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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-12 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF September 12, 2013 MINUTES Commission Members Present: Donald Lewis III Robert Gordon Marie Grady Sonia Mallar Eric Mihan Commission Consultant Present: Sara K. Martin City Staff Present: Jennifer Boothroyd Paul Nicklas Chairman Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Commissioner Gordon suggested a rearrangement of the order of the agenda, to allow some of the simpler applications to appear before ones that might involve more discussion. After some discussion, he suggested moving the Bangor Public Library project to the end of the agenda, while keeping the order of the rest of the applications intact. The commission voted unanimously yo make this change, and Item #5 on the agenda was moved to Item #7. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 1: Consider a request for Design Review approval Design Review approval for repair of a wooden awning at 96 Harlow Street, B&L Properties, LLC, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. No one was present to represent the applicant. A tenant of 96 Harlow St. spoke to the Commission to express the need for the proposed work to be done, and wondered if there was any way to move the project forward. She was informed that, in the absence of the applicant of a representative, the Commission could not review the application. Review of this item was postponed. 2 Item No. 2: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for new signage, paint, windows, and building- mounted equipment at 18 Broad Street, Blaze, LLC, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. Matthew Haskell of Blaze LLC and Rob Ervin, architect for the project, summarized the application for the Commission. The applicant proposed façade updates on the front of the building, and the installation of building-mounted equipment on the rear of the building for a new restaurant. Commissioner Mihan made a motion to approve the application as written and presented. Commissioner Grady seconded the amended motion. The motion was approved unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Gordon, Mallar, Mihan, and Grady voting. Item No. 3: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval to replace siding and alter window dimensions at 192-200 Exchange Street, Peifen Carroll, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. Peifen Carroll, owner of 192-200 Exchange Street, summarized the application for the Commission. The applicant proposed to alter the dimensions of a window and replace some areas of Formcrete siding with like materials. Sara Martin, consultant to the commission, stated that the replacement of Formcrete was specifically prohibited by Bangor City Code. Ms. Carroll asked what material could be used. Ms. Martin stated that many options could be considered, but that none could be approved presently without a picture or rendering of what the change would look like. Commissioner Mihan made a motion to approve the window alterations as proposed, but not the siding replacement. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Gordon, Mallar, Mihan, and Grady voting. Item No. 4: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness approval for roof replacement at City Hall, 73 Harlow Street, City of Bangor, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. 3 Cathy Conlow, Bangor City Manager, summarized the application for the Commission. The applicant proposed to replace the roof of City Hall like materials. Commissioner Mallar made a motion to approve the roof replacement as presented. Commissioner Grady seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Gordon, Mallar, Mihan, and Grady voting. Item No. 5: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for a projecting sign at 40-42 Main Street, American Retro, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. A representative of American Retro, summarized the application for the Commission. The applicant proposed to install a projecting sign at the business, at a height of seven feet. Some commissioners expressed concern that seven feet may not be high enough to be effective. The applicant indicated that they would be amenable to installing the sign higher. Commissioner Mihan made a motion to approve the installation of a projecting sign, with the condition that it be installed at a height of eight feet. Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Gordon, Mallar, Mihan, and Grady voting. Item No. 6: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for window replacement at 84 Harlow Street, Eighty-four Realty, LLC, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. John Hamer, representing Eighty-four Realty LLC, summarized the application for the Commission. The applicant proposed to replace all windows above the first story at 84 Harlow Street. The existing windows are inefficient and some are in disrepair. A representative of the window replacement contracting company ensured that the replacement windows would look the same as the existing windows, while being much more energy-efficient. Commissioner Mihan made a motion to approve the application as presented. Commissioner Mallar seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with Commission members Lewis, Gordon, Mallar, Mihan, and Grady voting. 4 Item No. 7: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval for a building addition and renovations at the Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow Street, Bangor Public Library, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. Scott Simons, architect for Bangor Public Library, summarized the application for the Commission. The applicant proposed to construct a new addition to the front of the Children’s Wing of the library. The addition was designed to be made of glass, allowing it to be completely transparent. The addition is part of a larger proposed project, which involves extensive interior renovation of the library, and the relocation of the main entrance to the facility. As had been previously requested by the Commission, comments and review of the proposal were provided by Earl Shettleworth of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. Mr. Shettleworth raised concerns about the proposed addition, and how it seemed starkly different than the existing library architecture. In the ensuing discussion, several Commissioners expressed similar concerns, specifically about the proposed addition’s roofline, which appeared in renderings to obscure the view of the arched windows on the existing library façade. Given the discussion and feedback, the applicant chose to withdraw the application, make some changes, and resubmit to the Commission at a later date. There being no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 9:11 p.m.