|
Home > Government > Boards and Commissions > Historic District Commission > 2004 > Minutes > October 21 Boards and Commissions |
Submitted: November 18, 2004 HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Thursday, October 21, 2004 The City of Rockville Historic District Commission convened in regular session in the PRESENT Absent: Max van Balgooy Staff present: Judy Christensen, Cindy Kebba and Robin Ziek, Preservation Planners. I. COMMITTEE / ORGANIZATION REPORTS A. Peerless Rockville – Suzanne Fisher, representing Peerless Rockville, reported on Peerless Rockville Week, October 17-23, 2004. On Sunday, the Baptist Cemetery sign was dedicated, a house tour was held, and the traveling exhibit on Brown vs. Board of Education was inaugurated at Montrose School with Montgomery County School Superintendent Weast in attendance. A Mix ‘N Mingle was held at Community Ministries on Wednesday, and tonight is a tour of the former Lincoln High School, now a Rockville Historic Site and church. Still to come is F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference on Saturday and a bicycle tour of Historic Rockville. Ms. Fisher announced that Peerless Rockville intends to nominate the King Farm Farmstead Park as a Rockville historic site in the coming months B. Lincoln Park Historical Foundation – President Anita Powell announced that the LPHF will sponsor a Housing Awareness Forum in November focusing on rehabilitation issues, low-income housing, and financial hardship. C. Comments – Historic District Commissioners – None. II. APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
Planner Robin Ziek said the item had been before the Commission twice before and the applicant had responded to the Commission suggestions. The current plans reflect the before and after drawings that the Commission wished to see and provided further details of the design. Mrs. Craig also had a revised model of the project. Planner Ziek said the items submitted for the application appear to be complete, but it is a complicated and large project. She asked if the Commission had any further questions. Barbara Craig, 16 Thomas Street, said she was present to answer questions. Commissioner Broadhurst said the Commission appreciated the applicant’s efforts to provide a complete information package to help them in making a decision. In response to his question about window design, 1/1 as proposed, or 2/2 as on the original house, Mrs. Craig said she specified 1/1 vinyl clad wood Marvin windows to distinguish the new section from the original. She was not aware that Marvin manufactured a 2/2 window and might have used that as all her other materials match the original house materials. Commissioner Broadhurst asked Mrs. Craig what her source was for the design of the rear porch railings and if they were to be made of pressure treated materials. Mr. Broadhurst also suggested that she have an engineer examine the plans before submission for a building permit as he had some concerns on the elevations. He used the structure of the upper decks, which must also drain water, as an example. He said this type of double use is often a challenge. Mrs. Craig said pressure treated 6”X6” posts were specified for the railing posts and the model was the existing railings on the house, which are not original. She noted that the rear decks are framed of 2”X8” lumber and have a slightly sloped plywood substrate with rubber membrane roofing over it and then the deck surface. The posts are on cement foundations and lodged on metal pins for stability. Commissioner Moloney concurred that the 2/2 windows would be more sympathetic to the overall house design. He also suggested using another diamond shaped window in place of the half round window in the gable peak of the rear façade. Mrs. Craig said she was agreeable to using 2/2 Marvin windows and the diamond window. Commissioner Hartranft asked about lighting under the porches at the rear. She said it would be a good idea to provide lighting and she could try to match existing lighting fixtures or find something similar. MOTION: Commissioner Hartranft moved, seconded by Commissioner Moloney, to approve HDC2004-0310 for rear additions at 16 Thomas Street with the following conditions:
Discussion: Commissioner Hartranft mentioned that staff had previously recommended a setback on the south façade of 4-6 inches to differentiate between the old and new sections and this had been omitted from this motion. Commissioner Broadhurst noted the staff findings and conditions on page three of the staff report and moved to amend his motion to include the findings and add the setback. Commissioner Moloney seconded the amendment.
