HARB Minutes

Chairman Gary Shaffer called the continuation of the May 31, 2012 special meeting of the Historical Architectural Review Board to order at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 2012. The meeting was held at the Borough Municipal Building, 59 E. High Street. 

A quorum was present. Those in attendance were: Board members Jim McCabe, Nancie Gudmestad, Peggy Gustafson, Colleen Lingle, Philip Goble and Dale Gettel, Borough Code Enforcement Officer; Merry Bush, Borough Planning Technician and Historic District Administrator; and Scott Dellett, Borough Planning Director.

Also in attendance were: Daniel Knudsen, owner, and Allen Beckett, contractor, representing 227 N. Washington Street and John Butterfield, Borough Council.

Purpose of Meeting

This is a continuation of the May 31, 2012 meeting during which the Board recommended that Borough Council deny the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a rear addition to the building located at 227 N. Washington Street. The Board agreed to continue the meeting to allow the applicant to present revised drawings showing a decrease in the height of the rear elevation. 

Alteration. New Construction. 227 N. Washington Street, Daniel and Shannon Knudsen, owners. 

There was no additional background material presented. 

Dan Knudsen provided drawings to the Board, which included three different options. Gary Shaffer asked that the applicant present only the option that he preferred. Drawings considered were numbered A-1, A2-2, A3-2 (with rear gable roof), A4-2 and A5.

Jim McCabe asked if the rear portion of the front apartment was higher than the historic building. The applicant said no, it was lower. 

Nancie Gudmestad asked if there was to be any windows on the north elevation below the shed-like roof. The applicant said a window could not be installed since a closet would be located there.

Peggy Gustafson asked if the Grandrib 3 metal roof was continuing throughout the building. Mr. Knudsen said yes. Noticing that the rear porch roof had been cut back, Ms. Gustafson asked if there would still be enough coverage for someone opening the doors. The applicant said there would be enough coverage.

Colleen Lingle asked about the pitch of the roof line. Mr. Knudsen said that the roof line changed from a 4-pitch to a 5-pitch. Ms. Lingle said the design presented was 100 percent better than previously submitted ones. 

Philip Goble asked if there is a step up in height in the middle section. The applicant said that it was about a 5-inch difference in height. 

Colleen Lingle moved to recommend that a Certificate of Appropriateness be issued to the application as presented. The motion was seconded by Phil Goble and Jim McCabe. Philip Goble thanked the applicant. 

Merry Bush asked that the motion be amended to reference the drawing page numbers. Colleen Lingle agreed as did Phil Goble and Jim McCabe. 

Motion: Colleen Lingle made a motion to recommend to Borough Council that a Certificate of Appropriateness be issued for the rear addition to 227 N. Washington Street based upon drawings dated June 6, 2012: A-1, A2-2, A3-2, A4-2, and A5 with the corrected window location to be shown on the floor plan. The motion carried 6 to 1, with Nancie Gudmestad dissenting. Ms. Gudmestad said that the building is still too large for the site and for the neighborhood.

Additional Discussion

Dale Gettel asked if was possible to request a security bond for small projects to make sure that they comply with approved plans. Gary Shaffer said that only in a very few cases are projects not completed as approved. He said he didn’t think it would be necessary.

Scott Dellett said that larger projects already have bonding for the land development component. He said that it might be desirable for demolition projects. Continuing, he said that if a security bond was desired it would have to be in the ordinance and should be brought up in those discussions.

Peggy Gustafson said that when the Board had looked at the earlier drawings for 

227 N. Washington Street it failed to consider the step down of the roof line. She asked if a bullet point list of these elements be developed for the HARB books. Gary Shaffer said he was willing to work on such a list.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Merry V. Bush

Borough Planning Technician and Historic Administrator