HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.hpc.20140312 ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2014
Jim DeFrancia called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Commissioners in
attendance were Sallie Golden, Willis Pember, John Whipple and Patrick
Sagal. Nora Berko was absent. Willis and Jay were seated at 5:20 p.m.
Staff present:
Deborah Quinn, Assistant City Attorney
Amy Guthrie, Historic Preservation Officer
Kathy Strickland, Chief Deputy City Clerk
John made the motion to approve the minutes of February 26th; second by
Patrick with the following amendment. I commented that the building was
not in the palate and commented that I found it was now perceived to me as
a glass building with brick trim rather than a brick building with glass. All
in favor, motion carried.
Summary of Colorado Preservation Conference
Jim said there was a program on local incentives and another on historic
preservation commissions and there non-regulatory capacity. There was
also another one on how to judge applications that need to be sympathetic to
historic buildings. All the programs were well done and organized. They
were meaningful and educational. In the Ski Towns presentation they
focused on the need of connections between new and historic and that the
connections be sympathetic. There was also a lot of discussion about the
impacts of additions and inappropriate increases in scale and the need to
retain the dominance of the historic structure. The addition should help
preserve the historic building and too many concessions will ultimately
destroy the historic character. The object of additions is to extend the life of
it historically and its usefulness. Compatibility of additions should focus on
roofs and mass. The incentive program talked about encouraging
rehabilitation and property maintenance with a public policy clearly defining
the requirements and expectations when it comes to receiving incentives.
The focus should be on the primary and secondary facades. Some
communities were offering design assistance to individual owners of historic
property that they want to keep. There are also grant programs available.
We here in Aspen are way ahead of most everyone in the state. There was
also a discussion about preservation techniques.
Amy presented a power point of the projects that went through HPC.
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ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2014
534 E. Cooper— Final Major Development and Commercial Design
Review— Public Hearing
Debbie said the public notices are in order and the applicant can proceed.
Exhibit I.
Amy said this is final review for a second floor expansion and construction
of a third floor. This building is right at the edge of the historic district. The
Bowman block is across the street and that is historic. This building was
built in the 80's. At conceptual you accepted the form and location and it
went onto P&Z for growth management and affordable housing mitigation
and it went to City Council for subdivision to create a free market unit on the
site. Final is consistent as to what was proposed at conceptual. At
conceptual HPC said the chimney added too much mass so that has been
removed. You also requested that the elevator shaft materials be restudied
so that it is broken down in scale and not just a three story tall wall and that
has been achieved. The applicant at conceptual had asked to go to 42 feet
and that was not approved and it has been reduced to 38 feet in the design
tonight. Staff has recommended approval with the condition that we see
actual samples of the materials to ensure reflectivity etc. is addressed.
They are using painted metal. There was an architectural feature along the
roof with spikes but that has been removed. They are also requesting the
standard three years vested rights.
Kim Weil, Poss architects
Kim said in the member it discussed 10'6" floor heights and those numbers
are ceiling heights not floor heights.
Amy said the guidelines say no upper floor should be taller than the first
floor.
Kim said all the floors will be around 10'6". The basement mechanical will
be rebuilt. On the main level there is a change with the addition of the
elevator and re-working of the stairway on the first floor. On the second
floor there is the addition of commercial space and elimination of the
existing tent. The third level is the new pent house. The existing skylight
will be cut in half.
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ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2014
Kim said on the roof plan there are 5 major pieces and two minor pieces.
The chimney has been removed. One of the new codes that we have to deal
with is that the mechanical equipment on a roof needs to be secured by
guard rails. The materials are brick and metal will be used on the recessed
areas.
Patrick mentioned guideline 6.44 where it says highly reflected or dark
tinted glass is inappropriate.
Kim said we will be using clear glass. The guard rails for the mechanical
will be back 30 inches from the parapet. The roof needs protected.
John mentioned the vertical metal wall louvers. Kim said they taper from 4
inches to 10 inches. The guardrails need to be 42 inches high.
Jay mentioned that the guard rails create more mass. If we wanted them to
build a screen can we ask them to do that instead of the guardrails.
Amy said conceptual is probably too early. Even at final those issues are
sometimes not resolved. You can regulate to do something that screens.
Kim said we are not opposed to screens or rails. We can do either.
Chairperson, Jay Maytin opened the public hearing. There were no public
comments. The public hearing portion of the agenda item was closed.
Issues:
Staff raised the issue of no material samples.
Screen as opposed to guard rails around the mechanical.
Spikes or vertical metal seams have been removed but they have been
removed by the applicant.
Sallie said she likes the guardrails rather than the screens because the screen
adds mass. The rails look industrial and go with the mechanics.
John said he would side on the screen side instead of railings because no
condensing units are attractive. This building is high enough up and the
same scale as the Tomb Thumb bldg. so from very few angles would you
catch the mechanical which is back 30 inches.
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ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2014
Patrick said he could accept the screening or railings.
Jay said he prefers the screen as it is prominent and it is one block from the
gondola and is prominent on the gondola line. It will be very visible.
Kim said the screen would have to be louvered to allow air flow.
Sallie said from the gondola it will look like a fence is around it and the
guard rail will blend in with the mechanical. What kind of architecture
design are you doing for the screen.
Jim said all mechanical is unattractive and looking at a screen is less
obtrusive.
John said he would rather hide the mechanical. The screening should be
consistent all the way around.
Jim said maybe the contractor can put up a section with the screen and a
section with the railing.
Willis said he would encourage the monitor to apply whatever they are
going to apply to the four units to have it apply to the fifth. Booth
enclosures should be consistent.
MOTION: John moved to approve resolution #9 with the condition that
staff and monitor review the continuity and application of guardrail vs fence;
second by Jim. Condition #2 would be eliminated. All in favor, motion
carried.
Amy said the new drawings would be Exhibit A to be attached to the
resolution. Roll call vote: Patrick, yes; John, yes; Willis, yes; Sallie, yes;
Jim, yes; Jay, yes. Motion carried 6-0.
MOTION: Jay moved to adjourn; second by Jim. All in favor, motion
carried. eeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Kathleen trickland, Chief Deputy Clerk
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