HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 04/25/2001LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
April 25, 2001 Minutes
Council Liaison: Eric Hamrick
Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376)
Commission Chairperson: Per Hogestad (416-7285)
SUMMARY OF MEETING: The Nix Farm at 1745 Hoffman Mill Road was
recommended for local designation; also final plans were reviewed for the
historic buildings and a new maintenance facility to be constructed on the site.
The LPC approved a front porch addition and rear door replacement for 630
Peterson. The LPC heard a preliminary discussion of relocating the Harmony
Store on the corner of Harmony and Timberline.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mr. Per Hogestad called the meeting to order
at 5:40 p.m. at 281 North College Avenue. Commission members Angela
Milewski, Janet Ore, Agnes Dix, Myrne Watrous, Per Hogestad, and Bud Frick
were present. Ms. Angie Aguilera had an excused absence. Carol Tunner, Karen
McWilliams and Joe Frank represented staff.
GUESTS: Randy and Jo Lutrell, owners of 630 Peterson St., Mark Thorburn for 200 E.
Plum, Phi Delta Theta House; Mark Sears, Natural Resources Department, Project
Manager; Ian Shuff, Dave Lingle, architect, for 1745 Hoffman Mill Road; Matt Baker,
Street Oversizing Coordinator for Harmony Cash Store.
AGENDA REVIEW: No changes.
STAFF REPORTS: Ms. Tunner passed out National Historic Preservation Month
handouts. She also announced that the Friend of Preservation awards will be
presented at 5:30 p.m. on May 15"', before the City Council meeting. Ms. Tunner
passed around a Nelson Milkhouse pamphlet, and spoke of events planned for
Preservation month. The preservation month proclamation will be presented at 5:30
p.m., May 15i before City Council.
COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: none.
Introduction of new Council Liaison, Eric Hamrick.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Feb. 28t'. No changes.
CONSENT AGENDA:
• 200 E. Plum, Phi Delta Theta House - Reroofing.
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April 25, 2001 Meeting Minutes
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Mr. Mark Thorburn, owner's representative, passed around an example of green asphalt
shingles (Elk Prestique) to be put on the Phi Delta Theta House. Mr. Frick moved that
the LPC approve the roofing material as presented. Seconded by Ms. Dix and
passed unanimously, 6-0.
DESIGNATION:
1) 1745 Hoffman Mill Road, Nix Farm
Ms. McWilliams presented a report on the Nix Farm. It includes a large Craftsman style
main home, an older farmhouse, and a ramp barn that is very rare in this area. The
storage shed on the property is used for hay storage and as an animal shelter. Staff
recommends the designation of the site (27.5 acres plus 4 historic structures) at 1745
Hoffman Mill Road, known as Nix Farm for landmark designation.
Public input: none.
Ms. Ore moved that the LPC designate, as a historic landmark, the Nix farm at 1745
Hoffman Mill Road. Seconded by Ms. Dix and approved unanimously, 6-0.
CURRENT REVIEW:
1) Nix Farm, 1745 Hoffman Mill Road (Two historic houses, barn, 3-sided shed)
Mr. Mark Sears, Project Director, presented the City's design plans. The facility will be
surrounded by natural areas, and is in the immediate vicinity of the Poudre Trail.
Hoffman Mill Road is a private drive, the easement dating back to the turn of the last
century. They propose maintaining the entrance road, slightly enlarging the circular
road, and converting the main Craftsman style house to an office building for
approximately 30 people. The City will use an older farm house on the property for the
City's canine police facility, and the barn will be used for storage. The barn is in fairly
good shape, but will need to be secured. A 3-sided shed will need repair, but will be
restored and used for storage of landscaping materials. The City is proposing to build a
maintenance area — an 8-stall garage to store vehicles and equipment, with a small
shop for the maintenance crew, and a lunch room and washroom. There will be a
paved apron around the building. In the future they plan an additional 3-sided shed for
extra storage, and a hazardous materials storage building. The main road will be paved
with chip seal to help maintain the historic look. Leaving it as a gravel road would cause
problems due to the high use and potential dust problems.
Mr. Lingle, architect of the project, added that two spruce trees that are in good
condition will be maintained and incorporated into the landscaping plan. Grant monies
will be pursued as restoration funds for the barn and older house. The house roofs and
barn roof need to be replaced. The City is proposing MR 24 style roof on the new
maintenance building. They plan a corrugated, screw -down type roof for the barn. The
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April 25, 2001 Meeting Minutes
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a
maintenance building, will have bevel, lap wood siding, painted white with green trim.
The standing seam, batten profile, seamed metal roof will be in gray or antique gray.
The older (east) house requires replacement wood shingles because raccoons are
destroying the roof. The stucco on the Craftsman house will be repaired only where
needed, cleaned and repainted. The existing windows are double hung, gridded
pattern in upper sash, non-gridded in lower sash. These will be repaired, with new
storm windows added. The City plans to remove the aluminum windows and the storm
door to be replaced with wood. (The front porch was enclosed in 1995.) The enclosed
porch will be used as office/lobby, with copy machine. The windows in the enclosed
porch do not have historical significance, and do not have to be restored.
