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Submitted:
February 20, 2001
Approved: ___________
CITY OF
ROCKVILLE
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
Tuesday,
January 9, 2001
Meeting No.01-2001
The City
of Rockville Historic District Commission convened in regular session
in the Community Planning and Development Services conference room,
Rockville City Hall, at 7:09 PM
Internet information: www.ci.rockville.md.us/bcfiles/HDCcom/HDCagend.htm
PRESENT
Andrea Hartranft, Chair
Craig Moloney Anita Neal-Powell Beth Rodgers
Absent: Jeff Broadhurst
Staff: Judy
Christensen, Preservation Planner
Cynthia Kebba, Planner II
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION:
Commissioner Moloney moved to approve the minutes of October 17, 2000 as
corrected. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rodgers.
VOTE: 3-0 (Commissioner Neal-Powell was absent for the vote.)
II. CONTINUATION OF THE EVALUATION OF 9110 DARNESTOWN ROAD FOR HISTORICAL, ARCHITECTURAL OR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Chairperson Hartranft re-opened the evaluation of 9110 Darnestown Road for Historical, Architectural or Cultural significance. The continuation of this evaluation was originally scheduled for December 19, 2000, but due to bad weather conditions, it was postponed to this date. The evaluation began at the HDC meeting on November 21, 2000.
Staff stated that notices of the HDC's continuation of the evaluation were sent by first class mail to 280 owners of record located within ¼ mile of the property as well as to the Glenora Hills Citizen's Association, the Griffith Oaks Homeowners Association, the Rockshire Association, Peerless Rockville, and the Montgomery County Historical Society. A sign with the evaluation date and time was posted at the site. The agenda for this meeting was also posted on the city's web page along with the consultant's report and the staff report.
The only submission to the record prior to its closing on December 1, 2000, was a letter from Dennis Hughes, Architectural Historian for property representatives Wilkes Artis. In his letter, Mr. Hughes stated that he had conducted further research regarding the ownership of the property, as was requested by the HDC. He stated that he had not found any additional information that would alter his original conclusions.
Staff presented a summary of the written staff report and stated that it concurs with the findings and conclusions of the consultant for Wilkes Artis. Staff stated that the property does not meet the criteria as a single site historic district according to the City's Historic District Designation Criteria. Staff reported that the property is not currently located within the City's corporate limits and therefore does not have a history within Rockville. Research conducted by staff did not identify any individuals or groups of persons that were associated with the house through ownership or residency who influenced society, nor was it the site of any significant historic event. It is a charming, but common, example of a vernacular Bungalow-style house; He found numerous other examples of this style within Rockville.
Commissioner Moloney asked if any of the architectural components of the house could be salvaged and donated to an appropriate organization if it were to be demolished. Tim Dugan, a representative of Wilkes Artis, replied that they would take that possibility into consideration. Planner Christensen said that she would put Mr. Dugan in contact with the non-profit organization, Old House Parts, run by Montgomery Preservation, Inc.
MOTION: Commissioner Rodgers moved to accept the findings of the consultant and the preservation staff and to not recommend the house at 9110 Darnestown Road for historic designation. Commissioner Moloney seconded the motion.
VOTE: 4-0
III. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
1. HDC00-0177 - Applicant: John L. DuFief, Owner of Adams Law Center
Address: 25-33 Wood Lane (Adams Law Center)
Request: for retroactive approval to remove a locust tree. The tree was removed without a Certificate of Approval in November 2000.
Action: Approve, Deny, or Approve with conditions.
The applicant,
Mr. DuFief, was present at the meeting. Frank Bailey and Sara Lundberg, owners
of the adjacent residential property at 35 Wood Lane, were also present.
