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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistoric Preservation Commission - MINUTES - 11/20/2024Jim Rose, Chair Location: Bonnie Gibson, Vice Chair Council Chambers, 300 Laporte Margo Carlock And remotely via Zoom Jenna Edwards Chris Conway David Woodlee Jeff Gaines Staff Liaison: Aaron Hull Maren Bzdek Historic Preservation Manager Regular Meeting November 20, 2024 Minutes •CALL TO ORDER Chair Rose called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. •ROLL CALL PRESENT: Chris Conway, Jeff Gaines, Bonnie Gibson, Aaron Hull, Jim Rose, David Woodlee, and Margo Carlock (arrived late) ABSENT: Jenna Edwards STAFF: Maren Bzdek, Heather Jarvis, Jim Bertolini, Yani Jones, Melissa Matsunaka •AGENDA REVIEW Bzdek reviewed the published agenda. •COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ON ITEMS ON OR NOT ON THE AGENDA None. •CONSENT AGENDA REVIEW No items were pulled from consent. •CONSENT AGENDA 1.CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2024. The purpose of this item is to approve the minutes from the September 18, 2024 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission. Historic Preservation 2. ADOPTION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION’S 2025 WORK PLAN The purpose of this item is to discuss and adopt the Historic Preservation Commission’s Work Plan for 2025. Vice Chair Gibson moved, seconded by Commissioner Conway, to approve the Consent Agenda. Yeas: Conway, Gaines, Gibson, Hull, Woodlee, and Rose. Nays: none. THE MOTION CARRIED. • STAFF REPORTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Jim Bertolini, Senior Historic Preservation Planner, provided an update on the appeal for window replacement at 201 Linden Street which was heard by City Council last night noting Council dismissed the unfair hearing allegations, but did vote to overturn the Commission’s decision and approve in-kind wood replacements for the upper story windows. • COMMISSIONER REPORTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. • CONSENT AGENDA FOLLOW UP None. • DISCUSSION AGENDA 3. REPORT ON STAFF ACTIVITIES SINCE THE LAST MEETING Staff is tasked with an array of different responsibilities including code-required project review decisions on historic properties, support to other standing and special work groups across the City organization, and education & outreach programming. This report will provide highlights for the benefit of Commission members and the public, and for transparency regarding decisions made without the input of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Yani Jones, Historic Preservation Planner, provided a report on the Historic Homes Tour put on by the Poudre Landmarks Foundation and the Hispanic Heritage Community Celebration. She announced the upcoming “History of Our History” event in January and provided a reminder about the Historic Preservation newsletter. 4. PROPOSED POLICY ADOPTION: EXPANDED ROOFING OPTIONS FOR PROJECTS ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS DESCRIPTION: would expand the allowable installation materials and methods, and allow residents to more heavily weight fire prevention, material durability, and recyclability as factors when selecting roofing on historic buildings. STAFF: STAFF PRESENTATION Jim Bertolini, Senior Historic Preservation Planner, noted this item is continued from the September meeting and is related to the climate resilience policy that is part of the Commission’s Work Plan. He stated this item involves the adoption of a revised roofing policy for projects on historic buildings that would expand the allowable installation materials and methods, and allow residents to more heavily weight fire prevention, material durability, and recyclability as factors when selecting roofing on historic buildings. Bertolini stated the proposed policy would formalize working policy already in place, expand scenarios in which substitute roofing material can be approved, discourage wood roofing material due to fire risk, discourage the use of asphalt shingles as they do not hold up well after more than one hailstorm, and encourage the use of more durable substitutes. Additionally, the policy would move most of the decisions to a staff- level review and would provide more formal guidelines for rooftop features. COMMISSION QUESTIONS Commissioner Gaines asked if the four inch threshold for increasing roof height was tailored to a certain amount of insulation. Bertolini replied in the affirmative and stated the Energy Conservation Code specialist in Utilities provided a review of the policy. He noted that in cases where four inches is not enough, staff will work with homeowners to find other places in which the home’s R-value can be improved. Commissioner Gaines stated he would consider raising that threshold by another inch or two. Commissioner Conway asked if there is a concern about changing the historic value of the building by increasing the threshold from four inches to six. Bertolini replied that is a potential concern, particularly as related to eave lines; however, he noted the Commission could make a modification to the policy if desired. Commissioner Conway expressed support for allowing homeowners to easier meet energy efficiency goals. Vice Chair Gibson questioned how many scenarios would benefit from six inches over four. Commissioner Gaines noted five inches would be needed for continuous insulation. Commissioner Woodlee asked if there has been any feedback from applicants. Bertolini replied in the negative; however, many people are unaware they have the flexibility to add insulation under the