ACTION SUMMARY NOVEMBER 18, 2004
CITY COMMISSION ROOM, CITY HALL, 6 E. 6TH STREET
7:00 P.M.
Commissioners Present: Alstrom, Hickam, Lodwick, Marvin and Sizemore
Staff Present: Zollner, Miller and Saker
ITEM NO. 1: ACTION SUMMARY
Motioned by Comm. Hickam seconded by Chair Marvin to approve the October 21, 2004 action summary as presented.
Motion carried 3-0-2, with Comm.’s Lodwick & Sizemore abstaining due to his absence from the October meeting.
ITEM NO. 2: CORRESPONDENCE
Ms. Zollner outlined the following communications:
ITEM NO. 3: DR-10-93-04: 1108 Tennessee Street; Rear Porch Remodel; Certificate of Appropriateness and Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Mike Goans for the property owner of record. The property is in the environs of the Dr. Frederick Morse House (1041 Tennessee), National and Lawrence Register of Historic Places, the Oread Historic District, Lawrence Register of Historic Places, and Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places.
STAFF PRESENTATION
Staff showed pictures of all elevations and the rear porch to be remodeled.
APPLICANT PRESENTATION
Mike Goans spoke on behalf of the property owner, explaining the intent to remodel the existing porch to increase light and air inside the enclosed structure. The 6 existing single hung windows on the south elevation would be replaced with double hung windows, and a full-view door would be added to the east elevation.
Mr. Goans described the safety issues with the existing porch steps, which the applicant proposed to replace with steps of a better design.
The applicant also proposed to replace the existing leaky roof with a grey metal roof.
It was established that the structure would not encroach into the sideyard setback and the railing would be only slightly visible from Tennessee Street.
Comm. Lodwick discussed railing detail, design and material possibilities with Mr. Goans.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No member of the public spoke on this item
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
Comm. Sizemore said the railing shown in the application was well within the standards for environs review.
Comm. Alstrom said he would like to see the property listed in the future.
Comm. Lodwick discussed with Mr. Goans details about the proposed windows.
ACTION TAKEN
Motioned by Comm. Sizemore, seconded by Comm. Marvin to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and Certified Local Government Review for the project at 1108 Tennessee Street, based on the Standards and Guidelines for Evaluating the Effect of Projects on Environs, the standard of review, and a determination that the project will not encroach upon, damage or destroy any historic property or its environs. Approval was subject to the following conditions:
1. Any changes to the approved project will be submitted to the Historic Resources Commission prior to the commencement of any related work.
2. The applicant complete black and white photo-documentation of the property, specifically the rear porch area, before demolition and new construction. (City staff will assist with documentation at the applicant’s request)
Motion carried unanimously, 5-0.
ITEM NO. 4: DR-10-95-04: SW corner of 6th and Massachusetts Streets; Public Art; Certificate of Appropriateness and Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by the City of Lawrence, property owner of record. The property is located in the environs of the J. B. Shane Thompson Studio (615 Massachusetts), Lawrence Register of Historic Places; Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District and the United States Post Office (645 New Hampshire), National Register of Historic Places; and the Consolidated Barb Wire Building (546 New Hampshire), Kansas Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District.
STAFF PRESENTATION
Staff presented a photographic representation of the sculpture in place at its proposed location on the southwest corner of 6th & Massachusetts Street. A small model of the sculpture was also presented.
APPLICANT PRESENTATION
Michael Tubbs, representative for the Lawrence Arts Commission, spoke on behalf of the City, property owner of record and applicant. Mr. Tubbs described the creation of a committee with the task of selecting a sculpture to commemorate the City’s sesquicentennial anniversary. Richard Holzmeister, Chairman of the selection committee was also present.
Mr. Tubbs & Mr. Holzmeister said about 16 entries were submitted from across the nation, and the committee chose the design of a Lawrence native, Steven Johnson. All aspects of the sculpture’s placement (landscaping, lighting, etc.) would be overseen by Mr. Johnson and reviewed according to City code.
Mr. Tubbs said the call for entries had given no direction about design, but had explained the theme of freedom and the flames of patriotism and honor that protected that freedom. The Arts Commission was pleased with the chosen entry, which was designed using the letters F-R-E-E in abstract forms intermingled to resemble a flame. They felt this representation would be a good addition to the proposed location and would compliment the existing sculpture at that location.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No member of the public spoke on this issue.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
The Commission agreed the chosen design was complimentary to the existing site and would add color and interest to its location.
ACTION TAKEN
Motioned by Comm. Hickam, seconded by Vice-Chair Lodwick to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and the Certified Local Government Review for the project at the southwest corner of 6th & Massachusetts, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, the Downtown Design Guidelines and the standard of review. Approval was based on a determination that the project will not encroach upon, damage or destroy any historic property or its environs.
Motion carried unanimously, 5-0.
ITEM NO. 5: MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
A. Review of any demolition permit applications received since the October 21, 2004 regular meeting.
There were no demolition permits for review.
B. Architectural Review Committee and Administrative Reviews since the October 21, 2004 regular meeting.
The ARC had not met since the October meeting.
Administrative Reviews
DR-09-75-04: 947 Massachusetts Street; Sign; Certificate of Appropriateness and Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Full Bright Sign for the property owner of record. The property is a contributing structure to Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places, and is in the environs of the Hanna Building (933 Massachusetts), Lawrence Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District.
DR-09-80-04: 845 New Hampshire; Sign; Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Allsigns for the property owner of record. The property is in the environs of Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District. This review was deferred to December 2004
DR-10-86-04: 845 Mississippi Street; Sign; Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Luminous Neon Inc. for the property owner of record. The property is located in the environs of the Old West Lawrence Historic District, National Register of Historic Places.
DR-10-87-04: 643 Massachusetts Street; Sign; Certificate of Appropriateness and Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Ric Morse for the property owner of record. The property is located in the environs of the J. B. Shane Thompson Studio (615 Massachusetts), Lawrence Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the environs of Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District; United States Post Office (645 New Hampshire) and the Eldridge Hotel (701 Massachusetts), National Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District.
It was established that the current occupant would not be leaving this property, but would modify its existing retail use.
DR-10-88-04: 843 New Hampshire; Sign; Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Travis Oliver for the property owner of record. The property is in the environs of Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District and the North Rhode Island Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District. This review was deferred to December 2004.
DR-10-89-04: 205 W. 8th Street; Sign; Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Joel Bales for the property owner of record. The property is a contributing structure to Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District.
It was discussed that the State statutes do not differentiate between temporary and permanent signs when requiring Commission review, even though temporary signs do not usually create any lasting impact on the property or environs. Staff suggested this was to ensure that damage was not done to the structure when installing the sign (holes in the wall, etc.).
DR-10-90-04: 926½ Massachusetts Street; Walkway Expansion; Certificate of Appropriateness and Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Richard McNeely for the property owner of record. The property is a contributing structure to Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places, and is in the environs of the Hanna Building (933 Massachusetts), Lawrence Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District.
It was verified that this project would require site plan review, which would involve all review departments and would ensure the proposed walkway met all code requirements.
DR-10-91-04: 1009 New Hampshire Street; Sign; Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Luminous Neon Inc. for the property owner of record. The property is in the environs of Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District; Douglas County Courthouse (1100 Massachusetts); English Lutheran Church (1040 New Hampshire); Watkins Bank (1047 Massachusetts); and the North Rhode Island Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places. The property is also in the environs of the Shalor Eldridge Residence (945 Rhode Island), Kansas Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District.
DR-10-92-04: 1700 Massachusetts Communications Antenna; Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Trans Con Mobile, LLC. for the property owner of record. The property is located in the environs of the Eugene Goodrich House (1711 Massachusetts), National Register of Historic Places.
Staff responded to questioning that the proposed antennae would be 3’ tall in total and the pictures provided by the applicant were an exact representation of the final appearance. Staff said it was likely another antennae request for this location would come to the Commission in December.
DR-10-94-04: 1541 Kentucky Street; Boarding House Rehabilitation; Certificate of Appropriateness and Certified Local Government Review. Submitted by Tom Hoffman and Lee Blackledge property owners of record. The property is in the environs of the Ludington-Thacher House (1041 Tennessee), National and Lawrence Register of Historic Places, the William Priestly House (1505 Kentucky), National Register of Historic Places and the John Palmer and Margaret Usher House (1425 Tennessee), National Register of Historic Places.
ACTION TAKEN
Motioned by Comm. Hickam, seconded by Chair Marvin to approve all Administrative Reviews as presented.
Motion carried unanimously, 5-0.
C. Provide comment on variance (BZA) requests received since October 21, 2004.
The Commission was presented with submittal information for a parking lot variance that would go before the Board of Zoning Appeals in December. It was clarified that this phase of the project would not alter the visual appearance of the building or the parking lot.
The Commission expressed concern about the request to allow a 6-unit residential use with no required parking in an area that already faced significant parking problems. However it was understood that this element of the proposal was not within the Commission’s purview.
Staff was directed to forward “no comment” regarding this application.
D. General public comment.
There were no members of the public wishing to make additional comments.
E. Miscellaneous matters from City staff and Commission members.
There were no other matters for Commission consideration.
F. Preliminary discussion of requirements for black and white photo documentation.
Ms. Zollner introduced the issue of using 35mm vs. digital photography for documenting structures. She explained that the intent of the requirement for black & white photography was for Staff to obtain the negatives, which would be easily stored, had a longer shelf life, and were easily processed if actual prints were needed.
Digital photography did not involve the needed negatives, and it was a concern that, as technology advanced and older forms of digital storage became obsolete, it would become difficult to find the right hardware to access the digital images. Additionally, digital prints were sometimes grainy and dark.
While archivists are opposed to a switch to digital requirements, the Parks Service is considering making the change because digital photography is significantly more environmentally-friendly than 35mm.
Until the Parks Service made a final determination on this issue, City Staff asked the Commission to consider adopting specific language regarding black & white photography requirements. The Commission had set a precedent of applying a condition requiring the applicant to submit the pictures before commencing with their project, noting that Staff is available to assist in this process.
Ms. Zollner suggested new language that required the property owner to allow Staff access to the property to take the necessary pictures. This would eliminate the digital vs. 35mm question and ensure the pictures were of sufficient detail. Ms. Zollner said that sometimes the pictures submitted were simply elevations that did not supply the desired level of visual detail.
The Commission directed Staff to develop language that could be used when conditioning a project to reflect the proposed changes.
ADJOURN – 8:00 p.m.
Official minutes are on file in the Planning Department.