Historic District Commission
Minutes
Meeting No. 2-2006

Thursday, February 16, 2006
Rockville City Hall

Staff present: Judy Christensen, Cindy Kebba and Robin Ziek, Preservation Planners

I. WORKSESSION: The worksession included an agenda review and update.

The business meeting was convened at 7:35 P.M. Chairman van Balgooy opened the meeting and introduced the Commissioners and staff.

II. COMMITTEE / ORGANIZATION REPORTS

A. Peerless Rockville – Eileen McGuckian, Executive Director, reported that the final report of Phase III of the Recent Past is completed and includes 175 mid-20th century properties in Rockville.  Peerless is currently concentrating on the post-WWII period.   They recently completed Maryland Historic Trust (MHT) inventory forms for 50 Monroe Street and 255 N. Washington Street.  Peerless continues its series of discussions on the Recent Past and extends an open invitation to the community to attend any of the program events, which are co-sponsored by the HDC.  The topic in January was Rockville in the 1950s.    On March 8, the topic will be Modernism in Rockville, and is entitled “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”.  It will be held in the Red Brick Courthouse at 7:30 p.m. For more information on projects and activities see: www.peerlessrockville.org.

B. Lincoln Park Historic Foundation – President Anita Powell reported that the Gospel Ride to Freedom will be held Saturday, February 25 at 5:00 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.   For more information on this and other LPHF activities, call 301-251-2747 or email www. aapc-md.org.  Ms. Powell reminded the audience that the LPHF is co-sponsoring the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Plans Forum on Saturday February 18 from 9 a.m. to noon, which will provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions and get more information on the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Plan and the Lincoln Park Conservation Plan.   For more information see: www.aapc-md.org.

C. Comments – Historic District Commissioners/ Staff Historic District Commission: HDC Chairman van Balgooy said that he would like to talk about the status of the recommendation for designation of 50 Monroe Street and the 6-month anniversary of HDC public broadcast during the Discussion and Updates portion of the agenda.  Staff member Judy Christensen said that 302 Lincoln Avenue will be going to the Mayor and Council for authorization to file a map amendment for a historic district overlay zone on February 21, 2006 and that this may be fast-tracked as the owner nominated the property for designation and there is no opposition to the map amendment.  Ms. Christensen also asked the community to attend the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Plan Forum on Saturday February 18.

III. CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL

A. HDC2006-00344
Applicants:  John T. Bell/Stephen Beck
Address: 101 West Jefferson Street
Request: Repairs to tower

(NOTE:  This item was removed from consideration before the meeting as the applicant agreed to make all repairs/replacements with in-kind materials.  This is considered ordinary maintenance and does not require HDC review)

B. HDC2006-00346
Applicants: Lew Hages/Gerard Boquel
Address: 215 Autumn Wind Way
Request: Install front yard metal fencing with stone-veneered pillars.

Planner Cindy Kebba said that staff had received one comment on this application from Stacy O’Hana, a resident of Autumn Wind Way in the Rose Hill subdivision.  Ms. O’Hana stated by telephone that she thought the proposed fence would be aesthetically pleasing and would be an asset to the neighborhood.  There was no public opposition to the application.

Ms. Kebba said that the fence would extend from a point on the southwest side of the property, roughly in line with the front façade of the house, to the northeastern property line and would fence only the front portion of the yard.   The metal fence would be interrupted at approximate 50-foot intervals by stone-veneered concrete pillars.  The location was shown in a site plan and by an aerial view of the property.  Ms. Kebba stated that there are two existing stone pillars at the driveway entrance, which were installed about five years ago by the Rose Hill developer.   The new fence would tie into these and break for the driveway.  The seven proposed additional pillars will replicate these, but will have natural stone caps instead of the cast concrete caps that top the two existing pillars.

Ms. Kebba showed a photograph of the metal and stone fence that runs along Great Falls Road and noted that the proposed fence at 215 Autumn Wind Way would look very similar.  The new fence will be installed in six-foot lengths and will be 36 inches in height.  The three-rail fence will have quad finials and the posts will have ball caps.  The 18” x 18” stone-veneered pillars will be 40 inches in height. 

Staff concluded that the proposed fence is appropriate to, and compatible with, the historic property and the surrounding neighborhood and presented a draft motion for approval.

Chair van Balgooy asked if there were any questions or comments from the audience or from the applicant.  As there were none, he closed the public record and opened up the discussion to the commissioners.  Commissioner Hitchcock asked the applicant how they selected the starting point of the fence since it does not extend to the property boundary.  Applicant/Owner Lew Hages responded that the fence is only a part of a larger landscaping plan which they are still working on and which will include trees and shrubbery and further frame the house.  The fence is not planned to extend through the landscaped area.

Commissioner Moloney asked if the applicants intended to replace the two existing stone pillars at the driveway entrance and, if not, how the fence will be connected to them since they are set several yards back from the property line where the fence will be located.

Mr. Hages said that they intend to keep the existing pillars and that the fence will angle back to meet them.  He showed the commissioners how the fence will tie in on the site plan. He said that this will provide greater emphasis to the entrance.

Commissioner van Balgooy asked why they did not choose to use cast concrete caps on the new pillars as exist on the two existing pillars.  Mr. Hages said that they prefer the natural stone, and though they would have preferred that the existing pillars also had natural stone caps, the differentiation from the other pillars will further identify and emphasize the entrance.  Mr. Hages added that the fence will help prevent public recreational use of their yard by people who mistakenly think the mansion is public property, but will also help restore some of the grandeur to the property that was removed when much of the land was sold for the surrounding residential development.

MOTION:  Commissioner Hartranft moved, seconded by Commissioner Hitchcock, to approve HDC2006-00346, finding that the application meets Secretary of Interior Standards 9 and 10 as specified in the staff report and City of Rockville Technical Guide for Exterior Alterations #6, Fencing.  Conditions for approval are:

1. The fence may not exceed 42 inches in height at any point as measure from grade;
2. A fence permit must be obtained; and
3. The City Forester must approve the location of the posts and pillars to ensure that trees will not be harmed during installation.

VOTE: 5-0

IV. COURTESY REVIEW

Applicants:  Robert and Barbara Craig
Address: 16 Thomas Street
Request: Propose revisions to March 2005 HDC approval for additions and alterations

Planner Judy Christensen said that the Craigs have an approved plan for a rear and side addition but have reconsidered and would like to simplify and reduce the size of the project.  Her written report for the commission showed existing conditions, approved plans, and revised elevations and highlighted areas where more information was needed from the applicants, chiefly the size and type of windows and doors. Ms Christensen suggested that the HDC review the changes with the applicant one façade at a time.  

The applicant approached the dais and explained the plans and alterations to the approved plan. There was a lengthy discussion about door and window locations and design, and if the windows and doors could be vinyl clad or all wood on the interior and exterior. The applicant favored longer single windows to match the original first story windows on most of the first story of the addition.  She will research the cost and options to determine if 2/2 double sash windows or 1/1 will be used, and the exterior materials.  The kitchen windows over the counter area will be shorter and 6/6.  All of the French doors were to have rectangular transoms surmounting the doors.  The tower featured half round lights above the door to the second story roof deck and over the south side window. The lights will be t he width of the door and window.  The HDC asked the applicant to look at other shape options for these lights.  The HDC also asked to have the new portion of the kitchen that was to be added on the southeast corner to be articulated in some way from the gabled extension of the kitchen wing to add some interest to this façade. The HDC was supportive of the proposed new tower as it was at the rear, but asked the applicant to look at the pitch of the tower roof as the one shown might be too shallow.  They asked for setbacks between the two sections at the rear, to avoid a long, uninterrupted line/mass of building.   The applicant was requested to provide a drawing of each elevation with the Certificate of Approval application, to make it easier to understand and approve the proposed changes.

V. DISCUSSION/UPDATES:

A. Staff presentation of King Farm draft

Planner Robin Ziek said that the nomination of the King Farm Farmstead for historic designation was co-sponsored by the King Farm Civic Association and Peerless Rockville.  She wanted to present a draft of the MHT form to let the public know that it is underway and also to solicit more information to help complete it.  She showed an aerial photograph of the Farmstead Park and noted that while not all of the buildings are extant, the 5-acre property presents a very good collection of farm buildings with the farmhouse, and it is in a prominent location and visible from Rt. 355.  Ms. Ziek showed a picture of the Dairy Barn, the most prominent farm building, and noted that all of the other farm buildings, including two accessory houses, are organized along a farm lane.  She said that the nomination includes all of the standing buildings on the site, which together create a very good representation of the local 20th century dairy industry.  She said that the City has spent a great deal of money stabilizing the buildings and has been working with the community to help determine what the second, and in some cases third life, of the buildings should be. She said that she is also working on the geneology of the site.  She asked for questions and comments from the commissioners.

Commissioner Moloney asked what happened to the truck barn and calf barn and Ms. Ziek responded that they had been destroyed in a storm.  Commissioner Moloney clarified that the buildings had been hit by lightening and were severely damaged with a resulting fire.  

Commissioner van Balgooy requested an up-to-date parcel map that would show the exact boundaries of the site, a time line that would summarize ownership and building history, etc., and to consider using an appendix for the building descriptions.

Ms. Ziek explained that Section 7 of the Maryland Historical Trust form is reserved for building descriptions and in this case it is quite long because of the number of buildings, but that readers could go directly to Section 8 for the historic context content of the report.  She said the MHT form could not be altered.