roof deck. Jones noted there are cases in which some interior situations may prevent insulation from being added elsewhere; therefore, there is utility in having a provision allowing for that roof height increase. Chair Rose stated there is going to be a change in the configuration of the facia regardless or whether four inches or six inches is allowed. Commissioner Gaines stated the six inches would allow for more flexibility in meeting requirements. Vice Chair Gibson suggested having a policy that would cover up to four inches of extra height and requiring a request for additional height to come before the Commission. Commissioner Woodlee expressed support for that option. Commissioner Conway expressed concern about making the process too opaque and less user friendly. Commissioner Gaines concurred. Bertolini stated staff does not have a strong opinion either way, but noted one of the goals of the policy was to reduce the number of projects going before the Commission to allow it to focus on more complex projects that require more judgement. He stated staff may have a slight preference to modify the policy to allow for five inches as a staff review. Commissioner Gaines moved, seconded by Commissioner Conway, that the limitation on added roof height be increased to six inches from four inches. Chair Rose suggested a motion to approve the policy needs to be made first, then amended. He declared the first motion to be out of order. Commissioner Conway moved, seconded by Commissioner Gaines, that the Historic Preservation Commission adopt the proposed policy regarding roofing installation and methods on historic resources in Fort Collins, finding that the proposed policy remains reasonably consistent with the intent of the Secretary of Interior standards for rehabilitation, supports the City’s historic preservation policies and priorities in the Municipal Code 4-1 and 4-2, and supports the City’s broader sustainability and climate action goals, subject to the following modification: that the change in roof height be changed from four to six inches for insulation. Yeas: Conway, Gaines, Gibson, Hull, Woodlee, and Rose. Nays: none. THE MOTION CARRIED. (**Secretary’s Note: Commissioner Carlock arrived at this point in the meeting.) 5. UPDATE – INDIGENOUS/NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY & PRESERVATON DESCRIPTION: engagement with the City’s current tell/preserve history related to Native/Indigenous people. More information about Hispanic American history can be found on our website, here: https://www.fcgov.com/nativehistory. STAFF: STAFF PRESENTATION Jim Bertolini, Senior Historic Preservation Planner, provided an update on the City’s outreach and engagement with the current Native and Indigenous community members. He noted there is a new Native History webpage that is part of the Historic Preservation set of equity topics developed over the last few years. Bertolini stated the City engaged a consultant to establish a community advisory panel for City government to advise on Native issues and noted the Natural Areas Department has taken on a lot of the leadership in place-based Native and Indigenous history preservation. Moving forward, Bertolini stated there may be a Code-driven process for project review to include better engagement and consideration of Indigenous history, more public education and engagement projects, and a new oral history context. Bertolini noted this is Native American Heritage Month and noted there is a Native American Cultural Center at CSU which manages much of the celebration of the month. Chair Rose commended the video sent by staff. 6. CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CLG) QUADRENNIAL REVIEW EVALUATION DESCRIPTION: commitment to preserving historic resources and local history. The CLG program is a partnership between the federal, state, local governments to help communities protect their historic resources. The City of Fort Collins has been a CLG since 1991. The National Park Service requires that each CLG be evaluated by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) at least once every four years to ensure that the CLG is fulfilling its responsibilities and to identify areas where more assistance from the SHPO may be helpful. The Colorado SHPO is History Colorado. STAFF: Maren Bzdek, Historic Preservation Manager, introduced Lindsey Flewelling, Certified Local Government Coordinator with History Colorado. Flewelling outlined the Certified Local Government (CLG) program and its benefits noting Fort Collins has been part of the program since 1991. Flewelling outlined the responsibilities of being a CLG: enforcing its own preservation ordinance, establishing and maintaining a Commission, sending meeting minutes to History Colorado, providing for public participation, maintaining a system of survey and inventory, sending at least one Commission member to at least one training per year, and submitting an annual report. Additionally, there is a review every four years, which is what is occurring now that will culminate in a report Flewelling will complete in December. Flewelling commented on the History Colorado Heritage for All Program that has a goal of placing 150 sites associated with underrepresented communities on the State and National Register by 2026. She noted property owners are not responsible for writing the nominations themselves. 