Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmark Preservation Commission - Minutes - 04/23/2008LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting April 23, 2008 Minutes Council Liaison: David Roy (407-7393) Staff Liaison: Joe Frank (221-6376) Commission Chairperson: Earen Russell SUMMARY OF MEETING: Ms. McGee’s resignation was announced. Elections were held; Ms. Russell is the new Chair, and Mr. Shuff will continue as Vice Chair. The February 27th 2008 Minutes were approved as corrected. The Commission recommended to Council the Landmark designation of the George W. and Estella Bell House and Garage, 1108 West Mountain Avenue, and held a Conceptual Review for the property. The Commission identified recipients for the 2008 Friend of Preservation Awards, and discussed suggestion for program improvements in preparation for the Commission’s Periodic Council Board and Commission Review in July. The Commission established a subcommittee to facilitate historic preservation issues relative to the Mason Corridor BRT Project. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Commission called to order with a quorum present at 5:37 p.m. at 281 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado. Commission members present were Alan Ballou, Earen Russell, Terence Hoaglund, Ian Shuff and Bud Frick. Karen McWilliams represented City Staff. GUESTS: Jeff Scheick, PDT Director AGENDA REVIEW: Ms. McWilliams added the Landmark Designation, and Conceptual and Final Review, of the George W. and Estella Bell House and Garage at 1108 West Mountain Avenue to the evening’s agenda. STAFF REPORTS: Ms. McWilliams mentioned that the DDA, in conjunction with Russell Mill Studios, is sponsoring a workshop charette on the Integrated Alley and Walkway Master Plan. The meeting will be held on Tuesday April 29th at the Stonehouse Grille. The state of Wyoming will be holding a historic preservation conference in May. She also reminded everyone that May 2nd is the CLG conference, and that the City and LPC are the hosts. She encouraged every Commission member to attend. On May 6th, City Council will proclaim the month of May 2008 Historic Preservation Month. The Chair of the Landmark Preservation commission will attend to accept the proclamation. On May 14, Dan Corson, the CLG coordinator and State and Federal Compliance officer will conduct the quadrennial CLG review of our program and will attend our meeting. COMMISSION MEMBER’S REPORTS: Mr. Ballou attended the DDA meeting. The DDA discussed Beet Street and the organized newspaper dispensers. They also discussed the integrated alleyway program. Mr. Ballou passed out copies of the walkway area map to the Commission. One of the components stressed was that part of this program’s purpose is to feature and preserve historic buildings and sites. Ms. Russell reported on her participation on the jury for the City’s Urban Design Awards. The purpose of the Landmark Preservation Commission April 23, 2008 Meeting Page 2 of 5 awards is to celebrate and promote good urban design within Fort Collins. Plans were submitted for these awards in categories including: urban fragments and architectural design varying from residential to commercial rehabilitation projects, civic improvements, lifetime achievement award, and green building design. She announced the inclusion of an extra category next year for rehabilitation/historic preservation category. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: • Feb 27th, 2008 Minutes Mr. Hoaglund moved to approve the Feb 27th minutes with the date changed on the subsequent pages. Ms. Russell seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0) PUBLIC INPUT: Vice Chair Shuff asked if anyone present wished to discuss any item not on the agenda. There were no items. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR: Ms. McWilliams announced the resignation of Ms. McGee from the Commission. She has accepted a position with the City as a Historic Preservation Planner. With her resignation, the position of Chair is no longer filled, and the Commission will need to hold elections. Ms. Russell was nominated for the position of Chair, and accepted. Mr. Shuff will continue as Vice Chair. LANDMARK NOMINATION and CONCEPTUAL REVIEW • George W. and Estella Bell House and Garage, 1108 West Mountain Avenue - Gillian Bowser, Owner. Gillian Bowser, Owner, and Bob Morrison, contractor, were present to discuss this home. Staff recommends that the Commission find the property to be eligible for individual Landmark designation, and to recommend the historic designation of this property to City Council. Ms. Bowser had questions for the Commission regarding her plans for the property. This home was a rental for approximately twenty years, but is very intact. Her first goal is to restore the porch. She has already removed two layers of carpet, as well as plywood, from the front porch. The porch stairs need to be removed and re-built, because they are not salvageable. The original decking is in pretty bad shape, and there is no foundation under the