The Adams Law Center is a non-contributing resource in the West Montgomery Avenue
historic district. The applicant received approval by the HDC in November 1999
to enlarge a parking lot. Six white pine trees were required to be removed to
accommodate the parking lot expansion and the site plan indicated location and
species of six replacement trees to be planted by the applicant. The HDC accepted
the replacements shown on the site plan as a condition of approval. Four of
the trees would be planted between the western buildings of the Adams Law Center
and the house at 35 Wood Lane. Trees were not planted at these locations. According
to the applicant, the Assistant City Forester, Susan Nolde, recommended alternative
locations away from this property line to avoid disturbing an underground PEPCO
line. Three of the trees were planted in the rear of the property, two were
planted near the parking area and the last one was planted in front. They were
3-inch caliper red maples and red oaks, approximately 8 feet in height.
Frank Bailey and Sara Lundberg, adjacent property owners at 35 Wood Lane, stated
that the removal of the locust tree at the property line between the law center
and their house had completely removed the landscape buffer and that two of
their ornamental bushes were damaged or destroyed when the locust tree was felled.
The homeowners stated that the lack of a buffer has encouraged unwanted traffic
between the two properties, and has reduced the curb appeal and the value of
their property. They submitted photographs of the area between the properties
before and after trees were removed. They requested that a fast-growing, low
maintenance evergreen tree buffer be reestablished between the two properties
and submitted a suggested plan to accomplish this. They also asked the applicant
for monetary compensation for the flowering bushes that were damaged/destroyed.
The City Forester (Steve Mader) submitted a written memo to staff saying that
he had examined the stump left by the locust tree and determined that the tree
had a hollow center and probably had been structurally unsound. The owner would
have received permission to remove it. However, the owner did not seek approval
prior to removing it.
Mr. DuFief said he was unaware of the damage to the neighboring shrubs and regretted
the incident. He said he would compensate them for replacements. He stated that
he was willing to consult with the City Forester's Office to reestablish a plant
buffer between the two properties.
MOTION: Commissioner Rodgers moved to approve Application HDC00-0177 with the condition that new trees would be planted according to the plan submitted by Mr. Bailey and Ms. Lundberg, as approved or altered by the City Forester and all involved parties, with the intention of establishing a green buffer between the Adams Law Center and the house at 35 Wood Lane. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Moloney.
VOTE: 4-0
IV. PRELIMINARY
EVALUATION OF 651 NORTH HORNERS LANE FOR HISTORICAL, ARCHITECTURAL OR CULTURAL
SIGNIFICANCE
A request for demolition of the house at 651 North Horners Lane was made by
one of the owners, Mr. Loudon. Because the house was built in 1931 and is more
than 50 years old, it is being reviewed by the HDC to determine if a historic
district designation evaluation is warranted.
Historian Gail Littlefield was hired by the city to conduct research on the
history and architecture of the house. She submitted a report to the City on
January 5, 2001. The house, known as the Shelton House for the Shelton family
that built the house and lived there for more than 40 years, is located on the
east side of North Horners Lane, between Southlawn Lane and Dover Road. It is
across Horners Lane from the Lincoln Park Community Center at the corner of
Frederick Avenue and Horners Lane. It is the only residential structure on the
east side of its block and is surrounded by modern brick industrial buildings.
Residences and a store are located on the west side of the block.
The Shelton House is a small vernacular one-story frame cottage with German-style
novelty tongue and groove siding and some classical and Arts and Crafts details.
The most distinctive detail is the roof with its original embossed tin shingles
and jerkin-head gables on the ends of the original block, the entry porch roof
and front addition gable. The house originally consisted of four rooms over
a basement, 20x22 feet. There is a covered porch with jerkin-head gable and
two Tuscan columns. Two single-room additions were later attached.
Its owner, Kenneth Shelton and his cousin built the house in 1931. At that time
it was located outside of the City of Rockville. The house was part of the African-American
community of Lincoln Park although it is not part of the proposed Lincoln Park
historic district. Members of the Shelton family are and were distinguished
citizens of Lincoln Park and Rockville. Ethel Shelton, Kenneth Shelton's widow,
sold the house in 1972 but she still lives with a daughter in Lincoln Park.
