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Historic District Commission
Minutes
Meeting No. 04-2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
| PRESENT | |
| Janet Hunt McCool, Chair | |
| Anita Neal Powell | Joe Hansen |
| Max van Balgooy | |
Staff present: Robin Ziek, Historic Preservation Planner; Jim Wasilak, Chief of Planning
I. Agenda Review Worksession - began at 7:00 pm. No decisions were made. The formal meeting began at 7:33 pm.
II. Committee/Organization / Organization Reports:
A. The Chair introduced Joe Hansen, the most recent appointee to the Commission, and then introduced other HDC members / staff.
B. Lincoln Park Historical Foundation (LPHF) - Anita Neal Powell reported on the LPHF celebration of 33rd Anniversary with a musical tribute “The Gospel Train through History” on February 26, 6-9 pm at Montgomery College. Awards were presented to several veterans in recognition of their public service. Upcoming events in June: “Juneteenth” on June 19th, to celebrate 19th century Emancipation; and the 119th Anniversary of Lincoln Park on June 26th. For more information on the LPHF or the Leroy E. Neal African American Research Center,
contact Lincolnparkhist@aol.com or call 301-251-2747.
C. Peerless Rockville - Peerless Rockville Executive Director Mary van Balgooy noted three upcoming events: April 17th: Walking Tour of East Rockville, starting at 10 am and meeting at S. Stonestreet Avenue and Baltimore Road; May 8th, Homes and Hospitality Tour from 1-5pm; and July 10th, come see the 1860s Baseball Game at Povich Field. For more information, see www.peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096.
D. Public Comments/Open Forum
E. HDC, Staff Comments: Staff Ziek noted the HDC participated in a Closed Meeting on February 25th to meet with legal counsel. Commissioner van Balgooy mentioned the Gazette article on the M&C’s decision not to provide legal support for the BOA decision on Victory Court. The Chair is also concerned, but has been assured by legal counsel that the HDC is not personally liable for any of their decisions. The Chair also noted that a citizen has requested that the HDC not provide a Courtesy Review to Victory Court this evening. The HDC will discuss this later, according to the published agenda for tonight’s meeting.
III. Consent Agenda: The Chair asked for a motion on the Consent Agenda. [N.B.: Commissioners van Balgooy was not present at the February meeting; Commissioner Hansen observed as a private citizen.]
MOTION: Commissioner Powell presented a motion to move approval of the Minutes for February 19, 2010. Chair Hunt-McCool seconded.
VOTE: Consent Agenda approved 2-0
IV. EVALUATION OF SIGNIFICANCE
A. HDC2010-00491
Applicant: Roland Maung
Address: 1203 Crawford Drive
Request: Evaluation of Significance for Demolition
Staff Ziek made a brief report, introducing Rosemary Prola, contract preservation staff who researched and wrote up the Evaluation. Staff did not recommend this for historic designation based on loss of architectural integrity.
Speakers:
Victor Sailor (1205 Crawford Drive) said he was not concerned with the demolition, but was concerned about future new construction in terms of the impacts on his property. Chair McCool acknowledged his concerns, but noted that the HDC review is narrowly focused on the potential historic significance of the subject property. Other divisions in the City will be able to answer his questions about any proposed new construction. Chief of Planning Wasilak suggested he call Inspection Services Division (240-314-8240) for building permit questions; and Department of Public Works (240-314-8500) for questions about sediment control
Christina Ginsberg (1204 Simmons) is the President of the Twinbrook Civic Association and she spoke against historic designation. She noted that the homes are very small, and that historic designation had been discussed in the broader context of developing the 2009 Twinbrook Neighborhood Plan. She suggested perhaps one or two homes might be designated if the owners came forward to nominate them.
HDC deliberation: Commissioner van Balgooy noted that the staff report presented an interesting history, but he agreed with the staff recommendation. He wasn’t convinced that the house did meet Criteria I-C or I-D either. He also noted that 25% of the materials that go into our landfills is house debris! He also noted that changes can and do occur at designated properties, and that even the use can change.
MOTION: Commissioner van Balgooy presented a motion to decline to recommend this property for historic designation. Commissioner Powell seconded.
VOTE: 4-0
V. COURTESY REVIEW
A. HDC2010-00496
Applicant: Victory Housing
Address: 209 Monroe Street
Request: Shared-use Path, Outlot A, Landscape Plan
The Chair talked about requirements that HDC agree to pull an item off the agenda. Commissioner van Balgooy asked about the request. Noreen Bryan (207 S. Washington Street) spoke as a representative of citizens who have been following this project. She noted they have asked for a meeting (April 8th) to set a schedule for all the upcoming reviews for this project, and she asked that this Courtesy Review be included. Commissioner van Balgooy asked about the purpose of the Courtesy Review, noting that no decisions are made. Staff Ziek reviewed past HDC policy regarding Courtesy Reviews, that they are conversations on upcoming projects, designed to provide an applicant with guidance from HDC on a potential application. Commissioner Hansen asked if the HDC could hear comments tonight, and just gather information? Commissioner van Balgooy noted that he supports the idea of the Stakeholders Meeting to help everyone participate in the process, but he wouldn’t mind talking about the project tonight in the context of a Courtesy Review. Chief of Planning Wasilak clarified that the Stakeholders Meeting was set to discuss procedural matters only.
Staff Ziek made a brief presentation on the issues for this Courtesy Review, as set out in the staff report: Outlot A as a tree conservation area, shared-use path along Fleet Street and Monroe Street, draft Landscape Plan that includes planting within the Historic District.
Commissioner van Balgooy asked the applicant to be consistent in terms of identifying the properties in the Historic District with Lot numbers, or House numbers. He also noted that the lot boundary lines were difficult to read in the drawings.
Questions about the Public Utilities Easement (PUE - 10’ from the property line); street lights (none proposed on this side of the street), street trees (all will be removed); Forester will propose replacing the street trees with trees planted on the house lots.
Victory Court attorney, Soo Lee Cho, noted that they are trying to balance the different policies of the City, with regard to the Bikeways Master Plan and the local Historic District. She notes that the applicant is not proposing the shared-use path, but is being so directed by City staff.
Discussion about the paving material – Ms. Lee-Cho noted that brick may not be the best material. She asked if they were on the right track with the draft Landscape Plan, and plant materials? The HDC felt that they didn’t really have enough information on this.
Mike Plitt, Project Manager, spoke up noting that a fire hydrant will have to be moved, that they had staked out the path at 10’ from the curb, and that the front yards will have to be re-graded.
Ms. Bryan noted that the citizens felt that they hadn’t received materials, and that even posting on the web site isn’t sufficient public notice or access. She also noted that 150 Maryland Avenue is a small lot, and the property needs more width.
The Assistant City Forester messaged in comments to Chief of Planning Wasilak, that the street trees could perhaps be replaced with ornamentals.
Transportation Planner Rebecca Torma attended the meeting to speak about the shared-use path. She noted they were proposing 8’ of concrete paving with a 2’ grass strip between the path and Fleet Street. The path at Maryland Avenue would be 5’ paving and 3’ grass strip. The shared-use path is designed for recreational bikers, children, etc. Commissioner van Balgooy said that serious bicyclists prefer to use the street. Staff Torma stated that the Zoning Ordinance recommends 7’ tree-lawn with a 6’ wide sidewalk. This is not recommended here because of limited space. The reduced requirements on Maryland Avenue have been devised so that the applicant will not have to move utility poles.
Chair Hunt-McCool asked by the Fleet Street shared-use path should be wider than that on Maryland Avenue? Staff Torma replied that the City responds to each case, trying to achieve the recommendations of the Master Plans.
Commissioner van Balgooy noted that he is not convinced about the community benefits with the wider path along Fleet Street, but he did not mind the proposed concrete surface. He asked for better exhibits for a Certificate of Approval application.
The Chair also had reservations about the proposed width on Fleet Street, noting that what’s good enough for Maryland Avenue should also be good enough for Fleet Street.
Regarding adjusting lots lines for Lots 1 and 3 and Outlots A and B, Commissioner van Balgooy thought there might be merit is these adjustments, as he did not like the City Forester’s recommendations for Outlot A (fencing it off from Lot 1, and evergreen plantings). He asked if they could see this staked out for their next review? The Chair also questioned the benefits of a Conservation Easement on Outlot A to an owner of Lot 1, if Outlot A is included in this property.
VI. Discussion
A. One opening on the HDC: Please volunteer. Contact Planning at 240-314-8230 for more information.
B. County Tax Credit Applications due April 1 (postmarked). County tax credit of 10% of exterior maintenance costs is provided on a calendar year.
C. Heritage Area Analysis in DRAFT Culture and Entertainment Plan. Commissioner van Balgooy noted that the recommendation for the City to go forward with this should be more clearly and strongly stated in the beginning. Also, the benefits to the City that have been identified and are stated at the end of this chapter should be restated or moved to the beginning of the chapter or to a summary because that is what the community will need to see right away.
D. Budget – Chief of Planning Wasilak noted that there are many cuts this year, and the budget is “lean.”
The Chair asked staff to respond to Ms. Corbey’s request that they reconsider the requirement to reuse the large 2/2 windows at their house (re: HDC2010-00489). The HDC agreed that, when the Corbey’s come back with their rear deck, the commission could consider a revised proposal for these large 2/2 windows at that time.
The HDC adjourned at 9:30 pm.