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Historic District Commission
Minutes
Meeting No. 03-2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Rockville City Hall
| PRESENT | |
| Max van Balgooy (Chair) | |
| Craig Moloney | Janet Hunt McCool |
| Anita Neal Powell | Jeremy Tucker |
Staff present: Robin Ziek, Preservation Planner; Jim Wasilak, Chief of Planning
I. The Agenda Review began at 7:00 pm. The HDC and staff reviewed the upcoming agenda; no decisions were made. The formal meeting began at 7:30 p.m.
II. Committee / Organization Reports
A. Peerless Rockville – Mary van Balgooy, Executive Director of Peerless Rockville presented a brief update of activities. Frieda’s Cottage has been leased. They will be receiving an award in May at the Statewide Preservation Conference for their restoration efforts on Frieda’s Cottage. They are sponsoring “The Extreme Green Tour” on Saturday, May 9 at the LEED Platinum-rated new building at 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard. Space is limited. The Annual Awards Ceremony and Annual meeting will be held on Thursday, June 11 at 7:00 pm in the Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse. Barbara Campagna, the Graham Gund Architect of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will talk on sustainability. On June 13 from 12 – 2 pm, Peerless is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Montrose Schoolhouse, with exhibits, tours, living history, and meeting the alumni at this two-room rural schoolhouse. Free. The Town Center Action Team Summit is on April 21 from 7 to 9 PM at VisArts. The public is invited to participate. Peerless urges people to email the county council or call Council President Phil Andrews, who represents our district, to urge rejection of the proposed Knapp Amendment, which weakens the County’s historic preservation law. The public record is open until May 22nd. For more information, contact Peerless Rockville at 301-762-0096 or www.peerlessrockville.org.
B. Lincoln Park Historical Foundation – Commissioner Powell said there was no update. For more information on the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation or the Leroy E. Neal African American Research Center, see Lincolnparkhist@aol.com or call 301-251-2747.
C. Public Comments/Open Forum: No comments.
Staff Comments – Robin Ziek noted that the City will receive two awards at the State Historic Preservation Conference: for Frieda’s Cottage, and Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant’s Parsonage. The owners will attend. The Conference program is available on the web, and the HDC should let staff know if they would like to attend. This counts towards their annual training, to comply with MD Certified Local Government requirements. Planning for the renovation of the Pump House is underway. The HDC will review something in May. The Building Catalogue is on schedule, with all of the properties surveyed and photographed. Rockville Cemetery will be the site of the MD State Arborists Association Volunteer Day; they will cut and prune dead/dying trees, under the direction of the City’s Arborist. The work will be approved at a staff level.
III. Consent Agenda: Certificates of Approval, Tax Credit applications, Minutes
Commissioner Moloney noted he was the architect on Item G, and will recuse himself. Chair van Balgooy noted he would also recuse himself on Item G, as he is related to Peerless’s Director. The Chair asked for separate motions.
1) Approval of HDC Minutes 2-09 March 19, 2008; HDC2009-00458; HDC2009-00459.
MOTION: Commissioner Tucker moved for approval of the above items as written; Commissioner McCool seconded.
VOTE: 5-0 Approved
2) Approval of HDC2009-00463 for patio work at 19 Thomas Street (Peerless Rockville)
MOTION: Commissioner Tucker moved for approval; Commissioner McCool seconded.
VOTE: 3 - 0 – 2 Approved (Chair van Balgooy, Commissioner Moloney abstained)
IV. Courtesy Review
A. Old Post Office – HDC2009-00455
Applicant: City of Rockville
Address: 2 West Montgomery Avenue
Request: Change to massing of annex and discussion of materials to be used
Jim Wasilak, Chief of Planning, presented. Changes from the last presentation include 1) increase Annex from two stories to three; 2) Refinement of design of both proposed additions and of the Annex;, and 3) Materials proposed have changed. Applicant proposes using zinc cladding material instead of corrugated metal. The rear stairs will be masonry. The light monitor on the roof will use “storefront” glazing and zinc. The Annex will primarily be brick, zinc and glass. This meets Standards #9 and 10; and Technical Guides #4 and 5.
Burt Hall, Director of Recreation and Parks Department, spoke briefly. The City made an offer on the adjacent Burbanks property, but the owner’s price was too high.
The architect, Ed Masek, spoke and introduced the project architect, Jeremy Klein. They showed a brief PowerPoint presentation to review the new proposal. Ed Masek reviewed their experience with the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) Easement Committee. They were generally favorable, although MHT directed the City to retain the existing rear loading dock doors instead of replace them with zinc panels. They also propose a free-standing monument sign at the corner of N. Washington and W. Montgomery Avenue to let everyone know this is now a police station.
HDC comments were favorable. Commissioner Moloney commended them on the design. He disagreed with MHT’s suggestion to retain the existing loading dock doors (1953). He had some concern with the stair towers of the Annex, that they increased the apparent massing of the building.
Commissioner McCool said the revision showed a better material choice.
Chair van Balgooy was in support of the free-standing sign. He noted that the 1953 loading dock doors post-date the Period of Significance. He would support the owner’s proposal to replace them with the zinc material.
Commissioner Powell agreed with the Chair.
Commissioner McCool noted that the applicant could be caught with two jurisdictions disagreeing. Mr. Masek said he’s willing to take the HDC comments back to MHT for their consideration.
B. 701 Grandin Avenue - HDC2009-00464
Applicant: Cameron Moffett
Address: 701 Grandin Avenue
Request: Recommend Variance for new garage setbacks
Staff Ziek made a short presentation showing that the back street, Mapleton, was originally an alley when this home was constructed. The applicant will be asking for a variance on the front-yard setback because the house has two front yards, at Grandin and Mapleton. The applicant’s presentation doesn’t meet the size and height standards of the City’s Code either, but illustrates the general design intention of the owner.
Mr. Moffitt spoke about need for a garage with storage space. He notes that the design is adjustable, and they can lower the roof and make the building smaller (22 x 22), but he would like to have the extra size and height.
Commissioner McCool is a neighbor, and noted the beautiful restoration job that the Moffitts have done on the house. She thought it would be a benefit to the neighborhood, to move the cars from the front yard, off of the public space (a small portion of Grandin Avenue is lawn).
The HDC was supportive of the design. Noted that the roof could be hipped to lower the height. Commissioner Moloney was supportive of the steeper pitch. All the commissioners supported the proposed rear location, shown as 3’ off the Mapleton property line, and 3’ off the neighbor’s property line, in the southwest corner of their property.
The HDC agreed to write a letter in support of the variance. Staff will draft a letter and send it to the commissioners for their review.
MOTION: Commissioner Tucker moved that the HDC will send a letter of support for the variance in terms of setback as shown on the site plan; that the overall style is acceptable; that the overall height is acceptable; that there have been no decisions made on the overall size, and the HDC reserves the option to disapprove any proposal brought before them, even if the Board of Appeals grants the variance. Commissioner Powell seconded.
VOTE: 5-0 Approved
V. Evaluation for Significance
A. HDC2009-00456 - 224 Elizabeth Avenue
Applicant: Iglesia De Dios (Pastor Rodriguez)
Address: 900 Westmore Avenue
Request: Demolition
Staff Ziek made a brief presentation on the proposed demolition. Commissioner Moloney is the project architect and he left the room for this Evaluation. The applicant has submitted a Demolition Permit, and under the new Zoning Ordinance, all Demolition Permits will be brought to the HDC for review as an Evaluation of Historic Significance. Staff noted that the building is considered a Contributing Resource in the Lincoln Park Conservation District, and was associated with the cultural history of Lincoln Park. In an evaluation for historic designation, however, the property must be considered on its own merits. Staff reviewed a brief history, noting that the property was sold by the original developer, Mr. H. L. England, twenty years after the original subdivision. The ground has poor drainage, and this is likely the only house built here. Staff included a title search showing the chronology of owners. Staff noted that the house was a vernacular mid-20th century structure that had been altered and lacked integrity.
Ms. Anita Summerour, of 715 Douglass Avenue, spoke of the early history of the building. It was originally a smaller building facing Frederick Avenue and was moved to this site. She doesn’t want to see a parking lot built here instead of a private home.
Pastor Rodriguez spoke about the Church’s plans to expand their after-school program, to provide food and programs for local children. They plan to remodel the existing church and will need additional parking.
Commissioner Tucker thought that the building might meet Criteria C (exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, political or historic heritage) and D (has character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics).
Commissioner Powell asked for more information, based on its association with significant local residents, including Robert L. Snowden (Snowden’s Funeral Home) and Rupert G. Curry (the first African-American to serve on the Rockville City Council). She noted that Mr. Snowden’s daughter, Irene, married Mr. Curry.
Commissioner McCool asked if there are other structures associated with Mr. Curry?
Commissioner Powell also noted that the Payton family still lives in Lincoln Park.
The HDC agreed to postpone a recommendation, pending further information.
MOTION: Commissioner Powell moved that the HDC delay their recommendation and requests further information. Commissioner McCool seconded.
VOTE: 4-0-0 Approved; Commissioner Moloney absent
VI. Discussion
A. The HDC met with the Planning Commission on April 15, 2009. Discussion went for 1-1/2 hours. It was an interesting and encouraging conversation.
B. The HDC needs more specific information about meeting with Rockville Environmental Commission. Staff will have more information in May, for a proposed June meeting.
VII. Adjourn The HDC adjourned at 9:57 pm.
The HDC adjourns by 10:00 PM unless extended by the Chair.