porch. Stabilization of the porch is a critical issue. The second proposed alteration to the property is to re-abandon the driveway, and plant it. She will relocate the driveway to the back of the property off of the alley. The base of the garage is rotting because, as the adjacent Beavers Market re-paved their parking lot over the years, they poured asphalt to the edge of the garage. The garage needs to be raised up to level, and have a concrete floor added. Ms. Bowers is proposing to keep the original doors on front, but add a new garage door on the alley. She was thinking about putting a sliding door on the back of the garage. The Commission discussed alternatives for the garage. Mr. Frick commented that if you are going to the trouble of raising it up, you might as well make it usable and functional. Since it is the rear elevation of the garage there is additional leniency. An acceptable garage door could Landmark Preservation Commission April 23, 2008 Meeting Page 3 of 5 be one that looks, or “reads,” like two doors. The garage has to be raised or it is not worth trying to preserve it. Ms. Bowers pointed out that a 2x2 window was added on the side, and she would like to replace that window. The Commission noted that pictures of the garage would be useful. On the rear elevation of the house, a second story was added extending over the mudporch. This addition includes a second story exterior door, which opens to nowhere. She would like to replace that door. On the main level of the mud room, there is a non- historic window. She proposes to reconfigure the rear, and replace metal framed doors and windows with wood framed doors and windows. There is also an issue with the interior basement stairs, which are in poor condition and are very steep. Somehow they need to change those stairs, but the header is the limiting factor. Mr. Shuff noted that all of the proposed changes are pretty minor and mostly rear elevation changes. He asked the applicant to preserve as much historical material as possible. Ms Bowers is interested in applying for the State Tax Credits for the proposed interior work, as well as for the exterior work, so she and Mr. Morrison are interested in the Commission’s comments on the interior work as well. The trim is not painted, except for in the kitchen. Ms. Bowser plans to take a counter out in the kitchen that was put up in front of a window. She wants to maintain the doors and the molding around them. Ms. McWilliams asked for clarification on the work approved for the garage. She understood the Commission to recommend raising the garage and then adding onto the bottom. Alternatively, the applicant could raise the garage, adding to the bottom of the three sides, and keep the garage door at its current level by filling in wood siding to match between the top of the doors and the roof. The Commission agreed that, since this is a secondary structure, that either alternative is acceptable. The Commission is OK with some changes to the garage in order to save it. The Commission requested adding a 1x belly band or stone around the foundation, to demarcate new material from the historic. The Committee maintained that the owner not try to mimic old material, due to the danger of creating a false historical sense. It is up to the owner whether to have a step or a concrete slab at the front garage doors, as they would no longer have vehicle access. A concrete apron would be poured in front of the new vehicle access doors on the garage’s rear. Discussion shifted to the house’s porch, and the front porch railing. The Commission determined that the applicant should retain as much of the historic porch and railing as possible, replacing only those portions that are rotted. If the entire railing is to be replaced, the Commission would need to approve the new railing before it goes in. Ms. Bowers commented that they could probably replace just the bad pieces. It was noted that the top rail is really rotted, and would need to be replaced. As long as it matched the historic in appearance and materials, no additional review of the rail would be necessary. The Commission asks that the owner provide additional pictures of the garage, as well as the details of the windows and doors on the rear. Once the owner finally decides upon the rest of the work, these details will also need to be provided to staff, and possible to the Commission, for approval. Landmark Preservation Commission April 23, 2008 Meeting Page 4 of 5 Mr. Shuff moved to recommend to City Council that it approve 1108 West Mountain Avenue, the George W. and Estella Bell House and Garage, for Landmark Designation. Mr. Frick seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0). DISCUSSION: • 2008 Friend of Preservation Awards Typically the Commission gives between 3 and 5 awards. The Commission discussed recognizing the Poudre Landmarks Foundation, and also discussed the question of whether or not there should be a separate award for the PLF’s Romero House. Ms. Russell noted that the Romero House’s dedication to the public knowledge