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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 02/10/1998• C.4 W LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting February 10, 1998 Council Liaison: Scott Mason Staff Liaison: Joe Frank Commission Chairperson: Jennifer Carpenter (225-0960) SUMMARY OF MEETING: Felix Lee, Director of Building and Zoning gave a presentation for the LPC on the 1997 UCBC adoption. Commission members were able to comment historic properties included in the revised code. The LPC approved final plans for a balcony on the Trimble Block, at 136 - 140 North College. The rear rehabilitation of 214 Linden was approved, including the replacement of a fire escape and the addition of a dumbwaiter. The LPC approved the repair of brick pilasters on the Forrester Block, 200 Walnut. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Jennifer Carpenter, Commission Chairperson called the meeting to order 5:30 p.m., at 281 North College Avenue. Commission members Per Hogestad, Bud Frick, Angela Milewski, Rande Pouppirt, Stephen Short and James Tanner were present. Carol Tunner represented Staff. GUESTS: Richard Beardmore, A.E. Design, consultant for 136 — 140 North College; Felix Lee, Director of Building and Zoning Department; Bill Warren, General Contractor, Joe Doyle, Architect and Richard Scott, Mechanical Engineer for the 214 Linden Street project; Doug Dohn, General Contractor and Dave Veldman, owner, 200 Walnut Street. AGENDA REVIEW: Ms. Tunner postponed the discussion of the Design Assistance Program and the application of Richmond Associates, till the next meeting. STAFF REPORTS: Ms. Tunner distributed the City Plan Executive Summary. She announced that according to a survey conducted, the LPC could meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays. This could begin in March. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Mr. Frick reported that the DDA discussed the Stage Canopy. Ms. Carpenter said that she received a letter concerning the Local Landmark Rehabilitation Grant Program from Angela Brayham, Director of OneWest Art Center. The letter was circulated through the Commission. It concerned the Landmark Rehabilitation Grant Program and differentiating between commercial projects for profit and not for profit. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The January 27, 1998 LPC meeting minutes were corrected: on page 3, the vote on 238 East Mountain Avenue, should be (5-1) with Mr. Short voting nay; on page 9, under the LPC discussion, change it to "Staff responded with two who were not willing: 515 Remington,..."; on page 7, where it reads OneWest #3 score: 10, strike from the record, "a non -consensually designated structure", because it is irrelevant. Landmark Preservation Commission February 10, 1998 Page 2 Mr. Tanner moved to accept the January 27,1998 LPC meeting minutes as amended. Mr. Frick seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (7-0) CONSENT AGENDA: 136 — 140 North College, Trimble Block — Balcony Final Plans Mr. Short moved to approve the consent agenda. Mr. Frick seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (7-0) PRESENTATION: 1997 Uniform Code for Building Conservation Adoption (UCBC)= Felix Lee Director of Building and Zoning The UCBC was adopted by the City in 1991 but the 1994 update version was not adopted. Mr. Lee explained that changes to the 1997 version are minor. Mr. Pouppirt asked why they did not adopt the 1994 version. Mr. Lee explained that the 1994 version was a reformat of the 1991 code. He said that they wanted to have the problems worked out first and Fort Collins has been using the 1991 version since 1994. Ms. Carpenter asked why some sections were left out before and are included now. Mr. Lee said that they do not want to make people go back and renovate, unless new work is being done. He added that they are proposing to delete Chapter 4 at this time. Ms. Carpenter said that adding Historic Buildings to the sentence amends Section 310. The 1991 version said only National Register buildings. Ms. Tunner stated that Mr. Lee will also add State Register to that list. Also, Section 607, #2 "Non -rated materials may be accepted...", will be eliminated. The Fort Collins code does not allow non -rated materials. Mr. Tanner asked if there have been any difficulties since the code was adopted. Mr. Lee said that he has not had any problems and asked the Commission if they had experienced any. Ms. Carpenter said there have been some issues, which have come up regarding guardrails. Mr. Frick said there have also been some issues in dealing with egress and narrower, taller windows in older houses. He asked if they are acceptable or if they have to be altered. Mr. Lee said that they would not have to be changed retroactively. When creating a new room, it could be an issue. Mr. Beardmore, citizen, commented that he lives in Fort Collins and has worked with this code a lot. He said that the City has been tremendously flexible in the Building and Zoning Department. CURRENT DESIGN REVIEW: 214 Linden, Bernheim Block —Rear Rehabilitation Including Replacing a Fire Escaoe and Adding a Dumbwaiter Ms. Tunner explained that Linden's Brewery and Restaurant is adding a catering kitchen to the second floor rear and would like to renovate the rear of the building to install a two- story, stucco faced dumbwaiter. They would also like to replace an old fire escape, which has deteriorated. It does not appear that any historic fabric