Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8-13-18 HLC Minutes * M I N U T E S * HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION August 13, 2018 City Hall, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas A Regular Meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission was held on August 13, 2018 and called to order at 3:37 p.m. with the following members present: Chairwoman Paula Blazek Vice-Chairman Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Judy Linsley Commissioner Janelle Templeton Commissioner Jessie Davis Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Carol Fernandez Commission Members absent : Commissioner Marie Broussard Commissioner Thomas Sigee Commissioner Jason Cansler Commissioner Gretchen Hargroder Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin Councilmembers present: Councilmember Virginia Jordan Also present: Adina Josey, Senior Planner Demi Laney, Planner I Fran Malvo, Recording Secretary Elayna McLaughlin, Code Enforcement Officer APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on July 9, 2018. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. REGULAR MEETING 1) CA-2923: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to paint brick and add shutters. Applicant: Jennifer Rocha Location: 2650 North Street Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Jennifer Rocha would like to paint the brick and add shutters to the windows of her home at 2650 North Street. According to SPARE, the Historic Landmark Commission August 13, 2018 structure has undergone major alterations, but the structure appears to be original. Currently, the upstairs is stucco and the first floor is brick. In July, the Commission tabled this item to review possible methods for removing paint from brick, as Ms. Rocha had already painted the brick. Most methods are not recommended for use on older brick. We did find one method, however, that seems effective, but would be quite slow. Staff recommended denial of the request. Although some changes may have been made to the structure, it was not uncommon for a Prairie style home to have a contrasting materials for the first and second stories (see pages 444-451 of A Field Guide to American Houses). The paint should be removed from the brick. In addition, shutters were not common in Prairie style housing. One example does show shutters on the second floor windows. If the Commission should choose to allow shutters, staff recommends restricting them to the second floor. The house is listed in the 1991 SPARE Beaumont Survey. SPARE states that the house was built c. 1925. The house is listed as an example of a 1920's style house that has undergone major alterations. Slides of the subject property were shown. Discussion followed regarding paint colors. The applicant was not present but her fiancée spoke on her behalf. Hernando Ruiz addressed the Commission. Mr. Ruiz stated that he and Ms. Rocha assumed that they were allowed to paint the home any choice of color as long as it was on the paint color palette. He also stated that they were unaware that they had to obtain permission to paint brick until a Code Enforcement Officer informed him. He said he does not like the color of the brick. Vice- Chairman LaBiche asked Hernando if he primed the brick before he painted the home and he replied, “Yes”. Vice-Chairman LaBiche stated that will make it difficult to remove paint from the brick. Mr. Ruiz stated that Jennifer would like to have shutters on the upper and lower floors. Chairman Blazek reiterated that the brick on a home is not allowed to be painted without permission from the Historic Landmark Commission. Chairman Blazek told Mr. Ruiz that he must obtain permission from the City if he intends to make any alterations to the home. Discussion followed regarding shutters and window sashes. Vice-Chairman LaBiche made a motion to approve the painting of the house with the chimney painted the same color as the walls of the house. Window sashes should be white; window sills dark gray; and the shutters and front door are harvest gold color. Commissioner Linsley seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 2) CA-2936: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace windows, remove windows and change skirting on a house. Applicant: Natasha Atlains Location: 2585 McFaddin Avenue Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Natasha Atlains is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness for the replacement of windows and skirting on her home at 2585 McFaddin Avenue. The windows have already been replaced, but the replacements do not match the 2 Historic Landmark Commission August 13, 2018 original size or style of windows. In addition, some windows have been completely removed and the front door has also been replaced with a different style door. Ms. Atlains is replacing the skirting on the house with siding that does not match the upper portion of the house. Staff recommended denial of the windows and door as they do not match the structure and over half of the original windows have been eliminated. The siding needs to match on the entire house. If Ms. Atlains would like to place new siding, approved by the Commission, on the entire house, staff would recommend approval of new siding. The house is not listed in the SPARE Beaumont Survey. Slides of the subject property were shown. A brief discussion followed. The applicant was present. Ms. Atlains announced to the Commission that she was married. She and her husband Dorian Young addressed the Commission. Mr. Young stated that they wanted to use hardi plank for the skirting on the home. Mr. Young stated that he and his wife purchased the home “as is” and that the home had been vacant for approximately seven or eight years. Mrs. Young stated that the windows that were covered up were kitchen windows. Mr. Young stated that the front door is off centered. Discussion followed regarding windows. Mrs. Josey provided photos to the Commission. Mr. Young stated that they did eliminate one window. Mrs. Young said that they went around the neighborhood to see what types of windows everyone else had. Vice- Chairman LaBiche asked them if they signed a release stating that before any modifications are made on the house that it must be presented to the Historic Landmark Commission. Mrs. Young stated that she recalls signing a form that only stated they live in the Historic District. Discussion followed amongst the board. Commissioner Fernandez asked what type of door would be appropriate. Commissioner Craig made a motion to deny the Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the windows. Chairman Blazek made a motion to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness with the following conditions: 1) Cover the asbestos siding with hardi plank but it must match the profile of the existing siding. 2) Allow closing in of the two windows in the kitchen area. 3) All other windows must match size and style of the original windows. 4) The door must match the style of the house. Additional discussion followed. Mrs. Young asked what would happen if requests are not fulfilled due to lack of funds. Vice-Chairman LaBiche stated that the couple can ask for an extension and it would be granted for six months. He stated that as long as windows match and are the same size, perhaps they could be joined together to make one. Mr. Boone added that the Certificate of Appropriateness is good for six months and that if the couple needs an additional six months, staff is willing to grant the extension with the condition that progress is being made to the property. 3) CA-2943: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to build a new house. Applicant: Amy Chance Location: 2340 Long Avenue 3 Historic Landmark Commission August 13, 2018 Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Amy Chance is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness to build a new house at 2340 Long Avenue. A front elevation of the proposed structure has been submitted for your approval. Staff recommends approval of the submitted style subject to color review, approval of submitted plans and inspections. Slides of the subject property were shown. The applicant was not present. Discussion followed. Commissioner Fernandez inquired about the sidewalk material. Mrs. Josey stated the ordinance does not restrict individuals to use a certain sidewalk material other than concrete or asphalt. Vice-Chairman LaBiche suggested the Commission discuss the plans and elevations. He expressed to the Commission that they needed at least a floor plan and/or a site plan and elevations to approve the request. He stated he would like the applicant to present the plans to the Commission. Mr. Boone added he spoke with the applicant and assumed that they wanted an approval for a style and if not, the Commission can request the applicant to present plans and style of the home. Discussion followed. Commissioner Fernandez made a motion to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the style of a new house as requested for CA-2943. Vice-Chairman LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 4) CA-2944: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace clay tile roofs with architectural shingles and enclose a balcony. Applicant: Dwight Espree Location: 2098 North Street Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. Dwight Espree is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace a clay tile roof and enclose a balcony at 2098 North Avenue. Mr. Espree intends to replace the tile roof with architectural shingles. The balcony to be enclosed is not under the existing roof line. The roof will need to be extended to cover the balcony and walls constructed on two (2) sides. Staff recommends approval of the roof subject to color review. The balcony is on the rear of the house and could be designed to blend in with the existing structure. If so, staff would recommend approval. However, no specific plans as to how the roofline will be addressed or the walls enclosed have been submitted. The house is listed in the 1990 SPARE Beaumont Survey. SPARE states that the house was built circa 1911. The house is listed as an example of middle class housing built after the first Spindletop boom. Slides of the subject property were shown. Discussion followed regarding paint colors. Mrs. Josey stated that the applicant changed his request in an attached letter. Traci Montalbano, Demolition and Permit Chief, stated that the applicant has ninety (90) days to make substantial improvement and that it has not been tagged for demolition. She added that Mr. Espree is the new owner of the property and just recently purchased it approximately thirty 4 Historic Landmark Commission August 13, 2018 (30) days ago. Mr. Espree was not present. Further discussion followed. Vice-Chairman LaBiche made a motion to approve the request for CA-2944 with the following conditions: 1) Replacement of roof approved pending approval of color. 2) Retaining all ridge pieces and finials from roof and hip and placing them over architectural shingles. 3) Enclose balcony to match architectural details of the house. 4) Approval of pending submittal of plans and elevations. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 5) CA-2948: Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to change the exterior of a house from brick to stucco Applicant: American BuyItNow Investments, LLC Location: 2435 Long Avenue Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. American BuyItNow Investments, L.L.C. would like to change the exterior of the house at 2435 Long Avenue from brick to stucco. The applicant would like to bring the structure up to code. One item to be addressed is the failing brick on the exterior of the house. The applicant states that stucco would hide the multiple cracks in the existing brick. The house is primarily of the Colonial Revival style. As stated on pg. 324 of A Field Guide to American Houses (Virginia & Lee McAlester, 1984), "Vernacular examples were generally of wood before about 1920, with masonry progressively more common as veneering techniques became widespread in the 1920s." Staff recommended denial of the request as stucco was not a commonly used material for Colonial Revival structures. The house is not listed in the SPARE Beaumont Survey. Slides of the subject property were shown. The applicant was present. Heather Smith, P.O. Box 294, Mauriceville, Texas, addressed the Board. Discussion followed. The contractor, Bill Schroder representing CPNA construction addressed the Commission. Mr. Schroder stated that due to termite damage, the exterior walls had to be changed and windows were replaced. Vice-Chairman LaBiche asked Mr. Schroder what is causing the brick to crack? Mr. Schroder replied, “Time and basic settling”. Vice-Chairman LaBiche also asked Mr. Schroder if he intends to stabilize the foundation and Mr. Schroder replied he does not have an issue doing that. He also stated that he plans to use synthetic stucco. Vice-Chairman LaBiche stated that synthetic stucco cracks if the foundation moves and if the brick is cracking that means there are foundation issues. Discussion followed. No further questions or comments. Commissioner Fernandez made a motion to deny the Certificate of Appropriateness to change the exterior of a house from brick to stucco as requested for File CA-2948. Vice-Chairman LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to deny carried 7:0. 6) Historic District Code Enforcement Report 5 Historic Landmark Commission August 13, 2018 Mrs. Josey introduced Elayna McLaughlin as the new Historic District Code Enforcement Officer. Miss McLaughlin presented the Code Enforcement report to the Commission. OTHER BUSINESS None. THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 5:36 P.M. 6