Commissioner van Balgooy asked about assigning historic significance to the 1814-1870 period when all of the buildings were built in the 20th century. Ms. Ziek responded that she wanted to mention all of the connections that are part of the history of the site, even those that do not tie into the buildings.  If this were a National Register nomination, she would likely focus only on the 20th Century ownership of the W. Lawson King family as only one criterion needs to be met to be eligible for the National Register. However, she would like to include as much information as possible in this document, or at least provide leads for future research.

Commissioner Hitchcock asked if there had been any research done on surrounding farm properties to get a sense of the larger area and the agricultural context and background of this part of the county.  Ms. Ziek talked about the other farms that Lawson King owned.  Ms. Christensen said that there were farms across the street and all the way up into Gaithersburg.  There is a lot of information about other farms in the vicinity and the local farm economy, and staff will provide some background on this, but will focus in on this site to avoid having the project get too overwhelming.

B. Commission Business

Chair van Balgooy encouraged all HDC members to review the DVD copies of the January meeting that were provided to them so that they could analyze how well the commission is doing, given the 6-month anniversary of public broadcasting of HDC meetings.  There will be further discussion during the HDC retreat. He said that he and staff continue to work on an HDC handbook that will be a great benefit.

C. Update on 50 Monroe Street

Planner Christensen said that this property was recommended for local designation unanimously by the HDC in January and that it was on the Mayor and Council agenda to authorize staff for file for a map amendment.  She said that only the Mayor and Council and the Planning Commission are empowered to file for sectional map amendments.  The Mayor and Council received and considered the recommendation, minutes from the HDC meeting, etc. and declined to proceed with map amendment.  She said that several members of the Mayor and Council were torn on this issue and, though they declined to move the process forward, citing concerns that the public view of the building is obscured and that there could be issues with successfully re-using the building, they expressed regret that it will be demolished.  Ms. Christensen said that public hearings cost money and take time, and that it is the Mayor and Council’s prerogative to decline to authorize filing for the map amendment.

Chair van Balgooy said that he had sent an email on February 7 to the Mayor and Council expressing disappointment with its decision.  He said that there need to be more opportunities to talk about 20th century buildings and that a public hearing is a good way to accomplish this.  He said that he had not yet received a response to his email. 

Commissioner Hartranft said she hoped that the HDC would receive a response. She said that the Mayor and Council had agreed to take all recommendations for designation from the HDC to the public hearing stage at the January 10, 2005 worksession.

Commissioner Moloney said that this was his recollection as well, that the Mayor and Council had agreed to hold a public hearing on all properties recommended for designation by the HDC.

Commissioner Powell suggested that a representative from the HDC plan to speak at Citizens’ Forum when properties are on the Mayor and Council agenda for authorization for file a map amendment.  She also suggested that the HDC attend a drop-in session that the Mayor and Council periodically hold for citizens and other interested parties to speak with council members about various topics.

Chair van Balgooy concurred with these suggestions.

Commissioner Hitchcock suggested that the HDC chair schedule a meeting with the Mayor.

Commissioner Hartranft said that, while these were all good ideas, it would be best to ask the Mayor and Council to honor their agreement with the HDC.

Chair van Balgooy asked if staff could try to schedule another worksession with the Mayor and Council, acknowledging that it may not occur for several months, given the Mayor and Council's anticipated heavy agenda load.

Ms. Christensen said staff would begin working on that and she also suggested that the HDC draft a cover letter that would accompany all designation recommendations.

Chair van Balgooy said that he received a copy of a letter to the Mayor and Council from Peerless Rockville on the 50 Monroe Street subject. Ms. Eileen McGuckian, Executive Director of Peerless Rockville, said the HDC might want to consider assigning an HDC member to each designation recommendation to follow it through the entire process.  It also would be a way for the Mayor and Council to get to know each of the commissioners better individually.

D. Update on 302 Lincoln Avenue

Planner Christensen said that this nomination was scheduled for Mayor and Council authorization to file on February 21, 2006.

VI. MINUTES: Meeting No. 1-06, January 19, 2006

Commissioner Moloney asked that the minutes be amended to indicate that the King Farm representative was asked to return with revised plans for the hay drying shed at King Farm as they need to field check that their drawings are accurate.

Commissioner van Balgooy corrected that he had advocated for a textured indication of the wheel channels, not a “stamped pattern” in the hay drying shed (top of p.3).

MOTION: Commissioner Moloney moved to approve the minutes of HDC meeting 1-2006 as amended.  Commissioner Hartranft seconded the motion.

VOTE:  5-0

VII. ADJOURN: The HDC adjourned at 9:35 p.m.