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.
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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.
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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.
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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.