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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-09 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF April 9th, 2015 MINUTES Commission Members Present: George Burgoyne Reese Perkins Elizabeth Rettenmaier Andrew Saucier (associate) Consultant to the Commission: Mike Pullen City Staff Present: Jennifer Boothroyd Paul Nicklas Vice Chair Rettenmaier called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 1: Approval of HPC meeting minutes from February 12, 2015 meeting Vice Chair Rettenmaier initiated the reading of the meeting minutes for review. Secretary Perkins began to read the minutes. Commissioner Burgoyne made a motion to forego the reading of the minutes and approve them as written, which was approved unanimously. Item No. 2: Consider a request for Design Review approval for new signs at 74 Harlow Street; Bankers Life, applicant A representative of Bankers Life, approached the podium and summarized the proposal. The applicant proposes to mount two new signs on the building for a new business moving into the space. Associate Commissioner Saucier asked for clarification that the application includes two new signs, one on each of the two facades. The applicant confirmed this, one sign will be on the Harlow St. façade and one on the Central St. façade. Mr. Pullen asked if the holes from previous signs would be reused to mount the new signs or repaired. The applicant stated that since the placement of the signs would be slightly different, the holes may not all be reused. If they aren’t they will be patched/repaired. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for an exit and stairway at 74 Harlow St. as submitted. Commissioner Burgoyne seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with Commission members Burgoyne, Perkins, Saucier, and Rettenmaier voting. 2 Item No. 3: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for vent relocation and window installation at 23-27 Central Street; Bagel Central, applicant The contractor for the project, acting as the applicant’s agent, approached the podium and summarized the proposal. The applicant proposes to move a plywood vent from one window and move it to another window. The sash will not be removed from the window where the vent is being installed, but the original bottom sash from the window where the vent is being removed will be re- installed in that space. Mr. Pullen asked for confirmation that the vent with the wood panel surround is to be moved two windows over, and that the large power vents seen in the application photos were remaining unchanged. The applicant’s agent confirmed this. Mr. Pullen noted that in his opinion, the movement of this vent makes it more conspicuous, since it is no longer coupled with another vent in a single window opening. Commissioner Perkins asked if changes could be made to improve the appearance of the plywood. Mr. stated that he could use a new piece of plywood, and paint it blue to match the trim. He stated that the applicant would be open to other suggestions. Vice Chair Rettenmaier asked how the vent that is being moved is mounted in place. The contractor responded that it is an air vent, and is screwed into a wooden part of the frame on the inside of the wall opening. Mr. Pullen noted that painting the plywood a charcoal/black might be preferable to the blue, since it would give the appearance of a void, as if a glazed window were still in place. The Commission agreed that this would be preferable, and the applicant’s agent agreed. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for vent relocation and window installation at 23-27 Central St., with the following conditions: 1) that the vent, when moved, is supported by plywood painted a black matte to give the appearance of a void, 2) that the sash that is removed be preserved and the sash where the vent currently is be reused there, and 3) work be started within six months, completed within a year, and that photos of the completed project be submitted to the Planning Office. Associate Commissioner Saucier seconded the motion. The motion was to approve the project was then voted upon, and was approved unanimously with Commission members Saucier, Rettenmaier, Perkins, and Burgoyne voting. Item No. 4: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for a new sign at 15 State Street; Joyce Mallery, applicant Joyce Mallery, proprietor of Sea of Cotton, is moving her business into the space at 15 State Street, and would like to hang a sign. She proposes to hang the sign slightly above the level of the adjacent Blue Heron sign, so as not to block the view of their sign. The sign will be hung by Paul Cook, building owner. The applicant brought the sign and the hanging bracket to show the Commission. 3 Mr. Pullen noted that in his opinion, hanging signs at varying heights on a symmetrical building façade results in an incongruous appearance. Ms. Boothroyd noted that the Code Enforcement office has no record of the Blue Heron sign, and therefore it cannot be confirmed as being eight feet from the ground, as is presumed. Paul Cook noted that he has measured the Blue Heron sign and it is approximately eight feet from the ground. Vice Chair Rettenmaier asked if the photos submitted in the application packet accurately represented where the applicant proposed to mount the hanging sign; in line with the lintels above the windows. The applicant stated that the sign, per code, needs to be hung below the level of the second story windows, and may need to be adjusted somewhat from what is shown. Vice Chair Rettenmaier asked if the mounting bracket could be mounted into the mortar between the blocks. Mr. Pullen noted that the building exterior is actually terra cotta, and that the standard method