Loading...
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. 2 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. 3 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 4 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.