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Home My Public Portal About03-02-2016 Minutes HDC Regular MeetingPage 1 of 5 100 Minutes HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Wednesday, March 2, 2016, 7:00 PM, Town Barn Present: Chairman Anna Currie, Vice Chairman Reid Highley, Laura Simmons, Brad Farlow, Joe Griffin, Jill Heilman, Virginia Smith Staff: Stephanie Trueblood, Town Attorney Bob Hornik Guests: Neil Stutzer, Julie Smith, Jerry Adams ITEM # 1: Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum Chairman Currie called the meeting to order 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 February 3, 2016 meeting A few changes were requested. Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to approve the minutes with changes. Second: Mr. Farlow seconded. Vote: Unanimous Changes: page 3 last paragraph change, “said she doesn’t like the materials” to “said she thinks brick is more appropriate.” Page 5 remove “Ms. Trueblood stated the siding she has now is not contributing to the character of the district.” And change “Mr. Reid” to “Mr. Highley” ITEM # 5: Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Neil Stutzer to demolish an existing 8’ x 12’ metal outbuilding and construct a new 8’ x 12’ shed-roofed outbuilding with Hardieplank or wood lap siding in the same location in the rear yard at 409 N. Wake Street (PIN 9864-98- 4248) Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to open the public hearing. Second: Ms. Heilman seconded. Vote: Unanimous Chairman Currie asked whether anyone felt he or she had a conflict of interest regarding this application. No one did. Neil Stutzer was sworn in. Ms. Trueblood stated that this application is regarding 409 North Wake Street. There are a mixture of Contributing and Non-Contributing structures and vacant lots in the vicinity. Page 2 of 5 The Architecture is: Contributing: c. 1956. This one-story, hip-roofed Minimal Traditional-style house is three bays wide and single-pile with projecting, hip-roofed wings on the left (south) end of the façade and on the left elevation. The house has a concrete-block foundation, vinyl siding, and an interior concrete block chimney. There is a pair of French doors centered on the façade and a large, sixty-light wood picture window on the right (north) end of the façade. An uncovered concrete terrace extends across the right two bays of the façade. An entrance on the left elevation is accessed by a wood stair with wood railing. County tax records date the building to 1956. The applicant is proposing to demolish an existing 8’x12’ metal outbuilding and construct a new 8’x12’ shed- roofed outbuilding with Hardieplank or wood lap siding in the same location in the rear yard. Agenda packets included: Notification information and vicinity map, a narrative with material list submitted by the applicant, a survey of the property, photos of the existing shed, scaled drawing of the proposed shed. Applicable Design Guidelines are: Demolition of Existing Buildings, New Construction of Outbuildings and Garages. Mr. Stutzer said on the rendering there is no side window and the transom window would be plate glass. Also, the main building is aluminum siding not vinyl. He is strongly leaning toward Hardieplank. Chairman Currie asked whether there was anyone in the audience to speak for or against this project. There was no one. Ms. Smith asked what the roof material of the main house is. Mr. Stutzer answered gray asphalt shingles. Ms. Smith asked whether the new shed would be built in the same location because there’s a tree growing very close to it. Mr. Stutzer answered he’d like to move it over 6-12 inches to allow for the tree’s growth. He believes it’s an oak, large and healthy. Chairman Currie reminded Mr. Stutzer that the Hardieplank would need to be installed smooth-side out because the other side has a faux grain. Mr. Stutzer answered that the siding will be horizontal and painted. Ms. Trueblood told Mr. Stutzer that he will need to fill out an application for a zoning compliance permit whether or not he moves the shed, so it’s best to request to move it away from the tree. Mr. Stutzer said he would request moving the shed 18 inches to give the tree room to grow. Motion: Mr. Highley moved to close the public hearing. Second: Mr. Griffin seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to find as a fact that the Neil Stutzer 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: Demolition of Existing Buildings, New Construction of Outbuildings and Garages. Second: Ms. Heilman seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to approve the application with conditions. Second: Ms. Simmons seconded. Vote: Unanimous Conditions: allow applicant to relocate shed up to 18” to protect existing tree Page 3 of 5 ITEM # 6: Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Julie Smith to remove the scallops from the awning and paint it black, replace railings on front porch with black metal railings, and paint or remove the shutters at 128 W. Margaret Lane (PIN 9874-06-2054) Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to open the public hearing. Second: Mr. Highley seconded. Vote: Unanimous Chairman Currie asked whether anyone on the board felt he or she had a conflict of interest regarding this application. No one did. Julie Smith was sworn in. Ms. Trueblood stated that this application is regarding 128 West Margaret Lane. There are a mixture of Contributing and Non-Contributing structures and vacant lots in the vicinity. The Architecture is: Non-Contributing: c. 1952, c. 1980. This one-story, side-gabled house was likely constructed as a Minimal Traditional-style house and expanded to its current four-bays-wide form later. The house is double-pile with a replacement windows located in low gable centered on the façade. It has vinyl siding and windows and an interior brick chimney. A picture window and six-panel door on the left (west) end of the façade are recessed slightly and sheltered by an aluminum awning on square wood posts. There is a gabled ell at the left rear (northwest) and a shed-roofed overhang at the right rear (northeast). County tax records date the building to 1952. The applicant is proposing to remove the scallops from the awning and paint it black, replace railings on front porch with black metal railings, and paint or remove the shutters. Agenda packets included: Notification information, vicinity map, narrative with photo of proposed materials, additional photos of proposed materials and front exterior of home. The Applicable Design Guidelines are: Porches, Entrances, and Balconies, Paint and Exterior Color, Exterior Walls. Ms. Julie Smith added that the building has been rezoned for office use. She shared a photograph of Ms. Heilman’s front porch railing as an example of what she would like. Ms. Trueblood added that Ms. Julie Smith’s porch is just above the 30 inches that requires railings. Chairman Currie asked whether there was anyone present in the audience to speak for or against the application. There was no one. Ms. Virginia Smith said she’s concerned about cutting the scallops off. Do we know whether that will come out OK? Jerry Adams was sworn in. Mr. Adams said the awning is a separate piece added with a piece coming over the top of it. If you can’t remove the entire second piece, you can use a utility knife to score it and break it off and then buff it smooth. Ms. Heilman asked whether Ms. Smith has considered removing the awning. Mr. Adams said he would not recommend removing the awning because rain will hit the concrete and rot the front sill. Page 4 of 5 Ms. Virginia Smith advised that if the awning is painted black it will get really hot and not blend with the roof behind it. She’s just curious regarding Ms. Julie Smith’s thoughts on this. Ms. Julie Smith answered that it needs to be painted. Ms. Virginia Smith asked whether the proposal was for cable or rod railing. Ms. Trueblood said the cable railing has a tension requirement that can be tricky. Ms. Julie Smith answered that she intended to use rods/tubing. Ms. Julie Smith said that she intends to repaint the shutters. Motion: Mr. Farlow moved to close the public hearing. Second: Mr. Highley seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to find as a fact that the Julie Smith 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: Porches, Entrances, and Balconies, Paint and Exterior Color, Exterior Walls. Second: Mr. Farlow seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to approve the application with conditions. Second: Mr. Griffin seconded. Vote: Unanimous Conditions: modified application to allow horizontal metal tubing as railing ITEM # 7: Discuss draft language regarding amendments to the SUP/CUP process to allow HDC comment on projects proposed in the historic district Ms. Trueblood reviewed that this draft amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance would need to go to the quarterly public hearing. The Town Board would then vote whether to approve the amendment or reject it at a subsequent Town Board meeting. This would give the HDC ability to comment during the Special Use Permit and Conditional Use Permit processes. Mr. Hornik added that this amendment would give the Town Board more information (input from the HDC) before making a decision on a process. Mr. Hornik said the HDC would be forecasting early in the process the types of things that the HDC would be concerned about. Ms. Trueblood reminded the HDC that this commission does not review lighting levels but rather only outdoor lighting fixtures. The draft minutes would be included in the Town Board and Planning Board quarterly public hearing packets. The HDC tweaked the wording – several “mays” to “shalls” regarding the HDC creating a document and the Town Board taking the HDC’s comments into consideration. Mr. Hornik didn’t feel it needed to be written into the amendment that the HDC could present comments orally. The HDC could decide to send someone to the public hearing to speak regarding the HDC’s comments. HDC members provided editing comments, noted by Mr. Hornik. Ms. Heilman expressed concern that a list of terms would limit topics on which the HDC can comment. There was discussion about how helpful such comments could be to the architect of a project. Mr. Farlow suggested adding “structure” and “circulation.” Ms. Trueblood answered circulation is a use. Mr. Hornik agreed. There was further discussion about how the word is being used. Page 5 of 5 There was brief discussion about conceptual review. There was also acknowledgement that although the HDC may weigh in early in the process, the architect/applicant and Town Board are not obligated to follow the HDC recommendations. ITEM #8: Updates  Alliance for Historic Hillsborough: Anna Currie Chairman Currie reported the Alliance is working on its Website. The Revolutionary War Living History Day went well and had a good turnout.  Staff updates: CLG grants, Citizens Academy, construction updates Ms. Trueblood reported the CLG grants were submitted on time. One is for the cemetery workshop. The other is for taking inventory of historical properties outside the Historic District. So far, the town has $5,000 in the budget for the matching funds. Ms. Trueblood put in a plug for the Citizens Academy. There will be a night where chairs of the advisory boards meet with the Citizens Academy to answer questions about their advisory boards. Regarding construction updates, she received construction authorization for downtown last week and sent the bid out. She is hoping construction will start downtown in April. Pavers are installed on West King Street. Loading zones are being restriped. CMAQ sidewalks are still in engineering. Ms. Trueblood explained that the current owners of the Colonial Inn have pulled a building permit to replace the roof. Mr. Hornik said the appraisers are supposed to be able to go in on March 15. As of a week ago, the roof repairs were on schedule and he anticipated the appraisers being able to do their work in time. The town has lined up two independent appraisers. Mr. Hornik answered general questions about eminent domain. ITEM #9: Adjourn Motion: Ms. Heilman moved to adjourn. Second: Ms. Simmons seconded. Vote: Unanimous