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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-19 HPC MIN HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING September 19, 2018 7:00 P.M. Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Goodman (left at 8:07 p.m.), Hadrits, Krakowski, Mino, Steinwall, Chairman Larson, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioner Welty Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of August 15, 2018 meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve the minutes of the August 15, 2018 meeting. Motion passed 6-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Case No. 2018-23: Consideration of a Design Permit for a monument sign to be constructed at 115 Fourth Street North in the CBD district. Robert Eiselt, property owner representative. Chairman Larson declared a conflict of interest and recused himself from the vote. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Hadrits, to adopt the Consent Agenda. Motion passed 5-0-1 with Chairman Larson abstaining. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2018-20: Consideration of a Design Permit for new business signage for the property located at 423 Main Street South in the CBD district. Tim Keenan, property owner and Adam Lee Randall, applicant. Ms. Wittman explained that at the last meeting the Commission heard a request for multiple signs to be located at 423 Main Street South. The Commission determined the signs were not in conformance with the Downtown Design Review District guidelines and advised the applicants to redesign the signs. Staff has received a new request for permanent signage to be associated with Caribbean BBQ. The applicant is requesting approval of two signs: one, 3’ tall by 8’ long single sided, barn wood gray, pine board to read “Caribbean Smokehouse” in cast metal letters painted black; and one, 16” tall by 27” wide projecting double sided, barn wood gray, pine board to be hung from an existing bracket, underneath existing exterior lights. The sign will include the business name in cast metal letters painted black. The applicants have Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting September 19, 2018 Page 2 of 4 indicated this sign may be 36” wide by 16” tall but have the same characteristics as the sign with a smaller width. The use of wood and metal signs is encouraged in the Downtown District. On the basis the proposal conforms to the Downtown Design Review District standards, staff recommends approval of Design Permit 2018-20 for the Caribbean Smokehouse signs with five conditions. Jared Gardner, 3817 Lake Drive Avenue North, Robbinsdale, MN, representing the applicant, said a metal panel is proposed for the multi-tenant sign with a gray weathered board look that should look exactly the same as the other two proposed signs. Chairman Larson emphasized the need to place any new mounting holes in the mortar joints rather than the brick face. Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve Case No. 2018-20, Design for new business signage for the property located at 423 Main Street South, with the five conditions recommended by staff, amending Condition #4 to add, “New mounting holes shall be placed in the mortar joints” and adding Condition #6 to state, “All existing sign mounting holes shall be patched and sealed.” CONSENT AGENDA continued Commissioner Steinwall pointed out a scrivener’s error in the staff report for Case No. 2018-23. Condition #5 states all minor modifications to the plan shall be approved in advance by the HPC. This should be corrected to state “major” rather than “minor.” Commissioners Mino and Hadrits agreed to amend the motion to correct the error. Motion passed 5-0-1 with Chairman Larson abstaining. NEW BUSINESS continued Case No. 2018-22: Consideration of a Design Permit to remodel the rooftop deck located at 114 Main Street North, in the CDB district. Croixview Partners, LLC, property owner. City Planner Wittman explained that Croixview Partners LLC has requested a Site Alteration Permit for the installation of rooftop improvements on the structure located at 114 Main Street North. The improvements include the installation of a 36” tall wood and metal wire guardrail to be located on the perimeter of the east half of the building. The guardrail is proposed to be offset from the eastern parapet by 1.5’. On the basis the proposal is consistent with the standards set forth for Site Alteration Permits, staff recommends approval with four conditions. Ben Ditzer, Croixview Partners, 6547 Bergshire Lane North, Maple Grove, MN, offered to answer questions. Chairman Larson asked about the lattice mentioned in the drawings submitted. He is concerned that lattice type screening is a very residential look and not appropriate for the downtown. Mr. Ditzer said they are OK with no screening and do not intend to use lattice. Ms. Wittman stated that the applicants had previous stated in the submission that they would prefer no screening, only the rail as shown. Mr. Ditzer clarified that the railing is a safety feature and the unit is being used as an Air BNB currently. The railing is only proposed for three elevations (west, east and south) as there is an existing wall between Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting September 19, 2018 Page 3 of 4 this and the neighboring building to the north. The top rail will remain level with the ground rather than level with the sloping roof. Chairman Larson suggested if there are parasols and other lawn type furniture, the visual impact should be minimal, though the Commission cannot restrict the use of furniture because it is not a building feature. Mr. Ditzer said the building will have all short term tenants. They prefer not to have any visible protrusions from the sidewalk sight line and can use low profile furniture. He is OK with a flat rail as recommended by staff, as opposed to a post as submitted. The fence will have to be sealed and stained regularly. Chairman Larson said the Commission might consider adding a condition that the stain be a dark color so as to avoid white which would stand out. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Hadrits, to approve Case No. 2018-22, Design Permit to remodel the rooftop deck located at 114 Main Street North, with the four conditions recommended by staff, adding Condition #5 stating, “the railing shall be stained in a dark color, sealed, and maintained in perpetuity” and adding Condition #6 stating, “privacy screening shall not be installed unless later approved by the Heritage Preservation Commission.” Motion passed 6-0. OTHER ITEMS OF DISCUSSION 2040 Comprehensive Plan Historic Resources Chapter Draft, 2018-2019 Work Plan and Certified Local Government (CLG) Grants Ms. Wittman led discussion of the implementation section of the Historic Resources Chapter Draft. She asked where the Commission would like to direct staff energy in the next one to three years. She noted that the West Stillwater Business Park District guidelines are very vague. She and City Attorney Land have discussed cleaning up the code section. Chairman Larson noted that Commissioners may have some ideas of revisions needed in the downtown guidelines as well, for example, strengthening guidelines addressing seasonal kiosk buildings. Ms. Wittman pointed out that things will change in the area of Highway 36 faster in the next three years than they will change downtown, with issues like signage, managing stormwater, allowing for housing (apartments on second stories along the Highway 36 corridor) and other issues. Councilmember Junker added that the City Council has a goal of challenging the major commissions (Parks, Planning, HPC and Downtown Parking) to not just be reactive but to help proactively determine what they would they like to tweak and update. Ms. Wittman said she will look at an 18 month horizon, meet with City Attorney Land and Community Development Director Turnblad to outline a work schedule. She also will look at grant funding cycles. Hiring a consultant helps free up staff time to manage some of these items. The consensus of the Commission was to direct staff to work on code clean-up in conjunction with Downtown Design Guidelines first. STAFF UPDATES Annual Statewide Preservation Conference Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting September 19, 2018 Page 4 of 4 Ms. Wittman stated that she and Commissioners Mino and Hadrits attended this conference last week. She asked for input on whether to offer Stillwater to host the 2020 Conference. The Commission directed staff to proceed with the possibility for hosting the 2020 State Historic Preservation Conference in Stillwater. Possible awning violation Chairman Larson asked City Planner Wittman to check on an awning with a sign across it on the west side of Main Street. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chairman Larson, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski, to adjourn. All in favor, 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary