HARB
Historic Architectural Review Board
Meeting Minutes
July 16, 2008
Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board to order at 7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2008. Those in attendance were: Board members Elwood Christ, Peggy Gustafson, Rich Clark and Norm Forness; and Merry Bush, Borough Planner. Nancie Gudmestad and Michael Birkner, Borough Council liaison, were absent. A quorum was present. Others attending the meeting were Christ Seitz, Gettysburg Economic Development Corporation, and John DeVitry, architect, JDVMAD Partnership, for the Gettysburg Transit Station, 103 Carlisle Street; Jill Rohrbaugh, architect, Architecture Workshop, for Gettysburg College, 218 Carlisle Street; Rod Miller for 234 W. Middle Street; Francisca Delgado and
Macu DeVitry, JDVMAD Partnership.
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, August 11, 2008. Applicants may pick up permits for those projects approved by Council after that date. Mr. Shaffer then explained the procedures that would be followed during the meeting.
Merry Bush announced that there might not be a representative attending for 218 Chambersburg Street. There were no other changes to the agenda. Peggy Gustafson moved to approve the minutes of the June 18 and July 7, 2008 minutes as written. Rich Clark seconded and the motion carried.
Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness
A. New Construction. Conceptual. Gettysburg Transit Station. 103 Carlisle Street. Gettysburg Economic Development Company, owner.
The Gettysburg Transit Station is the first of a multi-phase project on the REDDI site between Carlisle and N. Stratton Street encompassing approximately 2.9 acres. A new "street" called Hudson Street will run north of the railroad tracks from Carlisle to N Stratton. The architect proposes an "iconic" hexagonal building. A proposal for another phase includes a four star arts hotel.
Norm Forness said that the building looks squat-short. He suggested that the height of the copula be increased.
Peggy Gustafson said that the drawing does not recognize the Carlisle Street elevation. The drawings do not show an accurate scale. John DeVitry said that he did not have the drawings of the train station. He gave the height of the proposed building as 14 feet from the sidewalk up to the copper fascia. Ms. Gustafson said that 14 feet was rather short.
Elwood Christ asked if the applicant had done any historic research on previously existing buildings such as the McCurdy Warehouse. There were also lime kilns at the east end of the work site, Mr. Christ said. The applicant said that historic and cultural research was completed on the site. Mr. DeVitry said that mixed uses conflict with transit funds.
Gary Shaffer said that he was looking for something that was closer to the street to fill in the holes along the streetscape.
Elwood Christ asked what the hotel will do to the N. Stratton streetscape. Mr. Christ said that he would like to see a conceptual plan for all the phases.
Peggy Gustafson suggested that the applicant prepare a scale model providing the general size of all proposed buildings. The applicant will return with a more definite design at a later date.
B. Alteration. Front entry. 218 Chambersburg Street. Bryan Wasylyk, owner.
As there was no one to represent the application, the Board moved on to Item C.
C. Alteration. Siding. 232-234 W. Middle Street. Larry J. Peters, Jr., and Rod Miller and Darcy Bertelmann, owners, respectively.
Rod Miller represented the application. Mr. Miller purchased 234 W. Middle Street several months ago and runs a non-profit group out of the building. The duplex is located across the street from Kennie's Market and according to Mr. Miller it is the only non-brick building that is not covered with an alternate siding. Mr. Miller also expressed concern about lead paint on the exterior of the building. Mr. Miller provided a sample of the siding he hoped to use.
Peggy Gustafson asked how many painters the applicant had spoken to. Mr. Miller replied, "Three." Ms. Gustafson asked if he had received an estimate on just the front of the building. Mr. Miller said that he did not. Mr. Miller said that the house was like a shotgun house but stacked on top of each other.
Gary Shaffer noted that the owner of 236-238 W. Middle Street followed the Secretary's Guidelines but installed newer entry doors with storm doors that do not fit the style of the building.
Mr. Shaffer said that deeply textured or rough siding holds street dirt. His preference is restoration siding, which has a smooth surface. He said that most manufacturer have this type of siding. He noted that most of the windows have been replaced. The applicant proposes to replace the windows on the second floor front of 234 W. Middle Street.
Findings of Fact: The duplex at 232-234 W. Middle Street is a contributing structure to both the Gettysburg Borough Historic District and the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. 232 W. Middle Street retains a high degree of integrity with original window and door openings. 234 W. Middle Street has a mixed degree of integrity with some original windows and doors. The wood siding is not decorative in nature.
Elwood Christ made a motion to recommend that Borough Council approve the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness with the stipulation that a smooth surface siding, not a wood grain surface, be installed and that the wood trim remain uncovered. Norm Forness seconded the motion, which passed 5 to 0.
Rod Miller, the applicant, said that he wished to replace the windows at 234 W. Middle Street. Six of the ten windows have already been replaced on the west elevation have been replaced. Peggy Gustafson made a motion that Borough Council approve the replacement of the remaining windows on the west elevation and those on the rear elevation. Elwood Christ second and the motion carried, 5 to 0.
Gary Shaffer made a motion to recommend that Borough Council approval the in-kind replacement of the windows on the second floor front façade and that the wood casings remain uncovered. The gutter and downspouts will be replaced in kind. Rich Clark seconded the motion, which passed 5 to 0.
D. Alteration. Handicapped Accessible Ramp. 218 Carlisle Street. Gettysburg College, owner.
The building at 218 Carlisle was built between 1869 and 1870 as the home of Robert McCurdy, president of the Gettysburg Railroad. The property extended down from Sigma Chi down to Water Street. A later resident was John Keith, attorney for the bank. There have been changes over the years; drawings of the 1925 changes are located at the Adams County Historical Society. The property now owned by the college retains much of the original 1869-1870 appearance. There have been interior accommodations for students for the Civil War Studies program.
The proposed changes would bring the building into ADA compliance. The proposed handicapped accessible ramp would be located at the rear of the property and run parallel to Carlisle Street. The existing landscaping will be extended to conceal the ramp from the street and blend this element with the existing setting. The ramp will end at the handicapped parking area in the rear of the property.
Peggy Gustafson asked if the applicant planned to remove brick in the rounded opening down to the porch floor. Jill Rohrbaugh said that the porch floor would be raised to bring it level to the doorway. No changes will be made to the door or doorway as it meets ADA requirements. Steps to the porch will remain.
Findings of Fact: The building at 218 Carlisle Street is contributing structure to the Gettysburg Historic District and the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District. The building has a high degree of architectural integrity. The proposed changes will be visible from the street. The proposed work is to bring ADA upgrades to an existing building.
Peggy Gustafson moved to recommend that a Certificate of Appropriateness be issued for the work as submitted. Elwood Christ seconded; the motion carried 5 to 0.
Gary Shaffer recused himself as he has a fiduciary relationship with the following applicant. Elwood Christ assumed the role of chairman.
E. Alteration. Carriage House. Roofline. 132 E. Middle Street. Philip E. Goble, owner.
Merry Bush said that she had found the structures at 132 E. Middle Street on the 1907 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. The applicant proposes to modify a portion of the roofline on an existing carriage house.
Rich Clark moved to recommend that a Certificate of Appropriateness be issued for the work as submitted. Norm Forness seconded and the motion carried, 4 to 0 with 1 abstention.
Gary Shaffer took over the meeting as chair.
Returning to Item B: There being no one to represent the application, Norm Forness made a motion to recommend that the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for work at 218 Chambersburg Street be denied. Elwood Christ seconded the motion. The motion carried, 5 to 0.
Reports
Merry V. Bush, Borough Planner
Ms. Bush reported that the owner of 64 E. Stevens Street has been scraping the peeling paint and hopefully will begin painting soon.
New Business
Norm Forness noted that the curved windows at Theta Chi, 339 Carlisle Street, are covered with cardboard. Peggy Gustafson will contact Dave Swisher at Gettysburg College to see how this can be fixed. Mr. Forness asked about screening of the handicapped accessible lift at
51 W. Stevens Street. This will be checked out.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Merry V. Bush, Borough Planner and Recorder