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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-19 HPC MIN HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING April 19, 2017 7:00 P.M. Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Larson, Commissioners Goodman, Hadrits, Johnson, Krakowski, Mino, Welty (arrived at 7:04), Council Representative Junker Absent: None Staff: Planning Consultant Amy Lucas APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of March 15, 2017 meeting minutes Commission consensus was that the motion to adjourn the March 15, 2017 meeting was made by Mino and seconded by Hadrits. This should be added to the minutes. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve the minutes of the March 15, 2017 meeting as corrected. All in favor, 6-0. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Goodman, to appoint Larson as Chair and Krakowski as Vice Chair. All in favor, 6-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA There were no items on the Consent Agenda. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. 2017-07: Design Review Permit to remove non historic structure and build new single family home at 808 Sixth Avenue South. Matt and Michelle Harty, property owners. Planning Consultant Lucas explained that the applicants are requesting a Demolition Permit to raze a one- story ranch style house built in 1960, and a Design Permit for construction of a new single-family house. The new house, measuring 38’ by 62’, will combine three parcels (two buildable lots) and will be centered on the new lot. Staff recommends approval with three conditions. Chairman Larson opened the public hearing. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting April 19, 2017 Page 2 of 5 Ed Mettelman, 718 Sixth Avenue South, spoke in support of the request. He said the current house is in poor condition and the new house as proposed will benefit the entire neighborhood. Chairman Larson closed the public hearing. Chairman Larson asked about plans for the foundation. Mr. Harty replied the foundation will be covered. Commissioner Johnson stated that the style of the new home as proposed fits well with the neighborhood. He suggested making the bottom of the window sill narrower than the sides for a more traditional look. Commissioner Welty suggested building a masonry chimney rather than a sided chimney, but she realizes this cannot be required. Mr. Harty said he has considered it. Motion by Chairman Larson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve Case No. 2017-07, Demolition Permit for an existing home at 808 Sixth Avenue South, noting for the record that it is newer than the threshold for historic structures. Motion passed 7-0. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski, to approve Case No. 2017-07, Design Permit for a new home at 808 Sixth Avenue South with the three conditions recommended by staff and a fourth condition that the bottom window sills be a more traditional sill. Motion passed 7-0. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2017-08: Design Review to replace existing siding and windows at 415 Third Street North. Joel Severson and Theresa Althaus, property owners. Planning Consultant Lucas explained that the applicant is requesting a Design Permit to remove the 10 3/8” wide asbestos/masonite siding and install vapor permeable house wrap and gray vinyl siding measuring 3 1/4” wide. The request also includes replacing the existing double-hung wood windows with insulated vinyl windows. The wood trim boards and sills will be removed and new boards and sills will be installed and wrapped in white sheet metal. She explained the alternatives to vinyl that would be recommended, in order to replace historic features with similarly historic features as required in the design guidelines. She stated that as proposed, taking out the wood trim around the windows would mean that the entire exterior of the house would be completely new. Staff finds the proposed replacement of historic features of the home with new materials to be inconsistent with the infill design guidelines and recommends denial. Joel Severson, applicant, stated he was hopeful that the house had the original wood siding underneath the masonite siding but it does not. He does not have a way to confirm what was there historically. Commissioner Johnson asked about the existing windows. Mr. Severson stated the new windows will be placed in the same openings as the old windows which are no longer functional. Some of the sills are dry- rotted. He intends to custom-order vinyl insulated windows with the grids inside, no storms, screens on the bottom, double hung, the same size as existing windows. Commissioner Johnson remarked there are companies that refurbish original wood frame sashes and make them more weather tight. Mr. Severson reiterated that the windows are not functional and he would rather replace them with insulated glass that is energy efficient. Commissioner Johnson asked if the applicant has considered siding material other than vinyl which is more durable and doesn’t move as much or get cracked like vinyl does. Mr. Severson replied he would be willing Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting April 19, 2017 Page 3 of 5 to look at an alternative siding, but not wood siding which would be about three times the cost of vinyl and therefore a hardship. Chairman Larson pointed out that the house happens to be in an historic district - if it were in another part of the City, the Commission wouldn’t be reviewing it. The design manual for the downtown historic district states that new construction should use materials that are consistent with those used in the original building. As materials have changed over time, the Commission has accepted hardy board, LP and other types of composites because they go together like wood does, so