation Commission
May 7, 2007
was noted that some of these issues may be addressed during the Comprehensive Planning
process.
Mr. Lieberman informed the Commission the City has been awarded a $10,0 00 grant for the
development of the Heirloom/Landmark home program.
Mr. Lieberman reviewed the awards the HPC is presenting in conjunction with Preservation
Month: Stillwater Public Library for the finest project for renovation of a building; Charles
Truc king, building restoration; Stillwater Art Guild for signage; and Stone’s Restaurant for best
use of outdoor space.
Mr. Pogge stated he had received several calls regarding signage in the downtown area. He
suggested a walking tour during the June meeting to identify concerns. Mr. Pogge noted that
preparations are being made for the dry run of the tour of Stillwater to be held during this fall’s
National Trust for Historic Preservation conference. Mr. Pogge said volunteers are needed for
walking tours of do wntown. Mr. Tomten volunteered to assist.
Mr. Johnson noted there is a one - day preservation conference coming up in the near future. Mr.
Pogge said he and Mr. Turnblad would be in attendance. Mr. Johnson encouraged as many
members to attend as possible.
Mr. Tomten asked about the outcome of the Millbrook review at the Council level. Mr. Gag
responded that the HPC’s conditions stood.
Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Eastwood, moved to adjourn at 9:10 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Sh aron Baker
Recording Secretary
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