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Submitted:
June 19, 2001
Approved: ___________
CITY OF
ROCKVILLE
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
Friday, May
25, 2001
(Continuation of application HDC01-0188)
Meeting No. 06-2001
The City of Rockville Historic District Commission convened in a special session
at City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue,
4:00 PM
PRESENT
Andrea Hartranft, Chairperson
Beth Rodgers Jeff Broadhurst
Absent:
Craig Moloney (recused), Anita Neal-Powell
Staff: Judy Christensen, Preservation Planner, Cynthia Kebba, Planner
II
Applicants: Lew Hages, Gerard Boquel
HDC01-0188
Applicants: Lew Hages and Gerard Boquel
Address: 215 Autumn Wind Way
Request: Changes to sun porch
Action: Approve or deny
This meeting
was a continuation of the meeting regarding Certificate of Approval application
HDC01-0188, an application to replace aluminum framed glass doors on a sun porch
with wood framed doors/windows. The HDC continued deliberations to allow the
applicants time to implement changes to the architectural treatment of the sun
porch that were suggested by the HDC. Principally, the replacement doors (approximately
6’10” in length) were shorter than the original doors and one set
of full-length doors was being replaced with shorter windows. This necessitated
use of a dry-vit panel over the headers of the windows and doors which unduly
altered the proportions of the room.
The applicant's architect submitted revised plans to the Preservation Office,
which were distributed to HDC commissioners on May 23, 2001. The revised plans
show 8-foot doors and full-length doors on the east elevation as opposed to
the shorter casement windows. Dry-vit is still included on all elevations of
the plans but the area to be covered with dry-vit is reduced in the revised
plans.
Mr. Hages, one of the applicants, explained that the HVAC system must be enlarged
with the new plans but the tubes are flexible and will fit into the space above
the ceiling and below the decking.
Commissioner Broadhurst stated that the proportion issues raised at the last
meeting have been addressed in the new plans because the door heads have been
raised to 8 feet and the proportions of the east elevation are improved. However,
he stated that he continued to be opposed to the use of dry-vit anywhere on
the building as this is a material that is not found anywhere else on the house.
He said that dry-vit is not appropriate, particularly for the small areas proposed
on this non-masonry addition to the house. He said that dry-vit is a modern
reproduction of stucco which is a heavy, earthy material. He said one would
normally not see a small band of stucco going across an expanse of glass. Mr.
Broadhurst said he would rather see lighter, more porch-like materials used
and he would prefer that the non-glass areas be wood, especially at the tops
of the doors.
The applicants stated that they had thought about using wood but preferred the
look of dry-vit and had chosen that material because using it on all of the
elevations horizontally and vertically tied it in better than only using it
on the two solid walls on the east and west elevations. Dr. Boquel also said
that the house is surrounded by new houses that use a variety of materials.
Commissioner Broadhurst stated that the house is stone on three sides and wood
in the back where the porch is located. He suggested using painted wood panels
for the two solid wall expansions as well as for on top of the door headers
and the verticals between door units.
The applicants said that they did not think wood panels would have the same
appeal or depth that the dry-vit would have. They said that they wanted something
a little heavier. Commissioner Rodgers stated that she agreed with that because
she thought the dry-vit ties in better with the stone on the main portion of
the house. She also said that this house has evolved over time and that the
sun porch is a newer addition.
Commissioner Hartranft said that she understood Commissioner Broadhurst’s
concerns but she felt that the applicants had made a great deal of progress
toward addressing the HDC’s objections from the previous meeting. She also
said that it is important to keep in mind that the porch is a separate entity
from the original house and that it is not wrong to make it stand out from the
rest of the house.
Commissioner Broadhurst reiterated that he believes that anything masonry-like
on this framed portion of the building seems inappropriate. He said his compromise
position would be to use dry-vit where the vertical panels are on the west and
east elevations and somehow change the details so it is not used over the heads
of the doors. He said one would not typically see stucco or dry-vit hovering
above wood and glass. The applicants said that they still feel that having the
dry-vit around the perimeter seems to tie it all together better and is more
consistent.
Commissioner Hartranft asked the applicants if there was a financial reason
for choosing the dry-vit. The applicants responded that their choice was aesthetic
and that they were not choosing dry-vit because it may or may not be a less
costly material. Commissioner Hartranft stated that although she understood
all of the points of view in the discussion, she does not find the dissension
between the HDC’s and applicants’ choices of material disruptive enough
to hold the process up any further. Commissioner Broadhurst agreed that the
new plans solved the proportional difficulties better than the original plans.
MOTION:
Commissioner Rodgers moved to approve the revised plans for the sun porch at
215 Autumn Wind Way as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hartranft.
VOTE: 2-1. (Opposed: Broadhurst.)
ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before this meeting of the City of Rockville
Historic District Commission; the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Kebba
HDC Staff Liaison