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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-13 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF August 13, 2015 MINUTES Commission Members Present: Elizabeth Rettenmaier (vice chair) Reese Perkins Marie Grady George Burgoyne Andrew Saucier (associate) Consultant to the Commission: Mike Pullen City Staff Present: Jen Boothroyd David Gould Vice-chair Rettenmaier called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 1: Approval of HPC meeting minutes from the July 9, 2015 meeting Chair Mallar initiated the reading of the July 9, 2015 meeting minutes for review. Secretary Perkins began to read the minutes. Commissioner Saucier made a motion to forego the reading of the minutes and approve them as written, which was seconded by Commissioner Grady. The meeting minutes were approved with members Perkins, Grady, Saucier, and Burgoyne voting. Item No. 2: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for roof and air conditioner replacement at 1 West Market Sq.; Peter Erskine, applicant Peter Erskine, owner of the building at 1 West Market Square, approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The applicant proposes to replace the existing gravel roof with a new rubberized membrane roof, with associated drains, flashing and a new roof hatch. He also proposes to remove unused air conditioning equipment from the roof and rear side of the building, and install a two new wall-mounted air conditioning units. Commissioner Burgoyne asked what color the new rubber roof would be. Mr. Erskine stated that it was a standard beige color. Commissioner Saucier asked for clarification that no new AC equipment would be placed on the roof. Mr. Erskine confirmed this. 2 Commissioner Rettenmaier asked if the new building-mounted AC units would require the existing support brackets. Mr. Erskine required that they would not. Commissioner Perkins noted that the units should be fastened into the mortar, rather than the brick. Mr. Erskine stated that this would not be a problem. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for roof and air conditioner replacement at 1 West Market Square, with the reminder to mount the new air conditioners through the mortar of the building. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with Commission members Burgoyne, Rettenmaier, Grady, Perkins, and Saucier voting. Item No. 3: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for a new awning at 10 Merchant’s Plaza; Robert Gilgan/25-27 Broad St LLC, applicants Louie Morrison, property manager of the building at 25-27 Broad Street, of which 10 Merchant’s Plaza is a part, approached the podium and summarized the proposal. The applicant proposes to install a black awning over the doorway to define the entrance of the residential apartment at 10 Merchant’s Plaza. Commissioner Burgoyne asked about the black boxed-in area adjacent to the doorway visible in the application photographs. Mr. Morrison noted that it is the trash containment/utility area for the building. Commissioner Perkins asked how the new awning would affect the existing light over the entrance. Mr. Morrison said that the plan is to keep the light, underneath the new awning. Commissioner Rettenmaier asked about the color of the door. Mr. Morrison replied that the door is black. He mentioned that the applicant may be interested in having “10 Merchant’s Plaza” painted on the awning. Commissioner Rettenmaier asked about the material of the awning. Mr. Morrison said it would be made from outdoor fabric, not vinyl. Commissioner Perkins noted that lettering on the awning is possible, but would require additional review and approval. Ms. Boothroyd noted that it may also require a sign permit, and Mr. Pullen asked for clarification about the size of the awning, noting that the dimensions on the diagram provided were to blurry to read. Mr. Morrison stated that the awning would be 68 inches wide, 34 inches high, and 40 inches deep. He added that the door is a standard 36-inch width, and that the awning would be supported by an aluminum frame, with brackets mounted into the mortar of the building. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for an awning at 10 Merchant’s Plaza as presented, with the hardware mounted into mortar. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. 3 The motion was approved unanimously with Commission members Burgoyne, Rettenmaier, Grady, Perkins, and Saucier voting. Item No. 4: Consider a request for Design Review approval for façade changes at 60 May St.; The Point Group, LLC, applicant Louie Morrison, representative of The Point Group, LLC, approached the podium and summarized the project for the Commission. The applicant has recently purchased the building at 60 May St., and is planning an overhaul of the interior and exterior, to create commercial office space on the first floor and residential space on the second floor. As part of the project, the applicant proposes new doors, windows, siding and trim on the building, which fronts on both May Street and Front Street. Mr. Morrison brought some additional details and changes proposed by the applicant, as well as some siding samples to the meeting. Commissioner Saucier asked the applicant to summarize aspects of the proposed project that are different than what was submitted in the application. Mr. Morrison explained that they are proposing to install new doors and all new windows, replace the existing T-111 building siding with either a vinyl siding that mimics the look of cedar shingles (first choice), or actual cedar shingles (second choice). They are also proposing to paint the concrete a darker gray color. Mr. Pullen distributed and referred to historic photographs of the building, the former Murray Brothers building, which he considers to be one of the few Bangor examples of early industrial architecture, designed by Eric Kahn. He noted that the large areas of the building now covered by T-111 were once all glass block. Mr. Morrison noted that the glass block is still visible from within the building, but is in such poor repair that it crumbles when disturbed. Mr. Pullen added that maintaining the pattern of glass openings and light concrete is desirable. Mr. Morrison noted that the applicant would also like to install a glass-fronted garage door on the old loading dock on the Front St. façade. They plan to wall-in the areas of glass openings, and use the shingle siding on the areas that are currently covered in T-111, and to use aluminum extrusion windows on the first floor and the second floor windows have been replaced by the previous owners with vinyl replacement windows. He added that they are hoping to trim the overgrown hedges back immediately. Commissioner Perkins stated that he does not feel that the Commission has adequate information about the proposed project to properly evaluate it at this time. Mr. Morrison agreed that some aspects of the application were incomplete and poorly-rendered. Mr. Pullen added that the colors proposed in the application do not appear to be what the applicant is actually proposing, and they are darker than what would be preferred. Commissioner Perkins stated that the concept of the project is favorable, but not enough of the details are finalized in the application. Mr. Pullen added that the brick panels on the building’s façade should be maintained, and it appeared that the applicant is proposing to side over it. Mr. Morrison stated that they would like to maintain the brick, but noted that it wasn’t very clear in the application. After some additional discussion, the Commission expressed interest in getting additional details and clearer graphical representations of the proposal. Commissioner Rettenmaier noted that the applicant has the option of withdrawing the application, making changes, and then resubmitting it for review at a later meeting. After some discussion, Mr. Morrison agreed to withdraw and resubmit for a later meeting. 4 Other Business: Commissioner Burgoyne made a motion to adjourn the meeting, which Commissioner Perkins seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 P.M.