Minutes Thursday, January 20, 2005
Meeting No. 1-2005 The City of Rockville Historic District Commission convened in regular session in the Senior Center Dining Room, 1150 Carnation Drive, at 7:38 PM. PRESENT
Anita Neal Powell, Chair
Craig Moloney
Max van Balgooy
Andrea Hartranft
Jeff Broadhurst Staff present: Bob Spalding, Chief of Planning, Scott Parker, Planner III, Judy Christensen and Cindy Kebba, Preservation Planners. I. WORKSESSION: Chairman Powell stated that the HDC business meeting was preceded by an agenda work session from 7:00-7:35 p.m. in the Senior Center Sun Room. Chairperson Powell announced that the worksession involved administrative matters and no decisions were made or discussed at that meeting. The Business meeting was convened at 7:38 P.M. II. COMMITTEE / ORGANIZATION REPORTS A. Peerless Rockville – Suzanne Fisher
Ms. Fisher said the traveling exhibit “Rockville on the Road to Brown” would be at Rockville High School and College Gardens Elementary School in February and at the Lincoln Park Community Center in March. The Preservation Awards will be held at the May 2, 2005 Mayor and Council meeting. Nominations are due March 1. Peerless is also requesting nominations for Rockville Celebrities, which are due March 15. The 2005 lecture program, “The Way We Were,” begins January 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the King Farm Community Center with a presentation on changing demographics. Other presentations follow monthly. The 250th anniversary of General Braddock’s march through Montgomery County will be celebrated on Memorial Day weekend. Ms. Fisher asked if the HDC would support and endorse showing the previous year’s programs on neighborhoods and development on the Rockville Channel. The HDC agreed to support showing the programs and requested that staff write a memo to Doug Breisch. See the Peerless Rockville web page at www.peerlessrockville.org for further information. B. Lincoln Park Historical Foundation – No report. Web site is www.Lincolnparkhist.org C. Comments – Historic District Commissioners – - Commissioner Moloney distributed copies of the first draft plan for parking and transportation improvements at the Civic Center. He said the plan would be presented at 9:00 AM on Monday, January 24, 2005 at Glenview Mansion and all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Comments are welcome on the draft plan and the minutes from the first task force meeting are included.
- Chairman Powell said she received an email from John Moser of the Cultural Arts Commission (CAC) relating that the CAC is nominating Glenview to the National Register of Historic Places and is requesting HDC support. Commissioner Moloney said it was a great idea and the HDC should thank the CAC and encourage them to go forward. The Commission concurred and requested that staff prepare a letter to the CAC in that regard.
- Chairman Powell noted that Monday, January 24th is also the ground breaking for the new library at noon at the old library building. RSVP’s are suggested.
III. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL A. HDC2004-00316 Applicant: Alan Yanaway, representing Montgomery College
Address: 850 Hungerford Drive
Request: Landscaping plan for parking lot on Carver site
Planner Cindy Kebba summarized the HDC approval of the parking lot concept and general siting on October 23, 2004, and stated that the four conditions of the approval required the landscape plan to return to the HDC showing the tree spacing and variety to preserve the viewscape of Carver, the reduction in light pole height and the type of light shields, and asking that the existing parking lot lighting be upgraded, and all interested parties that testified at the Carver designation hearings be notified. Ms. Kebba stated that a postcard notification was sent to all persons testifying at the Carver designation hearings in addition to affected HOAs and civic associations and the usual notifications within a one-quarter mile radius of the site. She stated that the revised landscape and lighting plan before the Commission shows several changes: The black vinyl-coated chain link fence along the storm water pond was shortened to only run parallel to the new parking lot rather than encircle it. It will be less obtrusive. The Golden Rain trees along Mannakee Street were reduced in number by half and are on average 77-foot centers to better preserve the view. The area within the Historic District is primarily the driveway where the trees have been reduced from eleven (11) to seven (7) Zelkovas and Red Maples. Staff has suggested a further reduction of two trees in the driveway. All trees are to be two-inch to two-and-a-half inches in caliper. The white pine trees providing a buffer to adjacent town house development have been replaced by Austrian pines, which are not as subject to disease. The City Forester has requested small flowering trees, such as dogwoods, interspersed in the lot. Staff noted that the applicants have provided existing and as proposed views digitally and recommended approval with the changes noted in the staff report. Ernie Peek of Wedgco Engineering and John McLean represented the applicants. Mr. Peek said they would provide 2 to 2-1/2 caliper trees and remove the two trees from the driveway area as recommended by staff. Commissioner Hartranft was concerned about trimming the trees since the light poles are 25 feet high, and also concerned that the new light levels and ratios in the improved lot will make the old part near Carver seem dark. She asked again for the old lot lighting to be improved to match the new level. Mr. McLean said that the College has no purview over the lighting in the Board of