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Submitted:
August 21, 2003
Approved:
CITY
OF ROCKVILLE
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
Thursday,
July 24, 2003
Meeting No. 08-2003
The City
of Rockville Historic District Commission convened in special session in the
Boards and Commissions room at 7:05 PM.
in Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue. This meeting was to continue discussions
begun at the July 17, 2003
HDC meeting (Meeting No. 07-2003) for two Certificates of Approval.
PRESENT
Jeff Broadhurst, Chair pro tem
Andrea Hartranft
Craig Moloney
Beth Rodgers
Absent: Chairperson Anita Neal Powell
HDC Staff
present: Cindy Kebba, Anne Brockett, Robin Ziek, Preservation Planners
Staff noted
that item I. C had been deleted form the Agenda. The applicant (The Magruder
Companies) withdrew the Certificate of Approval application due to the Planning
Commission’s denial of their Use Permit application on July 23, 2003.
I. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
A. HDC03-0252
Applicant: James Vitol
Address: 11 Wall Street
Request: Screen existing rear deck
Planner Cindy
Kebba presented the resubmitted plans for a shed roof and a screen enclosure
for an existing rear deck at 11 Wall Street. The deck measures approximately
14 feet by 20 feet. The enclosed deck will have a shed roof with the same height
and pitch as the adjoining family room addition. Per suggestions from the previous
hearing on this application (HDC Meeting 07-2003), the new plan shows balusters
measuring approximately 2 x 2” rather than lattice under the new railing.
The balusters would be evenly spaced. The new design also added two skylights
in the roof of the enclosed deck to be the same as the skylights in the family
room addition.
After some discussion among the Commissioners, staff, and applicants, Mr. and
Mrs. Vitol, it was determined the rafters would rest on the outside beam and
that the rafter tails shown would be true cantilevered rafter tails. At the
center beam, the rafters would be connected by hangers. The Commission determined
that a 1” x 6” fascia board would hide the construction details and
that the screen panels would be hinged. Screening on the lower portion of the
deck would go behind the railing.
Commissioner Moloney suggested continuing the vertical screen dividers through
to the deck floor and the roof and aligning the horizontal divider with the
top of the door. He also clarified that there would be a fascia board below
the flooring and that the lattice under the deck would attach to this fascia,
not the deck itself. He recommended building the structure first and then determining
whether skylights would be necessary for additional light.
MOTION: Commissioner Moloney moved to approve HDC03-0252 with the following conditions:
Commissioner
Hartranft seconded the motion.
VOTE: 4-0 (Commissioner Neal Powell not present)
B. HDC03-0253
Applicant: Albert Brault & James Wilson
Address: 110 South Washington Street
Request: Replace slate roof with asphalt
Planner Kebba
stated that she had met with Debbie Canbas, the applicants’ representative,
on July 18 and had spoken with the applicants’ accountant. It was determined
that the adjusted basis of the building is much larger than the estimated cost
of a new roof, even factoring in other potentially eligible work that has been
done or is planned over a 24-month period. This makes the project ineligible
for the state and federal tax credits as the cost of the rehabilitation project
for a commercial property must exceed the adjusted cost basis of the structure.
In addition, The Maryland Historical Trust has announced that the $23 million
program cap for calendar year 2003 has already been reached. Therefore, only
the 10% county tax credit is available for this project.
Debbie Cambus and Albert Brault were present at the meeting. Ms. Canbas presented
a sample of “Grand Manor” asphalt roofing, which has a triple thickness
in some places and is finished with angled edges (three-sided). The cost for
the Grand Manor would be approximately $28,000 and the cost for Dura-slate,
an imitation slate, would be about $33, 000. This does not include an additional
$4,000 or so for installing copper flashing in the roof valleys, which would
be added to the cost regardless of what roofing material is used. Staff noted
that with the 10% County tax credit, the difference in cost for imitation slate
versus asphalt would be approximately $1,700.
Commissioner Moloney noted that the imitation slate (Dura-slate brand) used
on the Gaithersburg band shell looks fake because all shingles are identical.
Commissioner Broadhurst stated that asphalt shingles are flatter and would give
the roof a different look. He would like to see other samples of imitation slate.
Planner Ziek reminded the Commission that the original slate shingles are rectangular
and do not have angled edges like the sample presented by Ms. Cambus. Commissioner
Moloney agreed that the sample does not mimic the shape of the existing shingles.
Commissioner Rodgers also said that the sample does not match the texture of
the slate and that the guidelines state that the replacement material must match
in color and texture.
Ms. Ziek stated that if the applicants would grant an extension to the 45-day
time limit for granting Certificates of Approval, staff would investigate various
roofing products that more closely imitate slate and the costs associated with
those products. The applicants agreed and gave the roof’s measurement at
approximately 36 square. The applicants stated that they will return at the
September 18, 2003 HDC meeting to continue the application process.
II. OTHER
BUSINESS
A. HDC
Chair Expiration
Planner Brockett gave an update on the legal implications for the expiration
of Chair Anita Neal Powell’s term, which occurs September 1, 2003. The
City’s legal staff would defer to Chapter 2 of the City Ordinance, which
allows current commissioners to continue to serve until a successor is appointed.
The legal staff felt comfortable applying this reference to the Chair position
as well. The staff will continue to work with Legal to amend the Ordinance to
allow the Chair to serve consecutive terms and allow the HDC to elect its own
Chair. They will also work towards amending
the HDC Rules of Procedure to provide dates for the Chair’s term. The Commission
noted that it would be helpful to see the dates of expiration for all Commissioners’
terms.
III. ADJOURN
MOTION:
Commissioner Hartranft made a motion to adjourn the HDC special meeting of July
24, 2003. Commissioner Rodgers seconded the motion.
VOTE: 4-0 (Commissioner Neal Powell not present)The HDC meeting (08-2003)
was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.