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Historic District Commission
Minutes
Meeting No. 01-2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
| PRESENT | |
| Janet Hunt McCool, Chair | |
| Craig Moloney | Anita Neal Powell |
Staff present: Robin Ziek, Historic Preservation Planner; Jim Wasilak, Chief of Planning; Cindy Kebba, Long-Range Planner
I. Agenda Review Worksession - began at 7:00 pm. No decisions were made.
II. Committee/Organization / Organization Reports: The formal meeting began at 7:33 pm. Chair McCool introduced HDC members and staff. There were no committee reports. Staff noted two openings on the HDC. Rockville residents should contact the City Clerk, or historic preservation staff at 240-314-8230 for more information.
III. Consent Agenda: The Chair asked for a motion on the Consent Agenda.
MOTION: Commissioner Moloney presented a motion to move HDC2010-00492 (Handicapped Ramp at 119 forest Avenue) to the Consent Agenda, which also includes the Minutes for December 17, 2009. Commissioner Powell seconded.
VOTE: Consent Agenda approved 3-0 (Commissioner van Balgooy absent)
IV. Certificate of Approval
The Chair noted that Item A (HDC2010-00489, for rear/side addition at 108 N. Adams Street) has been postponed because the application was incomplete. It will be on the February agenda.
A. HDC2009-00455
Applicant: City of Rockville
Address: 2 W. Montgomery Avenue
Request: Rehab/Additions to Post Office; new construction
Staff Cindy Kebba summarized the application. There have been two Courtesy Reviews with the HDC (9/18/08, 4/16/09). Today the applicant is asking for a Certificate of Approval for small additions/alterations to the Old Post Office and the construction of a new annex building on the same property to the west of the existing rear parking lot. The City will use the two buildings on this site for the Police Department. The applicant has completed all required reviews with the Maryland Historical Trust and is complying with all of its requirements, including the requirement to retain the existing rear delivery doors on the post office building. The architect has lowered the elevator tower of the annex by approximately 16” as well. Staff reviewed the landscape plan as well and noted that no trees will be removed from the site.
Commissioner Moloney asked about the materials around the windows, which will be metal infill using a storefront system. He also asked about the height of the parapet roof on the annex.
MOTION: Commissioner Moloney presented a motion to approve HDC2009-00455, as per the staff report. Commissioner Powell seconded.
VOTE: Approved 3-0 (Commissioner van Balgooy absent)
Recreation and Parks Director Burt Hall noted that the contract should be awarded in the summer 2010, and thanked the HDC.
B. HDC2010-00490
Applicant: Christopher Brown
Address: 22 Baltimore Road
Request: Retroactive approval for rear landscape/patio reconfiguration
Staff Ziek presented a brief review of this retroactive application. The applicant is a recent purchaser of the property, which is guided by an Approved Site Plan that was reviewed in conjunction with the redevelopment of the adjacent property to the north of Wire Hardware. In the process of addressing longstanding drainage issues on the property, the applicant removed approved landscape hardscape and plant materials and installed a modified design.
Staff has reviewed these alterations with the City Forester and development review staff. The applicant will be required to file for a Minor Amendment to the Approved Site Plan. The City Forester provided guidance on design requirements for the existing tree at the rear. If the owner provides a tree circle that measures at least 8’ x 8’, the Approved Forest Plan will not have to be amended. The owner has agreed to comply with this.
In terms of the alterations to the rear at Wire Hardware, staff notes that this is an urban landscape and that a rear area that is mostly paved instead of having a narrower concrete walk has no effect on the historic significance of the site.
MOTION: Commissioner Moloney presented a motion to move approval of HDC2009-00455, as per the staff modifications to the staff report presented at the meeting. Commissioner Powell seconded.
VOTE: Approved 3-0 (Commissioner van Balgooy absent)
V. Discussion
Chief of Planning, Jim Wasilak, provided an update on the proposed FY11 Budget. Further cuts are expected. CPDS will be hiring temporary help in FY10 to assist with HP matters.
A proposed Work Plan for FY11 was provided to the HDC.
The yearly joint training with Gaithersburg and Montgomery County is scheduled for February 11th at Glenview Mansion, 6:30 – 9 pm. The topic is “Economic Hardship.”
Staff presented a brief update on Victory Housing. The Board of Appeals approved the proposal with design modifications that include lowering the roof height. The HDC will review the Preliminary Plan of Subdivision and the Site Plan for impacts to the Rockville Heights Historic District. They will be using a grasscrete product for emergency vehicle access.
The HDC adjourned at 8:40 pm.