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Submitted: 5/18/1999 Approved:

 

CITY OF ROCKVILLE

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

MINUTES 

Tuesday, April 20, 1999

Meeting No. 4-99 

The City of Rockville Historic District Commission convened

in the Mayor and Council Chambers at Rockville City Hall, at 7: 10 p.m.

 

PRESENT 

Craig Moloney, Chair

Donald Crawford Dean Brenneman

Bruce Noble Anita Neal-Powell

Staff: Judy Christensen, Preservation Planner

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
  1. March 16, 1999 (Meeting No. 3-99)

 No additions or corrections were offered to the minutes of March 16, 1999.

Commissioner Crawford moved, seconded by Commissioner Neal Powell, to approve the minutes of the Historic District Commission meeting of February 16, 1999 as submitted.

VOTE: 3-0-1 (Abstained: Brenneman; Not present: Noble)

 

  1. APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL

    2.  

    1. HDC98-0144 - Applicant: Lori Miller, Bob Drummond

    229 W. Montgomery

    Request: New wooden picket fence

    Action: Approve or Deny

    The applicants were present to answer questions pertaining to the proposed fence. Photographs of the historic resource were circulated by staff.  

    Staff liaison Judy Christensen said the site is a contributing resource to the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District. The applicants propose to install a 48-inch tall pressure treated wooden picket fence with an ornamental picket top (onion dome top) as recommended in the HDC "Historic Property Owners Guidelines- Fencing." The corner lot property is roughly rectangular and fronts on West Montgomery Avenue with the side elevation on Forest Avenue. A parking area at the rear of the lot is accessed from Forest Avenue. The fence will be erected inside the tree line on Forest Avenue and will be attached to the house at the middle of the west side of the house and at the rear of the house on the east elevation. The proposed fence will be placed behind the tree line on Forest Avenue to reduce impact to the streetscape. The fence attachment to the house façade at the side and rear will be minimally visible from West Montgomery Avenue.  

    Applicant Bob Drummond clarified the fence location and materials for the Commission. Commissioner Brenneman inquired if pressure treated pine was previously approved by the HDC as he recalled only cedar. He expressed concern on the color of the weathered pine. Staff did not have this information at the meeting. Mr. Drummond said the fence would be painted white, which satisfied the concern. Staff and the HDC recommended that the applicant use an opaque stain, which does not require scraping when the color wears. 

    Staff recommended approval of HDC99-0144 subject to several conditions. 

    Adjacent property owner Thomas H. Moore of 11 Forest Avenue submitted a letter of support for the application. Mr. Roy Saunders of 18 Forest Avenue stated that the fence will be visible from his property. He was not opposed to the application, but did not receive notification of the application. There was no further comment or testimony from the public. 

    Commissioner Crawford moved, seconded by Commissioner Brenneman, to approve HDC99-0144 for a pressure treated wood picket fence at 229 West Montgomery, incorporating staff's findings, with the following conditions: 

      1. That the Applicant applies for and receives a fence permit before proceeding. 
      2. Fence design and materials shall be a 48-inch high wooden picket fence. 
      3. The fence shall be stained or painted white at the option of the owner.
      4. The finished side of the fence should face the public way rather than the interior of the yard. 

VOTE: 4-0 (Commissioner Noble not present)

 2. HDC99-0145 - Applicant: Arthur & Helen Saunders

18 Forest Avenue

Removal of one mature Tulip Poplar tree

Mr. Saunders was present at the hearing. Staff said applications for mature tree removal no longer require a public hearing if the City Forester recommends removal with no replacement. In this case, the City Forester reviewed the Tulip Poplar tree and verified that the tree is dying and should be removed. The Forester proposed a selection of trees for a replacement street tree if the applicant wishes to replace the tree. The application did not state if a replacement was desired, therefore the item was placed on the agenda to allow the HDC to consult with Mr. Saunders. 

Mr. A. Roy Saunders, applicant, said he was unaware of the interest in a replacement tree as he received a copy of the staff report on the afternoon of the hearing. He said his wife was the family gardener and landscaper and she was considering an ornamental tree that would not interfere with the utility lines to the house and be placed further back in the front yard. He noted that the present tree could block the view of automobiles approaching the intersection of Forest and Anderson Avenues and a smaller tree might be a better choice.  

Commissioner Brenneman said that Forest Avenue was losing its mature street trees, which was changing the character of the street. He asked Mr. Saunders to consider replacement with a street tree. Mr. Saunders said he would consult with his wife. 

There was no comments or testimony on HDC99-0145 from the general public.

Commissioner Crawford moved, seconded by Commissioner Neal Powell, to approve HDC99-0145 for removal of a tulip poplar tree at 18 Forest Avenue as recommended by the City Forester with one condition:
      1. Applicant is to work with staff on selection of a replacement tree species if a replacement is desired. 

VOTE: 4-1 (Opposed: Brenneman)

  
  1. TAX CREDIT REVIEWS
    2.

 
    1. TXC99-0146 - Arthur and Helen Saunders

18 Forest Avenue

Roof replacement tax credit

Staff said the HDC must determine if the expenditures presented are eligible for a tax refund as specified in the County criteria and make a recommendation to the Montgomery County Division of Finance. Staff had previously reviewed the application and found the work to be exterior maintenance that was reviewed and approved by the Historic District Commission.

