HARB Minutes

Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board to order at 
7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. The meeting was held at the Borough Municipal Building, 59 E. High Street. A quorum was present. Those in attendance were: Board members Colleen Lingle, Peggy Gustafson and Aubrey Burkholder, Borough Code Enforcement Officer; Merry Bush, Borough Planning Technician and Historic District Administrator; and Scott Dellett, Borough Planning Director. Board members Nancie Gudmestad and Philip Goble were absent.

Also in attendance were: Bob McIlhenny, Historic Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC), and C. K. “Kib” Roulette, Christ Lutheran Church. 

Review of Agenda and Minutes

Gary Shaffer introduced the members and explained the procedures that would be followed during the meeting. He noted that the Board serves as an advisory group to Borough Council, which makes final decisions concerning Certificates of Appropriateness. Borough Council will next meet on Monday, March 11, 2013. 

There were no changes to the agenda. The Board reviewed the minutes from the previous meeting. Peggy Gustafson moved to accept the minutes as the official record of the January 16, 2013 meeting. Colleen Lingle seconded and the motion carried unanimously. 

Although an opportunity was presented for public comment, no one spoke. 

Certificates of Appropriateness 

A. Historic Signs/Markers. Civil War Hospitals. Christ Lutheran Church. 
30 Chambersburg Street. 

Kib Roulette of Christ Lutheran Church described the summer program presented by the church, “Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital. Candlelight at Christ Church.” He said performers read portions of journals written by doctors, patients and nurses who were there during the Battle of Gettysburg. The church would like to install a sign to recognize the church as a Civil War hospital. 

Bob McIlhenny gave an overview of the hospital sign program offered by Historic Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC). Previously installed signs are located outside the Borough. This is the first request for a sign in a more urban area. He then presented the proposed sign. 

Jim McCabe asked if a glossy coat of polyurethane or varnish would cover the sign. Mr. Roulette said that the post would have a urethane finish. The church and HGAC felt that a wood sign would be more appropriate for the downtown location.

When asked about other potential sites, Mr. McIlhenny said this is the only request that HGAC has received. He said that other requests would be brought to the Board on a case by case basis. 

Mr. McCabe then asked if the sign would be more substantial if it had two posts instead of one, noting that two posts would protect the sign from turning in the wind. Mr. Roulette said the sign would be protected from the westerly winds by the church steps. 

Peggy Gustafson suggested that perhaps a non-wood product like AZEK could be considered for the post, noting that it would not deteriorate like wood. She also suggested that a smaller post would be possible if there were two of them. 

Gary Shaffer said that the sign would look fine with either one or two posts. He noted a similar such sign could be found on page 83 of the Gettysburg Design Guide for the old Appleford Inn. He suggested that instead of the wood color the post or posts be painted blue or white to match the sign. The posts would then seem to disappear.

Colleen Lingle moved that the Board go on record for approving the installation of the sign, allowing for one or two standards, to be placed on the east side of the steps as indicated in the application. Jim McCabe seconded and the motion carried 5 to 0.

Mr. Shaffer noted that the sign did not need to go before Council for approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness so the applicants could move forward with the creation and installation of the sign.

Annual Historic Preservation Awards

Gary Shaffer recommended that two additional buildings be added to the list of award nominees – 231 Baltimore Street for paint and Federal Pointe Inn, 75 Springs Avenue, for complete rehabilitation and adaptive reuse. Colleen Lingle will photograph the buildings for the next meeting. 

Reports

Scott Dellett said he would like to revise the Historic District Ordinance so that it matches the sign ordinance. He asked the Board to review the ordinance looking for other items that need to be updated. 

There being no additional business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Merry V. Bush

Borough Planning Technician 

Historic District Administrator