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Home My WebLink About2023-10-19 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes � : � �' ,� I� � �TC��.I � P"I�E�� V�T I�� ; ��.I � SI�� .� .� c�T� �� . HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 19, 2023, 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEETING MINUTES Commission Members Present: Liam Riordan Edmund Chernesky Nathaniel King (via Zoom) Anne Marie Quin Citv Staff Present: Anne Krieg, Development Director Mike Pullen, HPC Consultant Chair Riordan called the meeting to order at 7:08 P.M. New Business: � Certificate of Appropriateness & Desiqn Review— 145 Harlow Street — Map-Lot 041-097 — Great Fire Historic District & Banqor Center Revitalization Area — Applicant/Owner: Banqor Public Library -Approval requested for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review to replace rear employee entrance door. The property is located at Map-Lot 041-097, in the Great Fire Historic District and Bangor Center Revitalization Area. Nathaniel Russ, member of maintenance team at Bangor Public Library, presented to the podium. Gave an overview of the proposal and recent revisions based on previous Commission feedback. Highlighted the importance of security as the reason for the proposed aluminum door material and installation of keypad entry. Provided color samples of both the current door's color and the proposed door's color for comparison. Chair Riordan expressed approval of the design revisions but stated that he is still concerned about the design of the muntins and wonders if there are any alternative options. Russ responded that the vendor, PDQ Doors, can install the door with security glass instead of muntins. Russ presented Commissioners with a mock-up showing what the proposed thicker muntins might look like in the doorframe. Consultant Mike Pullen expressed appreciation of the mock-up rendering, but feels that the thicker muntins make the door look"like a jail door." Noted that there are companies that produce thinner muntins for this type of door. Russ asked to clarify if this is something Pullen believes PDQ would be able to produce. Pullen clarified that PDQ would likely install these muntins after the door is produced. Recommended researching companies such as Front Line that make these thinner muntins. Noted that 73 I IA�.L�C3'W' STF�EET. �,Af�1C_,��, �vtE s�41C�1. ,.1"EL�C'1:9C)N�. (�C}7) �)�2-4��Q FA.�: (�C37� `745-��"� t�'V'W W.��A N�;C��f�h.��N E.C�C7 V Historic Preservation Commission — Meeting Minutes October 19t", 2023 there may be difficulty matching the color, but that sometimes autobody shops can spray paint the muntins to match after they are produced. Recommended that the Commission either require installation of putty glaze profile similar to what is already present, or recommend installation of door without muntins. Expressed approval for the remainder of the proposal. Chair Riordan asked Commissioners for any questions or comments. Commissioner Quin expressed agreement with Pullen's recommendation of the alternative muntins to be installed separately. Chair Riordan opened the public hearing. Member of the public, Joe Pickering, presented to the podium. Expressed agreement with the Commission's recommendations. Chair Riordan closed the public hearing. Chair Riordan recommended voting on the existing application, and that the final revisions to the muntins be submitted as a Minor Revision. Other Commissioners expressed agreement. Commissioner Chernesky moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review for 145 Harlow Street — Map-Lot 041-097, in the Great Fire Historic District and Bangor Center Revitalization Area, Applicant/Owner Bangor Public Library. Commissioner Quin seconded. All in favor upon roll-call vote, none opposed. 2. Meetinq Minutes —August 10, 2023 Vice Chair King moved to approve the August 10th meeting minutes. Commissioner Chernesky seconded. Three members in favor, one abstained. � Discussion About New Construction Desiqn Guidelines in the Historic Districts Consultant Pullen presented a slideshow with an overview of the new guidelines. Noted that he will present again at the November meeting when more Commissioners are present. Chair Riordan asked if the 25' height limit for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) could become problematic for those wishing to develop spaces such as units over a garage into an ADU. Pullen confirmed that this could pose a challenge. Commissioner Quin asked if the old YMCA building that is currently in disrepair could be considered as a historic site by the City. Pullen responded that it is unlikely the building can be saved in its current condition. Joe Pickering presented again to the podium. Referenced two recent articles in the Bangor Daily News —one about the recent court decision to overturn approval of the subdivision development on Lancaster Avenue, and one about the increase in housing costs. Feels that the current housing crisis is due partially to homelessness and partially to timing of other policies and regulations, such as the recent ordinance regarding short-term rentals. Feels that residents are overburdened with requests to provide feedback and that many are not hearing what is actually happening in these decision-making processes. Expressed concern that the Commission and the City do not hold themselves accountable to the purposes and intent of the historic districts, and that only certain elements, such as the exterior building Historic Preservation Commission — Meeting Minutes October 19t", 2023 specifics of properties within these districts, are valued. Asked why the Commission is not participating in the renovation of historic buildings, such as the YMCA building referenced by Quin, in an effort to save them from falling into irreversible states of disrepair. Feels that the City needs to invest in these properties before building new properties, and that the development of new properties within historic districts devalues these districts as a whole. Commissioner Quin expressed some agreement with Pickering regarding investment in existing housing stock and the Commission's role in preserving historic neighborhoods. Development Director Anne Krieg suggested holding an open house-style event for owners of properties in historic districts. Clarified that staff does send a welcome package to new owners when there is a sale of a property in a historic district, but noted that it may be helpful to include any known information about the specific property if it is available. Commissioner Quin asked if there is any way that owners could be incentivized to maintain their historic properties, as she feels many are incentivized to let them fall into disrepair by the decrease in taxes that occur as a result of the decrease in the property's value. Krieg mentioned that there has been discussion of a tax credit that could incentivize property maintenance. 4. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:14 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Maquillan Development Assistant Planning Division