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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-21-1998HASTINGS H~RITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING OF APRIL 21, 1998 1. Roll. Commissioners Simacek, Coutu, Thorsen, Sovik-Siemens and Smith present; Schnirring and Warg absent; Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Thorsen. 2. Minutes of the meeting of March 17, 1997: Mr. Simacek moved and Ms. Sovik-Siemens seconded approval as written; motion carried. 3. Bills. Ms. Coutu moved and Mr. Simacek seconded approval as printed; motion carried. BE Office - $69.86 - copy paper for Pioneer Room 4. Review of building permits or design proposals. A. Jim and Apryl Wagner, 215 E. Sixth Street. Old Hastings Historic District, contributing. Application to demolish and replace garage in the back yard. From the application, photos and site plan provided, and Mr. Wagner's comments, the Commission understands the roof pitch, siding lap and colors will all match the house. The existing garage is not a historic structure so no original material or design (the garage appears to date from post 1940) will be covered or lost. The location meets both zoning code and design guidelines. The only design issue is vinyl siding. The guidelines provide that new or residing on garages in inconspicuous locations may be treated as an exception. Mr. Simacek moved and Mr. Smith seconded approval for a permit to demolish and replace garage; motion carried, 5-0. B. Angela Wilcox and Joe Melson, 314 W. Second Street. West Second Residential Historic District, NR - contributing. Application to reside with vinyl. From the application, photos, trade publication and comments of the owners, the Commission understands that the plan is to cover the existing siding with insulation and new siding but not take the existing siding off. The owners gave the following reasons: 1) cost of vinyl siding versus cost of painting over time, 2) nmintenance free versus maintenance of wood siding, 3) possible presence of lead paint on exterior, 4) energy efficiency. The owners stated they knew the house was in an historic district when they purchased the property in February, but did not understand the restrictions on changes until the former owner passed on the HPC's March 1998 letter including Design Guidelines. In the National Register District nomination, the house is listed as "contributing" but there are no old photographs or historic information about this house other than being dated to 1880. The appearance of this house is similar to houses shown in old photographs 84 and 85 in the Handbook. The back picture window appears to have been added. Most of the siding, comer boards and fascia appear to be original and distinctive of the period. Much of the paint is scaling and some siding needs to be replaced. The owners replaced the shingles earlier this year. Mr. Smith moved and Ms. Sovik-Siemens seconded that a building permit would not be approved for residing the house with vinyl based on the following findings: 1. Siding with vinyl is not consistent with the objectives of the preservation ordinance and designation of historic districts in that the proposed alteration will "adversely impair the significance or character of the Heritage Preservation Site" The historic character of a building is largely established by the building style and materials, both of which will be concealed by siding. (Sect. 2.18, Sub. 6. Review of Permits, E. 1. Criteria, City Code) 2. The proposed alteration is not consistent with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of National Register properties adopted by reference in the ordinance:"The Historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided." Sub. 6. E. 1. (f). 3. The proposed alteration is not consistent with the ItPC guidelines for historic residential districts: "Buildings originally clad in wooden siding should not be resurfaced with brick...or vinyl or aluminum siding." 4. This does not seem to be a dear case of financial hardship in that the owners have an escrow for scraping and painting, and they are able to spend $9,900 for siding. Motion carried, ayes 4, nays 1 (Simacek). C. John & Colette Penn, 401 E. 5th St. Old Hastings Historic District. Application for building permit to reroof. Statfapproved on the grounds that the appearance would not be changed. 5. Staff & Committee Reports. The CLG grant for individual nominations was awarded by the State Review Board for the amount requested $6,200. Mr. Smith moved and Ms. Coutu seconded approval to advertise for proposals; motion carded. 6. Unfinished business. The Commission reviewed draft conservation area language. 7. New business. P~ The annual CLG Training will be held in Faribault, at Shattuck School, on Saturday, May 16. Members who are able to attend will noti~, the staff. B. James and Chris Condon, 409 E 5th, asked if the HPC would consider adding their house to the Old Hastings Historic District. Staffdirected to ask them to attend a meeting. 8. Adjournment. Ms. Coutu moved and Mr. Simacek seconded adjournment; motion carded.