Several other family members live in the area and others are buried in Lincoln
Park Cemetery. The house is now in the ownership of John Mackey, et al, t/a
Joint Venture along with some neighboring properties. The house has been used
for storage for the last several years and is believed to be in fair condition.
The City has issued several maintenance violations on the house.
The current owners want to change the use of some of the buildings that partially
surround the house from warehouse to office. They have applied for demolition
of the house in order to meet the new Floor Area Ration (FAR) and reforestation
requirements for the lot. Mr. Loudon indicated that he would not be opposed
to having the house moved to another lot but that it is not feasible to incorporate
it into his office expansion plans. He estimates that the cost to demolish the
house will be approximately $10,000 to $15,000, not including costs that he
has already incurred to disconnect utilities, etc.
The HDC recommended that:
1) a structural engineer be hired to evaluate the building and to determine if it could be moved to another location,
2) a search for an appropriate lot be made, and
3) the preliminary review of the property be continued at the February 20, 2001 HDC meeting.
V. REVIEW
OF AMENDED PLANS FOR MATERIALS FOR NEW HOUSE AT 6 THOMAS STREET
Mr. Hassan Akhlaghi requested that the HDC review proposed materials for the
exterior of his new house under construction at the corner of West Montgomery
Avenue and Thomas Street. When the house was originally approved by the HDC
in 1999, Hardy Plank siding, a cementitious clapboard was to be used on all
four sides. Mr. Akhlaghi now proposes using brick on the two street elevations
facing West Montgomery Avenue and Thomas Street, and additional brick on the
family room extension on the east elevation on both sides of the brick chimney.
The Hardy Plank siding would still be used on the rear of the house. Fishscale
detail would still be incorporated according to the original plans. Mr. Akhlaghi
did not bring samples of the proposed materials but he said the color scheme
would be coordinated and the brick would be salmon to red in color. Commissioner
Moloney said that these colors are used commonly in the historic district but
the color should be uniform and solid.
Mr. Akhlaghi asked for the HDC's opinion on changing three adjoining double-hung
windows to a single picture window. The HDC recommended against the change.
MOTION: Commissioner Neal-Powell moved to approve the change in material of the exterior of the house at 6 Thomas Street for the two street-facing elevations and for a portion of the left elevation (chimney and family room extension) from siding to brick. The approval is subject to the condition that the materials are brought to the next HDC meeting so that the commissioners have an opportunity to approve them. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Moloney.
VOTE: 4-0
VI. COMMITTEE/ORGANIZATION
REPORTS
Lincoln Park Historical Society (LPHS) - Anita Neal Powell reported that
LPHS is in the process of putting together a calendar for "Tracking the
Footprints of African-Americans in Montgomery County." The Montgomery County
Task Force on Mentoring will hold a Poetry Slam on January 12 at 7p.m. at the
Lincoln Park Community Center. LPHS is re-submitting a grant application to
the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) to build a web tour for its Tracking the
Footprints project. LPHS is co-sponsoring a Black History program with the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) that will be planting
memorial trees and putting up plaques at resource sites in the County. The Society
will be giving a talk on February 13 and another on February 28 for the Clarksburg
Historical Society. Tours for Tracking the Footprints will start again in July
2001. A Washington Post article on "Tracking the Footprints of African-Americans"
published in December has brought volunteers from many disciplines who want
to help. LPHS is also working with Montgomery County Cable Television.
Peerless
Rockville - Mazie Cummings, Collections Manager for Peerless Rockville,
reported that the location of the lost black cemetery at Glenview was included
in the scope of the Glenview Master Plan, now in progress. Peerless Rockville's
November-December newsletter was sent to 1,100 residences. This mailing targeted
some of Rockville's newest residential developments including King Farm and
Rose Hill.
Recent activities included a Holiday Open House at the Red Brick Courthouse
and the annual New Year's Day Brunch at Glenview Mansion. Two new awards were
announced at the brunch in honor of two members who have dedicated their volunteer
efforts over the years to Peerless: The Arthur Wagman Preservation Award to
be given each May during Preservation Week and the annual Margaret Sante Distinguished
Volunteer Award, which was awarded to Carolyn Cohen for development of Peerless'
Docent Training Program. Beth Rodgers was also recognized for her work on site
summary histories. Peerless is accepting applications for the next Docent Training
beginning March 5, 2001.
