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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-11 HPC MIN HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING February 11, 2019 7:00 P.M. Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Larson, Commissioners Hadrits, Mino, Steinwall, Welty, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioner Krakowski Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of January 16, 2019 meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Hadrits, to approve the minutes of the January 16, 2019 meeting. Motion passed 5-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA There were no items on the Consent Agenda. PUBLIC HEARING Case No. 2019-01: Consideration of a Design Permit for a new home in the Neighborhood Conservation District located at 401 Wilkins Street West. Ann Thompson, property owner and Scott McCormack, applicant. City Planner Wittman reviewed the case. On October 21, 2018 the property at 401 Wilkins Street West, constructed in 1946 and outside of the City’s periods of significance, suffered a house fire. Upon inspection it was deemed unsalvageable. The applicant is requesting a permit to construct a single family home on a new foundation. While the previous residence was two stories, the property owner is proposing a one story, 8/12 pitch, gable roof home. Three sides of the home will have exposed foundation with a brick pattern. The structure will be clad in vinyl lap siding with shakes on the gabled edge of the porch. Soffit, fascia, frieze and corner boards are proposed. Fiberglass windows, in a variety of sizes, will be on three of the four sides. The new residence will have a front porch that will run across half of the front of the home, constructed of cedar with two stone columns at the stairway. Staff recommends approval with nine conditions. Scott McCormack, McCormack Classic Construction, stated in response to a staff-recommended condition that the window trim all be consistent, that the windows in wells will have trim. The back of the house will not be seen due to the garage which was saved. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting February 11, 2019 Page 2 of 5 Ann Thompson, property owner, stated it was originally a single story, one bedroom home. She and her husband added the living room and the second story. Chairman Larson explained the HPC’s role in reviewing new construction in the Neighborhood Conservation District, and the emphasis on four-sided design. He questioned the lack of windows on the east and west elevations. He suggested adding a window in the master bedroom. Mr. McCormack replied the ballfield across the street is a detriment for windows on that side. Adding one window would make it look unbalanced. They have tried to focus the curb appeal on the front. Ms. Thompson added there are lilac bushes running the whole length of the east side so windows would not be seen anyway. She prefers not to have a window in the master bedroom because of the noise and parking along there especially during baseball season. When that area was a living room, they never had those windows open because it was too noisy. Chairman Larson stated that having no side windows is unattractive and doesn’t fit the character of the rest of the block. The typical house of this style on this block has windows on the ends. This is a blank wall that faces a public street. The lilac bushes could go away at any time. Commissioner Welty suggested using triple pane or one way glass. Mr. McCormack said noise would still come through the glass. Some houses in this neighborhood don’t have windows on all sides, therefore this fits in with existing homes. Councilmember Junker remarked that kids have played at Staples Field for 100 years. That is the only justification for the absence of windows. Commissioner Mino noted that staff recommends one design be chosen for the windows for consistency. Ms. Thompson said she would want the windows all to be the same. Commissioner Hadrits asked if the color of the vinyl will match the garage. Ms. Thompson replied the garage was scorched and will have to be re-sided. The colors will match. Chairman Larson asked what the concrete foundation will look like. He asked if the stone will be carried down to grade so it doesn’t appear to be suspended above the ground. Mr. McCormack stated the foundation will have a brick pattern. It will be a panel with smooth aluminum since stamping is not allowed in Minnesota. The color will be consistent with either the siding or the trim of the fascia and soffit. The stone will come down to the concrete stoop. Chairman Larson opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. The public hearing was closed. Chairman Larson said he would like to see consistent window trim but it is not needed on window well windows. Commissioner Mino said she understands the problems with sound and baseballs. Not having windows on two sides would be an exception to the Neighborhood Conservation District guidelines and she would like to make sure it’s clear that it is an exception. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting February 11, 2019 Page 3 of 5 Commissioner Welty said on the kitchen side there is an opportunity for a window next to the refrigerator. Ms. Thompson said she would prefer not to have a window there because the next door house is very close. Mr. McCormack reiterated that there are houses in the neighborhood that don’t have windows on all sides so it is not an exception, they are trying to do something that has already been done in that block. Commissioner Welty asked if they would consider a window in the gable. Mr. McCormack said it makes no sense to put a window in an area where there is no way to look out. Ms. Thompson commented she has lived there 38 years. To go through all this over windows in order to get a new home approved seems burdensome. She did not ask for her house house to be burned down. She asked that the HPC let her build the home because it is nice looking and will fit in with the neighborhood. Commissioner Steinwall acknowledged the HPC has guidelines but can also make exceptions. The HPC can read into the record the unusual circumstances of this house and its proximity to a well used park with lots of traffic. She suggested that as one of the conditions it be noted that the HPC is cognizant of the fact that it is making some exceptions to the rules due to the proximity to the park. Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve Case No. 2019-01, Design Permit for a new home in the Neighborhood Conservation District located at 401 Wilkins Street West. with the nine conditions recommended by staff, with the finding that the HPC is cognizant of the fact it is departing from guidelines due to proximity to Staples Field; amending Condition #4 to state that window trim with the same level of detail and with the same materials as the front of the residence will be installed on all window and door openings on all four sides of the structure; adding Condition #10 stating that the foundation will be covered to match the siding or trim; and adding Condition #11 stating that the porch post stone will be carried down to the concrete stoop. Motion passed 4–1 with Commissioner Welty voting nay. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2019-02: Consideration of a Design Permit to remodel the existing store front on the property located at 214-216 Main Street South in the CBD district. Michael Lynskey Sr, property owner. Ms. Wittman explained that the applicant is requesting approval of storefront reconstruction and other façade improvements at 214 Main Street South, a contributing building in the Stillwater Commercial Historic District. The request is three-fold: 1. Restore a wood and glass storefront on the southerly bay, commonly referred to as 216 Main Street South, occupied by Downtown Divas; and 2. Construct a northerly three-bay, two-unit storefront of painted wood and insulated glass; and 3. Paint all historic wood and decorative metal features. Staff finds that restoration of a wood storefront with and 4” glass tile/block transom window on the southerly bay, commonly referred to as 216 Main Street South and occupied by Downtown Divas; and construction of a northerly three-bay, two-unit storefront of painted wood and insulated glass; and painting of all historic wood and decorative metal features are consistent with the Site Alterations to a Heritage Preservation Site and the Downtown Design Review District. Furthermore, staff finds that: if the northerly three bays do not contain 4” glass tile/block transom windows, re-creation of them is not consistent with the Site Alterations to a Heritage Preservation Site and the Downtown Design Review District and, therefore, should not be re-created. This would allow for the Downtown Divas (and potentially the Mad Capper) to be restored to the original condition of this southerly building while allowing for the northern building to be constructed with its own unique and uniform design. Staff finds the proposed structure alterations are consistent with the guidelines and recommends approval with eight conditions. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting February 11, 2019 Page 4 of 5 Brad Smith, Brad Smith Traditional Construction Services, stated the existing glass storefront tapers in, goes across and tapers out. He would remove that and bring it out to the front as the building once was. It will remain ADA accessible and maintain the same slope as the current door entrance. The brick would be removed from the columns. He thinks the old cast iron columns are underneath the brick. The columns to the north will also have brick removed and he will re-create that same column feel although the cast iron is no longer there in that location - it will be wood instead of cast iron. The three bays will divide right in the center for two tenants. Motion by Commissioner Hadrits, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve Case No. 2019-02, Design Permit to remodel the existing storefront at 214-216 Main Street South with the eight conditions recommended by staff. Motion passed 5-0. FYI STAFF UPDATES Case No. 2018-29 Appeal City Planner Wittman stated that the City Council overturned the HPC decision on the balconies on the Crosby Hotel and allowed full depth balconies. The Council also approved the demolition of the house at 709 South Second Street, accepting the findings of the designation study. The Council understands there are constraints with the existing demolition ordinance. Staff has applied for a grant to update all the ordinances. Regarding the Crosby Hotel appeal, Councilmember Junker reported that the Council felt the decks looked incomplete with basically bars across the windows versus a deck. The HPC denial was overturned 3-1 with him voting against. Regarding the Second Street demolition, every council member supported the designation study but he still feels there is a gap. He asked why is the City paying the $5,000 for the study? Ms. Wittman replied this application is the only one that has gone through the entire process while she has been here. She understands from City Attorney Land that if the City orders a designation study, then the City is probably responsible for paying for that. One thing the City may want to look at is whether the application fee should be $5,000 or an escrow of $5,000. The process needs clarification. The City Attorney is committed to working with the HPC and an outside consultant to update the ordinance. 2019 Grant Application Ms. Wittman said she submitted a pre-application for Stillwater to host the 2020 state historic preservation conference; and that the International Main Street Alliance is offering scholarships to the national Main Street Conference in Seattle at the end of March. Commissioners interested in attending should contact her. Commissioner Mino stated that Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is encouraging Stillwater to become a Main Street Community. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Chairman Larson, to adjourn. All in favor, 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary