HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-15 - approved 10-13-15Design Review Subcommittee
of the Elgin Heritage Commission
September 8, 2015
Minutes
The meeting of the Design Review Subcommittee was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the
Community Development Conference Room (Located on the 11t floor of City Hall) by Chairman
Wiedmeyer.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rebecca Hunter, John Roberson, Dennis Roxworthy, Scott Savel, and John Wiedmeyer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Bill Ristow
CITY STAFF PRESENT:
Christen Sundquist, Historic Preservation; and Cindy Walden, DRSC Secretary
RECOGNIZE OTHER PERSONS PRESENT:
Dan Miller
PROPERTIES ON AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION:
Old Business
None
New Business
432 Sherman Avenue — Replacement of front stoop
803 N Spring Street — Roof replacement with synthetic material
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
No minutes were presented for approval.
ITEMS TABLED:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
432 Sherman Avenue — Replacement of front stoop
The applicant has submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) to
remove the existing primary entrance front concrete stoop and to replace it with a wood stoop.
Staff reviewed and provided the Design Guidelines to the applicant. The proposed stoop will
have 5 stairs and a 4' by 5.5' landing.
Design Review Subcommittee — September 8, 2015
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Staff has also provided a city recommended drawing which shows additional recommended
details for the porch.
Elgin Design Guideline Manual Specifications:
Porch Columns and railings
A. should be preserved and maintained. Where repair is required, use materials to match the
original in dimensions and detailing.
B. should be rebuilt in historic designs if the original columns and railings have been
removed or replaced.
C. should have new balusters for the railing, if required. Porch balusters (also called spindles)
should be appropriate for the building's style and period. The height of the railing should
be in line with the window sill level, if present, and no greater than 30 inches in height.
Porch Stairs and Steps
A. should be retained in their original location and configuration, if original to the property.
Wood and concrete steps should be repaired with materials to match the original.
B. should be replaced with wood rather than brick or concrete, if the porch floor is made of
wood.
C. should have their tread constructed in either 5/4x12 or 2x12 lumber. The ends of the
treads should be bull -nosed and overhang the riser by no less than 1 inch.
D. should have newel posts and balusters, treads and risers, to match original porch
construction.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness as submitted and with the
following conditions:
1. The handrail shall have a 2x4 top rail with chamfered edges, 3/" cove, 2x2 square
balusters, with a maximum of 3" on center. That the bottom rail is a 2x4 with chamfered
edges, installed 2" AFF.
2. That the porch balustrade height is 30 ".
3. That the stair treads shall be constructed in 5/4 x 12 (recommended) or 2x12 lumber
(composite material is also acceptable), that the treads overhang the risers and stringer
by 1" with bull -nose on three sides, and that the stair risers shall be a maximum of 7 YV in
height.
4. That the newel posts shall be 6x6 and have a pyramid cap.
5. That the newel posts are added at the top of the stairs and on the bottom stair tread.
6. The porch flooring shall be 10 tongue and groove and installed perpendicular to the
house. Douglas fir, pressure treated wood or composite material (recommended) is
acceptable.
7. All other details to match staff drawing.
8. All front porch stoop details shall be primed and painted.
Maria Castillo (owner) and David Castillo (owner's son) were present for tonight's COA
discussion:
Wood staircase as presented was deemed to be appropriate for this simple style house.
Design Review Subcommittee — September 8, 20] 5
Page 3 of 6
Motion made by Committee Member Roxworthy to approve the COA with staff recommendations.
The motion was seconded by Committee Member Hunter.
The motion passed unanimously.
803 N Spring Street — Roof replacement with synthetic material
The applicant has submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) to
request approval for the installation of a synthetic slate tile roof material. The applicant is also
seeking to remove one of her chimneys.
The current roof has cedar shingles that were installed in 1993. The applicant indicated that
they no longer want cedar shingles due to several expensive maintenance and roof repairs. The
applicant has also indicated that they do not want to install architectural asphalt shingles.
The slate tile material is manufactured using synthetic materials with a design, color and
texture to mimic slate. The applicant will use two different shapes on the roof. The majority of
the shingles will be full square and select areas, to provide accent and detail, will be in a fan
gate shape.
The applicant also noted that if there is any deteriorated wood at the wood cap beneath the
cresting of the tower roof it will be replaced with wood that is the same profile and size as the
existing wood cap.
The applicant stated that copper flashing will be installed, as well as copper -penny aluminum
half -round gutters.
It should be noted that the Design Review Subcommittee has approved a synthetic slate
material at 819 N. Grove Avenue (new construction) at the DRSC meeting on October 14, 2014.
The applicant is also seeking approval to remove the smaller chimney on the home as it is no
longer in use and is leaking into the second floor room directly below the chimney. The
applicant indicated that they have had several roofers and chimney contractors assess the
chimney and re- tuckpoint, re -flash and cap the chimney, however, the area still leaks. The
larger chimney will remain.
Elgin Design Guideline Manual Specifications:
Roofs
A. Should be retained in their original shape and pitch, with original features (such as
cresting, chimneys, finials, cupolas, etc.), and, if possible, with original roof materials.
B. Should be re- roofed with substitute materials such as asphalt or fiberglass shingles if the
original materials are no longer present or if the retention of the original roof material is
not economically feasible.
C. Should be in appropriate colors such as dark grey, black, brown or shades of dark red;
red or green may also be appropriate for Craftsman /Bungalow period dwellings for new
asphalt or fiberglass shingled roofs.
Design Review Subcommittee — September 8, 2015
Page 4 of 6
D. Should have sawn cedar shingles added only after a complete tear -off of the existing
roof materials is completed. This is necessary to provide adequate ventilation and
proper drying of the roof during wet conditions.
E. Should have soldered metal panels added as the surface material, if the roof is flat. If
not readily visible, rolled composition or EPDM (rolled rubber) roofing materials are
acceptable.
F. Should have proper water -tight flashing at junctions between roofs and walls, around
chimneys, skylights, vent pipes, and in valleys and hips where two planes of a roof meet.
Metal flashing should be used instead of the application of caulking material or
bituminous coating, which can deteriorate due to weathering and allow moisture
damage.
G. Should not have new dormers, roof decks, balconies or other additions introduced on
fronts of dwellings. These types of additions may be added on the rear or sides of
dwellings where not readily visible.
H. Should not have split cedar shakes, in most cases.
Chimneys
A. Should be rebuilt to match the original design if rebuilding is required.
B. Should be cleaned and repointed in accordance with masonry guidelines to match the
original in materials, colors, shape, and brick pattern. Chimneys that have been
extensively repointed resulting in mismatched colors and textures may be painted in
brick colors such as dark red or brown.
C. Should have clay, slate, or stone caps. Metal caps may be acceptable if they are
minimally visible.
D. Should have proper flashing at the point where they meet the roof.
1. Metal flashing should be used instead of the application of caulking material or
bituminous coating, which can deteriorate due to weathering and allow moisture
damage
2. Metal flashing around a chimney should consist of both the base flashing and the
counter (cap) flashing that should overlap the base by at least 4 inches
3. Flashing should be step flashing, not box flashing
E. Should have corbelling or minimal detailing if appropriate
F. Should be constructed properly, using red brick in traditional dimensions, if applicable.
G. Should involve tie rods incorporating decorative designs appropriate to the house, if
applicable.
H. Should not be removed or altered if original
I. Should not be covered with stucco or other materials.
Gutters and Downspouts
A. Should be repaired rather than replaced if possible
B. Should be located away from significant architectural features on the front of the
building
C. Should provide proper drainage through use of downspouts and splash blocks to avoid
water damage to the building. Round downspouts are more appropriate than
rectangular forms; however, rectangular forms are also acceptable
Design Review Subcommittee — September 8, 2015
Page 5 of 6
D. Should be designed to channel the water as far away from the dwelling as possible.
Downspouts should extend at least 4 to 6 feet, or utilize a splash block.
E. Should be half -round rather than "K" or ogee, is of hang -on type. Ogee is permissible if
fascia is vertical.
F. Should have straps nailed under, not on top, of roofing material. Metal flashing should
also be properly installed so as not to conceal any crown molding in the roof eaves.
G. Should not result in the removal of existing eave features.
H. Should be sized proportionate to the building. Gutters and downspouts should not
exceed 6 ".
Staff Recommendation:
In reviewing the synthetic slate material option provided, staff feels that the slate tile is in
keeping with the overall character of architecture within the historic district — based on existing
instances of slate in the neighborhood.
Staff recommends approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness as submitted and with the
following conditions:
1. Flashing shall be metal and shall be stepped. Box flashing is inappropriate in the historic
districts.
2. That only deteriorated elements of the tower wood cap shall be replaced. The
replacement wood shall match in size, and detail and shall be primed and painted.
3. The existing metal cresting shall be reinstalled if removed during work.
In reviewing the request to remove the smaller chimney, staff feels that the removal of this
chimney will not cause a significant impact to the design or integrity of the home as the smaller
chimney is not a substantial feature and only secondary to the larger, more ornately detailed
chimney.
Jennifer Van Duyn (owner) was present for tonight's COA discussion:
Chimney: Homeowner indicated the chimney to be removed is not the main chimney and is a
non - functioning chimney. Several attempts to stop water damage around the chimney has
been completed by various contractors. Bricks have been sealed, flashing installed, cap
installed, tuck pointing has been done; but nothing seems to solve the water from coming in.
Interior work had also been required with the attempts to repair this chimney.
Commissioners noted on other projects they have either seen or heard about regarding
chimney leakage has been the result of the bricks "wicking the water'. The bricks absorb the
water and gravity then continues to pull the water down into the house.
Motion #1 made by Committee Member Roxworthy to approve as removal of the
nonfunctioning (secondary) chimney.
The motion was seconded by Committee Member Roberson.
The motion passed unanimously.
Design Review Subcommittee — September 8, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Roofing material: Owner indicated the cedar shake roof was installed just over 20 years ago.
Typical life expectancy of wood cedar shake materials is 30 -40 years. Part of the roof is failing
greatly and must be replaced.
Although the guidelines will allow the homeowner to install architectural style shingles, owner
stated that style of shingles would take away from the house appearance.
Owner provided commissioners photos of other similar style houses (and "fancy" style houses)
which had the proposed synthetic roofing material installed.
Commissioners noted a house in Elgin which has both slate and 3 -tab roofing (located outside
of the historic districts). To allow this house to be part cedar shake and part architectural
shingles would not be appropriate.
Motion #2 made by Committee Member Roberson to approve with staff recommendations for
synthetic roofing materials to be installed as proposed homeowner (majority of the shingles to
be full square and fan gate in select areas, to provide accent and detail).
The motion was seconded by Committee Member Hunter.
The motion passed unanimously.
ADDITIONAL STAFF COMMENTS:
CORRESPONDENCE:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn was made by Committee Member Savel.
The motion was seconded by Committee Member Roxworthy.
The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting of the Design Review Subcommittee was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Hy submitted,
Cindy A. MrWen
Design Review Subcommittee Secretary
Approved:
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