Peerless will host a meeting of the Lincoln Park Partners Project on Thursday,
January 11, 2001. Suzanne Carbone, head of Reference Services at the Rockville
Regional Library, will make a presentation on the project work to date at the
next HDC meeting.
On January 15, 2001, Peerless is co-hosting Eileen McGuckian's talk on remembering
Downtown Rockville at the Montgomery County Historical Society. On January 17,
2001, Peerless will offer a tour of Public Architecture and on February 11,
2001, it will host a Family Scavenger Hunt of Historic Rockville featuring the
new Historic Walking Tour Guide published by the City to commemorate its bicentennial
this year.
Nominations for the annual Preservation Awards, which are presented in May,
are being accepted until the end of March. The Annual Preservation Awards recognize
individual, group and business contributions to the historical architecture
and landscape of Rockville through design, construction, education and other
efforts.
VII. DISCUSSION / UPDATES
The Chair brought up the topic of looking into what it would take to get new
legislation passed to increase demolition penalties. The current penalty is
only $100 and is not a deterrent to unapproved demolition. Staff stated that
the City will soon have access to the Intergovernment Knowledge Exchange, developed
by the University of Kansas, which will help in these types of cases to learn
what other municipalities are doing.
Preserving the memory of and funding for documentation of Park Street School
prior to its demolition were discussed. Options to consider include City money,
Park Service grants, State preservation grants, National Trust grants, and CLG
grants.
A. HDC Workplan Goals for 2001:
1. HDC monthly meetings
2. Award nominations for Montgomery Preservation and Peerless Rockville awards.
3. Attendance at the Maryland Preservation Conference at the end of April.
4. Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions (MAHDC) training scheduled for March 1 (Gaithersburg) and March 20 (Rockville). The jurisdictions will participate in joint training.
5. Participation in "Happy Birthday Montgomery County" in September.
6. Plaque dedications throughout 2001.
7. Renovations roundtable or other workshops
8. HDC newsletters (quarterly)B. HDC budget requests for 2001
A separate
line item was requested for HDC consultants, and the amount requested for fulfilling
the education and training requirement for HDC commissioners was recommended
to be increased to $500 per commissioner. Other items included research consultants,
information periodicals and publications, organizational memberships, and new
and updated printings of HDC publications.
C. HDC public outreach 2001
1. 200th Anniversary of Rockville to include video by RV Cable Channel (Jane Rogers) and monthly Gazette articles.
2. HDC newsletters will be published quarterly and be sent to a larger mailing list than just the historic district property owners.
3. Support workshops presented by local preservation organizations.
4. HDC Creation of a poster showing a variety of architectural styles of houses in the historic districts. HDC information could be printed on the back.
5. Participate in National Preservation Week - theme is historic schools.D. Maryland Historical Trust recommendations to improve meetings and legality
Staff has requested that the MAHDC training include a session on crafting appropriate motions.E. Staff request to hold annual Maryland State Preservation Conference in Rockville
Tyler Gearhart, Executive Director of Preservation Maryland, replied that meeting locations were set for 2001 and 02 and the conference planners are not ready to attempt a new meeting location at this time. Staff asked for an opportunity to present the advantages of Montgomery County and Rockville for 2003.F. Update on historic district designations
A nomination for designation of Rockville Cemetery has been received. The HDC's recommendations for designation of Carver High School and Junior College, Rose Hill Barn, and Chestnut Lodge are scheduled to be presented to the Mayor and Council on January 22 for direction on continuing the process.G. Review of draft Historic Preservation Master Plan chapter
The HDC was asked to read the draft and provide comments prior to the next meeting.
VIII. ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before this meeting of the City of Rockville
Historic District Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Cindy Kebba
HDC Staff Liaison