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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 05/09/2001LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting May 9, 2001 Minutes Council Liaison: Eric Hamrick (226-4824) Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chairperson: Per Hogestad (416-7285) SUMMARY OF MEETING: The LPC discussed the removal of the Harmony Store at 2032 Harmony Road, approving the Store's movement to the Southridge Golf Course Maintenance Facility. The LPC also approved the rehabilitation plan for 626 S. Meldrum Street, and addressed some concerns about the earth moving at Preston Farm. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: W.J. "Bud" Frick called the meeting to order at 5:42 p.m. at 281 North College Avenue. Commission members Agnes Dix, Angie Aguilera, Myrne Watrous, Angie Milewski, W.J. "Bud" Frick, and Janet Ore. Per Hogestad arrived late. Carol Tunner and Karen McWilliams represented Staff. GUESTS: Alyson McGee and Mary Humstone of Historic Fort Collins Development Corp., Matt Baker, Street Oversizing Coordinator and Eileen Bayens, Civil Engineer, both of the Engineering Department, all for the Harmony Gas Station Demolition/Alteration Review. AGENDA REVIEW: No Changes STAFF REPORTS: 1) Ms. Tunner handed out Preservation Week posters. 2) The handicapped ramp for Preston Farm came under discussion. The current ramp design may lead to falls by people descending the ramp. A design change, per Administrative Approval, to move the stairs to the left was discussed. This change would move the stairs away from the end of the landing. Mr. Frick asked Ms. McGee, if this was a change to adhere to code or just a safety issue. Ms. McGee replied that it is not a code issue, but is merely a common sense approach to this safely issue. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Ms. Milewski attended a DDA meeting. The owner of Ben and Jerry's in Old Town Square is trying to start a project to build a playground downtown, in the Old Town Square. The square is becoming less family oriented than desired, and he feels that the playground will improve this situation. The playground structures will have a sculptural feel that will invite people to come play on them. This was a conceptual discussion with the DDA of future possibilities rather than a request for funds. In the past few meetings the DDA has also discussed a sign on the corner of Laporte and College. A nightclub there called Johnny's Place, had put up a large red illuminated sign. There has been a re-evaluation of this by the DDA, to see if there is a possibility that this sign can be changed to a more respectable marquee. Landmark Preservation Commission May 9, 2001 Meeting Minutes Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 14 minutes. Pg. 3 — "funky looking" should be changed to "clunky looking." Motion to approve the minutes as amended by Ms. Ore. Seconded by Angie Aguilera. Motion passed unanimously, 6-0. DEMOLITION/ALTERATION REVIEW PUBLIC HEARING: 2032 Harmony Road, Harmony Store and Garage — Moving the Store (Karen McWilliams, Preservation Planner). The City's Master Street map, adopted by the City Council, necessitates the moving of the Harmony Store and Garage. The City must move or demolish the Harmony Store to allow for the street widening of Timberline Road. The Harmony store is the only extant store/gas station from the first quarter of the previous century. It is eligible for designation as a Local Landmark but has not been designated. Staff recommends approving the request for relocation of the Harmony Cash Store/Harmony Gas Station, 2032 E. Harmony Road. Staff noted that this action is only for the Harmony Store; the Harmony Garage Building will not have to be moved. Mr. Frick asked Mr. Baker, Street Oversizing Coordinator for the City of Fort Collins, if there is any way to move the store on the same site, back away from the road? Mr. Baker replied that there is no way to do that. Mr. Frick asked that, if the building were designated as a landmark, does this mean it is designated wherever it is located as it moves around town? Would this prevent the building being moved? Ms. McWilliams replied that landmark designation would not keep this building on the site. The street widening is imminent and the City considers it to be a health/safety issue. Furthermore, conditional rezoning is not possible. There is no mechanism to force someone to accept the store back on its original site, if the owner of the property doesn't want it. Ms. Dix. mentioned that once you've moved a building, and it's orphaned, it has lost a lot of its integrity. She is concerned that this will happen to this building. A landmarked building off -site loses much of its historic value. Mr. Frick agreed that the building is still important, but not as important as the building on its original site. Ms. Milewski asked how much significance does this building, without its site, have? The Store should come back to its site. Ms. Watrous asked if the moving of the gas station could be delayed by 45 days, to try to reach an agreement with the owner that the store would be returned to its site. Landmark Preservation Commis • May 9, 2001 Meeting Minutes