Education lot. They have had conversations with the Board facility staff and they currently have no plans to upgrade the lighting. They will mention it to them again. Mr. McLean said Montgomery College routinely trims the trees in its parking areas for that reason and will do so here as well. Commissioner Broadhurst asked about plantings along the storm water pond fence. Mr. Peek responded that shrubs are being planted to grow through the fence and it will not be visible after a period of time. Mr. Broadhurst supported reduction of the trees as specified by staff and thanked the applicants for their time and responsiveness to the HDC’s concerns. Commissioner van Balgooy concurred and asked how the pedestrian crosswalks will be controlled. Mr. Peek said the fence and storm water pond are sited to force students to cross at the marked walkway. If needed, a signal light can be installed. A concrete island will be installed to separate the Board of Education facility parking lot from the student overflow parking lot. No students should be parking in the Board of Education lot. There was no public comment on this application. The Commission concurred with the findings and recommendation of staff. MOTION: Commissioner Hartranft moved to approve the plans as amended, seconded by Commissioner Broadhurst, finding HDC2004-00316, for a landscaped parking lot and storm water pond in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation #1, and 2 and the City of Rockville Design Guidelines with the following conditions: - Two trees will be removed from the driveway area (as shown in the January 20, 2005 staff report addendum), leaving a total of five trees;
- The applicants are requested to urge the Board of Education to upgrade its lighting to match the improved lighting in the new lot;
- All trees should be a minimum of 2 –2-1/2 inch caliper; and.
- Montgomery College will maintain the trees.
VOTE: 5-0 IV. COURTESY REVIEW – Recommendation to Planning Commission. Proposed Lincoln Terrace townhouse facades and building materials Planner Scott Parker and Chief of Planning Spalding explained that on January 10, 2005, the Mayor and Council requested that the HDC review the proposed elevations for compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood. The siting and layout have been approved and cannot be changed. The HDC comments are to go to the Planning Commission. Planner Parker said the review level is similar to that done on the interior houses at Thirty Oaks as the elevations and materials are typical and not specific. He noted that the property is not within a historic district or near a designated district although Lincoln Park is studying preservation methods for the area. He corrected his memo concerning numbers of structures to the HDC: There are 53 single family attached dwellings (townhouses) and seven single family detached houses. This is an innovative mixed-income project where 2/3 of the units are set aside as MPDUs for moderate income-qualified buyers. He noted that no townhouses currently exist in Lincoln Park for comparison, but Mid-City Urban (developer) was directed to replace the apartments unit for unit, which could not be done with all single-family detached homes. He said that the project is currently behind schedule and the City is endeavoring to complete it as soon as possible as the old apartment complex is vacant. George Young, the Executive Director of Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE), said all of the former tenants had been relocated at the developer’s expense to affordable housing. In response to an HDC question, he said the new income-qualified owners cannot sell the units at market rate for 30 years, following the City MPDU regulations. Therefore, the property cannot be purchased and resold for a profit. Vicki Davis, project director, said Mid City Urban was selected by RHE because of its past success with mixed-income development. The firm has been working on this project for four years and finally rejected the option of renovating the existing circa 40-year old facilities, as they were obsolete and typical public housing of the era. In developing the new plans, Mid City worked closely with the RHE Board, residents, and the Civic Association to arrive at this plan that provides the same space and footprints for all income levels and also provides homeowner training for applicant/purchasers at the developer’s expense. Other benefits include an oversized storm water management pond to help alleviate existing Lincoln Park drainage problems and upgraded water and sewer service. In addition, a playground and several green spaces have been accepted for maintenance by the City to reduce demands on the HOA and keep fees affordable. Mid City explored four different site plans before arriving at this solution with staff, and it has been approved by the Mayor and Council. She said the project fulfills a very high public purpose and has potential to be a best practice model in the U.S. Lloyd Wilken, Vice Chair of Rockville Housing Enterprises since 1997, spoke in support of the plan. He noted that Federal funds for this kind of projects are being reduced. Chris Gordon, the architect, explained that the massing for the single family houses and the design details were taken from surrounding homes in an area which is very eclectic in design, scale and materials. There is one basic detached plan and two basic townhouse plans. They elected to go with a moderately sized craftsman era design with shutters, brackets, hipped roofs and wider eave lines. He noted that although the single-family homes are larger than adjacent original houses, they are modest by 2005 standards. The single-family homes