HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Minutes 06-20-2023
HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes of the Meeting of June 20, 2023
Held at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, Volunteer Room
I. Quorum: Commissioners: Youngren, Peterson, Toppin, Bremer, Simacek, Borchardt, and
Alitz Edell
Absent: Smith and McCoy
Staff: City Planner Fortney
II. Minutes: May 16, 2023
A. Chair Toppin approved the minutes
III. Certificate of Approval Review
A. 119 8th Street East – Landscaping Fortney presented the staff report. Chair
Toppin commented that sidewalks are very utilitarian and the HPC has allowed
plain concrete sidewalks.
Commissioner Simacek asked if building permits are required for all the proposed
work. Fortney said no, unless the retaining wall is higher than four-feet.
Motion by Commissioner Borchardt to approve the request as proposed, seconded by Alitz
Edell; motion approved 7-0.
B. 306 2nd Street West – Retaining Wall Fortney presented the staff report. Chair
Toppin asked staff if the HPC had to review the fence. Fortney said if they propose
a fence, the HPC would have to approve it. John Stebbings, applicant, said they
would like to place a partial privacy fence along Lock and Dam Road. Fortney said
that frontage is considered a front side and the Design Guidelines state a complete
enclosure is not appropriate. The applicant added that they will keep that in mind
and consider a few different types. Toppin said the wall is very high at the
northwestern corner, but is very low along Lock and Dam Road and not visible
from 2nd Street at all. Toppin commented that the proposed wall blocks are similar
to what is used in several areas in the old part of town by homeowners and City
projects. Commissioner Simacek said similar style, but larger blocks are used at
the Confluence project. Approved 7-0
Motion by Commissioner Peterson to approve the request as proposed, seconded by
Youngren; motion approved 7-0.
IV. OHDS – Original Hastings Design Standards Review
A. 200 Maple Street – Remodel and second story addition Fortney presented the
staff report. Fortney explained the difference between the historic and OHDS
reviews. Historic review is for the HPC to determine if a proposal to a designated
property negatively effects any historic material, design integrity, and historical
significance. OHDS review requires the HPC to make a recommendation to the
City Council that major appearance changes are consistent with the bulk, design,
and development pattern of the immediate neighborhood average. Additionally,
proposed changes may not negatively affect the streetscape.
Chair Toppin said the proposed design appears to meet all the OHDS design
criteria of the Zoning Ordinance except for the triangular windows. Fortney said
the proposed triangular windows do not reflect bay pattern and size of immediate
neighborhood average required by the standards. He added that designing by
neighborhood average is difficult, but triangular windows as proposed are not
typically found in homes within the OHDS. Commissioner Youngren said the
largest arraignment of triangular windows wouldn’t be visible from a street and
there are some adjacent homes with large square and rectangular picture windows.
Motion by Commissioner Borchardt to recommend approval of the request as proposed to
the Hastings City Council, seconded by Youngren; motion approved 7-0.
This item was scheduled for review by the Hastings City Council for Monday June
26, 2023
IV. Business
V. Adjourn
Motion by Borchardt to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 pm, seconded by Simacek; motion
approved 7-0.
Respectfully Submitted - Justin Fortney