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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-12-19 HPC MIN HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING December 19, 2018 7:00 P.M. Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Larson, Commissioners Hadrits, Krakowski, Mino, Steinwall, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioner Welty Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of November 7, 2018 meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski, to approve the minutes of the November 7, 2018 meeting. Motion passed 5-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Case No. 2018-31: Consideration of a Design Permit for new business signage at the property located at 310 Main Street South in the Downtown Commercial Historic District. Jill and Justin Kaufenberg, property owners. Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Commissioner Hadrits, to adopt the Consent Agenda. Motion passed 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings. CONTINUED BUSINESS There was no continued business. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2018-30: Consideration of a Design Permit for new business signage and exterior paint. Property located at 120 Main Street North in the Downtown Commercial Historic District. Katherine Francis, property owner and Kristy Wilson, applicant. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting December 19, 2018 Page 2 of 4 City Planner Wittman reviewed the case. The applicant is requesting approval of exterior painting of the existing black wooden façade elements to gray and light blue-green; and the installation of one 36” by 24” projecting painted foam sign to be hung from the existing umbrella bracket. The sign would be white with light blue-green lettering, reading “Uptown Curl.” Staff recommends approval with six conditions. Commissioner Mino asked for clarification about the material for the hanging sign. Todd, St. Croix Signs, stated the foam is a high density urethane which is often used as a wood substitute. The letters will project from the background. The background will be a semi-gloss smooth finish. It will be indistinguishable from a wood sign. Chairman Larson pointed out one of the staff-recommended conditions is that the sign will have a matte finish. He asked if eggshell would be acceptable. Todd replied yes, eggshell would be OK. Council Representative Junker and Commissioner Hadrits said they were surprised that the umbrella bracket from the previous tenant will remain. Commissioner Hadrits suggested a standard black metal bracket. City Planner Wittman stated that brackets need to be installed above head height. Because of the windows, this is likely a metal band so a new bracket might need to be affixed into the brick. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Steinwall, to approve Case No. 2018-30, Design Permit for new business signage and exterior paint for the property located at 120 Main Street North, with the six conditions recommended by staff, modifying Condition #2 to state that the sign shall have a matte or eggshell finish. Motion passed 5-0. Case No. 2018-29: Consideration of a Design Permit Amendment for the Crosby Hotel to allow for landscape screening of at-grade mechanical equipment and the installation of four Main Street balconies at the property located at 232 Main Street North in the CBD District. Property owner, Anne Loff. Ms. Wittman explained that the applicant is requesting approval of four 4-5 foot deep balconies on the east elevation’s second and third stories, and a modified screening plan to allow for only landscaping as screening around all mechanical units. Staff finds that the proportion of the proposed Main Street balconies is not compatible with the character of the neighborhood and are not in harmony with the design of adjacent development; and that the landscaping alone does not conform to City code for screening nor Downtown Design Review District guidelines regarding utility and mechanical areas. Staff also finds that while the installation of a wooden gate visible from Main Street introduces a new material to the site, wood fences around mechanical equipment are not uncommon downtown. Staff has no recommendation because the HPC has already acted on these requests in the past. Chris Diebo, Hotel Crosby, acknowledged that the balconies were requested a year ago. He went back to the City Council about six months ago to see if he could come before the HPC sooner and the Council denied that opportunity, so he had to wait the full year. He invited the HPC members to view the property. Regarding the screening, City Planner Wittman reminded the Commission that they originally approved dark metal screening panels to match the metal on the building. Mr. Diebo said the reason for eliminating the black vinyl/metal siding is that it didn’t look nice from Main Street. He pointed out locations where landscaping would look better. He said he is completely open to the HPC’s direction. Another idea was a black chain link fence with fabric woven in the middle with a small door, which he feels would look just as nice as wood, possibly with some big potted trees. