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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-09-16 APPROVED 08-23-16Design Review Subcommittee of the Elgin Heritage Commission August 9, 2016 Minutes The meeting of the Design Review Subcommittee was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (Located on the 2nd floor of City Hall) by Chairman Wiedmeyer. MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Diamond, Rebecca Hunter, Bill Ristow, John Roberson, Dennis Roxworthy, Scott Savel, and John Wiedmeyer MEMBERS ABSENT: None CITY STAFF PRESENT: Christen Sundquist, Historic Preservation; and Cindy Walden, DRSC Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion made by Committee Member Hunter to approve the minutes of July 12, 2016, as amended (1- commission asked to have items un- tabled noted by address, 2- replacement of staff report for 323 Wellington). The motion was seconded by Committee Member Ristow. The motion passed unanimously. RECOGNIZE OTHER PERSONS PRESENT: None PROPERTIES ON AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION: Old Business 608 E Chicago St— Installation of metal handrails at south elevation walkway New Business 117 Hinsdell PI — Installation of 6' -0" Privacy fence at side yard 118 Hinsdell PI — Demolition of existing rear, egress stairs and construction of new egress stairs ITEMS TABLED: 118 Hinsdell PI, due to non - representation. Design Review Subcommittee — August 9, 2016 Page 2of5 OLD BUSINESS: Motion made by Committee Member Roxworthy to un -table items E1 (608 E Chicago St) for discussion (representatives for the properties in attendance for tonight's meeting). The motion was seconded by Committee Member Hunter. The motion passed unanimously. 608 E Chicago St — Installation of metal handrails at south elevation walkway This item was tabled at the July 26, 2016 DRSC meeting due to lack of owner representation. The property owner has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness application to install a guardrail and handrail at service walk and stairs on the south elevation. The guardrail will be of similar design as the fence found at the southwest corner of the property. Per code, the guardrail and handrail height must be 36 inches in height, with a maximum of 4 inch spacing at the vertical balusters and the bottom rail. The guardrail and handrail shall be painted black to minimize detraction from the overall building. To note, the concrete service walk will be reconstructed to match the existing in height, material and footprint with an exception of the removal of the stepped ledge. This request was approved by staff. Elgin Design Guideline Manual Specifications: Porch Columns and Railing 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 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. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness as submitted. s * *�s Aubrey Abernathy (property representative) was present for tonight's COA discussion: Attempting to use elements from rear stoop fencing details (stoop located east of hosue), which has some square and ball elements. Will probably be made of aluminum, not wrought iron due to cost. Commission recommends the fence be bolted to the concrete and not anchored into the concrete. Design Review Subcommittee — August 9, 2016 Page 3 of 5 Curled handle proposed at bottom of steps should be eliminated. Motion made by Committee Member Savel to approve the COA with he following requirement: no decorative handle at the end of the fence. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Diamond. The motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: 117 Hinsdell PI — Installation of 6' -0" Privacy fence at side yard The applicant has submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a new privacy fence on the north side of the property. The applicant is proposing to install a 6' -0" privacy fence in the rear and side yard (north). The applicant indicated that they would like to install a 6' -0" privacy fence at the north side yard up to the front of the building as they have experienced damage on their home from play equipment, such as soccer balls, hitting their home from the adjacent apartment building. To note, the adjacent apartment building recently removed at 42 inch high fence at this proposed location. Per the Historic District Guidelines, privacy fences shall be located at the rear corner of the building. If a fence is located past this point in a side yard, then it shall be 50% open with a maximum height of 42 inches. Elgin Design Guideline Manual Specifications: Fences A. Should be proportionate to the house and the design should be compatible with the character of the building and district. B. Should be painted white or a trim color related to the house, never left to weather or given a stain finish. C. Of cast iron or other material of original design should be preserved. D. Of cast iron may be added to buildings constructed in the late 191h and early 20th century. Cast iron fences are generally not appropriate for dwellings built after 1920. E. If placed along common property lines should not be placed against another fence - double line fencing is not permitted. F. Should have posts that are set a minimum of 30 inches below grade and no more than eight feet apart. G. If wood, be of cedar, redwood or pressure treated pine, cypress or other rot resistant wood. H. That has a decorative gate or arbors must be submitted with a drawing complete with dimensions. Design Review Subcommittee — August 9, 2016 Page 4 of 5 Fences in Front Yards A. Should be no higher than 36 inches with the posts being slightly higher and having caps B. Should have pickets no wider than four inches with spacing between boards a minimum of one inch up to the width of the board depending on the design of the fence. C. If applicable to the layout, should have a minimum of corner posts end posts and gate posts which are slightly taller than the fence and five to ten inches thick with a cap and finial. Line posts can be visible and decorative to compliment the main posts or be hidden behind the picket design. Fences which cross a driveway or walkway should have gate posts. Gates should be designed to swing onto the private walkway or driveway, not onto the public sidewalk. Fences in Rear Yards A. Built for privacy should not extend beyond the rear yard beginning at the back corner of the house. B. Built for privacy should have a minimum of gate post, corner post, and end posts which are five to ten inches wide and taller than the pickets. C. Can be constructed in the same low fence design found in the front yard D. Of wood boards or planks for privacy should be located in rear yards and be no taller than six feet. Boards should be no more than six inches wide. E. Privacy fences of flat boards with flat tops in a single row are most appropriate for the historic districts. Vertical boards topped with lattice or picket are also appropriate as privacy fences. Staff Recommendation: Staff cannot recommend approval of the application as submitted, since the height of the fence in the side yard does not meet the height requirements of the Elgin Design Guideline Manual for Landmarks and Historic Districts. If the height of the fence is approved as proposed, staff recommends that the Design Review Subcommittee recommend the following. 1. The fencing shall be a maximum of 6' -0" high. 2. The fencing shall be painted to match the trim of the house. The fence shall be of cedar, redwood or pressure treated pine, cypress or other rot resistant wood. Silvia Baeza (owner) was present for tonight's COA discussion: Fence along the northern side of the property is approximately 2.4' from lot line to the applicant's house structure. Commission would need to approved the 6' fence from length of the house, since the guidelines allow for 6' high fence from the rear foundation line to the rear property line. Motion made by Committee Member Roxworthy to approve with staff comments. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Roberson. The motion passed unanimously. Design Review Subcommittee — August 9, 2016 Page 5 of 5 118 Hinsdell PI — Demolition of existing rear, egress stairs and construction of new egress stairs Applicant(s) were unable to attend tonight's meeting and requested staff to have the item tabled. Motion made by Committee Member Roberson to TABLE the COA as requested by applicant. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Hunter. The motion passed unanimously. ADDITIONAL STAFF COMMENTS: 1) General discussion of presentation by the Parks & Recreation regarding possible re -use of the former Elgin Mental Health laundry building. 2) October 1st— Elgin Historic Museum will host a presentation regarding 302 W Chicago St. 3) Elgin Heritage Commission received an award from the National Alliance of Historic Preservation Commissions for Best Practices — Use of Technology category for the Elgin Heritage Plaque program that is now accessible at www.historicelgin.com. Both Christen Sundquist (staff) and John Wiedmeyer (Chairman) attended the award ceremony event in Mobile, Alabama, along with their spouses. Several workshops and tours completed the event. CORRESPONDENCE: None ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn was made by Committee Member Roberson. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Ristow. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting of the Design Review Subcommittee was adjourned at 6:48 p.m. itted, e Cindy A. WaldVn Approved: Design Review Subcommittee Secretary August 23, 2016