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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-11-05 HPC MINHERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 5, 2012 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Lieberman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Howard Lieberman, Commissioner’s John Brach, Jeff Johnson, Scott Zahren, Jer ald Krakowski and Council Representative Micky Cook . Absent: Commissioners Brian Larson and Robert Goodman Staff: City Planner Michel Pogge APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Brach pointed out on page 3 of the October 1, 2012 Minutes, the motion by Comm issioner Brach regarding rooftop modifications with the condition that the rooftop be maintained - should be the architectural details be maintained. Also that the stovepipe be removed prior to the close of the project next year . Motion by Chairman Liebe rman, seconded by Commissioner Brach, to approve the October 1, 2012 and October 22, 2012 meeting minutes with the above changes. All in favor. OPEN FORUM Donald Empson, 1206 North Second Street, said he always had the feeling there was something lacking with the HPC. He realized what is lacking is a rousing song. He played a Rosemary Clooney song, “This Old House.” He also handed out an excerpt from a book that makes the point that successful historic designation requires person to person contact. Chair man Lieberman recognized there is tension between individual property owner rights and wanting to preserve what’s old and what makes a community unique. Tom O’Day, who is working on a project at 502 North Fifth Street where a home was demolished, asked i f previously approved plans could be modified to eliminate two windows because of the close proximity to the neighbors’ home, invading their privacy. Chairman Lieberman responded that the topic could be addressed at the end of the meeting. Heritage Preservation Commission November 5, 2012 Page 2 of 6 PUBLIC HEA RINGS There were no public hearings. DESIGN REVIEWS Case No. DR/ 2012 -43. Design review of signage for Mai Ly Asian Cuisine located at 14410 60th Street North in the BP -C, Business Park Commercial District. L and D Signs, applicant. Chairman Lieberman explained that the applicants are requesting design review and approval to reface a wall sign and a freestanding sign. The wall sign is proposed to contain the words “Mai Ly Asian Cuisine” in white letters on a red background with “Dine in Take Out” in bla ck letters and their phone number in red letters all on a white background. The sign will have a black border and is 4 feet wide by 6 feet tall for a total of 24 square feet in area. It will be an illuminated cabinet style sign. The freestanding sign is a new plastic panel with the words “Mai Ly” and their phone number in white letters on a red background with “Asian Cuisine” in black letters on a white background. The panel will be internally lit. The metal sign panel is 5’6”’ by 8’2 ” for a total of 45 sq uare feet. Both signs proposed meet the requirements of the zoning ordinance. Motion by Chairman Lieberman, seconded by Commissioner Zahren, to approve the signage as conditioned. All in favor. Case No. DR/ 2012 -44. Design review of façade renovation lo cated at 2510 Curve Crest Blvd in the BP -C, Business Park Commercial District. STW Construction, applicant. Case No. DR/ 2012 -48. Design review of signage for Great Harvest Bread located at 2510 Curve Crest Blvd in the BP -C, Business Park Commercial Di strict. Universal Signs, applicant. Case No. DR/2012 -44 and Case No. DR/2012 -48 were combined for discussion. Scott Wille, owner of STW Construction Services, representing the building owner, Jim Kron, and Bob Fleishman, owner of Great Harvest, introduc ed themselves. Mr. Wille said the proposal is to divide the middle bay of the building into two retail bays. Great Harvest Bakery Company is proposing to locate in Bay “C.” The proposal calls for replacing the existing metal door with a new retail glass d oor and enlarging the windows to full size retail storefront windows. He noted that the sign has been scaled back to 30 square feet to meet requirements. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Brach to approve the façade renovation and the signage as conditioned, with layout and color of material as Heritage Preservation Commission November 5, 2012 Page 3 of 6 submitted, for a maximum size of 37.25 square feet for the signage, and with the window framing matching existing framing. All in favor. Case No. DR/ 2012 -45. Design review of a roof locat ed at 200 Chestnut Street East in the CBD, Central Business District. Chad Cress,applicant. Chairman Lieberman explained that the applicant is requesting design review and approval to replace the existing wood shake shingles with “designer” asphalt shingl es that are charcoal gray in color. This will be done on all sides of the building. All of the copper strips on the dormers will also be replaced. Applicant Chad Cress of Armor Construction said the shingles and copper on top of the dormers are being rep laced because of hail damage. The railing on the top is corroded and the building owner would like it removed. No other changes are planned. Chairman Lieberman expressed concern that the asphalt shingles will give the building a different look. He noted t hat while it is not a contributing building, it is a prominent building in the district and part of the City’s history. Mr. Cress responded that labor would be approximately $17,000 more expensive for cedar shingles, which also are harder to maintain bec ause they have to be pressure washed and sealed every year at about $10 -15,000 a season. