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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-17 HPC MIN HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING April 17, 2019 7:00 P.M. Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Larson, Commissioners Hadrits, Krakowski, Mino, Steinwall, Welty, Council Representative Junker Absent: None Staff: City Planner Wittman OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Case No. 2019-05: Consideration of a Design Permit for a Master sign plan for the property located at 124 2nd Street South in the Downtown Design Review district. Derek Nelson, applicant. City Planner Wittman asked this item be moved to New Business because additional materials were submitted. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2019-05: Consideration of a Design Permit for a Master sign plan for the property located at 124 2nd Street South in the Downtown Design Review district. Derek Nelson, applicant. Ms. Wittman stated the applicant is requesting approval of a Design Permit for a multi-tenant sign plan for the structure located at 124 2nd Street South. The following signs are proposed: 1. A 13 square foot wall sign facing 2nd Street South. 2. Two 13 square foot wall signs facing the northern parking lot. All three signs will be 16” tall with black dimensional letters. The letters will be pin mounted into the façade, which will be painted white. 3. A single, 36” X 48” (12 square foot) projecting sign is proposed for the building. It will be a white metal panel with black, vinyl cut black letters. The proposal conforms to the Downtown Design Review District standards. Staff recommends approval of the multi-tenant sign plan and associated signage with 14 conditions. Chairman Larson asked about the long string of lights along the building. City Planner Wittman replied the string lights are decorative elements. The HPC has reviewed downtown lighting as a whole, but did not create any lighting standards. It is up to the HPC to determine the appropriateness of the lighting as proposed. Patrick Giordana, Synergy Architecture Studio, stated the string lighting is something the owner requested, not a make-or-break deal. Other gooseneck lighting will be directed to signage rather than out toward the street. They view the project as maintenance rather than remodeling. The biggest change is to remove the black shingles on the side of the building and finish off the entire building with white siding. Existing mullions will be retained. They also will remove the bump-up in the rear of building over one entry. Chairman Larson asked if there will be trim where siding meets windows. Mr. Giordana replied they will put some type of trim around the edge of the hardy-plank siding. He asked if wall sconces with diffusers could be used in places. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting April 17, 2019 Page 2 of 3 Chairman Larson replied that wall sconces would have a functional purpose more than just decorating the building. If they are down-lamped enough so it is a glowing but not a glaring fixture that would be OK. Gooseneck lighting similar to the lighting above the signage would be another option. Motion by Commissioner Welty, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve Case No. 2019-05, Design Permit for a Master sign plan for the property located at 124 2nd Street South, with the 14 conditions recommended by staff, and the addition of the following conditions: #15, any new tenant storefront entrance shall be similar to the existing; #16, six-inch window and corner board trim shall be installed. The trim shall be black or a similar color to match, and the corner board may be white to match the siding; #17, no linear string lights are permitted; and #18, additional accent lighting shall be approved by staff. All in favor, 6-0. 2019 Preservation Awards Ms. Wittman led discussion of candidates and categories for the 2019 Preservation Awards to be given May 21. Commissioner Steinwall suggested that an award could be given for signage in the future. Chairman Larson suggested a range of award categories, for instance signage, people, infill, new construction. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to award the following: 402 Main Street South for Adaptive Reuse; 232 Main Street North for Commercial Infill; 310 Main Street South for Reconstruction; 435 Broadway Street South for Porch Addition; 501 Pine Street West for Residential Infill; 114 Linden Street West for Garage Addition; Robert Goodman for Personal Accomplishments. All in favor, 6-0. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS Ms. Wittman reported that the City Council upheld the HPC recommendation to order a designation study for 615 Broadway Street South. The study will be done by June 2. The Council expressed a desire to work with the HPC on appropriate amendments to the demolition ordinance. Councilmember Junker elaborated on the Council discussion regarding the inconsistencies of the demolition ordinance. The Council would like to have a joint workshop with the HPC. Chairman Larson noted that all properties do not have the same amount of flexibility toward restoration. The character of certain properties fits in strongly with the streetscape but others do not. There is increasing pressure in some scenic parts of the City to demolish and build new. The ordinance needs to take this into consideration. Commissioner Mino commented she struggles with demolition requests where there are small houses on large, valuable lots. Some of the infill houses are so large and take up nearly every part of the lot. There is something to be said for the smaller houses that fit the rhythm of the street. She recognized that Stillwater needs to retain affordable housing. Commissioner Welty suggested maybe it’s more about maintaining side lot space on such lots. She asked about three infill houses on South Sixth Street. Two seem to fit the character of the neighborhood and one does not. She asked if all three meet the infill standards and if so, something should be done about the standards. Ms. Wittman said they were built quite some time ago, probably predating the standards. MNHS Grants: a) HPC Enabling Ordinance Update; b) Lowell Park Gazebo/Pavilion Partnership City Planner Wittman reported that both grants have been written and she hopes to hear about funding within the next month. She stated that the City was approached by a local Rotary Club wanting to adopt the Gazebo in Lowell Park. Staff determined it would be appropriate to do a historic resource study on the Gazebo, Sam Bloomer Way and the flood wall before determining an appropriate course for maintenance. Application will be made for a possible July grant for this project. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting April 17, 2019 Page 3 of 3 HPC Membership Update Ms. Wittman noted that two applications were received for the three vacancies. Councilmember Junker and Chairman Larson are scheduling interviews with the candidates. One more candidate is needed. Other Chairman Larson commented that at the T-shirt shop, the lights under the awnings are visible and unattractive. They may be an add-on and not under the original approval. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski to adjourn. All in favor, 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary