HARB
Historic Architectural Review Board
Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2008
Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board to order at
7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. Those in attendance were: Board members Nancie Gudmestad, Peggy Gustafson, Elwood Christ, Norm Forness and Dale Gettel, Borough Code Enforcement Officer; Merry Bush, Borough Planner; and Michael Birkner, Borough Council liaison. A quorum was present. Others attending were Jim Fleet and Nick Cool for 122 E. Middle Street; Lance Bryson, Harry Holt, Bill Sourbier and Sam Delp for St. Francis Xavier Parish, 21 W. High Street; and Bill Synnamon for 48 Baltimore Street.
Mr. Shaffer introduced the members and noted that the Board serves as an advisory group to Borough Council, which makes the final decisions concerning Certificates of Appropriateness. Borough Council will meet next on Monday, November 10, 2008.
Peggy Gustafson moved to accept the minutes of the September 17, 2008 meeting as presented. Nancie Gudmestad seconded and the motion carried.
Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness
A. Alteration. Replacement doors. 21 W. High Street. Saint Francis Xavier Parish.
Merry Bush noted that a Catholic Church was located on the site on the 1896 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. Elwood Christ said that a Catholic Church had occupied the site since 1843 and that Xavier Hall was built in 1870.
Lance Bryson spoke on behalf of the Parish. The application calls for the replacement of the church's front doors with ones that would match those installed on the school building. The existing doors were installed between 1910 and 1930, according to the applicant, and have an art deco profile. The proposed doors would have three panels and would be built with mortis and tendon joinery. The applicant plans to paint the doors white, noting that the varnish on the current doors did not hold up well and allowed the doors to deteriorate.
Nancie Gudmestad asked whether there had ever been a transom window over the doors where there is currently a wood panel. The applicant said that there had never been a window above the doors.
Peggy Gustafson asked if the appearance of the church doors be the same as those on the school. The applicant said yes.
Elwood Christ said that paint would have been used on the original doors since stains were developed later.
Merry Bush asked why the color white was selected. The applicant said that they gave the building committee only one color choice.
Nancie Gudmestad asked what the church planned to do with the old doors; had they considered donating them to the Architectural Salvage Warehouse. The applicant said they would consider it.
Findings of Fact: The building at 21 W. High Street is a sensitive building in that it is over 50 years old and is located within Gettysburg Borough Historic District. It is also a contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. The building dates back to the pre-Civil War era although it has been altered since then.
Peggy Gustafson moved to recommend that Borough Council approve the application as submitted. Norm Forness seconded and the motion carried 6 to 0.
B. New Construction. Addition. 122 E Middle Street. James Fleet, owner. Nick Cool, representative.
The applicant proposes to build a one-story family room addition at the rear of his home located at 122 E. Middle Street. The addition will be covered with vinyl siding to match the existing house.
After looking at the color photos Michael Birkner expressed concern that there would not be enough of the rear yard left to comply with the Zoning Ordinance. The owner said that the addition would be 18 feet wide x 30 feet deep with 100 feet of the back yard left.
Gary Shaffer noted the limited visibility from a public street or alley.
Nancie Gudmestad asked if the rear second story window would remain. The applicant said yes.
Findings of Fact: The building at 122 E. Middle Street is a contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. It is also located within Gettysburg Borough Historic District. The work proposed would be a critical project to a sensitive building as defined by the Gettysburg Borough Historic District Ordinance. The proposed work would change the configuration of the house but is not visible from a public street.
Nancie Gudmestad moved make a recommendation to Borough Council for the approval of the application as submitted. Elwood Christ seconded and the motion carried, 6 to 0.
C. Signage. Alteration. 48 Baltimore Street. Bill Synnamon, applicant.
The applicant proposes to repaint the existing hanging sign. New lettering will replace the old on the back awning. The applicant also proposes to cover the Perma Stone surrounding the entrance with brown painted wood trimmed in black. If needed, he will use trim similar to the molding located on the exterior of the second and third floors.
Elwood Christ asked about the Civil War plaque. The applicant said that it would remain visible.
Findings of Fact: The structure at 48 Baltimore Street is a contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. It is also located within the Gettysburg Borough Historic District. The work proposed is visible from a public street and is therefore a critical project to a sensitive building as defined by the Gettysburg Borough Historic District Ordinance. The building at 48 Baltimore Street has been significantly altered although not within the past thirty to forty years.
Nancie Gudmestad asked if a new awning would be installed. The applicant said that the existing lettering on the awning is removable and that new lettering would be installed on the existing awning.
Nancie Gudmestad moved to recommend that Borough Council approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed changes to the building. Elwood Christ seconded the motion and it carried, 6 to 0.
Elwood Christ assumed the role of chairman as Gary Shaffer has a fiduciary relationship with the next applicant.
D. Alteration. Replacement windows. Fahnestock Building. 47 Baltimore Street. Adams County Housing Authority (ACHA), applicant.
The Adams County Housing Authority (ACHA), the owner of the Fahnestock Building, 47 Baltimore Street, wishes to replace all the windows. Central air conditioning will be added to the building eliminating the need for window units. It was noted that the initial renovation of the building was a tax credit project. Gary Shaffer, representing the applicant, said that the interior storm windows are very difficult for the residents to open. The exterior storm sashes are deteriorating due to the impact of weather. The building has four different styles of windows: one over one, two over two, four over four and six over six. ACHA hopes to minimize the different styles of windows. Mr. Shaffer said that there are 50 windows on the front elevation alone. The proposal calls for vinyl- and aluminum-clad wood windows. The muntins will be replicated. The owners would like the new windows to match the existing colors.
Considering that Baltimore Street is a critical elevation, Gary Shaffer told the applicant that most likely the Board would require them to maintain the existing curved windows on that elevation.
Mr. Shaffer said that the clad sill would direct water away from the sash to front with a lip to direct water over the edge.
The applicant also proposes to replace the storefront windows with inserts into the existing wood frames.
Dale Gettel said that his concern would be safety issues. He would see any problems in the building if he did an inspection.
Nancie Gudmestad asked if the windows would be operable. Mr. Shaffer said that the windows would be operable double-hung windows with built-in screens.
Peggy Gustafson said that the arched front windows should remain. Nancie Gudmestad agreed. She suggested that the curved window at the top of the storefront windows should tilt in to allow fresh air into the interior.
Elwood Christ suggested that the windows be two over two. He noted that locating the air conditioning units would not be easy.
Norm Forness recommended that the windows be consistent all the way around the building, suggesting one-over-one windows.
Findings of Fact: The building at 47 Baltimore Street is a contributing structure to the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District and a sensitive building located within the Gettysburg Borough Historic District, as determined by ordinance. The proposed project is a critical one visible from a public street. Elwood Christ noted that the building consisted of two floors when it was built in 1826. Gary Shaffer said that the windows on the north side did not exist when the building was constructed.
Peggy Gustafson moved to accept the application as submitted. Nancie Gudmestad seconded and the motion carried 5 to 0, with one abstention.
Old Business
Drawings of the proposed Gettysburg Transit Center were discussed briefly. The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) has approved the drawings as part of the Phase II review required by the use of federal dollars for the transit system. Michael Birkner said that Gary Shaffer rescued the design of the building. Norm Forness said that the second story windows relate to the adjacent house but should have been elongated to relate more to the train station.
Reports
Michael Birkner reported that the consent HARB agenda was approved by Borough Council at its October meeting.
Merry Bush reported on an Elm Street Community Design Project. Through a pilot project with PHMC and the Pittsburgh Design Center, Gettysburg Borough was selected for the Community Design Project. The Pittsburg Design Center matched the Elm Street Program with an architect who will prepare a base map of the Elm Street area noting any particular issues that could be easily remedied and those that will require a longer term effort. In addition, the architect will make design suggestions to remedy those issues. HARB will be invited to review and discuss those suggestions once they are ready.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Merry V. Bush, Borough Planner and recorder