of mounting on such a façade is to use discreet holes, and not an expansion anchor. Mr. Cook agreed that the bracket will be mounted in this fashion. He noted that if the proposed sign were hung at the same level as the Blue Heron sign, it would completely block it from view. Commissioner Perkins stated that he was amenable to approving the placement of this sign, but was wary of setting a precedent for multiple projecting signs at various heights along the street. Associate Commissioner Saucier made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for sign placement at 15 State St., as amended to be hung at least eight feet, but not more than ten feet from the ground below. Commissioner Perkins seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with Commission members Saucier, Rettenmaier, Perkins, and Burgoyne voting Item No. 5: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for rear window and door alterations and façade paint at 28 Broad Street; Roy Hubbard, applicant Roy Hubbard, owner of 28 Broad St, proposes to fill in some window and door openings at the rear of the building to accommodate a new electrical transformer. He provided additional information to the Commission about the proposed door style he’d like to use as a replacement door. The replacement door is fire-rated, steel, and will be painted black to match the adjacent window trim. He also proposes new façade paint on the front of the building facing Broad St. He also noted, referring to the annotated photo in the application packet, that the openings “A” and “E” are where the proposed fire doors will be placed, and “B”, “C”, and “D” are the opens proposed to be bricked in to match adjacent bricked-in windows. Vice Chair Rettenmaier asked if the entire first-floor façade would be painted. Mr. Hubbard stated that it would be. Vice Chair Rettenmaier asked what would become of the granite lintels of the windows and doors openings. Mr. Hubbard stated that the lintels would remain. Mr. Pullen noted that existing bricked-in windows on the rear façade of the building are flush with the building’s surface. He noted that it would be preferable, when bricking in the new openings as 4 proposed, that the infill be recessed a brick width, about four inches, so that the spot will be clearly identifiable as a former opening. He also noted that some of the existing windows appear to be new. Mr. Hubbard stated that those had been replaced by the previous owner. He needs to fill in “B”, “C”, and “D” to accommodate the placement of an electrical transformer. Commissioner Burgoyne asked if all other windows in the back are going to stay as windows. Mr. Hubbard clarified that only the windows to the left and right of opening “E” will remain. All others will either be bricked in, or already have been. Ms. Boothroyd asked if the applicant was amenable to recessing the brick infill by a brick’s width. Mr. Hubbard noted that he was fine with that suggestion. Mr. Pullen referred to some existing architectural sketches of West Market Square, showing the patterns of the various storefronts, noting the patterns of solids and voids and the values of lights and darks. He stated the values of the existing storefront are a character-defining feature of the building, and that painting the façade black, as applied, would muddy the distinction of solids and voids. In his view, a color scheme that matches the existing value pattern of lights and darks on the building façade would be preferable to the color scheme proposed. Commissioner Burgoyne noted that some other buildings in this area of Broad Street are “kaleidoscopic” in their color schemes. The applicant stated that the proposed black and yellow color façade was selected based on other properties downtown. Mr. Pullen noted that the Design Review standards state that “earth tone” colors and neutral accents should be used when selecting paint colors for downtown facades. Commissioner Burgoyne suggested that an adjustment to shades of gray and cream rather than black and yellow, with the values reversed to match the existing value pattern might be more acceptable. Mr. Hubbard stated that he like to amend the proposal to use a charcoal gray and cream color scheme, matching the existing light and dark values. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for window and door alterations and façade paint at 28 Broad St., as amended to include a dark gray and cream paint color palate as discussed, and also to inset the brick infill by a brick width as discussed. Commissioner Burgoyne seconded the motion. The motion was to approve the project was then voted upon, and was approved unanimously with Commission members Burgoyne, Saucier, Perkins, and Burgoyne voting. Other Business: Assistant City Solicitor Paul Nicklas summarized proposed changes to Chapter 148 of the City Code of Ordinances. Commissioner Burgoyne moved to recommend the proposed changes to the City Council. Commissioner Perkins seconded the motion, and the Commission unanimously approved it. Assistant City Solicitor Paul Nicklas summarized proposed changes to Chapter 71 of the City Code of Ordinances. Commissioner Burgoyne moved to recommend the proposed changes to the City Council. Commissioner Perkins seconded the motion, and the Commission unanimously approved it. Commissioner Burgoyne voiced his concern about elements of the Historic Preservation Code that are not happening. He suggested that the code be cleaned up to exclude these items if everyone agrees 5 they are unnecessary. Mr. Nicklas agreed, and stated that he would ask the City’s legal intern to work on identifying such elements. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to adjourn the meeting, which Commissioner Burgoyne seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.