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Brach, to approve the changes as conditioned, including the conditions that the copper trim be replaced with copper and not just a similar material, that the ridges be treated with ridge glass material, that the shingle material be the Grand Sequoia as proposed, that the railing on the top be removed, and that the top ridge caps be reinstalled or replaced with eq uals. All in favor. Case No. DR/ 2012 -47. Design review of façade paint located at 116 Main Street South in the CBD, Central Business District. Ryan Lettner, applicant. Chairman Lieberman explained the applicant has already painted the building white wi th orange without HPC review or approval, and is now applying for an after the fact design review permit. Staff has several concerns with the proposal and believes that the requested colors are not appropriate for the Downtown Stillwater Commercial distric t since they are not compatible with the building and streetscape. Applicant Ryan Lettner of Quick Fire Pizza presented photos of other orange and gray colors used on downtown buildings. He stated the packet he received from the City did not address exter ior paint approval so he was unaware it was required. City Planner Pogge responded that the City’s materials indicate “any exterior changes” require approval. Heritage Preservation Commission November 5, 2012 Page 4 of 6 Mr. Lettner stated he wants to keep the interior of the panels white, change the exterior to gray and keep the orange. Commissioner Zahren stated the orange on other businesses is insignificant compared to the Quick Fire Pizza. He offered to repaint the façade for the applicant. Commissioner Johnson suggested gray would be better than white bec ause white really makes the orange stand out; a lighter gray would be even better. City Council Representative Cook agreed that the orange is too bright; she would like more subtle, softer colors. Commissioner Goodman said he doesn’t feel the color contr ast is needed because the building façade will be seen close up in a walking environment as opposed to a driving situation. Commissioner Zahren pointed out the applicant is trying to distinguish his business from neighboring properties. Changing the white to gray should be sufficient to mute the orange. Mr. Lettner said he would prefer to use darker gray on the outside, and lighter gray on the center of the panels, leaving the orange. Motion by Commissioner Zahren, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to r equire that the applicant replace the white on the exterior of the panels with Sherwin Williams Thunder Gray, replace the white on the center raised panels with a Sherwin Williams Gray in the same color family, and let the orange remain. All in favor. NEW BUSINESS Case No. DR/ 2012 -46. Discussion on possible renovation and addition to the old Maple Island Hardware Store located at 212 Main Street South in the CBD, Central Business District. HAF Architects, representing Frank Fabio, applicant. Chairman Lieberman reviewed the request. The property owner would like to review a concept plan for renovations to the first floor that would accommodate a potential restaurant including a new two story deck along Water Street, new windows on the first floor, and a new two story glass addition with a patio on the roof in the NE corner of the building. Applicant Frank Fabio stated he wants to see if the proposal is something the HPC would support before talking with possible tenants. Commissioners Johnson, Zahren, and Lieberman expressed favorable opinions on the concept proposal. Heritage Preservation Commission November 5, 2012 Page 5 of 6 DESIGN REVIEW Case No. DR/ 2012 -41. Design review of an awning for Osaka Express located at 108 Main Street North in the CBD, Central Business District. North Star Sign, applicant. Co ntinued from the October 1, 2012 meeting. This item was postponed until the end of the agenda because the applicant was not present. City Planner Pogge informed the Commission that he had left three messages for the owner and no calls were returned. He t alked to the sign person twice and expected him to be at tonight’s meeting. Motion by Commissioner Brach, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to table the request. All in favor. OTHER BUSINESS Addressing an item brought up earlier during the Open Forum portion of the meeting, a request to modify previously approved plans for a home at 502 North Fifth Street, City Planner Pogge showed a drawing representing the design that was previously approved by the HPC. The request is to eliminate all but one window. Gil Gragert, 510 North Fifth Street, the neighbor who lives to the north of the home, told the Commission that the two windows on the second story don’t serve a purpose and impact his privacy. Chairman Lieberman said he believes the proposal makes se nse. Motion by Commissioner Brach, seconded by Commissioner Zahren, to approve the change to eliminate the two larger double hung windows in the upper story and replace the two double hung windows that are close together on the first floor with the same size window as in the upper story. All in favor. Commissioner Brach stated that Judy Gulden contacted him about installing a plaque in the ravine to the south of Myrtle Street indicating that it was the old St. Paul Stagecoach route. She suggested the ben ch near Sixth Street could be a location for the plaque. City Planner Pogge reported that MnDOT is leading an effort involving the St. Croix River Crossing project to do “interpretative signage.” The City has not had a consistent look for signage and he hopes a model will emerge. He suggested looking at a broader scope of what types of things need interpretative signage and then possibly pursuing some grant funding. Heritage Preservation Commission November 5, 2012 Page 6 of 6 Chairman Lieberman asked the students from Minnesota State University Mankato Heritage P reservation Class who attended the meeting for questions or comments. Commissioners and City Planner Pogge answered the students’ questions and explained the philosophy, responsibilities and work of the Commission. ADJOURN Chairman Lieberman adjourned t he meeting at 8:49 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary