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HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-03-2016 Minutes HDC Regular MeetingPage 1 of 6 MINUTES HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 7:00 PM, Town Barn Present: Chairman Anna Currie, Vice Chairman Reid Highley, Brad Farlow, Joe Griffin, Jill Heilman, Virginia Smith Staff: Stephanie Trueblood, Margaret Hauth Guests: Elizabeth Walker, Edward Smith, Laura Simmons, Stephanie Trueblood ITEM # 1: Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum Chairman Currie called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Ms. Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. ITEM # 2: Reading of the Commission’s Mission Statement Chairman Currie read the Commission’s Mission Statement and explained the processes. ITEM # 3: Additions to the agenda and agenda adjustment There were none. ITEM # 4: Approval of minutes from the January 6, 2016 meeting Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to approve the minutes as amended. Second: Mr. Highley seconded. Vote: Unanimous Changes: p. 2 add “of” ITEM # 5: Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Walkers Funeral Home to remove a mature White Pine from the rear of the property at 204 N. Churton Street (PIN 9874-07-7177) Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to open the public hearing. Second: Ms. Smith seconded. Vote: Unanimous Chairman Currie asked whether anyone on the commission felt he or she had a conflict of interest regarding this application. No one did. Elizabeth Walker was sworn in. Ms. Trueblood stated that this application is regarding 204 N. Churton Street and 208 N. Churton Street. There are mostly Contributing structures in the vicinity. Architecture: 204 N. Churton St. is Non-Contributing. c. 1928, c. 1950, c. 1965: Erected in the late 1920s in the Craftsman style, this two-story, frame building is three bays wide and four bays deep with a hipped metal tile roof and a low shed-roofed dormer on the façade. In the mid-twentieth century, likely when it was converted to a funeral home, the building was significantly remodeled to its present Colonial Revival-style appearance, with a brick veneer and a Mount Vernon-style portico. 208 N. Churton St. is Contributing. c. 1922, c. 1930: This two-story, hip-roofed Transitional Queen Anne-style house is Page 2 of 6 two bays wide and double-pile with a prominent porch on the right (south) elevation. The building has aluminum siding, two-over-two wood-sash windows, a 5V metal roof, and an interior stuccoed chimney. The applicant is proposing to remove a mature White Pine from the rear of the property. Agenda packets included: Vicinity map and notification information, narrative, photos. The Applicable Design Guidelines are: Site Features and Plantings. Ms. Walker said the circumference is 120 inches. The limbs hang over the neighbors’ house. She said the Smiths are concerned about the tree falling on their property. Ms. Trueblood has received several applications to remove White Pines after a couple of high wind events brought some down in the past few years. Edward Smith was sworn in. Mr. Smith said they appreciate Ms. Walker putting this forward. Large limbs have fallen and it’s a matter of time before the tree falls down. The Smiths are concerned about the tree falling or their children being hurt by falling limbs. Chairman Currie asked whether an arborist has looked at this tree. Is there expert evidence that this tree is in danger of falling down? Mr. Smith said he doesn’t know that the tree is diseased. It is damaged. All the limbs on the back side have broken off. He thinks it’s a matter of time before it falls. This type of tree doesn’t hold ice well. Ms. Trueblood said with her experience with the Tree Board she has learned that White Pines have a limited life span. And when they die, they fall over. She clarified that she is not an arborist. Ms. Heilman expressed desire for information from an arborist. Chairman Currie asked whether a similarly sized tree can be planted as a replacement. There was discussion of where to plant a tree. Mr. Smith was willing to plant a tree on his property. Ms. Trueblood offered to share a recommended tree list. Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to close the public hearing. Second: Ms. Heilman seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Chairman Currie moved to find that the Walkers Funeral Home application is in keeping with the overall character of the Historic District and complies with all relevant standards of evaluation based on the Board’s discussion of the application and the standards of evaluation in section 3.12.