of the Hispanic community in Fort Collins is very worthy as well. Mr. Shuff suggested giving Ed Siegel an award for Julian’s. The DDA was suggested for their alley design work. The Commission decided to recognize the Poudre Landmarks Foundation; a special award separate from the PLF to the Friends of the Romero House, for architectural and historical preservation efforts as well as preserving the culture and identity of the Hispanic community; Ed Siegel for Julian’s in the Colorado Building; and the City for designation of Grandview Cemetery. • Periodic Council Board and Commission Review City Council reviews each board and commission once every 3 or 4 years. This is the year for the LPC review. It is an opportunity for Council to review the effectiveness of the commission and their work program. They will consider any comments and suggestions to improve the board. Council has requested that the Chair and Vice Chair attend the July 8th City Council work session. The Commission reviewed a questionnaire provided by the Clerk’s office, asking for the Commission’s opinions and suggestions. Mr. Frick suggested asking Council to consider increasing funding for the Landmark Rehabilitation Loan Program. It would be great if we could increase the amount of funding that people can get. Twenty years ago, $5,000 was a lot of money, but now it is hardly worth applying for. We should raise the limit to at least $10,000. Mr. Ballou suggested we propose a program to educate the public about historic preservation in association with sustainable building practices. He noted that saving a building instead of demolishing it saves a lot of embodied energy, as well as materials. Mr. Shuff suggested that the Commission propose the development of a pamphlet for the Development Review Center that shows sensitive standards and guidelines for restoring old buildings. There could be design standards and guidelines for each type of house, or specific to each neighborhood. There could also be one set for houses and another for accessory structures, as well as separate standards and guidelines for commercial and residential. Ms. McWilliams noted that this could be very beneficial, as scrape offs and pop tops change the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Shuff would like to keep them general, and show examples. Ms. Russell noted that the City of Aspen has a really good example of this. The Commission would like to see the Design Review Subcommittee resurrected. This subcommittee was very beneficial in providing property owners with professional Landmark Preservation Commission April 23, 2008 Meeting Page 5 of 5 design advice, and resulted in converting many inappropriate proposals into good solutions. The Commission discussed the need for Landmark district designation. There is an increased interest form citizens to have neighborhoods designated. Staff feels that this is being driven in large measure, by residents’ feeling that their neighborhood is threatened by inappropriate alterations, scrape-offs, and development. Mr. Frick brought up the lack of communication between council persons and the Commission. The Commission agreed that better communication is something that should be brought up at review. There is a lot of development pressure due to the proposed new downtown hotel. There are lots of people wanting to come in and build 5 story buildings on the edge of the historical district. Mr. Ballou asked if the old town district could be expanded? Ms. Russell suggested a buffer district, which could provide some leniency but is more restrictive than the area currently. Ms. McWilliams will compile these suggestions. Ms. Russell noted that these do not need to be in to the Clerk’s office until June, so the Commission has some time to think about it and offer additional suggestions. OTHER BUSINESS: • Mason Corridor EA Project - Establishment of LPC Subcommittee Ms. Russell has a conflict of interest on the Mason Corridor project. She turned over the meeting to vice-chair Mr. Shuff, and left the meeting. At the April 9 meeting, as a part of the Mason Street Corridor BRT project presentation, it was asked that we form a subcommittee to investigate alternatives for the Public Service Company Building. Staff was directed to look into how this subcommittee could be formed. Ms. McWilliams reported on her discussions with the attorney’s off ice. A subcommittee may be formed as long as the subcommittee does not make any decisions themselves, but instead reports back to the full Commission. A motion and vote are needed to form the subcommittee. Mr. Frick, Mr. Albright, and Mr. Hoaglund expressed interest in being on the subcommittee. Mr. Hoaglund moved to form a subcommittee, with members being Mr. Albright, Mr. Hoaglund, and Mr. Frick. The purpose of the subcommittee will be to facilitate historical preservation issues in connection with the Mason Street Corridor BRT Plan. Mr. Frick seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0). Meeting is adjourned at 7:13 PM. Respectfully submitted by Kara Smith, Secretary