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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.hpc.20190327 1 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2019 Vice Chair Bob Blaich opened the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Commissioners in attendance: Nora Berko, Roger Moyer, Bob Blaich, Scott Kendrick, Jeffrey Halferty, Sheri Sanzone and Kara Thompson. Absent were Gretchen Greenwood and Richard Lai. Staff present: Nicole Henning, Deputy City Clerk Andrea Bryan, Assistant City Attorney Sarah Yoon, Historic Preservation Planner Jessica Garrow, Community Development Director Sara Ott, Interim City Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ms. Berko had a change to the minutes from March 13th regarding the discussion on page 4. She said she said “it’s a burden on the public to allow alley setbacks. MOTION: Mr. Moyer moved to approve the minutes of March 13th, Mr. Halferty seconded. All in favor, motion carried. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Mr. Blaich welcomed Kara Thompson to the HPC board. He had the opportunity to listen to her Q&A with council, so he knows a little something about her, but invited her to tell the board about herself. Ms. Thompson said she is an architect at Forum Phi and has been there for five years. She has presented a few projects to HPC in the past and has previously worked with Ms. Simon. She said the historic projects have been her favorite. Ms. Berko mentioned the Mesa Store Bakery and said it is fabulous. Mr. Blaich said he hasn’t been in since the finish, but it was a great project and they might invite HPC over for a viewing. Mr. Halferty entered the meeting. Mr. Blaich mentioned that Ms. Thompson will not be voting today since it is her first meeting but will be participating in the discussion. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. DISCLOSURES OF CONFLICT: None. PROJECT MONITORING: Ms. Yoon said she will meet with Mr. Kendrick after the meeting on one item. STAFF COMMENTS: Sara Ott Ms. Ott said she wanted to come say hi and introduce herself to HPC. She wants to show how she is organizing work inside the city operations during this transition period. She came to the City of Aspen two years ago as an assistant city manager. She previously served as a township manager. She has recently blueprinted out the organizational work plan and said this process hasn’t been used before at the city. She has five buckets and always asks if something fits into one of these buckets and if not, she asks detailed questions around the project or proposal. She’s looking at whether we are a smart customer focused government, if we are doing enough regarding community engagement, if it is contributing to the economic vitality and fiscal health as a city government. She said we just received our annual Moody’s rating report and we came in as an AA1 bond rating. That is impressive and is higher than 2/3 of the municipalities in the country. Our boards are very important and dive into a level 2 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2019 of detail that is much needed, and she appreciates the amount of time on this commission that you all have put in. Mr. Moyer asked if she is going to apply for the city manager’s position. Ms. Ott said she’s not sure yet. She wants to make sure it would be a good match for her and wants to hear what the community is looking for in a city manager. He asked if she will be involved in application process. She said she will be only if she doesn’t apply. Mr. Moyer asked about the new city hall and if she has had much input on this building. She said it’s not a new city hall, just new city offices and that this building will remain city hall moving forward. Most of the public process had occurred before she arrived, and she’s focused on having a solid plan for community involvement on Galena plaza. We really do think this should be rolled back out for some conversation and will deal more with the new council after they are sworn in. CERTIFICATES OF NO NEGATIVE EFFECT: None. PUBLIC NOTICE: Ms. Bryan said she has some of it and needs the mailing list. CALL UPS: None. NEW BUSINESS: 300 W. Main Sarah Yoon Ms. Yoon said this property is located in the mixed-use zone district and the resource is a log cabin from the 1940’s with a 1980’s addition. The current use is a single-family home and there are no proposed changes to that use. The applicant received HPC approval last May to reclad the addition, to alter the roof and received 40 square foot bonus to allow improvement to the exterior access and for the minor restoration work on the historic resource. They are seeking approval for relocation and an additional 110 sq. feet, so the bonus total would be 250 for this project. There are a number of large trees on this site. The front façade is facing north 3rd Street. The request would be to underpin the historic building to construct a basement underneath. The historic cabin is to remain as is. The applicant has provided a letter from a certified engineer stating that the building could withstand the underpinning process. The extra square footage is being requested for the basement and staff feels this request does not meet the criteria for awarding bonus square footage. Staff is in support of the relocation and underpinning request. The conditions are as follows: 1. Going into the financial assurances needed 2. The existing exposed foundation needs to be preserved 3. The applicant must coordinate with the parks department on protecting the large trees 4. Include the vesting language for the development of this approval APPLICANT PRESENTATION: Rich Pavcek and Nick Ketpura of Charles Cunniffe Architects Mr. Pavcek showed renderings from last year on screen. What we are here for is nothing above grade. We are looking at getting some storage space down below since we are taking on the underpinning, so that explains the request for the additional square footage. When it comes to the addition of the square footage, it’s a math problem. We are adding more exterior perimeter. We asked for 40 square feet last time, but we also asked for the minimum of what we needed and now we want to help save the resource from foundational work. Nothing changes above grade. 3 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2019 Mr. Halferty asked if they have considered any treatment for the foundation of the parts exposed. He asked what the preferred resolution would be. Mr. Pavcek said they’re keeping it exposed because it’s part of the historic nature. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. Ms. Thompson asked about the additional square footage. It’s true square footage, not just storage space. Mr. Pavcek said it’s true square footage. We can’t make it livable square footage. Ms. Yoon reminded the board of the memo page 11 and said currently, the existing floor area is over what we typically allow by 105 sq feet for that size lot. Ms. Sanzone asked if the depth of the crawl space is enough to do the underpinning work and Mr. Pavcek said he doesn’t know. Mr. Ketpura said it’s quite close. As we do the work, if we are going to go there anyway, we might as well make it worth their while. Ms. Sanzone said they should handle the decision as two separate issues. She supports the relocation and it makes sense to her. Mr. Kendrick agreed on the relocation. Mr. Halferty and Ms. Berko agreed with the relocation. Mr. Moyer said he is in agreement with the conditions for the relocation. Mr. Blaich agrees with this as well. Ms. Sanzone said the additional square footage is a really tough one. She understands the idea behind it but supports staff’s recommendation. She feels they should bring the project back to HPC. Ms. Berko it’s the integrity of the bonus that is in question and said the bonus should be for preservation. She is in support of staff’s recommendation. Mr. Halferty said he personally sees it differently. It’s a small lodge and the first time was well presented. There should also be criteria for functional space, so he is in support of the FAR bonus. Ms. Garrow clarified that the names on the drawings are confusing. This is a single-family residence, not a small lodge. Mr. Moyer said that bonuses are for exceptional projects, so he is in agreement with staff. Mr. Kendrick also agrees with staff. Ms. Thompson said she wasn’t here for first presentation but is in agreement with staff. MOTION: Ms. Berko moved to approve resolution #4 as stated, Mr. Kendrick seconded. Roll call vote: Mr. Kendrick, yes; Mr. Moyer, yes; Ms. Berko, yes; Mr. Halferty, no; Mr. Blaich, yes; Ms. Sanzone, yes. 5- 1, motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: 549 Race Alley Sarah Yoon 4 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2019 Ms. Yoon said this property is in the Fox Crossing Subdivision and was recently completed with the restored Victorian facing the trail. This is in the R6 zone district. The applicant is requesting approval for a minor development to modify landscaping changes. The historic house is on an elevated grade and there are steps which lead up to the historic porch. This has a very minimal design along with a restored vertical skirt board. She described the plan and areas on screen. She showed a proposed privacy fence towards the rear addition side and staff supports the location of this. The owner plans to extend the retaining wall in the adjacent lot. She said the application is appropriate and the additional questions can be sorted out via staff and monitor. Revisions are requested for the material choices. Staff asks that any grading being changed doesn’t cover any historic features. Staff also requests that the area leading up to porch is keeping the design minimal and in character of the miner’s cottage. Overall, staff is recommending approval. Mr. Moyer said this isn’t complicated and asked if it could have been handled with staff and monitor. Ms. Yoon said the initial proposal, had a beefy retaining wall system, so it was not at a staff level approval. Mr. Halferty asked for elaboration on the memo from Denis Murray. Ms. Yoon said the gate restricted access to the landing, so it required additional study. Ms. Sanzone asked if a drainage plan was provided in the initial application. Ms. Yoon said no, they are working with engineering currently and has a very complicated system. Ms. Sanzone said we should start requiring a drainage plan as part of the application moving forward. APPLICANT PRESENTATION: Jennifer Dolecki-Smith of Escape Garden Design She said she is happy with staff’s recommendation. The owners are very open to working with staff to do whatever is appropriate. They are fine with removing the gate, fine with changing the material to brick, etc. She said she is fine and feels very comfortable where this is. She feels that Ms. Yoon touched on everything. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. Ms. Sanzone said the design is really great. Thank you and thank the clients. Mr. Halferty said it’s a great design and he is a big fan of Ms. Smith’s work and would approve as presented. MOTION: Mr. Kendrick moved to approve resolution #5 as written, Mr. Halferty seconded. Roll call vote: Ms. Berko, yes; Mr. Halferty, yes; Mr. Moyer, yes; Mr. Kendrick, yes; Mr. Blaich, yes; Ms. Sanzone, yes. All in favor motion carried. Ms. Sanzone volunteered to be the monitor. Mr. Blaich thanked Ms. Yoon for doing all of this in Ms. Simon’s absence. MOTION: Mr. Kendrick motioned to adjourn, Ms. Berko seconded. All in favor, motion carried. 5:27 p.m. 5 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2019