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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 20 2011 Minutes ApproveMEETING MINUTES APPROVED city of EVANSTON PRESERVATION COMMISSION Evanston Tuesday, December 20, 2011 7:00 p.m. Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Room 2200 Members Present: Kristen Armstrong -Matz, Tom Hagensick, Kris Hartzell, Dian Keehan, Anne McGuire, Amy Riseborough and Jack Weiss Members Absent: Suzanne Farrand, Andres Lombana, Garry Shumaker, Scott Utter Staff Present: Carlos D. Ruiz Presiding Member: Kris Hartzell, Secretary Declaration of Quorum With a quorum present, Secretary Hartzell called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES of date of previous meeting This item was postponed to the end of the meeting, at which time it was moved (J. Weiss) and seconded (A. McGuire) that the minutes of the November 15, 2011 meeting be approved with the following corrections: On page 2, fourth paragraph, change "appear" to "appeared." Under staff report, fourth paragraph, to read "two or three bedrooms." The motion passed. Vote: 6 ayes, 1 abstention. COMMITTEE REPORTS This item was discussed towards the end of the meeting, at which time Carlos Ruiz reported that Mark Varner conducted successfully a preliminary test of the data base (Phase 1). M. Varner mentioned the size of the digital photos as being too large as a potential issue. He would prepare a dry run of the data base in January 2012. Carlos Ruiz said the contract for hiring Granacki Historic Consultants was prepared for City Council approval. However, because the contract is less than $20,000, it does not have to go to City Council. STAFF REPORTS This item was discussed at the end of the meeting at which time Carlos Ruiz announced that the election of the new officers for 2012 will be held in January 2012. Carlos Ruiz said that he attended a meeting Alderman Melissa Wynne, Steve Griffin, Community and Economic Development Director and representatives of The Home Depot took place to discuss vinyl replacement windows that were not approved by staff. The Home Depot representatives asked to meet with the Commission in January 2012 to talk about energy efficient windows and the line of window products that they sell. Page 1 of 6 Preservation Commission APPROVED Carlos Ruiz said in regard to sustainability, the City Manager has informally asked staff (Preservation Coordinator and Sustainable Programs Coordinator) to look at sustainability and historic preservation. Matt Marchione, volunteer distributed a draft of the window restoration booklet and asked for the Commission's input. Anne McGuire said that there are many similar materials available for the public. She was supportive of the local case studies. Carlos Ruiz reminded the Commission of the soon to come Preservation Awards in May 2012. Also, C. Ruiz noted that the Commission should consider holding a retreat in 2012. UNFINISHED BUSINESS No unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS A. 2100 Ridge Avenue (Nominated for Landmark designation) — Consultation regarding the replacement of fourteen Tallmadge light poles from the parking lot area of the Civic Center. Stefanie Levine of Parks Recreation and Community Services talked about the Civic Center's parking light poles which are severely deteriorated. The poles are Tallmadge fixtures a patented light that the City purchased from a sole source. The Tallmadge lights are not ideal for lighting a parking lot. Is unknown when the poles were initially installed, but they have not been replaced since the early 1980s (replacement to the earlier lights). The height of the new fixtures will determine the number of fixtures. The amount of light pollution and glare, and the required foot candles for the accessible ramps will be under consideration. New fixtures will point the light down. The goal is to avoid altering the historic look, because everything else will look out of place. Stefanie Levine said the new contemporary fixtures would be as simple as possible. Consider dark sky contemporary fixtures. Induction systems versus LEDs reduce light pollution. Other City parking lots except at Noyes have no Tallmadge fixtures. The rest are all contemporary fixtures. City Parks have new contemporary down lights (Lovelace Park, the Lakefront). Tallmadge fixtures are not an identifier of City properties. The Commission discussed the merits of full cut off fixtures versus preserving the character of the Civic Center by having twice the number of lights. Probably a full cut off fixture as a standard is the way to go in the residential neighborhood. Kris Hartzell said the Tallmadge fixtures are iconic for the City of Evanston. Consideration should be given to reinvest on the same fixtures. Consider blending the Tallmadge fixtures with the cotemporary lights in areas where are less noticeable. Page 2 of 6 Preservation Commission APPROVED Stefanie Levine asked: Are contemporary fixtures out of the question, should the City pursue the Tallmadge fixtures? For standard light levels the number of Tallmadge fixtures may be excessive, or pursue some combination of them. Where would be appropriate locations for the Tallmadge fixtures, and where the dark sky lights should be located for the parking lot? The Commission asked S. Levine to consider the Tallmadge fixtures along the walkways combined with low lights (bollards). Keep the dark sky lights for the parking lot, which is closer to the neighbors. Consider locating the Tallmadge light poles closer to the building. S. Levine said she will be back with more information in the near future. B. 1401 Elmwood Avenue (L) - Remove existing patio (non -conforming) and construct a new patio with pavers on a sand and gravel base to decrease the non -conforming impervious area. Required setback on corner lot = 15', proposed is 0'; maximum impervious ratio = 60%, proposed is 70.2%. [Construction/Demolition/Zoning Variance] Applicant was not present. C. 814 South Boulevard (L) — Replacement of four existing double hung windows (one on the east side elevation first floor, one on the west side elevation second floor and two on the south rear elevation second floor) with an insert style double hung. Existing sashes to be removed, existing window frame to stay new fibrex double hung inserted into existing frame. Grille pattern to match. [Alteration] Richard Horvitz, owner and Jason Lynd presented the project. The house was built in 1898; all the windows are at least 40 years old with storm triple tracks. The subject windows are located in the living room on the east side, and on the second floor; two on the east side and one on the west side. Replace windows. Two over two double hung windows on the second floor and one over one double hung in the living room. R Horvitz said he would like to replace all the windows and get rid of the triple tracks storm windows. The profile of the new window is extremely close to the old windows. R. Horvitz said the brick mold and the interior wood trim inside will remain. The L-trim exterior wood is still visible and the architectural integrity will be preserved. The new windows will provide energy efficiency and keep the 100 year old look. The new windows are made of Fibrex, a blend of engineered lumber and thermo-plastic polymers, a mixture of wood and plastic that provides strength and stability, but is maintenance free. It does not look as a vinyl window. The new window features include full divided light grills in the outside and in the inside with a spacer for depth. The off white integral color is called canvas, stops are removed, the pocket where the window sits is 3'/4", the new window frame is 3 '/4" frame. The glass area is reduced'/4" on the side, almost imperceptible loss of glass area. Richard Horvitz said he would like to replace all the windows eventually. The Commission asked if the windows on the front elevation are the original, would the Page 3 of 6 Preservation Commission APPROVED owner consider their restoration rather than replacing them. Alterations are allowed when there is no adverse effect to the building. The Commission noted that restoration is feasible and also energy efficient. A. McGuire said she had not seen enough information that the windows are severely deteriorated nor did see any investigation as to the potential of weather stripping, painting and deferred maintenance. Storm windows are an acceptable additional secondary glazing that can help relieve some of the infiltration and heat loss. A. McGuire said she was reluctant to approve replacement windows without understanding the investigation about window repair. A. McGuire said the proposed replacement window might be the appropriate, but she was not comfortable with the need to replacing them. Richard Horvitz said he would be happy to investigate the restoration of the existing windows with the energy efficiency needs. The Commission noted that the proposed replacement windows are appropriate if replacement is necessary. The Commission asked R. Horvitz to revisit the contemporary aluminum windows. Also, consider the primary versus the secondary elevation. On the primary elevation, there would be two different windows in the living room if one window is replaced. Carlos Ruiz recommended standards for review of alteration 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9 as applicable. It was moved (D. Keehan) and seconded (A. McGuire) to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for alterations at 814 South Boulevard to replace three second floor windows at the rear and side (double hung windows) as meeting standards for alteration 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9. The motion passed. Vote 7 ayes, 0 nays. The Commission did not approve the replacement of the living room window. D. 1030 Greenleaf Street (RHD) - Replace 2 garage doors with similar wood doors on east elevation. Remove middle garage door and infill with hardi-plank faced wood frame wall. Stucco over existing structural clay tile on south elevation and over new wood framed wall and provide new openings for 3 new glazed wood garage doors on west elevation. Install new stone patio and wood pergola on west side of garage. On north of property, remove concrete wall and extend fence to garage. [Alteration/Construction/Demolition] Todd Pape, owner/architect and John Cook, contractor, presented the project. The lot is intersected by alleys on three sides. The proposed garage is a three bay detached garage with different exterior materials, such as structural clay tile. Proposed exterior material is stucco. Glazed garage wood doors facing the house and garage wood doors facing the alley will be installed. The windows are aluminum frame windows. The masonry wall will be removed. A new pergola will be built. R&TA recommended standard for review of alteration 1— 4, 8-10 as applicable. It was moved (A. McGuire) and seconded (J. Weiss) to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the alterations to the existing garage, including the pergola and the adjacent paved area, in that standards for alteration 1-4, 8-10 are met. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. E. 1225 Oak Avenue (RHD) — On west front elevation, replace the altered front door and return the door to its original location. Install new window. On north elevation, Page 4 of 6 Preservation Commission APPROVED move foyer window. On east rear elevation, remove the back stairs and wraparound porch and replace it with two lower profile porches, replace side porch door, remove existing sliding door and install new French doors; relocating and enlarging door opening, remove existing window(s) and install 3 new casement windows, install fixed window over basement door. On south elevation, replace two existing horizontal windows and install casement windows. On north elevation, remove existing window(s) and infill opening with wood siding to match the existing, relocate existing window, and replace existing second story window on bay with a new casement window. [Alteration/Construction] Tom Ryan and Penny Miller, owners and David Roberts, architect, presented the project. T. Ryan said the restoration of three casement windows in the attic and one on the second floor with a new interior storm window and weather stripping is completed. The project calls for eliminating exterior stairs at the rear, remove the door and replace it with a window. Replace and relocate the front door with a 40" x 84" new painted three panel wood door and a new window to the north with a diamond pattern. Within the foyer the original double hung window will be moved 2-feet to the east. At the back of the house, the 1990 vinyl windows and sliding glass door will be replaced with Marvin aluminum clad windows in a more appropriate size. Also, replace the sliding door with a Marvin French door. On the south side replace awning vinyl windows with casement windows. The wraparound porch will be replaced with two separate porches. The porch door in the living room will be replaced with a French door. On the east elevation, the egress window will be replaced with a casement window. On the north side on the second floor family bath a fixed window will be replaced with an Integrity (Ultrex fiber glass) Marvin window. Install a 3'x4' roof over the back door. R&TA recommended standards for review for alteration 1-6, and 8-10. It was moved (A. McGuire) and seconded (J. Weiss) to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for 1225 Oak for the alterations as described, as they meet standards of alteration 1-6 and 8-10. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. It was moved (J. Weiss) and seconded (D. Keehan) to approve the certificate of demolition of the rear stairs, as standards for demolition 1-5 are met. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. F. 812 Colfax Street (NEHD) — Add a foundation to the existing 2-story sunroom. The new foundation will extend the current footprint of the sunroom by 55 square feet. As part of the new foundation construction, a new exterior wall and roof will be built to match the existing home in style, materials and windows. [Construction/Demolition] Doug Halverson, owner, presented the project. The existing two-story sunroom addition (without a foundation) will be removed and a two-story addition with additional 5-feet will be built. The windows in the addition are double hung Marvin wood windows to match the windows on the front elevation that have been already replaced. The existing patio area will be squared off. Page 5 of 6 Preservation Commission APPROVED R&TA recommended Applicable standards for review of construction 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 12-16. It was moved (A. McGuire) and seconded COA for the construction as modified for the two-story addition and infill patio paving at 812 Colfax in that the standards for construction 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 12-16 apply. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. It was moved (A. McGuire) and seconded (J. Weiss) COA Demolition at 812 Colfax for the rear two-story porch in that the standards 1-5 for demolition have been met. The motion passed. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. COMMUNICATIONS No Communications ADJOURNMENT The meeting was moved and seconded to adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved at 9:35 p.m., December 20, 2011. Respectfully Submitted, Carlos D. Ruiz Preservation Coordinator, Community and Economic Development/Planning & Zoning Page 6 of 6 Preservation Commission