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting December 19, 2018 Page 3 of 4 For consistency, Commissioner Hadrits said she would like to see the metal around the cooler. She loves the idea of potted greenery along the walkway. Chairman Larson asked if access to the units is the main concern of the screens and if the screen could be used as originally shown. Mr. Diebo replied that would require cutting access panels and rescreening the screen because the louvers don’t let in enough air. Chairman Larson said the screening on the Johnny’s TV side and the two areas in the back don’t concern him as much as the front alley. He prefers the screen as originally proposed it if it’s doable, or a heavy timber material similar to the inside of the hotel. The Commission currently has no example of the wood that would be used. He is inclined to trust the applicant on the landscaping. Mr. Diebo offered to send in some pictures of the timber examples. Chairman Larson reminded him to include information on the width, full or partial, and what the materials would look like. Regarding the screening, the Commission consensus was to favor the tall grass plantings, not to press for the metal as originally approved. Mr. Diebo then led discussion of the balconies, acknowledging that the architect had a lot of issues. The reason Mr. Diebo respectfully disagrees with the staff findings is that there are many balconies visible from Main Street. The balconies are meant to go along with the awning on the front of the building. The little railings that are up now don’t look right. He would like the Commission to reconsider what they denied a year ago with the justification that they approved the steel awning. He offered to cap the balconies with an awning to make them appear embedded into the building. They are an important piece aesthetically. He used the example of Mills on Main balconies where their residents can watch the sights and sounds of downtown. Chairman Larson pointed out there are no balconies hanging out anywhere on Main Street. The building has turned out very well. The Juliette balconies seem to fit the neighborhood better. Mr. Diebo reiterated that there are other balconies downtown. He asked why is it not appropriate for Main Street. Chairman Larson replied it’s a matter of degree. The façade on Main Street is special. Mr. Diebo said he respects that, but disagrees. It is not only Main Street but also the alleys and side streets that make Stillwater what it is. The awning and the balconies were meant to all flow together in the front. Councilmember Junker noted the same architect that did Mills on Main, with its recessed balconies, designed the Crosby. Chairman Larson added that Mills has emerged as a standard partly because it keeps the balcony from the street. The activities on the balcony are much more visible from the side than they are from Main Street. Mr. Diebo said it seems unfair and inconsistent to deny balconies just because they are on Main Street. He pointed to the Water Street Inn and other buildings as examples. Commissioner Mino acknowledged the Commission is not opposed to balconies but doesn’t want to see them on Main Street. If the design had initially called for them being recessed, the Commission may have have approved it. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting December 19, 2018 Page 4 of 4 Commissioner Steinwall said the Commission must follow the guidelines as noted in the staff report. Architecture needs to reflect the surrounding buildings. There is an emphasis on similarity to adjacent façades. New buildings are not to stand out against the others but to be compatible. A protruding deck is a very modern feature that is not consistent with the façades along Main Street. Motion by Chairman Larson, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve the screening as proposed for Case No. 2018-29, Design Permit Amendment for the Crosby Hotel to allow for landscape screening of at-grade mechanical equipment at 232 Main Street North, with the four conditions recommended by staff, modifying Condition #3 to state, “the wood screening shall be installed as to eliminate view of the external cooler and mechanical equipment while not blocking exiting onto a public way. The heavy timber screening, designed to match the interior wood timbers, shall be stained, sealed and maintained by the property owner,” and to deny the four Main Street balconies as requested. Motion passed 4-1 with Commissioner Krakowski voting nay. Ms. Wittman pointed out all decisions by the HPC are appealable to the Council. FYI STAFF UPDATES 2019 Work Plan City Planner Wittman provided the 2019 work plan and noted the Zoning Administrator position is vacant. 2019 Meeting Schedule Ms. Wittman provided the 2019 meeting schedule. HPC Vacancy (Washington County Historical Society Representative) Ms. Wittman stated that Bob Goodman has resigned from the Commission leaving an open seat. Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to thank Mr. Goodman for his service on the HPC. Motion passed 5-0. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chairman Larson, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski, to adjourn. All in favor, 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary