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Historic District Commission
Minutes
Meeting No. 11-2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
| PRESENT | |
| Janet Hunt McCool, Chair | |
| Craig Moloney | Max van Balgooy |
Staff present: Robin Ziek, Historic Preservation Planner; Jim Wasilak, Chief of Planning
I. Agenda Review Worksession - began at 7:00 pm. The HDC and staff reviewed the agenda, and no decisions were made.
II. Committee/Organization / Organization Reports: The formal meeting began at 7:33 pm. Chair McCool introduced HDC members and staff.
Peerless Rockville monthly report was presented by their Executive Director, Mary van Balgooy. They have a new tenant for Frieda’s Cottage. They have replaced the original metal roof on Montrose Schoolhouse, with a grant from the Maryland Historical Trust. Upcoming events: New Year’s Day Brunch from 11 am to 2 pm at Glenview Mansion, to mark the start of the 150th anniversary of the City of Rockville. Montgomery County History Conference will be held at Montgomery College on Saturday January 23, from 8:30 am to 4 pm, with keynote speaker, Dr. Ira Berlin, on slavery in Maryland. Now for sale: new Chestnut Lodge commemorative ornament with the Lodge, Frieda’s Cottage and the Little Lodge. For more information, see www.peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096.
Staff noted there are two openings on the HDC for new commissioners. Rockville residents are encouraged to participate on any number of commissions, including the HDC. The HDC has a subject area requirement, but this is broad, including real estate, law, history, archaeology, architecture, art history, etc. Please call Planning at 240-314-8230 for more information, or find an application on line and send it to the City Clerk’s office.
III. Consent Agenda: The Chair asked for a motion on the Consent Agenda.
MOTION: Commissioner van Balgooy made a motion to approve HDC minutes forNovember 19, 2009 as written. Commissioner Moloney seconded.
VOTE: 3-0 approved (Commissioner Powell absent)
IV. Certificate of Approval
A. HDC2010-00483
Applicant: Robert and Ann Domorad [The McDonald Group, Agent]
Address: 117 West Montgomery Avenue
Request: New garage, new workshop/storage building, rear door hood, rear skylights
Staff presented a summary of the application with a PowerPoint presentation. The Lowry House is an 1888 late Victorian “villa” in the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District, also listed in the National Register. The applicant proposes several items in the rear and rear yard, including the construction of a new garage, and a small workshop building. These two structures meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, with respect to height, size, and setbacks. They will be north of the existing fence, where there is a concrete driveway. Preservation of the large Hickory tree adjacent to the rear fence is of great importance, and the City Forester has been out to the site and made several recommendations.
Questions about method of construction include the point footers and gutters. Frank McDonald, the owners’ contractor, explained there will be four 1’ x 1’ footers on each side of each building. The framing will be suspended at grade and this will minimize excavation in the area of the tree roots. The gutters are recommended by the City Forester and the water can be directed to flow to the street.
A question about paving in the area between the garage and new workshop was answered by the owner - the existing concrete driveway extends this far, to the back gate. Additional paving is therefore required for the new workshop only. Note that Circle 19 is the amended site plan, with the proposed rear path.
Commissioner van Balgooy asked about the gable window in the garage? Mrs. Domorad noted that the house had both diamond- and round-shaped windows, with the diamond shape being the plainer of the two.
Commissioner Moloney asked about several construction details, including concerning the rake boards, the dimensions of the brackets, use of cedar shingles in the gable ends. These were answered by Mr. McDonald. The owners had thought to leave the cedar shingles unpainted, but the HDC noted that it would be more compatible with the house to paint the structure. Questions about the choice of windows led to the HDC agreeing on some flexibility but not vinyl windows.
Mr. Domorad asked for advice concerning the color of the new roofs, but the HDC said that is their choice, although it might be best to match the slate gray of the house roof. Questions to clarify the selection of garage doors arose because of lack of sufficient product data.
Questions about the proposed replacement door hood revealed that the HDC did not have enough information to approve this aspect of the project. The owner said that this was not their main concern, and they could come back to the HDC with further information about this, while they were moving forward on the outbuildings.
MOTION: Commissioner van Balgooy made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Moloney, to approve the application subject to the following Conditions:
1) The proposed rear path will be laid with mulch or flagstones on grade, to avoid damage to the roots of the existing Hickory Tree.
2) Half-round gutters will be installed on the garage and workshop buildings, and the water shall be directed to the street, to avoid erosion at the tree roots.
3) The new garage and new workshop buildings will be sided with wood, or with smooth-finished HardiPlank (or approved equal). Decorative cedar shingles may be used in the gable ends. The buildings will be painted, in color choice of the owner.
4) Detailed information on the proposed windows for the new garage and shed will be provided to staff and may be approved by staff. Windows may be wood or wood composite, thermally glazed or single pane, will be 4/1 as shown on concept drawings, and will be true divided light or simulated true divided light; except that vinyl windows may not be approved.
5) The new garage and workshop doors are approved in concept as wood or metal (painted as noted in Condition 3); but applicant must provide staff with further detailed drawings, and this may be then approved by staff.
6) Recommendations of the City Forester will be adhered to:
a) Clean cut all roots encountered when digging the footings for the garage.
b) Install gutter on the trees side of the garage to direct water to the driveway so it doesn't sheet flow onto the tree.
c) Clean cut all roots encountered when digging the footings for the shed.
d) Do not excavate soil for a path between the driveway and rear of the house. Placement on grade of flagstones would be ok.
e) Any branches requiring removal for installation of the garage should be pruned in accordance with ANSI pruning standards and done by a MD Licensed Tree Expert as required by the MD Roadside Tree Law.
7) The applicant must return to the HDC with more detailed drawings for the rear door hood, and this request by the applicant is not approved at this time.
VOTE: 3-0 approved
B. HDC2010-00486 Pump House Rehabilitation
Applicant: City of Rockville [Betsy Thompson, Agent]
Address: 401 S. Horners Lane
Request: Restore original window openings, replace non-original doors, landscape alterations
Staff presented a summary of the application with a PowerPoint presentation. The HDC had seen the entire project as a Courtesy Review, but will now only review the exterior changes for a Certificate of Approval.
Chair McCool expressed concern about removal of all the mature shrubs and trees adjacent to the building. Ms. Thompson noted that a perimeter drain will be installed to help alleviate “rising damp” in the masonry. There is no basement.
The Commission agreed that the proposed exterior lighting fixture was not compatible with the Victorian-style architecture.
Questions about the repointing aspect of the project, including Commissioner van Balgooy’s concern that they also match the texture of the original mortar, were responded to by project architect, Michael Proffitt. He noted that the exterior had been covered with cement plaster and paint, which have contributed to the damage because the exterior can’t “breathe.” He also noted that the interior brick is relatively hard so that they have a greater range to work in to assure that the mortar will be “softer” than the brick.
He also described that they will use the cupola for passive ventilation and are proposing the louvered vent for that purpose. They propose painted metal to reduce maintenance and allow the City to focus on painting existing wood soffits and trim. Commissioner van Balgooy expressed some concern about the dimension of the proposed louvered vent, as the original was undoubtedly of wood with a more substantial dimension.
The HDC discussed the proposed doors and windows. The proposed aluminum-clad pre-finished wood windows (“TDL”) are suitable, if true-divided light or simulated TDL. Panelized door design seems to be a better direction than the use of modern "flush" doors. The Commissioners agreed they didn’t have enough information to approve the front door design. The architect said that he can provide shop drawings for the front door.
Ms. Thompson noted that the schedule required sending out the project to bid now. The HDC felt that the City could proceed with this, and they could all work out the details after a contractor had been selected.
MOTION: Commissioner van Balgooy made a motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Moloney, to approve the application subject to the following Conditions:
1) Differentiate between the old and newly installed lintels.
2) Submit for HDC approval a different light fixture, to be compatible with Victorian date of building and reflect residential neighborhood by controlling glare.
3) Provide HDC with written specifications for the repointing mortar to confirm that new mortar will be softer than the brick.
4) Redesign exterior signage to provide free-standing sign (nothing installed on the masonry); building number in transom will be reviewed by HDC as part of resubmission of front door design.
5) Secondary doors may have glazed panel, but may not be flush design; may be approved by staff.
6) Submit revised design for front door to HDC with adequate detail for evaluation.
7) Submit sample of cupola louvers for HDC review.
VOTE: 3-0 approved
V. Discussion
The HDC asked staff for an update on the proposed Budget for FY11. Chief of Planning, Jim Wasilak, replied that the funding for staff remains at .8; there is funding to send one person to the National Trust Conference; there is funding for HDC training at the State Preservation Conference, and a proposed add-in for $5,000 to join the Montgomery County Heritage Area.
Commissioner van Balgooy noted that State cuts were severe for historic preservation. Staff noted that this is a good time to position the City for Heritage Area funds when they come back on line.
The commission asked if there is any help for staff in preparing HDC Minutes? Chief Wasilak stated that they are looking into this.
The HDC adjourned at 9:35 pm.
The Chair postponed further discussion as the meeting was running late. The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 pm.