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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 07/22/1997LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting July 22, 1997 Council Liaison: Scott Mason Staff Liaison: Joe Frank Commission Chairperson: Jennifer Carpenter (225-0690) SUMMARY OF MEETING: The LPC approved the demolition and alterations to portions of the Union Pacific Freight Depot, 350 Linden Street. The LPC denied a request for neon signage at the Millenium Gallery, 213 Jefferson Street based on guideline #52 and #53. The LPC briefly discussed the demolition delay process and the increase in neon signage in the Old Town area. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Ms. Carpenter, Commission Chairperson called the meeting to order 5:42 p.m., 281 North College Avenue. Commission members Angela Milewski, Stephen Short and James Tanner were present. Karen McWilliams represented staff. GUESTS: Pete Cottier and Bill Sears for 351 Linden Street, Union Pacific Freight Depot Demolition. AGENDA REVIEW: Ms. McWilliams added the discussion of a proposed neon sign for the storefront of 213 Jefferson, the Millenium Gallery, under other business. STAFF REPORTS: The National Trust for Historic Preservation will be holding its fifty-first meeting in Santa Fe, October 14 to 19. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Mr. Tanner reported that his neighbor was able to tear down an old garage without going through the demolition delay process. She had the structure condemned in order to demolish it. Ms. Carpenter said the Commission and staff need to straighten out the demolition delay ordinance. The LPC then discussed some of the drawbacks of how the demolition delay ordinance is currently written. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The June 24, 1997 LPC meeting minutes were accepted as submitted. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 350 Linden Street. Union Pacific Freight Depot — Demolition Review Ms. McWilliams reported that the building is more than fifty years old and considered architecturally and historically significant. It was constructed in 1911 with typical railroad Landmark Preservation commission Regular Meeting Minutes Jury 22, 1997 Page 2 architecture. She explained that the applicant, Pete Cottier, owner, has complied with provisions #1 through #4 of Section 14-72 of the Fort Collins City code. Staff recommends approving the request for alterations/demolition of portions of the old U. P. Freight Depot. Non-structural alterations to the windows and doors and the addition of a handicapped access ramp are proposed. Ms. Carpenter asked if the window and door openings would be retained where they exist. Mr. Cottier explained that on the north side of the building there are six freight doors, originally for a rail spur. Above each door are transom lights. The doors are eight feet high with a two -foot transom. On the south side every other space contains an overhead door. One door is missing. One door is also gone from the east side and two doors are present. He explained his intent for the building. He is interested in adaptive reuse. The building will probably never be used as a rail freight depot again and it not setup to work for truck deliveries. He proposes to use the property for office space over time. Mr. Cottier would like to save the transom lights over the doors and remove the doors on the south and west sides to glaze the openings in. They want to create a more modem look, instead of recreating the historic look. On the north side, every other opening will be installed with glass and the removed doors will be doubled up onto the existing doors in order to be saved. No structural alterations will be performed. The canopy and the brackets will remain to give the building some identification with the railroad. Mr. Cottier explained that these details are the real architectural features of the building and that the aesthetics are what will make the building lease. The Commission discussed parking and the street configuration. Mr. Cottier said that the windows in the front are wood. He would like to restore them in the future and does not want to replace them with aluminum frames. The windows are tall, so they will not be able to find windows with an operable sash. They will try to find window replacements which are affordable. The old windows may be used somewhere inside. Ms. Carpenter discussed problems with the demolition delay procedure. She also commented that the completely different use of this building really demonstrates an adaptive re -use. Mr. Tanner moved to approve the demolition and/or alterations of portions of the old Union Pacific Freight Depot, 350 Linden Street. The motion was seconded by Mr. Short, which passed unanimously. (4-0) The Commission discussed the benefits and detriments of demolition review, and the Commission's purview in the process. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. McWilliams presented a proposal for a neon sign installation in the storefront window at 213 Jefferson. The sign would hang on the interior of the window at the Millenium Gallery. The sign is a 4 feet 6 inch by 4 feet, smoke flex fan shaped, neon sign with three-inch returns. The sign is to hang from gold chains. The LPC said that according to Historic Old Town Design Guideline #52, the sign must be subordinate to the storefront and subordinate in size to the other facade elements. The Commission explained that Guideline #53 requires that the sign be compatible in color and materials r Landmark Preservation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 22, 1997 Page 3 with the building and with the street design as a whole. The LPC discussed similar applications for neon signage, such as Elliott's Bar and the tobacco shop next door. Ms. Carpenter pointed out that according to the measurements of the proposed sign, it would be taking up almost the entire window. She explained that they are beginning to see an increase in neon signage. Neon is not allowed in most other historic districts. Fort Collins has allowed limited neon. Too much neon signage will take away from the historic feeling of Old Town. She explained that neon primary signs are different than small secondary signs. The storefront window is only six by seven feet. The LPC requested because of this trend in neon signage, such signs should not be reviewed administratively. Mr. Short suggested that they do not encourage people to use neon signage. Ms. Milewski explained that they have allowed both neon signs and large signs. In this case, you have a combination of a large sign in neon. Ms. Carpenter commented that the neon brightness takes away from the historic features of the building. Mr. Short suggested that they create some type of guideline to measure the proportion of neon to the storefront. Ms. Carpenter requested that the LPC discuss neon signage at the next meeting and stated that Staff does not have any clear guidelines for administrative review of neon. Mr. Short moved to deny the request for the proposed 4.6 by 4 feet neon sign, for the Millenium Gallery, 213 Jefferson Street based on Guidelines #52 and #53. The motion was seconded by Ms. Milewski, which passed unanimously. (4-0) "Entrance to The Past" — A Training Video on Access and Historic Preservation Due to technical problems the LPC did not view this video as part of their on -going training and education on Historic Preservation efforts. The meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.