Page 3 Ms. McWilliams replied that it wouldn't help in this case. The City has been negotiating with the owners for over two years, and through the attorneys for the past 3 months, and no compromises have been possible. Ms. Dix added that actually they have been dealing with two owners — the City and the owner of the property. Ms. Tunner asked if the City could use imminent domain to get the site. Ms. McWilliams replied that right of way funds can only be used for roadway right of ways. Not for any of the rest of the site. Ms. Watrous asked if any of this has generated neighborhood concern. Ms. McWilliams replied that it hasn't really. A few phone calls have been received on whether people can buy the building, but not any for trying to preserve the building on its site. Ms. Tunner asked if there has been any publicity about the matter. McWilliams replied that the City has sent out all of the required public information, has spoken to historic interest groups, and has sent out two separate mailings to interested property owners in that area. Public input: Mary Humstone, representing Historic Fort Collins Development Corp, has been working to preserve properties in the Harmony corridor. She feels it is important to keep this building on its site. In Ms. McWilliams' report, they speak of the intent to return store to its site. Ms. Humstone asked what provisions have been made. Ms. McWilliams replied that nothing in any of the codes, the Landmark Preservation Code, the City code, etc., would force the property owner to take back the store once it is moved off his property, if he does not want to. Ms. Humstone asked about what negotiations have been attempted. Ms. McWilliams replied that they are working to negotiate with the owners but at this point the owners seem totally unwilling to negotiate. Ms. Humstone asked if Harmony comer itself could be considered as a landmark, and if the LPC intended to comment on the prospective owner's application to rezone the neighboring property at the Council hearing? Ms. Humstone was informed that the LPC is not an advisory board to the City Council, however, staff will investigate if the Commission can comment. LPC members could come as individuals to the Council meeting. If the Commission as a body can comment to Council on this issue, Ms. McWilliams said she would be willing to draft a letter to the City Council. It was determined that a change of zone on the neighboring property by itself would have no effect on the City's treatment of the Harmony Store. However, the neighboring property owner has said that if his is rezoned then he will purchase the store site to develop the property. Ms. Milewski said she believed that this neighbor's rezone would have a major impact on the adjacent properties and their significance. Landmark Preservation Commission May 9, 2001 Meeting Minutes Page 4 Alyson McGee, representing Historic Ft. Collins Dev. Corp and CSU Architectural Preservation Institute, asked that because there is not enough room on the site for both the non -significant house and the store, could the house be demolished and the store moved back onto the site, since the house does not have historic significance. Ms. McWilliams replied that the owner is not interested in doing that. The house is rented and is generating income. Ms. McGee asked if the LPC could put on a condition that rezoned properties not adversely impact adjacent properties. Ms. McWilliams said that would be difficult to defend. The building itself will be moved off -site, so the rezoning won't impact it as adjacent property. Ms. McGee asked if the City could purchase the site and use it, for instance, as a bus station. This would meet well with the current development in that area. Ms. McWilliams replied that the City has identified several uses for the property, as a Police substation, etc. However, someone else has a contract to purchase it. Ms. McGee added that she has never received any of the mailings, even though she is on the mailing list. Ms. McWilliams said that she would like a motion to allow the building to be relocated to the Southridge Golf Course maintenance facility. Ms. Watrous asked if the LPC can require the owners to come to speak, or if the LPC could delay its decision until the owners come to speak to the LPC. Ms. McWilliams replied that requiring the owners to come to speak was not an option. Mr. Baker added that construction of the roadway has begun. Preparatory tasks are currently underway for the street widening. Ms. Ore asked how non-consensual designation works. Ms. McWilliams explained the process. She stated that because the City needs to widen the road, the building would still be moved. The road widening is causing the building to be moved. Ms. Milewski moved to approve the temporary relocation of the Harmony Cash Store at 2032 Harmony Road to the Southridge Golf Course Maintenance Facility. Seconded by Ms. Aguilera. Motion approved, 5-0, Mr. Hogestad abstained because he was absent from the first part of the discussion. Current Review: 626 S. Meldrum, Price Paired Home, 626 S. Meldrum — Conceptual/Final Review of Rehabilitation for Landmark Rehab Loan Program (David Alciatore) Landmark Preservation Commis! • May 