HARB Minutes
Historic Architectural Review Board
Meeting Minutes
May 18, 2011
Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) to order on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting was held at the Gettysburg Borough building,
59 E. High Street. Those in attendance were: Board members Nancie Gudmestad, Peggy Gustafson, Elwood Christ, Colleen Lingle and Dale Gettel, Code Enforcement Officer; Merry Bush, Borough Planner and Historic District Administrator; and Scott Dellett, Planning Director. Although Judi McGee was absent, a quorum was present.
Others in attendance were: Bruce Dietrick and Mark R. Keller, Jr., Adams Rescue Mission, and Philip Schindel and Rick Lasca, Ragged Edge Coffee House, all for the proposed apartment building at 114 Chambersburg Street; Doug Miller, 43 E. Middle Street; Ernie Kranias, Ernie's Texas Lunch, for 54-56-58 Chambersburg Street; Brad Smith for 121-123 York Street; and Rick Fulton, Gettysburg Times.
Mr. Shaffer introduced the Board members and explained the procedures that would be followed during the meeting. He noted that the Board serves as an advisory group to the Borough Council, which makes final decisions concerning Certificates of Appropriateness. Borough Council will make decisions regarding these applications at its June 13, 2011 meeting.
Review of Agenda and Minutes
There were no changes or additions to the agenda. Nancie Gudmestad moved to accept the minutes of the April 20, 2011 meeting as presented. Peggy Gustafson seconded and the motion carried.
Certificates of Appropriateness
A. New Construction. Rear Shed. 43-45 E Middle Street. Doug Miller, owner.
Background: The Borough issued a Non-UCC Building Permit for the shed located at the rear of the applicant's property at 43-45 E. Middle Street without realizing the impact on the historic district. Once the shed was under construction, it became clear that the proposed design could be readily seen from several public rights-of-way - Legion Alley and E. High Street. The shed is 40 feet long and 12 feet wide. The shed roof is 18 feet high at the alley and slopes down to 10 feet.
The applicant plans to cover the shed with 4 x 8-foot sheets of redwood siding running vertical. On the east end of the alley façade will be a garage door. The application showed a window at the other end of the alley side. The applicant is a contractor and plans to store his tools and equipment in the shed. The only vehicle to be stored is a motorcycle. The shed will be primed and painted. The roof will consist of rolled shingles similar to older porch roofs.
Findings of Fact: The structure at 43-45 E. Middle Street is a double house with a high degree of architectural significance. The new construction is located to the rear of the property with some visibility from E. Middle Street and high visibility from the alley.
Gary Shaffer noted that there was no consistency with the window designs. The owner said that the window facing the backyard could not be seen unless there was an encroachment into the backyard.
Nancie Gudmestad said that the Borough has some lovely rear buildings and wished that this one was more sympathetic to nearby buildings. Peggy Gustafson express her concern with the inconsistence of the window pattern.
Dale Gettel said that new construction should be compatible with existing historic buildings. Elwood Christ commented on the asymmetric look of the south façade.
Colleen Lingle recommended that Borough Council issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the application as submitted. The motion failed for lack of a second. Elwood Christ said he would vote for the motion if a stipulation was added for removal of the window on the west end of the south elevation. After further discussion, the applicant agreed to remove the window. Colleen Lingle moved to recommend that Borough Council issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a wood shed with only a garage door facing the alley. Dale Gettel seconded the motion. The motion carried, 4 to 2, with Nancie Gustafson and Gary Shaffer dissenting.
Nancie Gustafson said she did not like to see a solid wall with just the garage door. She wanted windows.
Gary Shaffer said that the building violates all compatibility rules especially with the windows and doors proposed. The building does not respect the historic properties that lay around it.
B. Alteration. Paint Front Façade. 54-56-58 Chambersburg Street. Ernest and Linda Kranias, owners.
Background: The two-story, shed roof, brick building was built in 1888 for J. William Garlach, a furniture dealer and undertaker. The second floor served as his home. The structure's distinguishing features include the decorative frieze and brickwork, slightly altered vintage storefronts, and the stained glass windows.
Peggy Gustafson asked about the color scheme the owner planned to use. Ernie Kranias sais that he was thinking of a light beige on the brick with two different shades of a darker brown for the trim and around the windows.
Gary Shaffer pointed out that the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties say that buildings that have been historically unpainted should remain unpainted. Buildings that have been painted may have been built of a softer brick, which required paint to protect and preserve the brick. Peggy Gustafson said that multiple colors could be used on the trim work.
Findings of Fact: The building at 54-56-58 Chambersburg Street houses Ernie's Texas Hots and an other business on the first floor and several apartments on the second floor. The brick is in excellent condition. The building maintains a high degree of original integrity. The Secretary's Standards say that the unpainted historic brick should remain in that same condition.
Before a motion could be made, the owner, Ernest Kranias, withdrew the application.
Gary Shaffer recused himself from the review of the following two applications. Although, he is not accepting payment for the work at the St. James Lutheran Church property, he is the architect of record.
C. Alteration. Fire Exit Stairs. 121-123 York Street. St. James Lutheran Church, owner.
Background: The property has interior stairs that are not code compliant and when previous work was approved by the PA Department of Labor and Industry the owner was asked to come into compliance in the future; the rear set of exterior steps to the second floor will accomplish that.
Nancie Gudmestad asked why the arched bricks over the window will be removed. Brad Smith, representing the applicant, said that the exterior door must be 36 inches wide. The arch will be replicated.
The 48-inch high guardrail is too high to count as a handrail. A handrail will be incorporated into the guardrail system. The black steel guardrail system will have square balusters.
Elwood Christ asked about the usage of the building. The applicant said that the downstairs is used as a meeting room for the church youth and the second floor for church offices.
Peggy Gustafson moved to recommend that Borough Council issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a rear steel staircase as submitted. Nancie Gudmestad seconded and the motion carried, 5 to 0, with 1 abstention.
D. New construction. Apartment Building. 114 Chambersburg Street. Adams Rescue Mission, owner.
Backgound: The parcel just to the west of 110 Chambersburg Street, has an apartment building in the rear with six apartments. The front of the parcel now sits empty. It had been the site of another apartment building, which was destroyed by fire in 2004, and the U.S. Christian Commission's Civil War Chapel, destroyed by fire in December 2010.
The owner, Adams Rescue Mission, proposes a new apartment building on the site with meeting space on the first floor and two apartments on each of the second and third floors.
The building will have a brick front façade, light in color, with dark trim. There are bay windows on each floor up to the property line. The proposed building is narrower than desired due to the requirements of the building code to stay off the property line. The building will be sprinklered and designed to be low maintenance.
Nancie Gudmestad asked if there would be light fixture at the front door. Bruce Dietrick said yes, but one had not been selected. She then asked if this was to be a separate building from the rear one, noting that it was not clear on the application. Gary Shaffer explained that the buildings are completely separate, with no connection between the two.
Peggy Gustafson expressed appreciation for the selection of a building design that would fit the infill space in scale, massing and rhythm . She asked what material would be used to surface the sides of the building. Gary Shaffer explained that Dryvit, matching the color of the front brick, would be used to side the building. Bruce Dietrick said that a green roof consisting of succulents would be developed to mitigate stormwater management requirements. The front porch roof will be metal to simulate historic porch roofs.
Colleen Lingle made a motion to recommend that Borough Council issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a new apartment building at 114 Chambersburg Street. The building is to have a brick front façade, front bay windows, a front porch with metal roof and a green roof. Dale Gettel second and the motion carried, 4 to 0, with Gary Shaffer abstaining.
E. Addition. Pergola. 162 E. Middle Street. Deborah Gemmell, owner.
The applicant or a representative did not attend the meeting so Colleen Lingle moved to deny the application unless it is withdrawn. The applicant can reapply next month. Elwood Christ seconded. The motion carried, 6 to 0. [Note: Deborah Gemmell withdrew the application and will resubmit for June.]
Old Business
Preservation Awards
Many of the award recipients attended the May 9 Borough Council meeting and were very pleased to receive the awards. Scott Dellett said written descriptions need to be developed for the categories that were chosen this year for any future awards. The Board agreed.
Residential Accessory Buildings
Gary Shaffer reiterated the need for Council to consider updating the zoning ordinance regarding sizes of residential accessory buildings and put stricter requirements in Chapter 5 Part 1 Uniform Construction Code (UCC) on the need to obtain UCC building permits for residential accessory buildings. Scott Dellett said he would again forward Mr. Shaffer's March 4, 2011 letter to the Borough Council President and Manager.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Merry V. Bush,
Planner and Historic District Administrator