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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPCSpMtg-20041103HASTINGS I HISTORIC JPRESERV kTION MEETING November 3, 2004 — Special Meeting Agenda Hastings City Hall — Volunteer Room 7:00 pm I. QUORUM Commissioners Present: Sovik- Siemens, Goderstad, Martin, Hellie, LaBreck, Boler, Simaceck Commissioner Absent: Warg, Staff Present: Grossman, Wiekert IL MINUTES of October 19, 2004 Goderstad moved and Sovik- Siemens seconded the motion to approve the minutes with the amendments. Motion carried. III. REVIEW OF DESIGN APPLICATIONS Application 1) 400 West 2 Street — Terry & Dave Storholm — Replacement of windows. Commissioners were unsure if the existing windows were the original windows. With the colored photos, the Commissioners believed the windows were replaced in the 70s. They appeared to be metal windows. Motion by Martin and seconded by Goderstad to recommend approval of the replacement of the windows, in the photos, if the windows are not the original with the conditions listed. Motion passed 1. The replaced windows are to be the same size. 2. The windows are to be double hung windows of 1 over 1 or 2 over 2. 2) 119 E. 2 Street — Karl & Jean Hajny — Karl's Kitchen — Design material of aluminum window frame. The owners are requesting to use a textured material around the window frames instead of the smooth material that was approved at the October meeting. Commissioners stated the smooth material may look unnatural and tends to chalk. They also stated that the material is only on the second floor windows. Vice Chair Boler stated that there have been other historic properties that presented textured materials for their buildings and the Commissioners had concerns with the decision. She stated that these are just around the windows and not on the entire building. Motion by Goderstad and seconded by Simaceck to recommend approval of the textured material for the framing of the second story windows. Sovik- Siemens dissenting. 3) 309 E. 5 th Street — William & Diane McGrath — Installing a handicap ramp. William McGrath stated that he was requesting to construct a handicap ramp and would like to construct it as presented in option 2. He stated that option 1 would not work with the wheelchair maneuvering around the front door. The Commissioners asked if the back porch was original. Mr. McGrath stated that it was not original. The Commissioners stated since the porch is in the rear, the removal of the porch would not be too much of a concern. They asked if the owner would repair the siding around the porch or replace the siding. Mr. McGrath stated they would repair the siding when they remove the porch and add the deck to the rear. The Commissioners stated they would require looking at the type of material for the deck and railing. They asked if the railing would match the front porch and would that need to be appropriate to construct the railing. Mr. McGrath stated he was thinking the railing would match the wood material of the deck. If they were to use option 1, he was going to match the railing along the side of the house to match the front porch. Commissioners stated that he could use the wood material that matches the deck and incorporate square spindles on the top and bottom of the railing. Motion by Hellie and seconded by LaBreck to recommend approval for the construction of the deck and handicap ramp, option 2, with the conditions listed. Motion carried. 1. Add square spindles on the top and bottom of the railings. 2. Deck size to be 12'x 16' or smaller. 4) 312 W. 2nd Street — James & Amy Fowlkes Staff updated the Commissioners with the owners on 312 W. 2 nd St. that they have decided not to proceed with the structure. The owners have removed the structure from the front of the house. IV. Information and Reports 1) Concept designs for condominiums on Block 2 — Abdo Group. Nat Shea the architect with Abdo group briefly summarized their design for the Downtown development on Block 2. He identified other locations to provide a feel for their concept drawings. He clarified that the drawings do have cars in front of the river front buildings, but they could be changed if the esplanade is located there. He stated these drawings are concept drawings and they were looking for feedback for these plans. Commissioners asked how high the buildings would be. Mr. Shea stated the building would be no higher than 47 feet or the Finch building. They asked for clarification on the amount of store fronts on 2nd Street. Mr. Shea stated they were unable to determine the amount of store fronts, but were thinking in the range of 10 -12 stores in the building. Commissioners asked how high the ceilings are inside the commercial and condo buildings. Mr. Shea stated the ceilings were to be about 14 feet in the commercial and 10 feet in the condo units. He stated they were not sure of these heights, but they want to maximize the interior building heights. Commissioners asked what type of material they were using for the buildings. Mr. Shea stated they were going to use brick, stone, stucco, and hardy- board, but they would use mainly brick. Commissioners felt that stucco and hardy -board were not appropriate for the downtown. They would like to see the building being all brick. There was concern with the river front view of the buildings. They felt the buildings were too modern. They identified that the two buildings on the right side were more appropriate with the historic sense; however, the three buildings on the left were too modern for the location. Commissioners were concerned about the parking for the condo units and retail. They asked how many condo units were being proposed. Mr. Shea stated they were looking at providing 70 -80 units, 