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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-15 HPC MINhater +rl t-a t"PLAC[ 6F K. [tIF4 HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 15, 2020 7:00 P.M. Chairwoman Mino called the meeting to order via Zoom at 7:03 p.m. Present: Chairwoman Mino, Commissioners Finwall, Heimdahl, Krakowski, Larson, Thueson, Walls, Council Representative Dunker Absent: None Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of June 17, 2020 Meeting Chairwoman Mino pointed out a typo on page 2, full paragraph 13, "content" should be "context." Motion by Commissioner Walls, seconded by Commissioner Heimdahl, to approve the minutes of the June 17, 2020 meeting with the correction. Motion passed 6-0-1 with Commissioner Krakowski abstaining. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Case No. 202D-1$; Consid-era Lion_ora Design Permit for a new hanging sign to be Iocated Ott 226 Chestnut Strut East. Gartner Proper LLC property owner. Ron Brenner Architects, application. Motion by Commissioner Krakowski, seconded by Commissioner Walls, to adopt the Consent Agenda. All in favor. PUBLIC HEARING Case No. 2020-17: ConsideraLion —o-fa_Design Permit for a new residence at 905 1st St N in the Neighborhood Conserva ion District. Michael —an rl r e w rs ner Architects, ali.cant. Ms. Wittman explained the rase. The applicants have requested a Design Permit to cnn.strurt a 2.5 story single family residence with a two -car, front -facing attached garage to be set back from the front entry/porch by 10'. The home will have fiber cement or LP board and batten siding, horizontal lap siding, and white painted shingles. Standing seam metal shed roofs will be used on the porch, above the garage door, and on single story additions in the east facing rear of the home. Staff recommends approval with six conditions. Chairwoman Mino opened the public hearing. Tom O'Brien, 904 1st St N, inquired whether water service will be extended to the site. Ms. Wittman responded that the applicant was granted permission to install a well. Chairwoman Mino closed the public hearing. Architect Ron Brenner explained the architectural design and offered to answer questions. Commissioner Heimdahl asked if flowers on the site will be preserved. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting July 15, 2020 Mr. Brenner said they will keep as much native landscaping as possible. Chairwoman Mino asked if grass will be planted below the deck. Michael Cairl, applicant, replied there will be patio area directly under the deck. Commissioner Larson commended the applicants and architect on the conformance to design guidelines. Commissioner Finwall asked if any variances will be required. Ms. Wittman replied no. The house conforms to all zoning restrictions and setbacks. Commissioner Finwall asked what the rails around the deck will be made of because the appearance is rather modern looking. Mr. Brenner said they are investigating railing options. It might end up being a vertical system. Hopefully there is flexibility to make that choice later. They want the rail to be as transparent as possible. Commissioner Larson remarked that the HPC has allowed a variety of railing systems. From a distance the massing looks as it should. The goal is not to make all new houses look like they are old houses. Councilmember Junker asked if the project will go to the Planning Commission regarding water runoff. City Planner Wittman replied no. The applicants will have to comply with Middle St. Croix Water Management Organization stormwater infiltration requirements via a rain garden or similar system. That will be reviewed by the engineering department at time of building permitting. Motion by Commissioner Thueson, seconded by Commissioner Finwall, to approve Case No. 2020-17, Design Permit for new residence at 905 1st St N, with the six staff -recommended conditions. All in favor. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2020-19: Consideration of a Site Alteration (Design) Permit For en ry door system rehabilitation Qr rgplacement andHVAC unit installation at 107 Chestnut Street East in the Stillwater Commercial Historic District. CVI1 Holdings. LLC, property ownerand_applicant. City Planner Wittman explained that the applicant is requesting approval of a Site Alteration (Design) Permit for entry door system rehabilitation or replacement and HVAC unit installation. The entry doors will be rehabilitated or replaced using one of the following options: new rode compliant, historically replicated, wood clad doors under the existing stone transom infill; or new code compliant, historically replicated, wood clad doors under new transom window; or rehabilitation of the existing system. On the west side, an aluminum clad wood door will be installed with design similar to the front. Four, 16" by 37" and 31" tall ductless heat pump systems located on the flat portion of the roof will serve the residential units. The commercial units will be served by one 15-ton commercial condensing unit on the south side of the building; one 20" tall fresh air hood on the northeast corner of the existing garage; and one 42" tall exhaust fan on the southwest corner of the existing garage. Staff finds that, with certain conditions, the proposed improvements conform to City Code and the Downtown Design Review District guidelines and therefore recommends approval with three conditions. Commissioner Larson recused himself from the discussion and vote. Matt Wolf, applicant, stated they considered various locations for the HVAC equipment to be as visually unobtrusive as possible. They may still move the locations around for the rooftop units above Page 2 of 4 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting July 15, 2020 the garage but will ensure they are screened from street view. Regarding the options for the entry doors, they are working with the National Park Service (NPS) and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to