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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 09/15/1993t LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Worksession Meeting September 15, 1993 Council Liaison: Gerry Horak Staff Liaison: Joe Frank SUMMARY OF MEETING: The LPC heard a conceptual design review for Beau Jo's Pizza; discussed a recommendation to City Council on the Cunningham Corners Barn; viewed a presentation on the River Walk; reviewed possible changes to the Landmark Code; and discussed further survey work. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Commission Chairman Jennifer Carpenter called the meeting to order at 5:36 pm, 281 North College Avenue. Secretary Diane Slater called the roll. Commission members Jennifer Carpenter, Richard Hill, Jean Kullman, and James Tanner were present. Bud Frick arrived at 6:45 pm. Ruth Weatherford and Kirk Winkelmeyer were absent. Joe Frank and Carol Tunner represented staff. GUESTS: Susanne Edminster, City Financial Policy Analyst; Rheba Massey, Local Historian at the Public Library; Bruce Hendee, Chairman of Challenge Fort Collins; Brian O'Rourke, President of BeauJo's Pizza; Tom Sprung of Sprung Construction; Jeff Berge of Young Sign Corp.; and Karen McWilliams, private citizen. AGENDA REVIEW: Mr. Frank added the October 5 City Council meeting to discuss the Linden Hotel and Ms. Carpenter added the Old Town canopy under Discussion Items. Ms. Tunner added BeauJo's under Design Review -Conceptual. STAFF REPORT: Mr. Frank passed out copies of a draft report on Neighborhood Compatibility. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: There were none. DISCUSSION ITEMS (PART 1): Ms. Carpenter said she had a discussion with Council Member Gerry Horak in which he requested a recommendation from the LPC regarding the moving of the barn with City financial support. Ms. Edminster said that the City is committed to moving it correctly and installing it on a foundation properly. She has talked to the Leidholts, who won the bid to receive the barn. The City will contract with a reputable, insured firm for the moving and construction of a foundation footing. The Leidholts have an offer from a local construction firm at a reduced rate. Landmark Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 1, 1993 Page 2 Ms. Carpenter said that the LPC must make a recommendation to City Council about how much of the $20,000 should come from the HRPP funds. Ms. Edminster noted that the City Council had passed a resolution on the entire amount but that it still must be passed as an ordinance. Mr. Frank noted that the LPC had decided at the last meeting to ask for more time to seek a grant. Ms. Edminster said that the City was looking at a decision on October 5 so that the barn could be moved before winter weather. However, the second City Council meeting in October would still leave sufficient time. Ms. Tunner said that chances of being awarded an emergency grant from the State Historical Fund are best if the City is the applicant. They require at least a 10% match amount. It takes about two months to process since they meet the second Wednesday of the month and then it would take another month to write the contract, totalling two months from the time submitted. Ms. Edminster asked if this would include a repay and Ms. Tunner said she would check and that it is also recommended that the requested amount stay within the $7,000 range. Ms. Edminster explained that the City Purchasing Office looked for movers with experience in terms of guarantees and bonding and does not think that either the volunteer local construction firm will be able to make those guarantees. Ms. Edminster will check with Purchasing and get back to staff. Ms. Carpenter also requested that staff go ahead and apply for the grant. The LPC then discussed the recommendation to City Council regarding the expenditure of $20,000 and Ms. Carpenter asked for Commission consensus to pass on to City Council. Mr. Frick, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Tanner recommended moving ahead and spending up to the $20,000 amount authorized. Ms. Kullman said she would like to see more of a public benefit and asked if there was a way to guarantee the restoration. Ms. Edminster suggested that it would be possible to write in penalties for failure to restore the barn. Ms. Massey asked if the barn could be designated before it is moved and Ms. Tunner said it could be. Mr. Frank asked Ms. Edminster the deadline for the letter and she replied October 5. Staff will start the designation process on October 6 if City Council approves the expenditure. Mr. Frank reviewed the main points to be included in the letter to City Council: 1) spending up to $20,000 to move the barn and lay a new foundation; 2) looking at the lowest bid and/or using volunteers; 3) applying for the emergency grant and looking into repay provision; 4) starting the landmark designation; and 5) looking into guarantees of the work being done. Mr. Tanner recommended that the Commission present the recommendation to the Council very positively for a number of reasons: it is one of the few agricultural structures left; it has been surveyed; it is eligible and is in the process of nomination; and $20,000 is a very small amount to preserve this structure. Landmark Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 1, 1993 Page 3 THE RIVER WALK - BRUCE HENDEE Ms. Carpenter introduced Mr. Hendee and noted that this project received nine times the number of votes of any other Challenge Fort Collins project. He showed slides of other successful riverwalks and discussed how the Poudre River project might be developed. He would like to focus on bringing science and education to the river. He noted that Fort Collins has lots of existing facilities which can be tied together. Mr. Tanner suggested adding Jefferson Street to the list of benefits. Ms. Tunner noted that the Union Pacific trestle bridge is a 1911 railroad structure that she would like to see preserved. Mr. Hendee has spoken to CSU about opening an interpretive center in natural gas research at the Power Plant. The riverwalk theme is focus on education in the Arts, Science and Environment. Mr. Hendee listed several things that need to happen. First, a feasibility study, reviewing the flood plain, historical areas, wildlife habitat, land ownership, natural areas, existing uses, what is available for redevelopment, and pulling together other studies that have been done but show only a part of the picture of what needs to be done. Second, they need to begin consensus building and involve local groups. Third, he estimates that $40,000 to $50,000 would be needed for the initial studies. They are asking City Council for an initial $10,000, applying to the National Endowment of the Arts for $20,000 and looking for another $10,000 from private donors. Fourth, a first phase of implementation would be to redevelop a section of the river and improve the stream