HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-10 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BANGOR
MEETING OF April 10, 2014
MINUTES
Commission Members Present: Donald Lewis III
Marie Grady
Reese Perkins
Elizabeth Rettenmaier (associate)
City Staff Present: Jennifer Boothroyd
Paul Nicklas
Chairman Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS
Item No. 1: Approval of HPC meeting minutes from March 13, 2014 meeting
Chairman Lewis initiated the reading of the meeting minutes for review.
Associate Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to forego the reading of the minutes
and approve them as written. Commissioner Perkins seconded the motion. The motion was
approved.
Item No. 2: Consider a request for Design Review approval for window
replacement, sign removal, and repair and repainting of stucco
and woodwork at 43 Columbia Street, Downeast Development,
LLC, applicant
Phillip Sykes, owner of 43 Columbia Street, approached the podium and summarized
Downeast Development’s proposal for the Commission. The applicant plans to replace
windows that are in bad repair, and additional maintenance to the façade of the building.
Sara Martin made reference to her memo, in which she suggested a more period-appropriate
muntin profile. Further examination of the windows on the building revealed that the
windows had no muntins, therefore adding a muntin profile is not appropriate.
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Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the window replacement, sign removal, and
repair and repainting of stucco and woodwork at 43 Columbia Street as proposed.
Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with
Commission members Lewis, Grady, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting.
Item No. 3: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design
Review approval for a mural at 158 Main Street, Annette Dodd,
applicant
Annette Dodd approached the podium and summarized her proposal for the Commission. She
proposes to paint a mural (replicating an image of an old Bangor postcard) on the side of the
building at 158 Main Street (Main Street Tavern); an area that is currently painted white. She
will transfer the design by using a grid method, which she has used on other mural projects.
She plans to obtain all paint and supplies by donation.
Chair Lewis asked about how the mural would be maintained over time. Ms. Dodd stated that
she will keep all the paint used to make the mural, and will touch up and maintain the mural
indefinitely. Commissioner Perkins mentioned that there is an anti-graffiti topcoat available
commercially. Ms. Dodd agreed that it made sense to use such a product, and said she would
look into obtaining it.
Associate Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to approve a mural at 158 Main Street
as presented. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. The motion was approved
unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Grady, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting.
Item No. 4: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design
Review approval for a sign at 81 Main Street, Joan Osler,
applicant.
Joan Osler approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. She is
requesting after-the-fact approval for a sign at 81 Main Street. It is mounted flush to the
front of the building.
Commissioner Perkins asked how the sign was attached. Ms. Osler stated that it is attached
with small metal brackets.
Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the installation of a sign at 81 Main Street,
as proposed. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. The motion was approved
unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Grady, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting.
Item No. 5: Consider a request for Design Review approval for a sign at 20
South Street, Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, applicant.
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John Porter, President and CEO, and Karen Cole, executive vice president and marketing
director of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, approached the podium and
summarized the issue for the Commission. The Chamber of Commerce would like to place a
permanent sign to replace a temporary sign at their office at 20 South Street. They provided
additional site photos and samples of the sign material to the Commission.
The applicant is also interested in placing a pole-mounted light that will illuminate the sign
from approximately 50 feet away. While the proposed light is not part of the current
application, they would like feedback from the Commission about whether the concept is
feasible.
Assistant Solicitor Nicklas clarified the applicability of the sign lighting provision within the
façade district; it is referring to the scale of lighting for signs, not whether or not a sign
should be lighted. Mr. Porter stated that illumination of the sign is important for the Chamber
office to be identifiable from the parking area.
Ms Boothroyd stated that the ordinance is clear about how lighting should be designed to
harmonize with the site, and that the Commission would need to see the proposed lighting
fixtures in order to review them. Mr. Porter reiterated that they are looking for guidance on
how to proceed with the lighting issue, and that they are willing to come back before the
commission for proposed lights.
Ms. Martin asked if the provisions of the Waterfront Façade District were in addition to or in
the place of the Design review standards. Mr. Nicklas stated that, except where explicitly
stated otherwise, he interprets the standards for the Waterfront to be in addition to those in
the regular Design Review standards in the ordinance.
Associate Commissioner Rettenmaier asked if the existing lighting had already gone through
the design review process. Ms. Boothroyd stated that she did not know, and that it likely
depended on when the existing lighting was installed. She also stated that any proposed
lighting fixtures would need to be approved by the Code Enforcement office.
Mr. Porter asked if the Commission feels that pole-mounted lighting is a possibility.
Commissioner Perkins stated that he was not in favor of lighting being placed on the pole,
because it would be shining back into the building and could be distracting to people within
the office. Ms. Cole stated that the office was below ground, and the angle is not likely to be
obtrusive. Andy Hamilton, chair of the Chamber’s Board, stated that he feels that the pole-
mounted light is preferred for maintaining the façade of the building in its current state.
Associate Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to approve the installation of a sign at
20 South Street, as proposed. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. The motion was
approved unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Grady, Perkins, and Rettenmaier
voting.
Additional Discussion
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Ms. Boothroyd proposed that the HPC meetings be broadcast over the City’s cable channel,
like other meetings of Bangor’s boards and commissions. The Commissioners agreed that it
was an acceptable idea. It was agreed that the meetings would be broadcast starting in May.
There being no further items for discussion, Associate Commissioner Rettenmaier made a
motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion, and the meeting
was adjourned at 7:45 P.M.