find out what they will find acceptable there. Chairwoman Mino asked what material is being recommended for screening. Ms. Wittman said none has been recommended at this time. There is metal flashing on the roof above the garage. Louvered metal is a standard screening material that is used. Councilmember Junker asked about the role of the NPS in project review. Mr. Wolf replied that part of the financing is historic tax credits. The SHPO makes recommendations to the NPS about Minnesota Standards. Ultimately the NPS has final say because it is a listed building. Councilmember Junker asked if the building is for sale. Mr. Wolf replied it is not. He explained that changes in the tax landscape and funding have allowed the project to move forward. Commissioner Finwall asked if solar energy is planned to be used. Mr. Wolf stated that is up to the NPS as part of final approval. Motion by Commissioner Finwall, seconded by Commissioner Walls, to approve Case No. 2020-19, Site Alteration Permit for entry door system rehabilitation or replacement and HVAC unit installation at 107 Chestnut St E, with the six staff -recommended conditions. Commissioner Heimdahl asked if the applicant has a preference for restoring the full glass at the front entrance or keeping the stone in place. Mr. Wolf answered that he prefers to replace the stone transom with a window which would bring it back to a more original look. Motion passed 6-0-1 with Commissioner Larson abstaining. There was no old business. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS HPC Draft Ordinance Review Ms. Wittman updated the Commission on the draft ordinance and Commissioner comments thus far. She asked for the Commissioners' thoughts on whether staff should incorporate historic interpretation into the HPC activities, for example by doing public education pieces or interpretive panels. Commissioner Thueson commented that the context studies could be shared with more people around these sites to show how the town evolved. He feels the HPC is probably the best organization to share the story of the City of Stillwater. Ms. Wittman stated there could be greater emphasis on providing education about Stillwater's architectural heritage. The section about education could be expanded to include interpretation, for instance through print and other media. Chairwoman Mino agreed with Commissioner Thueson that it makes sense for interpretation to be an element of the HPC's work. Ms. Wittman proceeded to discuss major/minor amendments. Currently the City Code allows staff approval of minor amendments to approved design permits. She asked if there should be a dollar threshold, or should it be more of a context change? Page 3 of 4 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting July 15, 2020 Commissioner Finwall pointed out that a dollar threshold removes the ambiguity of staff determination. The dollar amount could be set by Council resolution, so the dollar amount is not actually in the ordinance itself. Ms. Wittman agreed that a dollar threshold would probably reduce the ambiguity and remove the burden from staff of determining what is a major or minor amendment to a permit. Commissioner Thueson stated perhaps the best formulation might be to state that review would be required either because the project exceeds a certain dollar threshold or because the HPC liaison (staff) deems it to be a significant change that would require review. Ms. Wittman addressed the subject of partial demolition. Currently the HPC reviews demolition of historic resources when it is total demolition. Demolition review also can be triggered by removal of more than 20% of the front facade or more than 50% of the total fagade. But some applicants are really skilled at making sure they stay just underneath the threshold. She asked what should trigger partial demolition review. Councilmember Junker remarked that one year a homeowner may do 25% of the back, the next year they do 25% of the front, and pretty soon it is almost total demolition piecemealed, without any review. Consensus of the Commission was that partial demolition should trigger some sort of HPC review. Commissioner Finwall said maybe the HPC should also review additions that expand a certain percent of a home. Commissioner Larson agreed that would be a good thing for review. There is a trend toward small, potentially historic homes getting gigantic additions which could have as big an impact as demolition. Ms. Wittman said she will work with the City Attorney on language to give the HPC a role in reviewing some of the alterations discussed even if they are not truly demolition. She is trying to pull language about total demolition away from language about alterations in the ordinance. She asked, should the threshold triggering HPC review remain 20% of the front and 50% of total? Or 20% overall no matter where it is? Commissioner Walls suggested 20% of the total, and maybe 50% alterations done over the course of three years, to alleviate the scenario brought up by Councilmember Junker. Commissioner Thueson said since the HPC looks at four sided design on new construction, looking at a certain threshold on every fagade makes sense. FYI Ms. Wittman stated that the engineering department is looking at constructing a limestone wall at the Main Street stairs. Regarding the Commander grain elevator, an entire sheet of metal was removed so the word Commander is split, and from afar it looks like a massive opening. However she believes the owner intends to get the metal back up so the Commander name is put back. Chairwoman Mino mentioned a new house being built on Churchill Street where the HPC approved a demolition last year - the house is very big. Ms. Wittman said she will keep monitoring the project. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Larson, seconded by Commissioner K was adjourned at 8:16 p.m. ATTEST: Abbi Wit an, City Planner ki, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting Chairwoman Page 4 of 4