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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-15 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF MARCH 15, 2018 MINUTES Commission Members Present: Matthew Carter Brandi LeRoy Wayne Mallar Reese Perkins Alfred Banfield, Associate Member Mike Pullen, Consultant to Commission City Staff Present:Sean Gambrel David Gould Paul Nicklas Chair Perkins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PROJECT REVIEW 1.173 Broadway –Natphiann, LLC After-the-fact Application to Replace Third Floor Window with Egress Door Chapter 148 –Historic Preservation (Broadway Historic District) Steve Sias, of Natphiann, LLC presented the application and explained the circumstances of the after-the-fact proposal to the Commission. Mr. Sias explained that this alteration was the result of a miscommunication between himself and the site contractor before he left on vacation for several days. He noted that the owner intends to eventually sell the property, but needs the egress door for building to function as 3-unit, as it is approved for via code. Mr. Sias stated that the owner would like to find a mutually-acceptable solution for their need for the access door and in the end was just trying to make the building useable as a legal 3-unit building. Member Carter asked if the building was occupied. Mr. Sias reported that it was not currently; the building is placarded and locked up. Member Carter inquired if the exterior work was the only thing holding this up. Mr. Sias replied that yes, all of the interior work was permitted and was underway. Consultant Michael Pullen asked if Mr. Sias knew if the contractor had a building permit for the door work. Mr. Sias indicated that he was unsure, as the contractors usually deal with this. Mr. Pullen asked if it was the intention to put the egress stairs in that were proposed in November. Mr. Sias responded that they would need to before the property was sold, to receive their Certificate of Occupancy. Mr. Pullen reminded Mr. Sias that he would need to come back before the Commission for approval for that work. Mr. Pullen also stated that the trim on the third floors do not match the trim on the second floor, and he would like to see that trim used on this door. Commissioner Mallar asked if there was an existing egress door already –he noted that in one of the provided photographs it appeared that there was a boarded over door present. Mr. Sias explained that this door opens from a common stairway and not from the interior of the unit, and that Code advised them that a secondary means of egress from the unit was required. Chair Perkins asked if there was a possibility of reconfiguring inside to use that existing door. Mr. Sias responded that he did not believe so. Commissioner Mallar stated that he was uncomfortable with the idea of a metal door. Mr. Sias stated that they needed it to be a fire rated door, so they thought metal was required. Chair Perkins noted that wood doors can be fire rated. Mr. Mallar stated that we would really like the egress door to be in the location of the previous door. Member Carter moved approval of the application with the condition that the door trim is to match the other third story dormers, and that the door be painted white. Chair Perkins seconded approval.The motion was unanimously denied. Assistant City Solicitor Paul Nicklas described to the applicant what the City’s process is at this point and what their options are moving forward. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS 2.Update on Certified Local Government Grant and Street Sign Toppers Planning Staff Sean Gambrel reported to the committee regarding the Maine Historic Preservation Commission’s 2018 CLG Grants. The City was advised against applying for street sign toppers, but there were excess funds in the Community & Economic Development budget for the year to cover the expense. Instead of this project, the City will apply for the maximum $25,000 for new front entry doors and the restoration of the pediment moulding and half-round windows above the doors. The existing doors are functionally problematic and are getting worse every year. The doors themselves will run in the neighborhood of $6000 each with hardware and installation, and the moulding and window work will make up the difference. Commissioner Mallar expressed his concern that the City was bringing this to the Commission at a point when it was too late for the Commission to choose a course or have a voice in what was being applied for. Mr. Gambrel explained that the timing was very rushed and this all had developed in the time since the last meeting. Mr. Gambrel also noted that the City paying for the street sign toppers fromthe municipal budget was a good-faith effort by the City to still make sure that the work the Commission had requested was completed. Mr. Mallar stated that he felt the most important work for a grant like this was to do an inventory of our historic properties. Mr. Gambrel stated that the City may be able to find funding for that work to be done this year as well. The Commission and Mr. Gambrel then discussed the state of the City Hall windows and the associated costs to remedy their condition. Mr. Gambrel noted that there was a budget request this year to work on the windows. The Commissioners overall expressed their skepticism that this funding would make it to the final budget. They said the windows were particular concerning to the Commission because it looks like a double-standard when the City is requiring a high level of quality and maintenance on private properties but the City facilities are not being well maintained. 3.Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes Meeting minutes from February 8, 2018 were unanimously approved. Meeting Adjourned at 8:05 p.m.