habitat. Finally, work would begin on other sections of the river. Ms. Massey asked about the other studies which have been done and Mr. Hendee said that they did not look at redevelopment and this study would develop design guidelines as well as incorporating the natural areas plan. He would like to be able to find the space for a performing arts center. Mr. Hendee said he does have a support letter to the City Council from the LPC dated April and would appreciate a updated letter. DESIGN REVIEW: Present were Brian O'Rourke, President of BeauJo's; Tom Sprung of Sprung Construction, the general contractors; and Jeff Berge of Young Sign Company of Denver. Ms. Tunner explained that the LPC would be hearing a conceptual review this evening and the final review would be Oct. 6. Mr. O'Rourke began by explaining that he represents himself and not the landlord, especially as regards the replacing of building awnings. He said that BeauJo's would like to use a burgundy color similar to what is now in place, remove the stripe and add gold piping. They will replace the material and use the existing frames. They will remove the awning on College Landmark Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 1, 1993 Page 4 Avenue, which is 40 ft. long. This decision is based on historic data as well as other considerations. They have also uncovered three original windows on the College Avenue wall and the two outside windows will get new awnings. He noted that the door is pictured incorrectly on the colored elevations. Mr. Sprung noted that the sills are not in the three windows and said he will replace the sills to match the existing original lintels, which can be done locally. Ms. Tunner said the plans for the sills would have to be graphically detailed for the record and Mr. Frick suggested a section drawing through the window with a written description. Mr. Sprung said the windows would need to be reglazed since they have been painted. Mr. O'Rourke showed a sample of the burgundy awning fabric, a sunbrella acrylic. It will have gold piping and beige lettering to match the paint trim on the windows and door frame and will incorporate their logo. Mr. Frank asked if they would be matching the two entryways by painting and Ms. Tunner noted that repainting was necessary. Mr. O'Rourke said they would not be doing painting other than the trim and asked about removing the Stone Lion sign painted on the College Avenue wall. Ms. Tunner said it could be painted out and Mr. Frick said to paint it the color of the basewall. Mr. O'Rourke asked. about a double door entry and Ms. Carpenter suggested checking historic files for documentation. The LPC also requested a plan view of where any patio fencing would go as well as a scale drawing of the fence. Ms. Tunner said that signage is normally done under administrative review. If the awnings were shown as a sign, they could go under design review. The LPC also recommended gooseneck lighting for the awning signage. The LPC then gave permission for Mr. O'Rourke to remove the old awnings fabrics. DISCUSSION ITEMS (PART In: CHANGES TO THE LANDMARK CODE Mr. Frank introduced the topic in the context of streamlining service to the public by allowing staff to handle some routine matters under guidelines determined by the LPC. Mr. Frick asked how the choices about what could be handled by staff and what would require referral to the commission would be made. Mr. Frank suggested that clearly controversial matters would automatically come under LPC review and further suggested some broad areas such as awnings and minor changes to LPC already approved plans, that might be appropriate for staff review. This approach would actually reduce staff time since no staff report would be required and would lead to faster customer service. Ms. Carpenter suggested restructuring the design review Landmark Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 1, 1993 Page 5 process so a subcommittee would perform the reviews and the full commission would approve or disapprove the recommendations. Mr. Frank suggested a tiered system and noted that any change in the code would require City Council approval. Mr. Tanner asked for a definition of minor changes and Mr. Frank said that the staff would rely on experience and preferred broad guidelines rather than a specific list. He will return to the commission with revised guidelines based on the discussion. Mr. Frank presented background information and said that City Council is scheduled to make a decision regarding the Linden Hotel at their October 5 meeting. An ordinance is required to appropriate any monies as well as lay out conditions for granting money. A resolution is required to allow the City Manager to allow the City to enter into an agreement with Veldman- Moore. Ms. Tunner explained that the city would need to be the applicant for a grant from the State Historical Fund because they are not currently awarding grants to private parties. Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 5:30 pm will be an HRPP public information meeting. Mr. Frank will give a presentation detailing progress since the last HRPP meeting as well as show maps and discuss the process. The LPC will then make a recommendation to City Council and a final HRPP draft will be prepared for approval by'the Planning and Zoning Board. IDENTIFICATION OF FURTHER SURVEY WORK Mr. Frank said that funds are currently available in the budget to do more survey work and prioritize another 150 sites. Ms. Tunner said that she does have a list compiled by the Cultural Resources Board of houses that need to be surveyed. Ms. Carpenter suggested also breaking down the list by geographical location. Mr. Frank said that they should look at the Mountain Avenue district. Ms. Tunner asked Ms. McWilliams about the requirements for an historic district and she said the requirements include photos, a detailed architectural description, chronological history, and then further details on the important ones. Two possible districts include Mountain Avenue and the 100 block of North College Avenue. A district nomination might cost about $10,000 and a grant from next year's CLG would be a possible source of funding. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Carpenter said that the DDA would like to work with the LPC on designing a permanent bandstand type structure with a canopy that could be removed in the winter in Old Town Square. Mr. Tanner is opposed to any sort of permanent structure because he feels that it will Landmark Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 1, 1993 Page 6 ruin the plaza. Ms. Carpenter added that perhaps the plaza is not an appropriate area for electric bands and that any temporary structure is unlikely to look good although she would like to work with the DDA to find a solution to the problem. Mr. Frank suggested hiring either a landscape architect or architect to design it. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm. Submitted by Diane Slater, Secretary.