7.313 N. MELDRUM ST. (EMMA MALABY GROCERY PROPERTY) – CONCEPTUAL LANDMARK DESIGN REVIEW DESCRIPTION: the City Landmark at 313 N. Meldrum St., the Emma Malaby Grocery Property. The proposal includes structural work on the roof and substitute replacement shingle material, a rear addition, ADA improvements, and other repair or rehabilitation to the existing store detailed below. The owner is seeking initial feedback regarding their concept designs and their consistency with the US Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation prior to commissioning construction drawings and seeking final approval from the HPC. APPLICANT: STAFF: Rebekah Schields, Historic Preservation Specialist (**Secretary’s Note: Vice Chair Gibson withdrew from the discussion of this item due to a conflict of interest.) STAFF PRESENTATION Yani Jones, Historic Preservation Planner, outlined the role of the Commission and showed images of the property and its location. She discussed the history of the site and noted it was designated as a City Landmark with significance under all four standards: events and trends, persons and groups, design and construction, and potential to yield historical archeological information. Jones noted the building was moved to its current location from North College Avenue. Jones outlined the proposed rehabilitation work which includes a proposal to structurally stabilize the roof and replace the material of the roof, reinforcing the chimneys with steel supports, and installing gutters to protect the building from water damage. Jones noted the proposed roofing material would comply with the policy the Commission just adopted. Jones stated another component of the proposed work is a 195 square foot rear addition for a bathroom and kitchenette, which would require water and sewer connections that do not currently exist. Jones provided drawings of the existing building and proposed addition. Proposed ADA improvements include the installation of a permeable pavement system, some concrete landings, and accessible doorways. Jones stated there are a few other rehabilitation items proposed, including rehabilitation of many façade features, repainting of historic signage, repairing or replacing siding in-kind, reroofing of the deck, facia and soffit repair or replacement, repairing wooden pilasters, repairing decorative wooden panels, replacement of porch decking, modifying stairs, installation of a concrete path to the stairs, and replacement of wood door trim. Additionally, there is a plan to repair or replace windows and doors depending on their condition. Jones stated staff has found the project is generally consistent with the Secretary of Interior standards for rehabilitation, the new construction appears to be compatible, distinguishable, reversible, and subordinate to the historic building, the treatments seem to focus on repair over replacement, and replacement in-kind if needed, and restoration of missing elements based on historic photo evidence rather than conjecture. Jones stated staff would like to see more detail around material selections for the addition and siding replacement, as well as more detail around the different levels of repair for windows and doors. Jones provided some questions the Commission could consider, but noted there were no Commission questions at the work session. APPLICANT PRESENTATION Ron Sladek, President of Historic Larimer County, stated this project is undergoing great scrutiny by multiple organizations and agencies and noted there are two grants that are covering the historic structure assessment of the building. He noted the Historic Larimer County Board is dedicated to doing the project appropriately and setting a good example for the community. Sladek mentioned the ADA entrances had to be placed in the rear of the building due to fire department access and stated the building cannot be insured with its wood roof, which is currently leaking. Commissioners commended the work that has been done on the proposal. COMMISSION DISCUSSION Commissioner Gaines supported the staff recommendation for a plan of protection for the historic shed. Commissioner Carlock noted the Commission has been aware of this project for some time and stated everything seems to be in order with the proposal. Additionally, she stated this is likely the most committed group in town to meeting the standards. She expressed support for moving to a final recommendation. Commissioner Gaines moved, seconded by Commissioner Carlock, that the Historic Preservation Commission move to final approval for the proposal for roof work, a rear addition, ADA improvements, and other rehabilitation at the Emma Malaby Grocery property at 313 North Meldrum Street as presented, finding that the proposed work meets the Secretary of Interior standards for rehabilitation subject to the following condition: that staff receive a plan of protection for the historic shed on the property. Meg Dunn, Vice President of Historic Larimer County, noted the roof work will begin soon; however, the addition work will not likely occur for a couple years and they have not yet secured a contractor, which would be the party that completes the plan of protection. Jones noted language for plans of protection typically references ‘at the time of building permitting.’ Commissioner Gaines moved, seconded by Commissioner Carlock, to amend the original motion to state that the plan of protection be provided at the time that the rear addition is permitted for construction. The vote on the amended motion was as follows: Yeas: Carlock, Conway, Gaines, Hull, Woodlee and Rose. Nays: none. THE MOTION CARRIED. Chair Rose thanked Historic Larimer County for their work and investment in Fort Collins’ cultural heritage. •OTHER BUSINESS None. •ADJOURNMENT Chair Rose adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Minutes prepared by and respectfully submitted by Melissa Matsunaka.