Commissioner Brenneman asked if a change of materials from original tin shingles to a modern roofing material was eligible for a tax refund. He had previously understood that it was not. Staff said that the Division of Finance relied on HDC approval as an additional criterion and had approved tax refunds for new sidewalks and steps, which are normally not. The HDC approved the work as essential to the maintenance of the historic West Montgomery Avenue streetscape. Staff had checked with Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission staff and found that changes of materials approved by the HDC were considered eligible for tax refunds. Commissioner Noble concurred with Commissioner Brenneman that the change of materials should not be eligible for tax credits. He said the incentive for maintenance of original materials would be removed if modern substitutions were also covered.

Commissioner Brenneman moved, seconded by Commissioner Crawford, to approve TXC99-0146 for ordinary maintenance and roof cladding replacement at 18 Forest Avenue.

VOTE: 4-0-1 (Abstained: Noble)

 

  1. COURTESY REVIEWS
    2.

 

    1. Applicant: Jacob P. Lenihan

      2. 309 Potomac Avenue

      Construction of 2 car garage

      Action: suggestions to applicant

      Deferred

       

    2. Applicant: Hassan Akhlaghi

9819 Dockside Terrace, Montgomery Village

Construction of new house at 6 Thomas Street

Action: Suggestions to applicant

Mr. Akhlaghi introduced Contractor Josh Haines, who presented the front elevation facing West Montgomery Avenue. The HDC reviewed the proposed site plan and elevations. Several suggestions were made to the applicant and his representative. The applicant will provide detailed plans and elevations at the next HDC meeting.

 

  1. OLD BUSINESS
    2.
  1. Jerusalem/Mt. Pleasant Church and Parsonage - Staff has not been informed of the Church's decision on the fire-damaged parsonage. 
  2. Report on Roofing Conference - Commissioner Brenneman said the conference was tremendously informative. His written report suggested several ways for the HDC to evaluate the extent of roof repair needed and identify qualified roofers and estimators for historic buildings. He noted that no satisfactory synthetic slate or tin material has been found. Financial aid or incentives appeared to be the best method to encourage preservation and repair of original materials rather than modern replacements. A further discussion is scheduled for the June 1999 HDC meeting.  
  3. Lincoln Park Historical Society - History Day, July 11, 1999: Anita Neal Powell outlined plans to dedicate the Rockville historic site plaque at Jerusalem Church and to host Historic Black Community exhibits at the Middle Lane Parking lot. A 50-car caravan and ceremony is planned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the annexation of Lincoln Park and Haiti into the City of Rockville.

 

  1. NEW BUSINESS
    2.

     A. Nature Center at Glenview - HDC member for committee

    The plans and the timetable for the Nature Center at Glenview were reviewed. After some discussion of the interaction and timing of the Glenview Master Plan and proposed Glenview site projects, the HDC asked staff to draft a memo that requested that new structural projects be deferred until the recommendations of the Master Plan consultant are received. Staff is to represent the HDC on the Nature Center project, as three of the five Commissioners are on other Glenview committees.

     

  2. COMMITTEE/ ORGANIZATION REPORTS
    3.
    1. Glenview Mansion Committee reports -  
    1. HDC member Crawford reported on the April Master Plan meeting. He identified HDC issues as the timing of the Master Plan consultant's work while continuing projects that might have a potential effect on the master plan recommendations, and the lack of specificity on the requested treatment and preservation of Glenview Mansion. The HDC requested that staff draft a memo stating their concerns. Committee members Crawford and Brenneman will address the specificity of the proposal requirements for Glenview Mansion preservation.  
    2. Craig Moloney reported that the Glenview Mansion subcommittee met on April 20 and discussed archiving of documents pertaining to the history of the house, including original plans, site plans, photographs, and other records of its history. Other items discussed were carpet and lighting changes. The Cottage renovation bids are due April 28 and six contractors have expressed interest in bidding. The theater work is progressing, and the Glenview Mansion roof repair contract was awarded one week ago. He noted that a structural engineer recently examined the front porch and glassed- in balcony for safety. The Glenview balcony was certified as safe.

B. Lincoln Park Historical Society - Anita Neal Powell 

The Lincoln Park Historical Society photographer recently took slides of historic African-American areas in Rockville as they appear today for use in a future slideshow. Lincoln Park Historical Society is also co-sponsoring a training workshop on black history to be presented on April 24th at Montgomery College. The Rockville Arts Place will present a display on African-American history in Montgomery County from July 6 through the 12th in connection with the History Day event.

C. Peerless Rockville -

Peerless Rockville submitted a schedule of events planned for May, which is National Preservation Month. Events include the annual progressive dinner on May 15, and Peerless Rockville awards for historic preservation.

  

VIII. COMMISSION/STAFF UPDATES AND DISCUSSION

After some discussion, the HDC asked staff to extend the HDC newsletter to the Baltimore Road area and the older neighborhoods adjacent to the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District. Staff noted that the newsletter should include information on common maintenance and repairs as well as tax credits and other HDC information. The HDC also asked staff to include adjacent neighborhoods in the Certificate of Approval notification mailing when considering applications in the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District.

 

IX. ADJOURN

 The City of Rockville Historic District Commission meeting of April 20, 1999 was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

 Respectfully Submitted,

Judy Christensen

HDC Staff Liaison