20 units on 2nd St. and about 50 units on the river. He stated the block has a lot of stone in the ground causing difficulty to provide underground parking. He clarified the parking will be lower inside the building and will not be seen from the first floor. Al Most, with the Abdo Group, identified that the allowable parking will determine how many units they can get on the block. He stated the units may change if they can not provide adequate parking. They are hoping to provide at least one parking stall per bedroom. Director Grossman stated the commissioners may want to make comments based on the criteria for new development within the historic district. Even though the buildings are not within the historic district, they are adjacent to it and want them to be compatible with the existing downtown. He stated that the developer and architect are looking for feedback on the height, width, material, color, etc. in order to move foreword with changes to their concept drawings. Local residents asked if the parking could go under 2nd Street. Mr. Shea stated that parking could not be under 2nd St. since utilities are located there. Commissioner asked if the roof top on the river front buildings should follow the guidelines (Design Guidelines for Original Hastings, June 2003) of commercial buildings or residential buildings. Kevin, downtown business owner, asked if the peaks on 2nd Street higher than the Finch building. Mr. Shea stated they were under the Finch building. Commissioners stated the buildings are tall and will look tall. They are four story buildings with parking within the buildings. Commissioners felt the window detailing on the river front was not compatible with the historic looks. They were too modern and there was not enough detailing. They stated by placing a grids on the sliding doors would help the design of the buildings. They also felt if the buildings were a little narrower on the riverfront it would change the look of the buildings. They felt the buildings on 2nd Street were much better and fit the downtown area. Commissioners felt the river front buildings look too massive. They stated the 2nd Street buildings did not look massive like the river front. They felt the buildings on the river front could be broken up more to help reduce the massive looks of the building. The variation of the building may help reduce the massive look to the building. Director Grossman stated the residential buildings may want to look different than the commercial side. The developers may have tried to incorporate a different feel to the residential side. Kevin stated he liked the look of the 2nd Street buildings. He stated maybe they can incorporate that building facade on the river front side. They were asked if some of the building heights could be varied. They asked if some could be 3 stories or 2 stories and back to 4 story buildings. Commissioners asked what the inside (courtyard) portion of the building will look like. Mr. Shea stated the inside would not be as extensive as the facade, but they would use brick and other materials. He stated they thought about joining the building to help hide the parking. Commissioners felt that brick should be utilized through out the building. Commissioners asked that they use rod iron for the balcony and stay away from wood. They felt that since the building would use material that would last for years that all the material should last as long. Commissioners asked about what type of windows they were thinking of using. They stated they preferred a baked on metal clad windows over vinyl windows. Commissioners asked if they could consider do a recess balcony so the residential building wouldn't have all the balconies sticking out. Not sure if cost would be a factor. Commissioners asked if they could consider having small green spaces along the fronts of the residential side and /or along the steps. Commissioners were concerned with cooling and heating units and where they would be located. Mr. Most stated they have not gotten that far with the plans; however, cooling units would not be placed in the windows and most heating and cooling units would be hidden from the streets. Commissioners were concerned with the height of the buildings and asked if they can't make the amount of condos due to the parking, would they be willing to drop the height of the building. Mr. Most stated they would drop the height of the building if they can't provide that many condos. Commissioners asked about the garbage location and if the garbage would be enclosed. Mr. Shea stated the garbage would be enclosed and located with the courtyard of the buildings. Commissioners asked if the roads would provide enough circulation for large safety vehicles to move around. Mr. Shea stated that they would provide enough room for safety vehicles to maneuver. He clarified that they would be meeting with fire, police etc. and safety issues of the building would be identified to ensure adequate measures are taken. He also stated the buildings would also be completely sprinkled. V. Other Business Vice Chair Boler stated that the Antique Mall has changed their sign and have not proceeded through the HPC. She asked about banner signs in the downtown district and was concern about a few signs that are covering the store front windows. Commissioner Martin asked if staff could include in the Certificate of Approval application a question asking if the material being reviewed have been replaced or original. She stated this could help the Commissioners in identifying the features' integrity. VL Adjourn Goderstad motioned and Hellie seconded the motion to close the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:44 pm. Respectfully submitted, Courtney Wickert Recording Secretary