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance because the plans are consistent with Design Guidelines: Site Features and Plantings. Second: Mr. Griffin seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Chairman Currie moved to approve the application with conditions. Second: Mr. Highley seconded. Vote: Unanimous Conditions: Applicant will plant on this property or the adjacent property another tree selected from the UDO recommended plant list. Page 3 of 6 ITEM # 6: Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Tryon Investment Group to enclose a portion of the rear patio at 112 W King Street (PIN 9874-06-3362) This item was addressed after Item #7. Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to open the public hearing. Second: Ms. Smith seconded. Vote: Unanimous Chairman Currie asked whether anyone on the board had a conflict of interest. Mr. Farlow said he did. Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to excuse Brad Farlow from this application. Second: Mr. Griffin seconded. Vote: Unanimous Ms. Trueblood stated that this application is regarding 112 W. King Street. There is a mixture of Contributing and Non-Contributing structures and vacant lots in the vicinity. Architecture: Contributing: c. 1920. This one-story, commercial building has a glazed brick façade with brick on the right (east) elevation laid in a five-to-one common bond. The parapet roof steps down toward the rear of the building and there is a recessed sign panel on the façade with a corbelled brick cornice above. The storefront features a recessed entrance with a replacement nine-light-over-two- panel door with a one-light transom centered on the façade. The entrance is flanked by plate-glass display windows in copper frames on a low brick knee wall. The full-width transom over the storefront has been boarded-over and is obscured by a later fabric awning. According to the Sanborn maps, this building was built between 1911 and 1924. The applicant is proposing to enclose a portion of the rear patio. Agenda packets included: Vicinity map, notification information, narrative with material list, elevations, and photos. The Applicable Design Guidelines are: Windows and Doors, Porches, Entrances, and Balconies, Paint and Exterior Color, Exterior Walls, Additions to Existing Buildings. Chairman Currie asked whether anyone in the audience would like to speak for or against this application. Laura Simmons was sworn in. Ms. Simmons said she’d like to comment after the presentation. Mr. Highley said he doesn’t believe the patio is original to the building. Ms. Smith asked for more detail. Ms. Trueblood said right now they’re asking for an exterior wall with lap siding. Ms. Trueblood said the amount of description in the application is typical for what they are proposing. Ms. Simmons said she thinks brick is more appropriate. Ms. Simmons would like to see brick instead of the Hardieplank. Chairman Currie explained that Hardieplank is an approved material if installed smooth-side out. Mr. Highley added that brick might indicate that it was an original wall and it would be difficult to match the brick. Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to close the public hearing. Second: Mr. Griffin seconded. Vote: Unanimous Page 4 of 6 Motion: Mr. Highley moved to find as a fact that the Tryon Investment Group application is in keeping with the overall character of the Historic District and complies with all relevant standards of evaluation based on the Board’s discussion of the application and the standards of evaluation in section 3.12.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance because the plans are consistent with Design Guidelines: Windows and Doors, Porches, Entrances, and Balconies, Paint and Exterior Color, Exterior Walls, Additions to Existing Buildings. Second: Ms. Smith seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Mr. Highley moved to approve the application with conditions. Second: Mr. Griffin seconded. Vote: Unanimous Conditions: Hardieplank will be smooth side out and 5 panel door will be a paintable material, not vinyl. ITEM # 7: Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Stephanie and Ben Trueblood to relocate an existing outbuilding in its original 10’ x 14’ configuration to the rear of the property at 418 Calvin Street (PIN 9864-75-3365) Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to open the public hearing. Second: Mr. Highley seconded. Vote: Unanimous Chairman Currie asked whether anyone had a conflict of interest. No one did. Ms. Trueblood was sworn in. Ms. Hauth, acting as staff for this application, stated that this application is regarding 418 Calvin Street. There is a mixture of Contributing and Non-Contributing structures and vacant lots in the vicinity. Architecture: Contributing: c. 1920. This one-and-a-half-story, side-gabled, Craftsman-style bungalow is three bays wide and double-pile with a pedimented front-gabled dormer centered on the facade. The house has a brick pier foundation with concrete-block curtain wall, weatherboards, and two interior brick chimneys on the ridgeline. It has two-over-two wood-sash