9, 2001 Meeting Minutes Page 5 Staff report: Mr. Alciatore has received a local landmark loan, and would like to begin his work on his property at 626 S. Meldrum Street. Mr. Alciatore owns one-half of this house, called the Price Paired Home. The work he completed last year with grant monies includes repairs to masonry, drainage, and windows. The new work he has planned with loan money concerns repair of the porch, replacement of mismatched bricks, repair to the coal chute, back porch screens and door, and the placement of a concrete slab inside the basement corner. Staff recommends that this work be done, further recommending that red mortar be used to match with the original. Also, the whole porch will be repaired, even though only the south half of the porch is designated. The LPC asked that matching funds be used to repair the non -designated part of the porch. The owner of the other side of the porch does not object to Mr. Alciatore repairing the whole porch. Concerning the concrete slab in the basement, the LPC recommends doweling into the sandstone in the foundation comers and crawlspace when the slab is poured. This will add a little bit of support. The dowels are about a foot long and go about 6 inches into the concrete. Mr. Hogestad asked why the wall is there in the basement. Mr. Alciatore responded that he didn't know. He thinks that the builders didn't want to excavate any more. Mr. Frick added that it may be that the outside stone work doesn't go down as far. Ms. Milewski asked if the concrete slab is justified under the loan application because it strengthens the building structurally. Mr. Frick replied that yes, it was justified. As long as they dowel it in, it should help with structural integrity of the building. Mr. Alciatore said that the front porch work would be done by Kevin Murray, of Empire Carpentry. Ms. Watrous said that the siding on the front porch doesn't look like original siding. Mr. Alciatore replied that it's not original. The original porch stuck out a little bit further, and was a little bit wider. He added, however, that the current porch has been there as long as his neighbor has lived in the house, and she's been there 40 years. Ms. Watrous asked if he was going to replace the coal chute itself. Was he planning on replacing actual door, or putting a storm window in there? Mr. Alciatore replied that it would be rebuilt exactly as it is. He will also replace the rotted wood inside, and he would like to put in a removable window to reduce the significant draft that goes through there now. Public input: None. A motion was put forward by Ms. Ore to accept the rehabilitation plan for 626 S. Meldrum Street. Seconded by Ms. Milewski, with a friendly amendment by Mr. Hogestad to include the doweling of the slab to the foundation walls. The LPC's Landmark Preservation Commission May 9, 2001 Meeting Minutes Page 6 recommendation is to space these dowels on 2 ft. centers and a 12-inch No. 4 bar, 24 inches on center. Motion approved unanimously, 6-0. If Mr. Alciatore finds that there is a problem with the recommendation and amendment by the LPC he will contact staff. Other Business: The Friend of Preservation Awards will be presented next Tuesday night before the City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Ms. Tunner would like an LPC member there. Mr. Frick will be there, and Mr. Hogestad may be able to attend. Ms. Tunner wanted to make the LPC aware that the First Baptist Church at 328 Remington (that has a SHF grant) went into foreclosure, but was recently bought by the Terry Shore's Community Church. The church members have been working on the property, have cleaned it up, and had their first church service last Sunday. The new owners are asking for the SHF grant to be transferred to them and are obtaining the required matching monies. The owners are willing to designate the building. The earth moving at the Preston Farm site also came under discussion. This earth moving is threatening the historic buildings, and in particular the turkey house. There is evidence that the machines have nicked the turkey house, and the earth -movers have removed the earth to within a few inches of the buildings. The City's drawings don't show the turkey house in the correct location, and there is no protection around any of the buildings except for the grain elevator. The builders should be required to put up a fence to protect the buildings. They are designated buildings and the contractor is legally mandated to follow the plan as given to the City. The slope of the detention pond also seems to be steeper than on the drawings, which show it as a gentle slope. Now there is a very steep slope located one inch from the corner of the turkey house. The Commission is concerned that a heavy rain will result in damage to the turkey house. LPC would like to direct staff to look at the problems on this property and make sure that the contractor and developer (Western Property Associates) look after the welfare of the buildings in question. The owner should also send a letter to the contractor saying that damage has been sustained. Meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. Minutes submitted by Connie Merrill, Secretary