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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 12/14/2005LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting December 14, 2005 Minutes Council Liaison: David Roy (407-73931 Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chairperson: W.J. "Bud" Frick, Jr. (484-1467) SUMMARY OF MEETING: The LPC approved plans for the exterior restoration of 1745 Hoffman Mill Road, the Nix Barn; 1304 S. College Ave., Welscher House, was withdrawn by the applicant; the LPC held a Preliminary Hearing on the demolition/alteration of 1201 S. Shields; the LPC viewed conceptual plans for 400 Jackson Ave; 210 N. Loomis Ave., the James House, was recommended for Landmark Designation. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Commission called to order with a quorum present at 5:15 p.m. at 281 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado. Agnes Dix, Angie Aguilera, Alyson McGee, Bud Frick, Earen Russell, Heather Donahue, and Ian Shuff were present. Carol Tunner and Karen McWilliams represented City staff. GUESTS: Dave Lingle, Aller-Lingle Architects, and Steve White, City of Fort Collins Operation Services, for 1745 Hoffman Mill Road; Phillip Sand and Mikal Torgerson, MTA Architects, for 1201 S. Shields; John and Joan Leach, owners, for 210 N. Loomis Avenue; Joe Sullivan, Archer Homes, for 400 Jackson Avenue. AGENDA REVIEW: Current Review Item 2, Welscher House at 1304 S. College, was noted as being potentially withdrawn. The order of Demolition/Alteration Review Item 2 and the Landmark Designation Item was switched. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The October 26, 2005 meeting minutes were amended to correct the misspelling of Heather Donahue's name and to include Ian Shuff as present at the meeting. Angie Aguilera moved the minutes be approved as corrected, Agnes Dix seconded. Motion passed unanimously 7-0. PUBLIC COMMENT: Chairman Frick asked if anyone present wished to address items within the purview of the Commission that were not on the agenda. There were no comments. STAFF REPORTS: None. COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS: None. PUBLIC INPUT: None. CURRENT REVIEW: 1. 1745 Hoffman Mill Road, Nix Barn —Exterior Restoration, Conceptual and Final Review —Dave Lingle, principal, Aller-Lingle Architects; Steve White, Landmark Preservation Commission December 14, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 2 project manager, City of Fort Collins Operation Services; introduced by Carol Tunner. Ian Shuff and Alyson McGee recused themselves from the discussion due to their involvement in the project. The Nix Barn is being restored on the exterior using a State Historic Fund grant that includes funding for the chimney, siding, foundation, windows, doors, and structural stabilization. Dave Lingle is representing Ian Shuff, Project Manager, and said that they are working with the State Historic Fund's technical specialist for direction. The State Historic Fund is proceeding to final review also. The Johnson Barn on Drake Road is very similar, and perhaps both barns were built by the same people. The Johnson Barn has helped the team with precedent and examples of how the restoration of the Nix Barn should look. They are also using a couple of historic photos and physical evidence on the barn. Mr. Lingle described the planned work. The horse stall doors on the east elevation are being replicated. Damaged and missing building siding will be replaced. The galvanized corrugated roof is being replaced and hung in three sections with lap seams. The hayloft doors on the west elevation are being repaired. A pulley in the hayloft for Natural Resources staff to use is being installed, using the Drake Barn and others for design examples. Physical evidence plus Mr. Nix's recollection points to the fact that there was one there. Stabilization of the north wall is needed because the balloon framed construction has weakened over time. The least intrusive method is to stabilize the wall on the inside with steel columns and a horizontal beam, which will be painted black to minimize its appearance. The project's structural engineers have suggested stabilization of the south wall as well and they will if the budget allows. The project includes exterior lead paint abatement. The City will handle the abatement before general contracting work begins. The project will go to bid in the middle of January. Construction will start in March or April, and is scheduled to be done by the end of summer. Angie Aguilera moved to approve the exterior restoration of 1745 Hoffman Mill Road, Nix Barn, as presented for final review, with the addition of lead paint abatement prior to the start of exterior restoration. Agnes Dix seconded, motion passed unanimously 5-0. Public Input: None. 2. 1304 South College Avenue, Welscher House —Replace Clay Tile roof with Metal Tiles, Conceptual and Final Review —Withdrawn by applicant. Landmark Preservation Commission December 14, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 3 DEMOLITION/ALTERATION REVIEW: 1. 1201 South Shields —Phillip Sand and Mikal Torgerson, MTA Architects, for owner. The current owner and applicant, a client of MTA Architects, would like to demolish the home to create a new single family residence. The home is in poor condition due to lack of maintenance and its use as a college rental, and is not up to code in many areas. The property at 1201 S. Shields was reviewed for local landmark designation in October 2004, and was determined to be individually eligible. Ms. McWilliams reminded the LPC that the purpose of a preliminary hearing is for the LPC and the applicant to discuss options to try to reach a compromise. If no compromise can be reached, the request will go to a final hearing. Mr. Shuff asked Mr. Torgerson if the client had considered an addition to the property rather than demolition. Mr. Torgerson told the LPC he advised his client about historic preservation programs and incentives. The client thought these options were too expensive to pursue as they would not allow a positive cash flow from the property. Mr. Torgerson said