VOTE: 4-0
Planner Cindy Kebba introduced the application with photographs of the overall site and the area where the expanded partaking lot will be built. She noted that only a small wedge of the parking lot would be included within the historic district. The parking lot will need a special exception granted by the Planning Commission and the Board of Appeals to be built in the R-S Zone, a residential holding zone often used for institutions and educational facilities. In discussing the site plan, she pointed out that no landscaping was present in the existing parking lot, but it does have lighting. The new lot will have street trees and interior landscaping consisting of trees and shrubs in planting islands. A storm water holding facility will be constructed along Mannakee Street and a fence will be put around it. It will serve two purposes: storm water management and also to encourage students to cross Mannakee Street at the striped crosswalk rather than at random places. The existing tree buffer between the property and the residential town house development to the east will be enhanced. The lighting will feature shoebox style lighting fixtures directed to control glare. She noted that the parking lot is being built to remedy temporary needs when parking areas on campus are developed or modified, but it is being built to permanent standards. Montgomery College has a 10-year renewable lease. She introduced David Kapp, Chief Facilities Officer at Montgomery College, and Ernie Peek, Project Engineer. Commissioner Hartranft asked if the facility would be abandoned after the need was satisfied and expressed concern that the lighting would be low-pressure sodium fixtures as used on the present college campus. She also questioned the contrast in lighting between the existing and new lot on this site and asked if the old lot would be retrofitted. Mr. Peek said the fixtures would be the same as used on the Montgomery College campus but whiter high-pressure sodium lighting will be used. Mr. Kapp said the lot would not be abandoned as the college need was anticipated to grow and various parcels on the campus were slated for future new buildings. He stated that the College lease does not include the existing lot and he knows of no plans to upgrade the existing lighting. Mr. Peek said the lighting would be at 1-1/2 foot candles and the posts would be 40 feet high, which met national standards. Commissioner Hartranft suggested that the engineer check with the City to make sure the requirements were the same. She also asked for house-side light shields on the lights near the town house development. On the landscaping, she asked if shrubs rather than trees could be used in the parking lot and some of the street trees could be moved to preserve the view of the school, which previously was over an open field. Mr. Peek said he would check City requirements. The light shields could be used, but he is not a landscape architect but had been informed that the City wanted street trees installed. They would work with the Commission to find a solution. The Commission had concerns on the impact of the street trees and parking lot trees on the viewscape from Mannakee Street and Hungerford, but asked for more information. Planner Kebba said she had discussed the viewscape aspect with City Forester Wayne Noll and he said the trees could be clustered or placed elsewhere. Commissioner Moloney asked what the City required for trees and landscaping on the site. He also asked if all persons interested in preserving the site had been notified of the proposal and of the potential impact. Chief of Planning Bob Spalding said that Chapter 21 of the City Code now requires street trees when redevelopment occurs and also landscaping for new parking lots. There is some flexibility but the requirements in the Code must be met. He said that one suggestion was to use high canopy trees, which would not block pedestrian or car window views, or the trees could be massed to minimize the view impact. Robert Edwards, representing the College Square Town House Condos, said their group and the Carver Alumni organization were the most affected and concerned about Carver and the uses and lighting. He and some others had received a notice but asked that further notices be sent to the HOA as well. Lacking the information from the City Forester to resolve the landscape issue, the Commission asked staff if the application should be continued. Planner Judy Christensen said that the Planning Commission would hear the Special Exception in December and the Board of Appeals in January. Both will want to know if the HDC approves of the concept of a parking lot on the site. She noted that the landscape plan could be brought back for approval separately. MOTION: Commissioner Moloney moved, seconded by Commissioner Broadhurst, to approve HDC2004-00316 for a parking lot expansion at 850 Hungerford Drive with the following conditions:
Discussion: Commissioner Hartranft suggested a condition that the lighting poles be limited to the existing pole height and house side shields be provided for lights with a potential to affect the neighboring town houses; and offered the following amendment:
She also noted that the HDC had not discussed the storm water management fence, which is within the historic district. Chairman Powell said that the storm water fence along Mannakee Street would also have a potential adverse impact. After HDC consultation with the College representatives, a black vinyl coated chain link fence was proposed to be used as the least invasive in appearance, and be set back from the street and shrubbery planted in front of it. This was thought to make the fence a part of the landscape and not a feature. This was considered by both parties to be a better appearing solution than a split rail fence or estate fence. The fence must come back to the HDC as part of the landscape plan. Commissioner Moloney moved to amend the motion to include a further condition. Both amendments were accepted, and seconded by Commissioner Broadhurst:
VOTE: 4-0 III. EVALUATION FOR HISTORICAL, ARCHITECTURAL OR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE – 710 Beall Avenue. Planner Judy Christensen stated that she contacted Judge Cahoon in regard to the questions posed by the HDC at the September meeting, and he also submitted a letter via the applicant in favor of demolition. Judge Cahoon stated in both cases that he did not consider the house at 710 Beall Avenue to be significant to his life or career. He said that his activities and duties as Rockville City Attorney and as a County Council Member were undertaken at offices and not at his home. He also stated that his wife did not participate in these events and no meetings were held at the house. He considered his Rockville home to be their 40-year plus residence at Woodley Gardens. Ms. Christensen said a copy of the letter from Judge Cahoon and her notes from the interview were submitted to the Commission. Commissioner Moloney said that the house was not found architecturally significant at the previous meeting and only its role in Judge Cahoon's career and accomplishments remained to be clarified. MOTION: Commissioner Hartranft moved that 710 Beall Avenue not be recommended as meeting the criteria for designation as a historic district in Rockville. Commissioner Moloney seconded the recommendation. VOTE: 4-0 IV. DISCUSSION / UPDATES A. Planning Activities and Projects.
IV. MINUTES
Commissioner van Balgooy sent a clarification by E-mail on his Commissioner comments in the September 21 minutes. The minutes were amended to reflect these changes. Commissioner Hartranft requested that on the evaluation of 708-710 Beall, the minutes reflect that although the owner reported that staff had said the buildings in question were not good candidates for designation, it should be clear that the HDC makes the final recommendation for designation, not staff. MOTION: Commissioner Moloney moved, seconded by Commissioner Hartranft, to approve the minutes of September 21, 2004 as amended. VOTE: 4-0 V. ADJOURN The HDC adjourned at 9:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Judy Christensen and Cindy Kebba, Preservation Planners |
|