will be destroyed. Landmark Preservation Commission February 10, 1998 Page 3 Mr. Warren, general contractor, explained that the goal is to create a more user-friendly rear to the building. He described the interior configuration of the building. Employees must use the stairway and accidents have occurred. They plan to build a catering kitchen upstairs and need safety elements. They will use architectural and safety materials for the stair treds. A dumbwaiter will cut down on traffic up and down the stairway. The stairway can not handle a lot of traffic. Three to four dumpsters are currently'' located opposite across the alley. The new stairway will accommodate one large -sized dumpster. Tommy Short owns the north building and Steve Ackerman owns the south one. A twenty-five year lease allowed them to cut a hole on the second floor, so that the two buildings are accessible to each other. The stairway will traverse both buildings. Electrical writing will be relocated to go above the windows. Downspouts will be fixed so they don't dump at the bottom of the stairway. Mr. Short asked if they had ever looked at placing the dumbwaiter inside the building. Mr. Warren explained that they had the building surveyed. They wanted to put it in between the buildings, but the space turned out to belong to the next building. Also, the basement window wells of the Wright Life building encroached into where the dumbwaiter might have gone. Mr. Short again asked about inside the building. Mr. Warren explained that it is extremely tight, only twelve feet wide. He added that a complex menu requires complex kitchen equipment. The bathrooms are also ADA and special finishes took room out of the building. There is also a fire issue of connecting the first and second floors inside the buildings. Therefore, they could not put a dumbwaiter inside. Mr. Short said that he has a problem with making changes based on transient use. It is a very old building, at 110 years and it should not be impacted like this. Ms. Carpenter stated that it is the back of the building and they need to allow for the adaptive reuse. Ms. Tunner read guideline #24, which addresses the development of back entrances for public access to new commercial uses. Mr. Tanner said that the guideline fits this proposal perfectly. Mr. Frick asked if the repaired stucco wall will be re -painted, and it will. Mr. Frick moved to approve the rear rehabilitation including the dumbwaiter and rear staircase at 214 Linden, the Bernheim Block. Mr. Tanner seconded the motion. (6-1) (Yeas: Frick, Tanner, Carpenter, Milewski, Pouppirt, Hogestad) (Nays: Short) 200 Walnut the Forrester Block — Brick Pilaster Problem with Current Building Rehabilitation Ms. Tunner explained that the Forrester Block is currently undergoing a renovation and the contractor has encountered difficulty removing the stucco from two brick pilasters that are located either side of the center first floor entrance and one at the east end of the building. It is not possible to remove the stucco without damaging the existing brick face, and several bricks are already damaged. The contractor has suggested replacing the brick. The LPC Design Review Sub -Committee, along with James Stratis, of the State Historical Society have already met on site. Mr. Stratis recommended that the contractor use sandblasting to remove the stucco and then apply a smooth finish cement mortar skim Landmark Preservation Commission February 10, 1998 Page 4 coat, which would bond to the brick. A mason could then tool in fine butter joints with a faux finish. (The original red brick has fine butter joints filled with matching red mortar.) In the past, it has been difficult to match the existing brick, as seen on the C & S Depot rehabilitation. The contractor would like to do test patch and Staff recommends the proposal. However, Ms. Tunner said that the applicant would like to describeanother idea to fix the pilasters. Mr. Veldman, owner, said that he does not like sandblasting and said that the faux brick doesn't sound good to him. He was understanding of Staff's concerns, regarding matching the brick. Mr. Veldman explained that they are cutting into a storefront on the Pine Street side. He proposes to reuse that brick or even turn the brick around. The brick front is glazed and painted, so they may have to turn the bricks around. Ms. Carpenter reminded Mr. Veldman that Joseph Bell is in charge of the Tax Credit Program, so he needs to be consulted as well. Mr. Dohn, contractor, said that they can't find anyone to do skim coating anyway. Mr. Veldman added that they have enough bricks from the side to re -do the pilasters. Mr. Hogestad asked if they could turn some of the existing pilaster brick around. Mr. Veldman explained that they would have to take them out carefully so as to not damage the inner two layers. Mr. Veldman said that they might want to consider using a penetrating sealer on the new brick pilasters. Ms. Tunner said if so, they should use a breathable sealer. Mr. Short moved to approve reconstruction of the pilasters using salvaged brick from the northwest side. The motion was seconded by Mr. Frick, which passed unanimously. (7-0) DISCUSSION ITEMS: Ms. Tunner explained that review of Don Richmond for the Design Assistance Program will be postponed until the next meeting because he needs time to submit his resume. OTHER BUSINESS: None. The meeting adjourned 6:45 p.m. Submitted by Nicole Sneider, Secretary, from staff notes and recorded tapes.