windows on the façade with six-over-six windows on the side and rear elevations, and four-over-one Craftsman-style wood-sash windows in the dormer. The six-light-over-three-panel front door is sheltered by an engaged shed-roofed porch supported by vinyl columns. A double-leaf one-panel door on the right (east) elevation is sheltered by a small, gabled porch supported by square columns. There is a one-story, side-gabled wing on the left (west) elevation, a side-gabled open porch on decorative metal posts to its left, and a shed-roofed wing at the rear. A low stone wall extends along Calvin and Hillsborough streets at the edge of the property. The house is typical of 1920s Craftsman-style architecture and appears on the 1924 Sanborn map. However, the core of the house is earlier and may have been moved to the site. The applicant is proposing to relocate an existing outbuilding in its original 10’ x 14’ configuration to the rear of the property. Agenda packets included: Vicinity map and notification information, narrative with photos of existing outbuilding, additional narrative with inspiration photos for project and material list, site plan. Applicable Design Guidelines: Outbuildings and Garages, Relocation of Existing Buildings, Windows and Doors, Roofs, Exterior Walls. Page 5 of 6 Ms. Trueblood shared additional photos and indicated that there is a poorly constructed now-rotten gable. When she takes that off, the original roof is underneath. The door will go back to where it was originally. Right now it’s so close to the back of the house that it creates drainage issues. Chairman Currie asked if there was anyone present to speak for or against this project. There was no one. Chairman Currie asked why she is proposing changing to board and batten. Ms. Trueblood said if the siding fails in the move, she would like the option of replacing it with board and batten. There are a lot of examples in the district. Ms. Smith said if she keeps the siding the same as the house, it implies some type of relationship, when actually the shed is a lot younger than the house. Chairman Currie sited the Guidelines that encourages keeping siding that reflects the character of the district. Board and batten would have been available when the shed was built. The siding that was chosen was probably done so because it was more readily available. If she were building a new shed, she would be permitted to choose board and batten siding. Motion: Mr. Highley moved to close the public hearing. Second: Mr. Farlow seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to find as a fact that the Stephanie and Ben Trueblood application is in keeping with the overall character of the Historic District and complies with all relevant standards of evaluation based on the Board’s discussion of the application and the standards of evaluation in section 3.12.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance because the plans are consistent with Design Guidelines: Outbuildings and Garages, Relocation of Existing Buildings, Windows and Doors, Roofs, Exterior Walls. Second: Mr. Griffin seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to approve the application as submitted. Second: Mr. Highley seconded. Vote: Unanimous Conditions: None ITEM # 8: Discuss with a representative of the Hillsborough Cemetery Committee the prospects for a 2016 CLG grant proposal to conduct an educational workshop at the Old Town Cemetery Ms. Trueblood explained that the state is looking for a cemetery in which to hold a workshop. The Hillsborough Cemetery is an appropriate place to hold this. Ashley DeSena addressed the board, representing the Hillsborough Cemetery Committee. Board members expressed a desire to invite the public in the workshop. Ms. DeSena said the committee is hoping this will be a hands-on workshop in the cemetery. Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to direct Certified Local Government program (CLG) Coordinator to submit 2016 CLG grant application for cemetery workshop. Second: Mr. Farlow seconded. Vote: Unanimous ITEM #9: Interview Laura Simmons for HDC vacancy Page 6 of 6 Ms. Simmons and the board members discussed the role of serving on the Historic District Commission. Motion: Chairman Currie moved to recommend that the Town Board appoint Laura Simmons to the Historic District Commission. Second: Ms. Heilman seconded. Vote: Unanimous ITEM #10: Updates  Alliance for Historic Hillsborough: Anna Currie Ms. Smith attended that meeting for Chairman Currie, who was ill. Ms. Smith reported that the Alliance Treasurer Bill Crowther presented the budget to the Tourism Board. Sales in the gift shop have increased. The Alliance is restructuring board seats.  Staff updates Ms. Trueblood reported that the downtown construction projects should start in April. ITEM #11: Adjourn Motion: Mr. Highley moved to adjourn at 8:42 p.m. Second: Ms. Smith seconded. Vote: Unanimous