Mr. Ian Shuff, architect, spoke of the City's plans for the new maintenance building on
site. The siding will be tapered, wood lap, fir, painted, and in the same style as the
larger house. The roofing will be agricultural -look metal roofing in gray or antique gray.
The rock veneer will be local river -rock, placed along the bottom portion of the
maintenance building. A cupola will be added, but the LPC commented that if the
cupola is added a larger one than is shown in the plans would be more appropriate. It
will be roofed with standard metal corrugated roofing material.
Concerning the barn, Ms. Dix asked how old the current metal roofing is. Mr. Shuff
replied that he is unsure, but that it could be the original roof. Of the two grays, the LPC
leaned toward preferring the antique gray, "Zactique" brand. The other gray looked a
great deal like primer.
Public input: None.
Mr. Frick moved to approve the new maintenance facility with the "Zantique"
color roof as presented, and the west house restoration with the porch windows
being double hung without divided lights in the upper sashes. Cedar tapersawn
roofing shingles are to be used on the east and west houses, and the corrugated
metal roof on the barn should be of the same "Zantique" color. The proposed
elements on the site plan to be constructed as presented. Ms. Dix seconded the
motion, which was approved unanimously, 6-0.
2) 630 Peterson, Addle DeBolt House.
Randy and Jo Lutrell, the owners of the Addie DeBolt house at 630 Peterson Street,
presented their plans. They would like to replace the concrete steps, which have no
historic value, and replace them with a poured concrete porch, rounded to echo the
shape of the house. The LPC suggested that the concrete be buff -colored to match the
color of the house's foundation. Mr. And Mrs. Lutrell liked that idea. It is not clear right
now about whether or not a railing is required. When more information on the need for
a railing is available they will bring their ideas back for conceptual review. The owners
would also like to replace the back door with a door more in keeping with the historic
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period of the house, and repair the damaged eaves. They have located a period door
from Empire Carpentry.
The railing will only be needed if the porch is over 30 inches high from the ground, and
the owners plan that the porch height will be less than this.
Mr. Frick asked if they are planning on curving the steps to match the porch? They
replied yes. Mr. Frick suggested that the top of the porch project slightly over the steps,
with a small lip on each step, and that there be a minimal slope to the porch deck, away
from the house for water runoff. Mr. Frick provided a sketch of these things for the
record.
Public input: none.
Ms. Milewski moved to approve the final plans for the concrete porch addition
and rear door replacement to 630 Peterson Street, based on the revisions made to
the porch by Mr. Frick. Motion was seconded by Ms. Dix, and passed
unanimously, 6-0.
DISCUSSION ITEM:
Harmony Store and Gas Station — Relocation.
Matt Baker, City Street Oversizing Coordinator, presented new information on the
Harmony Store and Gas station. Despite heroic efforts by the City, it appears that the
Harmony Store will have to be moved off the site, and possibly demolished. The street
needs to be widened and the property owner has a contract to sell the property. The
new owner has no interest in preserving the building. He has property adjacent to the
Harmony Store and wishes to develop it.
Mr. Baker stated that the City's preferred option was to move the building off site. The
store and garage are in the right-of-way take. The roadway will go through store, and
the future sidewalk will go through the garage. Buildings must be moved as soon as
possible. Court actions are scheduled to obtain a right of way to build the road. The
new owner will get his access off of Timberline Lane, a smaller street off of Timberline
Road.
Ms. Watrous asked if any of this property or the buildings have been designated. She
was informed that none of it has been so designated.
Mr. Baker was asked if the 80 ft. setback is required for the Harmony Corridor Plan. Can
historic structures be used in this corridor? Mr. Baker replied that yes, they can, but the
owner doesn't want this because they will block the view of his planned building.
Ms. Watrous replied that the historic value of the buildings is largely due to their
location.
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The Commission asked if there is a chance that the new owner will negotiate if he is
allowed a variance of the 80 ft. setback requirement. There are two separate structures
under discussion — the garage and the store. The parcel is extremely small, so
perhaps he would be willing to negotiate if he were allowed to have parking close to
Harmony Rd.
Ms. Ore asked how might we facilitate a negotiation like that?
Ms. McWilliams replied that perhaps this could be done through a design review
committee.
There is also an irrigation ditch there, owned by the ditch company. The City is
soliciting bids to temporarily relocate the house, somewhere close to the site in one of
the City's natural areas. This needs to be done soon for the road -widening project. At
that time, the City will become the owner of the house. The public hearing for the
Demolition/Relocation of the buildings will be May 9th.
Ms. Ore asked if the City is documenting the site? Ms. McWilliams replied that the City
currently does not have permission to set foot on the property, so they have not
documented it yet. However, as soon as permission is received and before the building
is moved, a professional preservation photographer will take large format B&W archival
photographs, and a preservation consulting firm will complete the historical and
architectural documentation. On May 16th the City will be obtaining the right of way, and
moving the gas station, but the garage will stay at that time. It is possible to move both
the structures at the same time.
The LPC commends the City for their efforts to save this building and for their
willingness to take the LPC's concerns into consideration.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Announcement by Mr. Frank that the City has been able to increase Ms. Tunner and
Ms. McWilliams to 80% time.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Connie Merrill.