are located on the street and at entry points to the development to provide a transition. The town houses are staggered with bay windows, rear decks and a variety of vinyl siding, vinyl shingles and roof materials to provide individual interest. Simulated stone and brick will be used from the water table to the first story. Each has a one-car garage and the driveway provides parking for one other car if needed. Mr. Gordon said the photos of similar products were from a 1,000-unit development in the Dulles area that they were also developing. Ms. Davis said the floor plans of the Dulles project and this one are the same, but the Lincoln Park townhouses are slightly larger and have more detailing. Commissioner Moloney thanked the applicant for coming before the HDC at such short notice and showing sensitivity for the neighborhood. He said this review is outside of the purview of the HDC and the commission does not have the information on the character of the neighborhood to do a typical review for adverse impact on the character of the historic district. He said the designs appear to be considerate of the neighbors and streetscape but asked if the same level of detail and interest would be maintained on other facades in public view. Mr. Gordon said that shutters are used on the rear and each unit has a deck on the second level and a 6-foot privacy fence on the ground level to provide privacy and protect bicycles and yard furniture. Ms. Davis noted that the City’s afforestation requirements resulted in many trees being planted on the property as well. Commissioner Moloney agreed that the 6-foot fences work well for privacy from the side but suggested a lower fence, like a picket fence, at the rear or a gate so the area will not seem confining. His overall opinion of the project was positive. Commissioner Broadhurst said he was heartened to see the amount of texture and interest in the facades in a mixed income project. It is not simple to produce and is commendable and well done. He echoed Commissioner Moloney’s comments that other visible facades also need sensitivity. Commissioner van Balgooy concurred and complimented the applicants for their work. He stated that the HDC has no purview on this review and he finds it an uncomfortable situation. Commissioner Hartranft concurred with all comments and reiterated that the HDC did not want to become a design review board. Chairman Powell agreed, saying it was a great selection of home types. Planner Parker said he took sufficient notes to relay the HDC comments to the Planning Commission. **The HDC took a break from 9:00 to 9:08 p.m.** V. APPLICATION FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY TAX CREDIT A. HDC2004-00321 Applicant: Stephen Reilly
Address: 117 W. Montgomery Avenue
Request: Tax credit eligibility determination
Planner Kebba stated that Mr. Reilly requests Montgomery County tax credit eligibility determination for exterior painting and replacement of exterior wood and four shutters. Receipts submitted total $25,985.00. Before and after photographs were included with the application. The work is eligible for the tax credit. MOTION: Commissioner van Balgooy moved, seconded by Commissioner Hartranft, to find tax credit application HDC2003-00321 eligible for benefits as recommended by staff and authorized staff to refer it to the Montgomery County Department of Finance for further processing.
VOTE: 5-0 VI. DISCUSSION / UPDATES A. Planning Activities and Projects: 1. Review of January 10, 2004 work session with Mayor and Council: Commissioner Hartranft said the HDC should coordinate with Peerless Rockville on the inventory of modern buildings and should go over the themes. She suggested that Terry Lachin, program director, be invited to attend the HDC to discuss the project. Town Center street name: the names suggested by the Commission were names of families that lived in the Middle Lane/ Town Center area and made contributions to the community. Chairman Powell said she did not have sufficient time to prepare information on the families this afternoon when she was informed that the suggestions were needed this evening. The Commission decided to recommend the names Davis, Johnson, Meads, Snowden, and Rev. Josiah Henson as possibilities. Staff noted that the County may eliminate some as repetitions or duplications of street names in other parts of the county. Staff volunteered to help with significance of those selected for consideration. Commemorative Art in Town Center: Andrea Hartranft said she had been invited to participate in the Cultural Arts Commission task force on town center art but had not been able to attend the meetings. She will try to get to the next one but if she cannot attend, will see if a representative from the HDC can attend in her place. The rest of the discussion items were postponed or self-explanatory:
2. Lincoln Park Preservation – Judy Christensen
3. East Rockville –Robin Ziek
4. SHA project at MD 28 and Veirs Mill & the effect on Janetta – Robin Ziek
5. Final comments on Tech Guide for outbuildings and accessory structures – Cindy Kebba requested that final comments on the draft be sent to her via email.
6. Staff Approvals – Planner Kebba informed the HDC of the removal of four trees determined to be hazardous by the City Forester at Rockville Cemetery VII. MINUTES - Meeting No. 123-2004, November 18, 2004
MOTION: Commissioner van Balgooy moved, seconded by Commissioner Moloney, to approve the minutes of November 18, 2004 as submitted.
VOTE: 3-0-2 (Abstained: Broadhurst, Hartranft) VIII. ADJOURN: The HDC adjourned at 10:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Cindy Kebba and Judy Christensen, Preservation Planners | 