he did not think the property should be listed as individually eligible because, in his opinion, it does not embody the type or method of a particular style. He argued the home is lacking typical Craftsman features, including a stone exterior, chimneys, dormers, sloping foundations, multiple roof planes, and transom windows. He found three details in the home —triangular knee braces in the gables, exposed rafter tails, and wood siding —typical of the Craftsman style. He asked the LPC not to allow this request to proceed to final hearing, as his client is aware of but not interested in available incentives. Ms. McWilliams reminded the Commission that the building has already been determined to meet the standards for Landmark designation. Its eligibility under Standard (3), Architecture, was previously determined by the Chair of the LPC and the Director of Advance Planning. Alyson McGee said the house was intact, and embodies the distinctive architectural characteristics of the vernacular Craftsman, rather than the high - style Craftsman. Mr. Shuff said that it was clearly Craftsman style and had more than enough features to make it eligible for designation. He felt that there were a lot of options available, and demolishing this house would be a waste of a historic resource. The Commission asked staff if it was permissible to go on record and make a motion strongly supporting the determination of the property's eligibility for individual Landmark designation, made previously by the Director of Advance Planning and the LPC Chair. Staff responded that while there was probably no Landmark Preservation Commission December 14, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 4 harm in such a motion, the Commission should realize that this motion would likely have no legal bearing or weight. It is not the purpose of the Preliminary Hearing to argue the determination of eligibility, but to explore alternatives. If the applicant has new information and wishes to, they may ask for the Advance Planning Director and LPC Chair to re-evaluate the home's eligibility. Alyson McGee moved the LPC uphold the previous decision of the Chair of the Landmark Preservation Commission and the Director of Advance Planning that the home at 1200 S. Shields is individually eligible for local landmark designation under Standard (3)—Architecture. Heather Donahue seconded, motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The applicant stated that his client was not interested in retaining the home, and would pursue demolition, and there was no purpose in discussing other options. Karen McWilliams will follow up with a letter regarding a Final Hearing to MTA Architects. Angie Aguilera excused herself from the meeting. Public Input: None. 400 Jackson Avenue —Joe Sullivan, Archer Homes, owner. In February 2005, 400 Jackson Avenue was determined to be individually eligible under Designation Standard (3) as an example of the locally rare Prairie style. A previous applicant of the property applied for a permit to remove the nonhistoric 1950s triangular porch and deteriorated out -buildings. The request was approved, and that work has been done. Their request to add a full length covered porch was not approved. The owner, Joe Sullivan, presented a conceptual design to add a new covered porch on both the Jackson and Magnolia elevations, as well as a new attached garage, and create a new corner front entry. Mr. Sullivan brought a revised set of draft plans to show the LPC. The plans showed a garage set back from the street, and a wraparound porch designed to represent the Prairie style. Ms. McGee expressed her concern that the porch and the addition of a garage to the main facade, as currently designed, would add a false sense of history to the property. Mr. Shuff felt the garage could work, if set back, but changing the entrance from the existing to a corner entrance would detract from the home. Mr. Shuff also suggested a more minimal design for the porch. Mr. Frick said the already accepted design proposal was best, but would not add to Mr. Sullivan's desire for curb appeal. The Commission accepted the earlier, accepted plans, for a minimally designed entrance porch and attached garage, were preferable. The LPC suggested a Landmark Preservation Commission December 14, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 5 design with minimal front elevation impact that has depth added to the property from detached elements, including pergolas and landscaping. Public Input: None. LANDMARK DESIGNATION: 210 North Loomis Avenue, the James House —John and Joan Leach, owners; introduced by Karen McWilliams. Ms. McWilliams presented her staff report. The property at 210 North Loomis Avenue is individually eligible for Local Landmark Designation under Standards (1) and (3). The house is a 98 year old Classic Cottage with excellent architectural and historical integrity. The house features red brick masonry; a moderately pitched roof with intersecting gables and fish scale pattern shingles; a centrally located front porch; and one over one double hung windows. The only non -historic addition is a rear redwood deck and porch balustrade. Mr. and Mrs. Leach purchased the home in 2000 to use as a residence when Mr. Leach retires. Staff recommends approval of the designation request. Agnes Dix moved to recommend 210 N. Loomis Ave., the James House, for Landmark Designation. Alyson McGee seconded. The motion passed unanimously 7-0. Public Input: None. OTHER BUSINESS: The December, 14 meeting was Chairman Bud Frick's final night as a member of the LPC. Ms. Tunner presented him with an antique manual on automotive engines in recognition of his years of service. Alyson McGee asked if the Old Town ice rink will be erected yearly. Carol Tunner replied that it would be in use for three months every year from now on. The rink and its accessories were purchased. Earen Russell commented that the generators were very noisy for people working in the surrounding buildings, and eventually the City might want to consider other locations. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted By Stephanie Sydorko�� January 31, 2006.