HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012-09-13 HPC MINUTES Village of Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission Record of Minutes Date: September 13, 2012 Location: Village Hall Chairman Bortel called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call was taken; Commissioners Kachel, Bright, Derrick, Hendricksen, Buchanan, Rap p and Chairman Bortel were present. Commissioner Olsen was absent. Also present were Michael S. Garrigan, Village Plan ner and Merrilee Trotz, Recording Secretary. Chairman Bortel led the pledge to the flag. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Bright made a motion to approve the Ag enda. Motion seconded by Commissioner Derrick. Voice vote: All in favor. Motion carried 7-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Derrick made a motion to accept the mi nutes as presented. Commissioner Hendricksen seconded the motion. The minutes from July 26, 2012 were accepted as presented. Voice vote: All in favor. Motion carried 7-0. CHAIR’S COMMENTS: There were no comments. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: Commissioner Hendricksen asked about the tour brochure. Mr. Garrigan said he would check but tho ught it was ready to be printed. PUBLIC COMMENT: (Items not on the Agenda) No one approached the microphone. NEW BUSINESS: Case No. 1593-082312.HPC 15205 S Route 59 Chairman Bortel stated this public hearing would be continued to a special meeting to be held September 27, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. The applicant did not fulfill all the requirements to hold the public hearing.
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 13, 2012 Page 2 of 6 Case No. 1594-090712.HPC (COA) 24216 W. Lockport Street (Street Car Barn) Mr. Garrigan stated the applicant is asking for a c ertificate of appropriateness for the property located at 24216 W Lockport Street commonly known a s the street car barn in order to proceed with a request for a façade grant from the Village. The property is located within the Village’s Downtown Historic District and as a contributing st ructure by the Village’s urban survey and is identified in the Comp Plan as commercial use. The survey indicated this structure is the last remaining building related to the streetcar system. The applicant is seeking façade modifications to the southern façade facing Lockpor t Street and the northern façade facing Main Street. Architecturally, the building would be sig nificant if the extensive wings were removed. Mr. Garrigan described several historical photograp hs showing early modification completed by the Railoc Company. The applicant is proposing to remove the existing b rick wall that covers the original western bay of the streetcar barn facing Lockport Street; to re move the first and second floor windows in the eastern bay of the streetcar barn facing Lockport S treet and restore the original opening of this bay; to wall up the eastern bay and erect a replica of the front end of a trolley from the early 1900’s; restore the wood areas above the bay doors and restore the original paint color which was a dark green based on the applicant’s represent ation; to resurface top portions of the streetcar barn from the beam on top of the peak of the building with copper toned metal panels; to replace the western bay with a new bay door faci ng Lockport Street; to remove the rear windows facing Main Street and reinstall three matc hing black metal windows and to tuck point the rear façade along with removing the landscaping that is located in the rear. Mr. Garrigan reviewed the criteria necessary for th e HPC to make their determination that the proposed modifications to the southern and northern elevations are consistent with the historical context of the structure. Mr. Garrigan also review ed a number of the standards of the Secretary of Interior that the applicant must comply with. Staff has some concern whether the proposed modific ations to the southern elevation are consistent with the Secretary of Interior standards : • Whether the proposed use of a metal skin on the str ucture is consistent with the historical character of the streetcar barn: • Whether duplicating a trolley car and installing it on the southern elevation is consistent with the Secretary of Interior standards: • Staff has some concerns about the proposal of using a garage bay door for one of the bays. No specifications for this bay door have been submitted by the applicant: • It is unclear what the applicant is proposing for t he additions to the “Railoc” building: • Staff has some concerns about the proposals with re spect to replacing the rear windows on the northern elevation. Staff is looking for input of the HPC to determine whether there is support for these modifications.
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 13, 2012 Page 3 of 6 Michael Lynch and David Williams were present. Mr. Williams presented some additional drawings of the side of the buildings and a model o f the building as proposed. Mr. Williams indicated they have removed the metal panels from t his proposal and replaced them with car siding; presented the correct proposed colors of th e structure; indicated they proposed to bring the building back to the way it was in 1903. Mr. Williams indicated most of the track is still present; and they propose to use a chemical base to restore the brick. Discussion was held regarding if the purpose of the building. Mr. Williams explained it was an indoor shopping center but also a museum to be ded icated with shopping along the left side of the bay but also a museum along the west side of th e bay; explained the bay façade, brick and everything inside was original; they propose to pol ish everything and bring it back to the original; they propose to add indoor trees to the i ndoor shopping center; they can hold events on the weekends when the stores are shut down and banq uets or weddings in the trolley barn. Commissioner Buchanan asked if Mr. Lambert was a co nsultant on this project. Mr. Williams stated they have not hired Mr. Lambert as a consult ant but they have had many discussions. Mr. Williams said there are two garage doors with n o windows. Mr. Williams indicated the trolley as shown was painted on the door but he hop ed to fabricate 5 feet out. Discussion was held regarding the doors and the bri cks. Mr. Williams indicated the doors would be corrugated heavy steel that would roll up to open; and provided window specifications. Commissioner Buchanan asked if thi s information would be included on the drawings. Mr. Williams indicated yes and it was in the bid for the work. Mr. Williams indicated they have extra original bricks and will be using the extra original bricks where some bricks have crumbled. Mr. Williams said they wan t it to be like a trolley barn street with the stores on one side and the museum on the other. Mr . Williams indicated the brick would be cleared coated with a stone sealer. Commissioner Buchanan asked about the wing sections . Mr. Williams described the area he proposed to knock down the east side wing with anot her façade approval. The west side façade is still all original inside with a courtyard. Mr. Williams described how the colors were determin ed. Commissioner Bright asked about the windows. Mr. W illiams described the windows along the east side indicating these windows need to be re-gl azed as these are original. Mr. Lynch explained how the east wing would be demolished and the east elevation would be restored. Commissioner Kachel indicated the trolley would be a major feature and asked if the trolley would be scaled to an actual trolley; discussion wa s held regarding the materials to be used and if this would include the cow catcher. Mr. William s indicated the trolley would be fabricated to an original trolley. Commissioner Kachel explained the need to show more detail of what was being requested for a façade grant. Commissioner Hendricksen suggested a need for addit ional specification information and submittal of a more formal detail of the project; e xplained the commission is advisory to help