the detail ends up looking more like wood. Vinyl doesn’t have the same appearance, so the Commission has usually rejected vinyl. Mr. Severson stated the vinyl siding proposed will not require seams on the majority of the house due to the size of the house. Commissioner Johnson acknowledged that the windows have been altered with aluminum combination overlay. He noted that the applicant has considered refurbishing them vs. replacing them. If the applicant is willing to substitute hardy board or LP siding for the vinyl, and will replace the windows with the same kind of dimension and sill, that would probably resolve most of the concerns of the Commission. Commissioner Welty commented that most of the Commissioners have old homes and have dealt with repairing those kinds of windows so she knows it can be done. Mr. Severson agreed he would use hardy board or LP siding but really wants to replace the windows for better energy efficiency. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to approve Case No. 2017-08, Design Permit to replace existing siding and windows at 415 Third Street North, with two conditions: 1) siding shall be replaced with a wood composite lap-type siding with the reintroduction of corner boards, water table and frieze board applied to both house and garage on all sides; 2) windows may be replaced with vinyl and shall fit directly into the original window openings and the trim shall have similar dimensions, either hardy board or clad for the side frame and sill as currently on the house. Motion passed 7-0. Case No. 2017-09: Design Review for new business signage for ‘Portside’ F.K.A “Rafters,” 317 Main Street South. John Koch, property owner. John Koch, applicant, explained he is in the process of remodeling and cleaning up the building he has owned since June 2016. Planning Consultant Lucas reviewed the request. It is actually two buildings combined. There is no multi- tenant sign package for this property although zoning code requires it. The applicant is requesting a design permit to install two back-lit wall signs. One sign will face Main Street and will be at the cornice level. The other sign will face the rear parking lot and will also be placed at the cornice level. Both signs will be metal, measuring 40” by 117”, and will read “Portside.” Ms. Lucas said a six square foot sign is allowed on each side of the building unless there is a multi-tenant sign package. In addition, the zoning code does not allow backlit signs. Staff finds that the proposal does not meet sign guidelines for installation, location or type of sign, and a multi-tenant signage plan must be approved at this location. Therefore, staff recommends denial of the signs as proposed. It may be more helpful for the applicant if the Commission tables the request as proposed and asks the applicant to work with all the current tenants to develop a sign plan. Commissioner Johnson pointed out that on the inside it is one building, but it has two addresses and the exterior both front and back have two different brick colors, so before proposing one sign package, there may be a way to treat this as two different façades which may provide more options for signage styles. Chairman Larson agreed that would provide more flexibility. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting April 19, 2017 Page 4 of 5 Motion by Commissioner Welty, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to table Case No. 2017-09, design permit for new business signage for Portside, 317 Main Street South, in order for the applicant to meet with the City Planner to develop a multi-tenant sign package. Motion passed 7-0. OTHER ITEMS OF DISCUSSION Tilted Tiki Sign Commissioner Johnson mentioned that the signs are still there. Council Representative Junker stated that the applicant appealed the HPC denial to the City Council two weeks ago and the Council unanimously upheld the denial. The applicant was sent his 30 day removal notification. Councilmember Junker noticed that the applicant also is building a big stage on the patio which may require some type of permit. Ms. Lucas will pass this on to the appropriate City staff. Council Representative Junker complimented the HPC on its consistency regarding signs, acknowledging they are a huge part of the historic downtown. Commissioner Johnson and Chairman Larson expressed appreciation for the Council support of the HPC actions. Finalize Annual Preservation Awards Planning Consultant Lucas led discussion of potential design awardees, to be presented at a May Council meeting. The following recipients were agreed upon by consensus of the Commission: 1) JX Events Center and Judd Sather for adaptive reuse; 2) Chris Rustad, 915 South Second Street, for residential rehabilitation; 3) Washington County Historical Society for saving Boutwell House; and 4) Commissioner Jeff Johnson for 28 years of service on the HPC. Motion by Commissioner Krakowski, seconded by Chairman Larson, to approve the above awards. Motion passed 7-0. STAFF UPDATES Council Discussion on Boards and Commissions Councilmember Junker reported that the Council has decided to make all Commissions seven members, and that for all Commissions except Planning, the Council Representative will not vote. The reason is that there are some decisions the Planning Commission makes that don’t go to the Council so they have a bit more authority in terms of variances etc. He said the Council has great respect for all the Commissions. Chairman Larson stated that since Commissioner Johnson’s term will be ending, a vacancy needs to be advertised. Councilmember Junker said City Clerk Ward is aware she needs to post the position. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chairman Larson, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski, to adjourn. All in favor, 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary