HARB
Historic Architectural Review Board
Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2008
Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board to order at
7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. Those in attendance were: Board members Elwood Christ, Nancie Gudmestad, Peggy Gustafson, Bea Savage, Dick Peterson, Acting Borough Council liaison; and Merry Bush, Borough Planner. Rich Clark and Norm Forness were absent Others attending the meeting were John and Pat Ziegler, 236 York Street; Paula Olinger and Ross Brownley for 155 S. Washington Street; JR Crushong and Toby Hartman, Pennsylvania Interfaith Community Programs, Inc. (PICPI), for 62-64 Breckenridge Street; Peter Gluszko RA, and Bill Reppas, KFC, 539 Steinwehr Avenue; Nick Vlahos, 224 Baltimore Street; and Carlene Mayer, 102 E. Middle Street.
Peggy Gustafson had two corrections to the January 16 minutes: page 4 should have said "8 to 10 feet" instead of 3 feet in the discussion of the depth of the landscaping from the proposed wall; page 5 should have read "Ivory Silk Lilac Tree." Nancie Gudmestad moved that the minutes be accepted as amended. Peggy Gustafson seconded and the motion carried.
Mr. Shaffer then introduced the members and noted that the Board serves as an advisory Board to Borough Council, which makes the final decisions concerning Certificates of Appropriateness. Mr. Shaffer noted that all applications for signs and exterior changes to buildings within the Historic District must be reviewed by HARB. There are no administrative approvals to be given at this time.
There were no changes to the agenda for the meeting. Borough Council will meet on Monday, March 10, 2008. Applicants may pick up permits for those projects approved by Council after that date.
Certificates of Appropriateness
A. Signage. 224 Baltimore Street. Nicholas Vlahos, applicant
The applicant proposed to install four signs that would be the same size and in the same locations as those previously installed. For those signs that will be attached to the building the same holes will be used.
Bea Savage asked for clarification of the location of the proposed signs. One sign will hang on the existing sign post located in the front yard, two signs will be attached to the front of building and one sign, regarding parking, will be attached to the rear of the building.
Findings of Fact: The property at 224 Baltimore Street is located in the Gettysburg Borough Historic District as set by ordinance and is a contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. The building is a significant structure in the Gettysburg Borough Historic District and therefore comes under the review of this Board.
Nancie Gudmestad moved that the Board recommend approval of the application as submitted. Elwood Christ seconded. Bea Savage asked for confirmation of the locations of the 16x16-inch sign, as well as the 24x24-inch parking sign.
The motion carried, 5 to 0.
B. Alteration. Replacement windows, door and storm door. 236 York Street. John & Pat Ziegler, owners
The Zeiegers have lived in their home located at 236 York Street for the past 40 years and hope to continue living there for many years. The applicants wishes to install Marvin window inserts into the five windows on the south or front elevation. The applicants also want to install a new fiberglass door and a storm door. The windows would be replaced with one-over-one sashes within the existing frame. The jambs will be replaced in wood. The bottom sill is made of granite and will remain. The windows will be aluminum clad with full screens and be painted Bahama Brown. The windows, being made by the Arendtsville Planing Mill, will have insulating low e-glass with a slight tint of color.
The door that will be replaced was installed in 1972 and therefore is not original to the house. The aluminum storm windows will be eliminated. The proposed door will have six panels and will be stained mahogany. The applicant could not find a 42-inch wide door that had four panels.
Peggy Gustafson noted the difficulty she has had in the past with the glue used to adhere the aluminum to the wood core.
Findings of Fact: The house at 236 York Street is a significant building located within the Gettysburg Borough Historic District as determined by ordinance and is a contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. The building has mixed integrity; the windows and doors are not original. Elwood Christ said that the architectural style suggests that the home was built between 1880 and 1910. The location suggested that it was a modest home built for the middle class. The building has circular lintels and the original windows may have been one-over-one according to Mr. Christ.
Nancie Gudmestad moved to recommend approval of the application as submitted. Bea Savage seconded and the motion carried, 5 to 0.
C. Alteration. Façade. Signage. 539 Steinwehr Avenue. KFC Restaurant.
Peter Gluszko, R.A., Gluszko Architects, P.C., applicant.
Peter Gluszko, hired by the owner of the local KFC franchise, 539 Steinwehr Avenue, presented the proposed exterior design and signage. Mr. Gluszko also said that the owner was making the building ADA compliant. The applicant proposes to modify the existing traffic pattern and delete the atrium located on the front of the building. The cooler box now located at the rear of the building will be located within the building itself. The applicant will install a larger dumpster but will surround it with a block wall enclosure. The entrance door will remain where it is.
The applicant is trying to make the site friendlier to customers and add more illumination at night. There will be a single door on the south elevation instead of the current double doors.
Gary Shaffer said that the Board was reviewing the design of the building and was not approving ADA compliance.
Elwood Christ asked the height of the tower at the front of the building. Mr. Glusko said that it was 19 feet from grade, 4 feet higher than the building. The design incorporates the corporate logo. Mr. Christ also suggested that the lamp posts on the west side of the building be reinforced since there is much bus traffic to and from the adjoining General Pickett's Buffet.
Bea Savage asked about the width of the lot. The property is three lots wide. Ms. Savage noted that the signage proposed was more than the allowed 50 square feet and logos are considered signs.
It was also noted that any change a sign requires that it come into compliance with the Borough's Sign Ordinance. The existing podium sign is taller than the allowed
12-foot height.
Merry Bush clarified that the entrance doors are on the north and south elevations.
Nancie Gudmestad asked about the "awnings" on the front of the building. Peter Gluszko said that they were called sun louvers and were used to pull the front together. They also provide some protection from the sun. There are three pieces attached to the wall of the building with space between.
When asked about the transom, Mr. Gluszko said that it would be interior lit so that it would shine out above the door. He was informed that the Borough does not allow interior illuminated signs.
Mr. Gluszko said that the sidewalks would be replaced.
Peggy Gustafson said that the proposed shoebox down-lights are not very effective when there is lots of traffic. What is the wattage proposed? Ms. Gustafson also said that information is needed on the light fixtures on the rear portion of the south elevation.
Findings of Fact: The property located at 539 Steinwehr Avenue is located within the Gettysburg Borough Historic District as extended by ordinance. The building is a non-sensitive structure but as the work is a major project it comes under the review right of this Board. The existing signage is not compliant with the Borough's Sign Ordinance. The building is non-contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District and there are no historic materials to protect.
Peggy Gustafson moved to recommend to Borough Council that the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness be denied, noting that once the signs are removed from the building the Board would have no idea how the building would look. Nancie Gudmestad seconded saying that she would prefer that the building be more subdued. The signage with its graphic impact is such an integral part of the design. The motion carried, 5 to 0.
Gary Shaffer recommended that the applicant return with changes by March 3 or 4 so that the application could be reviewed and recommended for approval before the Council meeting on March 20, 2008. Of particular concern was the site lighting. Light washing on the wall is acceptable but the applicant was encouraged to provided wattage information.
D. Alteration. Façade. House and garage. Extend rear porch. 102 E. Middle Street. Charles E. Ganley and Carlene J. Mayer, owners.
Ms. Mayer said that she had restored several homes before she was injured. She proposes to use as much of the original materials as possible. She said that the interior is beautiful. The building, built about 1900, is now covered with false brick asphalt. Bill Jacobs will be carrying out the work. She proposes to install an alternate siding and suggested something that would look like stone. She plans to maintain any existing wood features. The applicant proposes to extend the porch roof. The original porch siding remains, with brick located below the deck. Ms. Mayer plans to cover the exterior walls of the concrete block garage with the same siding material to be used on the house.
The original wood door remains though the applicant would like to install a new screen door. Period lighting would be installed outside the door. If they decide to locate Mr. Ganley's law office in the building they would install a sign on the existing brackets.
Findings of Fact: The structure located at 102 E. Middle Street is a sensitive building located within the Gettysburg Borough Historic District. The building has a mixed degree of integrity. The windows were replaced by a previous owner without the approval of this Board, according to Gary Shaffer.
Mr. Shaffer said that he was not in favor of fake stone. Mr. Shaffer moved to recommend approval of extending the porch roof, replacing the storm door and the installation of an alternate siding that replicates wood. Elwood Christ seconded. Mr. Christ pointed out that the applicant might find the original siding in good shape beneath the asphalt shingles. The applicant may maintain the original clapboard or install vinyl, concrete board or compressed wood siding.
The motion carried, 5 to 0.
Elwood Christ assumed the position of chairman as Gary Shaffer has a fiduciary relationship with the final two applicants.
E. Restoration. Historic door case and doorhood. 155 S. Washington Street.
Paula Olinger, owner.
Paula Olinger owns 155 S. Washington Street, known as the James Foster House. After removing the porch Ms. Olinger found that some original material remained around the door. The applicant wishes to replicate those materials and restore the door surround to its original appearance. She also hopes to restore the double doors and install a full view storm door-double storm doors if they can be found. The proposal includes restoring the granite steps and installing a wrought iron handrail like that on the neighboring El Centro building.
Nancie Gudmestad said that she has seen double storm doors. Elwood Christ said that often the panels of a door would reflect the side panels of the door surround in height and width. Mr. Christ suggested that the applicant look for double doors with similar paneling. Mr. Christ also thought that an early Gettysburg photograph in Bill Frassanito's book showed a different roof for the building.
Peggy Gustafson made a motion to recommend that the application be approved as submitted. Nancie Gustafson seconded and the motion carried, 4 to 1, with one abstention.
F. Rehabilitation with rear addition. 62-64 Breckenridge Street. Pennsylvania Interfaith Community Programs, Inc., owner.
The applicant proposes to build a rear addition to house the third bedroom for each of two units. The building will become a duplex. The applicant proposes to use an alternate siding on the front and sides of the building and use vinyl siding on the sides at the rear and on the rear addition. The applicant proposes to install wood or vinyl-clad wood windows throughout the building.
Nancie Gudmestad asked for clarification in the location and the types of siding proposed. A cement siding product will be used on the street/front elevation, on the east front portion where there are no windows and there is a need for a fire-rated wall and on the west elevation on the two-story portion of the building. Vinyl siding will be used on the rear addition. The two types of siding will replicate each other.
Peggy Gustafson said that the Secretary of the Interior's Standards call for separate materials to be used on new construction. Elwood Christ said that he had no problem with the use of vinyl siding on the rear addition.
The applicant proposes to subdivide the property and sell each portion to a homeowner. One unit will have 1000 square feet and the other 900 square feet.
Nancie Gudmestad moved to recommend that the application be approved as submitted. Bea Savage seconded the motion.
Findings of Fact: The structure located at 62-64 Breckenridge Street is a contributing building to the Gettysburg Historic District, as well as the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. The motion passed, 4 to 0, with one abstention.
J.R. Crushong said that 99 percent of the work would be done in house.
Gary Shaffer reminded the Board that they were recommending approval for design features and not ADA compliance. Neva Stanger, who is an ADA specialist, said that the Board must be very careful on this issue.
The meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Merry V. Bush
Borough Planner and Recorder