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 13, 2012 Page 4 of 6 you through the process; explained the commission i s concerned with the outside of the building. Several commissioners felt this project could be an asset to the Village if properly done. Commissioner Derrick indicated this is a very impor tant building and agreed the commission would give advice, helping to identify key elements of the building, and what should be targeted for preservation; felt additional information/docum entation was needed; showing the research and the specifications; would like plans showing wh at parts are being retained, and what is coming down. Discussion was held regarding the garage doors, the fact that these doors roll up; whether the track for the garage doors is still there. Mr. Wil liams indicated one track for the west bay is still there and all the original openings; explained the doors roll up into a cage system. Mr. Williams explained the brick is the same it is just a matter of how you use it. Chairman Bortel stated this building is the most si gnificant building west of the Fox River and needs to be done the correct way; felt it was neces sary for a licensed architect to help with this project and with the façade grant; indicated the co mmission needs to see more substantial plans than the pictures and the model to be able to deter mine the historical significance and make good judgment. Mr. Lynch asked who had actually been in the trolle y barn. Three commissioners indicated they have been inside. Mr. Lynch suggested the com missioners tour the site. Chairman Bortel suggested bringing a licensed architect. Mr. Willi ams stated they have a structural report indicating the building is structurally sound. Mr. Williams indicated his drawings are exact to the building and felt there was no need for an arch itectural drawing on the sides or back because there is nothing structural to it; indicated the fr ont would be structural and the drawing will be given at that time. Mr. Garrigan indicated the Board typically requires a licensed professional architect to provide elevations for a façade grant. The Village recentl y matched a façade grant for $7500 for which the elevations were prepared by a licensed professi onal architect. Chairman Bortel indicated this building is in a His toric District and the commission is trying to ensure that this building will remain significant. Commissioner Kachel indicated the sealing of the co mmon brick needs to be done every so many years; the Board will look at materials that w ill need to be repainted or resealed every so many years; liked the concept and indicated he was willing to visit the site; also wanted a complete list of materials and cost from an archite ct. Mr. Williams felt he had the correct numbers. Comm issioner Hendricksen believes the brick on the north side of the building is common brick.
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 13, 2012 Page 5 of 6 Commissioner Kachel suggested there is another meet ing coming up in two weeks. Mr. Garrigan suggested two weeks might not give the app licant sufficient time to obtain architectural drawings. Mr. Williams said the building department indicted they (Building Department) only needs drawings when it is structural; further indicated h e could do architectural drawings himself with details down to the inch. Mr. Williams indicated f acing brick is not usually structural. Chairman Bortel asked if Mr. Williams had spoken wi th the Historical Society about this project. Mr. Williams thought the Commission and t he Society were one and the same. Commissioner Hendricksen asked the applicant to dev elop the south façade and furnish drawings that would be acceptable to the Village fo r a permit, furnish a detail specification list of materials of the windows, garage doors, and all the materials that are going to make up the front of this building. Commissioner Derrick asked for a tour of the inside to see which portions are historic, look at windows and the overhead door structure so the comm ission can understand better. Commissioner Derrick indicated that the commission could provide feedback at that time so the applicant would not spend so much time going back a nd forth on the drawings; felt the commission should have more information on things t he applicant is demolishing from the building that are more than 50 years of age, i.e. w hat that elevation will look like after such demolition, the age of that portion, what role it p layed, does it have any historic significance; felt the commission needs to understand how this bu ilding is going to evolve as a whole. Commissioner Derrick would like to see a spec sheet on the windows that will be used if the applicant is doing replacement windows of original windows, how are these windows are similar, the profile; felt these details were impor tant with as many public elevations as this building. Commissioner Hendricksen stated the commission woul d provide a letter of agreement between the applicant and the commission which would outlin e the agreed upon proposed changes. Chairman Bortel suggested the applicant return to t he next regularly scheduled meeting and offer a tour of the building for the commissioners some time prior to that meeting. Mr. Lynch felt they could be ready for the meeting on October 11 th . This case was continued to the October 11, 2012 mee ting. OLD BUSINESS: None COMMITTEE REPORTS : Chairman Bortel indicated the National Registrati on Nomination is moving forward; the consultant should be submitt ing by the third week of September to this commission and IHPA an overlay of the national regi ster boundaries as it pertains to the
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes September 13, 2012 Page 6 of 6 existing boundaries of our district that was create d by the Village Board and this commission this month. DISCUSSION: ADJOURN: Commissioner Hendricksen made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Derrick seconded the motion. Voice vote: All in favor. 7-0. Motio n carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p. m. __________________________ Respectfully submitted, Merrilee Trotz - Recording Secretary