Thursday, July 20, 2006
Rockville City Hall PRESENT | Max van Balgooy, Chairman | Andrea Hartranft | Con Hitchcock | Craig Moloney |
Staff present: 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 presented the report for Peerless Rockville. Peerless Rockville held its annual election in June. Joan Zenzen was elected president. John F. Hall, Jr., Florence Ashby, and Patricia Neame were elected to the Board. Peerless Rockville expects to sign a letter of agreement with Chestnut Lodge Associates for transfer of ownership of Frieda’s Cottage on the Chestnut Lodge site to Peerless. Rehabilitation work on the house will begin after the record plat is recorded by the City. Ms. McGuckian distributed working draft copies for the Symposium on Rockville’s Recent Past that will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2006 at City Hall. She encouraged participation from anyone interested in Rockville’s recent past. The Symposium is expected to be videotaped by Channel 11 for television broadcast. For more information on projects and activities see: www.peerlessrockville.org. B. Lincoln Park Historic Foundation (LPHF) – No report. For LPHF information see: www.aapc-md.org or call 301-251-2747 or send email to Lincolnparkhist@aol.com. C. Comments – Historic District Commissioners/ Staff Historic District Commission:
Preservation Planner Kebba noted that the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Plan and Lincoln Park Conservation Plan were recommended for approval by the Planning Commission on July 12. The Mayor and Council will hold public hearings on the plans on July 24, 2006. The Twinbrook Neighborhood Plan is underway.
Planner Ziek announced that Judy Christensen had announced her retirement from the City and acknowledged that she would be greatly missed.
III. APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL A. HDC2006-00362
Applicant: Catherine McAlpine Eig
Address: 315 Baltimore Road, Rockville, MD 20850
Request: Remove two existing additions; construct new 2-story rear and side-yard addition;
reconfigure landscape garden and patio; remove maple tree. Planner Ziek said that the HDC had reviewed this project at a courtesy review session last month. The project includes the removal of non-historic rear additions and the construction of a compatible new rear and side addition. The HDC had asked to see options with the attic dormer on the rear (south) elevation, specifically to show what a gable dormer would look like. The applicant’s architect, Seth Ballard, supplied two versions of a rear gable dormer. Planner Ziek said that these options were attractive but each had problems. She recommended Option 2 with a simple shed dormer that would provide necessary headroom for the attic stairs. Option 2 also got rid of a two-story extension bay on the south elevation, reducing the impact of the rear addition. Ms. Ziek noted that a healthy mature maple would need to be removed to allow for the addition and the HDC would need to make that part of its approval. The applicant, Catherine McAlpine Eig and her architect, Seth Ballard, each spoke about the different dormer options. Ms. Eig said that Ms. Ziek had presented a good summary of the pros and cons of each option, but that she still preferred option 1, which is what they had initially submitted with the application. She said option 3 was their second preferred option. Commissioner Moloney complimented the architect on the level of detail provided and that it made it easy to understand the effect each alternative would have on the historic resource. He said he preferred option 1, the option that was originally submitted by the applicant. Commissioner van Balgooy said he was leaning toward option 3 with the smaller shed dormer. The HDC asked about materials. Mr. Ballard said that he would use a standing seam roof on the addition and a flat seam roof on the lower porch that has a lower pitch. He would use metal shingles on the 12/12 roof. He will match the German siding (except for the fishscale shingles in the gable). The foundation will be brick and he will attempt to closely match it to that on the house. Commissioner Moloney said it would be acceptable if the brick does not match exactly as any difference would help to differentiate the old from the new. MOTION: Commissioner Hartranft made a motion to find application HDC2006-00362, for demolition of existing rear and side additions, and the construction of new rear and side additions; for removal of existing landscape hardscape, and for the removal of an existing maple tree at the southwest corner of the house, in compliance with City of Rockville Guideline # 5: New Construction, and Secretary of Interior Standard #9, which states, “New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment” and Standard #10 which states “New additions and adjacent or related new construction will be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired”, with the condition that option #1, with the shed roof dormer that was originally presented by the applicant, will be constructed; there will be no dormers on the original house on the east side; the brick foundation should not be painted; fishscales should be used on the east and west sides of the gable. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hitchcock. VOTE: 4-0 B. HDC2006-00363
Applicant: Chestnut Lodge Properties, Inc.
Address: 500 West Montgomery Avenue
Request: Construct entrance feature/wall at main entrance on W. Montgomery Avenue
at Laird Street Planner Kebba presented the applicant’s revised plans for a wall on each side of the main entrance to the Chestnut Lodge property. The wall had been the subject of a courtesy review by the HDC at the June 15 meeting. The HDC’s comments at that time were that the overall scale and size of the entrance wall is acceptable; the balls on top of the pillars should be removed; the curve of the wall should be more pronounced to better replicate the original curve, even if the columns need to be taller to accomplish this; support must be provided for the use of stone as an appropriate material because the material used on an early entry feature at this location appears to have been stucco; and the applicant’s revised design should show lighting and sign details. Ms. Kebba stated that the applicant had followed the HDC’s direction and had revised the plans to show taller piers without the ball caps and with a more accentuated curve that was possible with the taller piers. However, according to the City’s zoning ordinance, a fence, wall or hedge may not exceed six feet in height in the front yard of a property (or between the street line and the nearest line of a building or enclosed portion of a building) abutting an arterial highway. West Montgomery Avenue is considered an arterial highway. Therefore, the applicant is restricted to a maximum height of six feet for any portion of the wall. The applicant’s consultant again revised the drawings to take the height restriction into account. The balls on top of the pillars were replaced with concrete pyramidal caps that are more like the pillar caps that were on the earlier entry piers. The deepest portion of the proposed wall is now set back about 20.5 feet from the right-of-way. It is six feet in height at the peaks of the pillar caps of the interior four piers, and curves forward toward the road, while also reducing in height, to terminate in a third, shorter column on each side. A combination of evergreen and perennial landscaping will fill in much the area between the base of the wall and the sidewalk and will help to reduce the visual scale of the wall. Ms. Kebba said that the applicant proposes a single sign, attached to the wall between two columns on the west side of the entrance, and large enough to facilitate identification of the property for people driving along West Montgomery Avenue but that they had not yet submitted specifications. The size, design, material, text, font, color and finish will be submitted in a Certificate of Approval application once the applicant finalizes these details. She said that the sign and the pedestrian entry would be lit with ground level uplights but that no specifications had been submitted. The applicant proposes the use of Stoneyhurst stone for the pillars and walls. The earlier feature appears, from the photograph, to have been faced with stucco. Stoneyhurst stone is a mica schist, quarried on River Road near Seven Locks Road in Cabin John. The pillars will have pre-cast caps.
She said that stone is a material that is found on and near the property, specifically the partially exposed stone rubble foundation of the Lodge and the stone-faced exterior of Rose Hill mansion, a house that retains a historical relationship with the Chestnut Lodge property. Stone knee walls are found along West Montgomery Avenue in the historic district and decorative stone knee walls will be used throughout the new Chestnut Lodge development. Adjacent residential developments, including Rose Hill and Thirty Oaks, have used stone pillars and entrance features. The applicant had submitted photographs documenting stone material in these areas. Commissioner Hitchcock noted that the photographs were helpful in making the case to use stone. Commissioner Moloney complimented the applicant on a well-resolved solution. Soo Lee-Cho, the applicant’s attorney introduced Sunny Scully, the applicant’s landscape architect. Ms. Scully said that she also preferred the effect with the taller piers, but that she was able to still somewhat accentuate the wall curve with the six-foot piers more than had been shown in the original drawings. The result is a hybrid of what the HDC saw at the courtesy review and what they had hoped to achieve with the taller piers. She said the small bullet uplights would be unobtrusive and hidden by the landscaping. The landscaping includes low rose bushes that would flower throughout the summer to provide color in addition to evergreen ground cover. Commissioner van Balgooy asked how the stone would be laid. Ms. Scully replied that it would appear as a dry laid wall and the mortar would not be highly visible. Commissioner van Balgooy said he was concerned that it not look too regular or too contemporary. He suggested replicating the appearance of the rubble stone foundation on the main Lodge, with large variation in stone size and shape. Ms. Scully agreed that a wall like that at the Rose Hill development would look too modern and that a more irregular pattern would be appropriate, but she said a landscaping wall would not typically look like a foundation wall and she disagreed with trying to replicate the look of the Lodge’s foundation. The HDC agreed that the description in the plans of Stoneyhurst stone, of random sizes and with a horizontal appearance, is what they were aiming for. There was some discussion regarding what portions of the wall should be lighted. The plans show uplights at the entry piers on each side of the road. The HDC agreed that the sign needs to have subtle lighting, but were not convinced that the pedestrian entrance needed any additional lighting. The HDC asked the applicant to provide more details, including showing all other lighting that will be in the vicinity so that they can better determine what is really needed. The specifications for the signage will need to come back for HDC approval. Morty Levine, Chestnut Lodge Associates, said that they were working with a graphic arts firm to develop a logo for Chestnut Lodge and coordinate all of the signage and that they would present the entire signage package for the historic district portion of the property to the HDC for approval. Staff noted that the City’s Public Works Department is against the use of granite curbs because they are more costly to maintain and replace. The applicant wants to install granite curbs only in the historic district portion of the property and said that they have offered to take on the maintenance of the curbs to relieve the City of this responsibility and cost. The HDC is in favor of granite curbs. Staff responded that the HDC’s position on this issue will continue to be relayed to other parties involved in the decision. MOTION: Commissioner Hitchcock made a motion to approve a new entry wall on the Chestnut Lodge property, as shown and described in the plans as Stoneyhurst stone of random sizes and horizontally laid, in compliance with City of Rockville Guideline # 5: New Construction, and Secretary of Interior Standard #9, which states, “New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment” and Standard #10 which states “New additions and adjacent or related new construction will be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired”, and with the condition that HDC approval will be required for all lighting and signage associated with the entry feature. Commissioner Hartranft seconded the motion. VOTE: 4-0
IV. COURTESY REVIEWS Applicant: Chestnut Lodge Properties, Inc.
Address: 500 West Montgomery Avenue A. Chestnut Lodge Stable rehabilitation Planner Kebba said that this had been discussed last month as a courtesy review. The HDC was interested in retaining the spatial relationship of the stable to the other historic buildings and its footprint and massing, but was concerned about replicating the German siding and single glaze wood windows because it might be misinterpreted as an old building. The applicant conducted further research to better determine the evolution of the building and refined the drawings to represent the earlier fenestration. In response to the HDC’s concern, the revision includes the use of modern materials, specifically hardiplank siding and aluminum clad double-hung windows with simulated divided lights. These materials will also be used on the Little Lodge addition and on the new residential construction. The HDC preferred this option. B. Chestnut Lodge Little Lodge rehabilitation and rear addition Planner Kebba said that the only changes proposed with the rehabilitation are on the east side porch. The applicant wants to re-screen the porch, remove the handicap ramp, enlarge the door opening from the living room to the porch and install a double French door, change the access from the porch to the yard from the east and north sides to the south side, and replace the metal railing on the upper deck with PVC railing that meets code requirements. Planner Kebba said that, with the possible exception of enlarging the doorway opening and changing the railing to vinyl, these were minor alterations. She said the rear addition meets the guidelines for new additions. It is in the rear, indented and visually distinguished from the old house. It does not destroy any significant historic elements of the original house. The view of the front of the house will not be affected. Mary Oehrlein, Oehrlein and Associates Architects, spoke on behalf of the applicant. She reiterated the changes planned for the rehabilitation and the addition and noted that the changes fall within the definition of rehabilitation. She said that the east porch was originally an open porch and that they have not found any documentation as to when it was screened. She said they had chosen materials for the addition that would differentiate it from the original house and would tie it into the materials that will be used on the new stable building and the new residential development. She said the roof on the main house is a simulated slate material that they would match as closely as possible when they replace it and they would bring samples of materials to be used when they come back for a Certificate of Approval. Commissioner van Balgooy said that, though he typically does not like to see alterations to original openings, he felt that the door leading from the living room to the porch is a secondary entrance and will be somewhat hidden by the screened porch and he did not have a problem in this case. Commissioner Hartranft agreed that this would not be a major issue. Commisioner Moloney stated a preference for a wrought iron railing on the upper deck of the porch as that is what is there now. Commissioner van Balgooy said that he would be in favor of either wrought iron or wood but he would not be in favor of the PVC railing proposed by the applicant. The HDC did not oppose changing the orientation of the access from the porch to the yard. Commissioner Moloney thought the plans for the rear addition were very good.
V. Discussion / Updates A. HDC retreat: The HDC agreed to hold the retreat for HDC and staff on the evening of Tuesday August 15, pending confirmation from Commissioner Powell who was absent from the meeting. The draft agenda includes discussion of the HDC’s public image and improving consistency in the design review process. B. Update on SHA project at First Street and Veirs Mill Road: Commissioner van Balgooy said that he attended the focus group and that the SHA is still taking public testimony. The Mayor and Council have not been satisfied with any of the options presented to date. Some of the options will require demolition of structures that are more than 50 years old but none of them are National Register eligible. C. Mayor and Council request for commissions’ FY06 summary of accomplishments and ‘07 Work Plan: These documents have been requested of all City boards and commissions so that the Mayor and Council can better see how the boards and commissions’ work fits into the Mayor and Council’s goals for the City. Staff has drafted copies of these documents for the HDC to review and asked that comments and revisions be returned to staff by July 24 so that staff may submit by the July 25 deadline.
VI. Minutes: Meeting No. 7-06, July 20, 2006 Commissioner Hartranft asked that the minutes be amended to reflect her comment that the applicant could consider a modern interpretation of the stable structure at Chestnut Lodge (p.4, paragraph 2). MOTION: Commissioner Hitchcock moved to approve the minutes of July 20, 2006 as amended. Commissioner Hartranft seconded the motion. VOTE: 3-0 (Commissioner Moloney abstained)
VII. ADJOURN: The HDC adjourned at 10:10 p.m. |
