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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-11 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF September 11, 2014 MINUTES Commission Members Present: Donald Lewis III, chair Marie Grady Sonia Mallar Reese Perkins Elizabeth Rettenmaier (associate) City Staff Present: Jennifer Boothroyd Paul Nicklas Chairman Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He proposed that items 10 and 11 on the meeting’s agenda, the election of a new Secretary and the approval of the July meeting minutes, be moved to the beginning of the meeting. The Commission unanimously agreed to this. Chair Lewis also noted that the last item on the agenda has been withdrawn from the agenda. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 1: Election of Secretary of the Historic Preservation Commission Commissioner Rettenmaier nominated Reese Perkins for the vacant position of Secretary. Commissioner Mallar seconded the nomination. Commissioner Perkins was elected to the position. Item No. 2: Approval of HPC meeting minutes from July 16, 2014 meeting Chairman Lewis initiated the reading of the meeting minutes for review. Secretary Perkins began to read the minutes. Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to forego the reading of the minutes and approve them as written. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. Item No. 3: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness approval for fence relocation and installation at 29 Hayward Street, Kellie Greer, applicant 2 Kellie Greer approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The applicant plans to move some sections of existing backyard fencing, and add some additional sections, to enclose her backyard area. The new fence sections will match the existing ones in make and color (green). Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the fence relocation and installation as presented at 29 Hayward Street. Commissioner Mallar seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. Item No. 4: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness approval for window replacement at 187 Exchange Street, House Revivers, applicant Bob Kelly, owner of House Revivers, approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The applicant plans to replace windows in the third floor of the building at 187 Exchange Street (“The Ballroom”). The wooden double-hung windows will be replace with wooden double-hung windows in a matching one-light over one-light configuration. The arched upper windows will be rebuilt; the sills and trim will be cleaned and repaired or replaced where necessary, and repainted in the existing green color. Commissioner Rettenmaier asked if the second-story windows are included in the proposal. Mr. Kelly stated that they are not proposing to replace the second-story windows at this time, but may do so in the future. He also requested, due to the various funding sources for the project and the lateness of the season, the Commission allow a window of two years to start and three years to finish the project, rather than the standard six months to start and one year to finish. Commissioner Rettenmaier asked if the boarded-up window panes shown in the application photos would be replaced. Mr. Kelly stated that they would be replaced with double-hung windows. She asked if the crenellation details would be maintained as well. He stated that it would. Commissioner Mallar asked if the boarded-up window on the first floor of the building on the York St. side would be replaced. Mr. Kelly stated that it would not be done at this time. Commissioner Mallar made a motion to approve the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for window replacement at 187 Exchange Street, with the condition that work be started within two years and finished within three years, and that photos of the completed project be submitted to the Planning Office. Commissioner Rettenmaier seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. 3 Item No. 5: Consider a request for Design Review approval for glass installation to enclose an existing walk-up teller area at 3 State Street, Bangor Savings Bank, applicant Jason Donovan, representing Bangor Savings Bank, approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The applicant plans to enclose an area at the rear of the building that formerly housed a walk-up teller area. The area is no longer in service, and the applicant would like to enclose the alcove to make it clear that the area is not an access/entry point. A concrete curb would be poured, and an enclosed bronze-tinted glass “storefront” area, would be built to match the existing look of the rest of the bank. The space is not intended to be used, but to prevent people from walking up. Commissioner Mallar asked if the enclosed area will have access from the outside. Mr. Donovan stated that it would not be accessible from the outside. No door is proposed. The space will also be unlit and unheated. Commissioner Perkins asked humidity and moisture would be an issue in such an enclosed area. Mr. Donovan stated that since the area is to remain unheated, he does not anticipate much of an issue. He added that the area will be accessible from the inside of the building, and that a pane of the enclosure glass could always be removed to allow entry, to allow for maintenance. Commissioner Perkins asked if the area got much sun. Mr. Donovan stated that it gets partial sun at various times in the day. Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to approve the application for the enclosure of a walk-up teller area as presented, with the condition that work be started within six months, completed within a year, and that photos of the completed project be submitted to the Planning office. Commissioner Perkins seconded the motion, which passed unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. Item No. 6: Consider a request a request for Certificate of Appropriateness approval for fence installation at 455 Harlow Street, Porterhouse LLC and Deighan Wealth Advisors, applicants Glen Porter, owner, approached the podium and addressed the Commission. The applicant proposes to install a split-rail fence on a portion of the property at 455 Harlow Street, in the hopes that it will deter trucks from driving on the area, which is planted as a flower garden. Chair Lewis asked if the proposed fence will match the photos provided in the application packet, which are taken across the street from the subject property. Mr. Porter stated that it will look the same, just shorter; the proposed fence will be about three feet high. He added that the fence will be allowed to naturally weather to a gray color. Commissioner Perkins asked how far from the street the fence on the neighboring property is. Mr. Porter stated that it varies, and that at one point it’s very close to the street, and at another it’s further away. 4 Commissioner Mallar asked if the fence will be damaged by plowed snow. Mr. Porter stated that he believes it will stand up to it. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to approve the application for Certificate of Appropriateness for fence installation as proposed, with the condition that work be started within six months, completed within a year, and that photos of the finished work be submitted to the Planning Office. Commissioner Mallar seconded the motion, which passed unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. Item No. 7: Consider a request a request a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for banner replacement at 74 Main Street, Maine Discovery Museum, applicant Kim Stewart, Program Manager at the Maine Discovery Museum, approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The applicant proposes to replace 3 banners on the Main Street face of the building that had fallen into disrepair. The old banners have been removed. The replacement banners will be installed in the existing fixtures, and will be the same colors and size as the former banners. Commissioner Grady asked how long it will take to replace the banners. Ms. Stewart said that she believes it will take a week to print them, and that it will take a day to hang them. Chair Lewis asked what the banners are made of. Ms. Stewart responded that they are made of vinyl. Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for banner replacement as proposed, with the condition that work be completed within six months, and that photos of the finished work be submitted to the Planning Office. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion, which passed unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. Item No. 8: Consider a request a request a request for Design Review approval for painting, a sign, and a wall at 190 Harlow Street, Half-Acre Inc., applicant Pat Brann, vice-president of Half-Acre Inc. approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The applicant proposes to paint a wall, mount a sign, and construct a low wall in front of the business at 190 Harlow St. Mr. Brann stated that the paint color was not very representative in the application packet, which appeared orange. He circulated a paint chip showing the actual proposed color, which is a tan shade. Commissioner Mallar asked if they are only proposing to paint in the area below the molding on the wall as shown in the photo. Mr. Brann confirmed this. 5 Commissioner Mallar asked if the proposed sign would be neon. Mr. Brann stated that it would not be neon, but would be a halo-lit metal sign. Commissioner Perkins asked what color the sign letters would be. Mr. Brann responded that they would be a silver-toned metal. Commissioner Rettenmaier asked if there was a structural reason for constructing the wall. Mr. Brann stated that there is no structural reason, and that it would be a form of landscaping, and would be built about two feet out from the building. It would not be applied directly to the façade of the building as may be interpreted in the application photos. Commissioner Mallar asked if the proposed work would be visible from Harlow Street. Mr. Brann stated that it would not be, as all work is being done on the rear of the building. Chair Lewis asked if the landscaped area would be regularly maintained. Mr. Brann said that it would be. Commissioner Mallar made a motion to approve Design Review for paint, a sign, and a wall as proposed and clarified as using the tan color paint, with the condition that work be started within six months, completed within a year, and that photos of the finished work be submitted to the Planning Office. Commissioner Rettenmaier seconded the motion, which passed unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. Item No. 9: Consider a request a request a request for Design Review approval for sign replacement at 21 Main Street, Bangor Neon, applicant Shannon Odom of Northeast Bank, the tenant at 21 Main Street, approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The bank is a new tenant the space, and proposes to place two signs, one on the front entrance, and one at the rear. Commissioner Mallar asked if the same type of sign was proposed at the rear entrance as at the front. Mr. Odom stated that it was the same type of sign, just smaller. The signs are composed of aluminum over aluminum, and will be installed by Bangor Neon. Commissioner Rettenmaier asked if new hardware and holes will be needed to mount the signs. Mr. Odom stated that existing holes will be used on the front, and that new holes will be needed in the back. Chair Lewis stated that any new holes need to be drilled into the mortar rather than the brick. Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to approve Design Review for signs as proposed, with the conditions and new drilling be done into the mortar of the building, rather than the brick, and that work be completed within six months, and that photos of the finished work be submitted to the Planning Office. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion, which passed 6 unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. Item No. 10: Consider a request a request a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for door replacement, trim changes, and paint at 88 Central Street, Elias Inc., applicant Brian Ames, consultant for Elias, Inc., approached the podium and summarized the proposal for the Commission. The applicant proposed changes to the façade of the building at 88 Central Street, including the replacement of two doors and repair/replacement of trim work, and a new cream and green paint scheme similar to that on an adjacent property (Java Joe’s). He stated that one of the doors is a contemporary aluminum door, which will be replaced with a seven-foot wood-framed glass door and transom. The other door is an eight- foot tall door, which will be replaced with a wooden seven-foot tall door to match the other. All trim and molding will be saved and reused or replaced where necessary. Chair Lewis cautioned the applicant against making something “look old”, which is not permissible under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Commissioner Mallar asked the age of the historic photo that was included in the application packet. Mr. Ames said that he believed the photo dated from 1912 or 1913. Commissioner Perkins wondered if the transom above the wooden door, currently boarded over, would be restored. Mr. Ames stated that no change, except paint, was currently being proposed for this area. The transom over the door to the karate studio at 88 Central Street would be repaired and restored. He said that the intent is to draw attention to the main entrance, rather than the secondary door below the transom in question. He noted that the area would be enlarged because of the use of a shorter replacement door. Commissioner Perkins stated that he believes this is a good opportunity to restore the transom over the secondary door as well, and that it doesn’t seem to make sense to keep it boarded over. Commissioner Mallar agreed. Mr. Ames suggested that a fixed-glass window could be placed in the opening. The Commission agreed that this would be a preferable alternative to what is proposed. Mr. Ames agreed to amend the applicant to reflect the use of a fixed-glass window in the transom area. Commissioner Rettenmaier made a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for door replacement, trim changes, and paint as proposed and amended to use a fixed-glass window to fill in the larger transom area above the secondary entrance, with the condition that work be started within six months, completed within a year, and that photos of the finished work be submitted to the Planning Office. Commissioner Mallar seconded the motion, which passed unanimously with Commission members Grady, Lewis, Mallar, Perkins, and Rettenmaier voting. 7 Additional Business: Commissioner Mallar asked whether any progress had been made in finding a new Historic Preservation Consultant. Ms. Boothroyd said that the plan is to try to find someone who would be willing to volunteer. If that doesn’t work out, the City will pursue options to fund a position. Chair Lewis reminded the Commissioners about the upcoming CLG training in October in Portland. Ms. Boothroyd stated that mileage reimbursement would be available to those who attend. There being no further issues for consideration or discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 P.M.