HARB Minutes
Historic Architectural Review Board
Meeting Minutes
March 17, 2010
Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board to order on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 7:33 p.m. Those in attendance were Board members Peggy Gustafson, Elwood Christ, Nancie Gudmestad, Judi McGee, Dale Gettel, Code Enforcement Officer; and Merry Bush, Borough Planner and Historic District Administrator. A quorum was present.
Also in attendance was Willis Messersmith representing 116-118 Carlisle Street.
Mr. Shaffer introduced the Board members and explained the procedure 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, April 12, 2010.
Review of Agenda and Minutes
There were no changes or additions to the agenda.
Peggy Gustafson moved to accept the minutes of the February 17, 2010 meeting as submitted. Judi McGee seconded and the motion carried, 4 to 0, with one abstention.
Certificates of Appropriateness
Old Business
A. Demolition. Garage. 116-118 Carlisle St. Grace Reaver, owners. Willis Messersmith, representative.
This application originally came before the Board at the January meeting. At that time the Board tabled further discussion for 60 days to allow time for additional research into the history of the garage.
The Board may recommend denial of an application if determines that the building contributes to the historic character of the district or the building is of significant historic value.
Joseph Weible, a local farmer and wagon maker, built his mansion at 116-118 Carlisle Street in 1860. Shown on the 1896 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map is a small frame building at the rear of the house. Sometime between 1896 and 1902, that frame building was removed from the property. The 1902 and 1907 Fire Insurance Maps show a frame building at the rear of 120 Carlisle Street but nothing behind 116-118 Carlisle Street. The one-story gabled roof brick structure in the rear was built after 1907 and before 1931 when it shows up on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map.
Findings of Fact: The structures at 116-118 Carlisle Street are located in the Gettysburg Borough Historic District as determined by ordinance. The demolition of the rear garage would be a permanent change bringing this project under the review right of this Board. The garage is not visible from Carlisle Street or from Railroad Street. The building fronts on a public alley.
The rear building has little or no historic character. The garage was modified at some point in the past and remains a masonry shell. The building has no historically significant value. Based upon these findings For discussion purposes, Gary Shaffer made a motion to recommend that the application for demolition be issued a Certificate of Appropriateness. Dale Gettel seconded. Peggy Gustafson said that she was in agreement with the request. She hoped that the owners would continue to pay as much attention as they have in the past to both 106-108 and 116-118 Carlisle Streets. She said she was willing to compromise with buildings along the alley so the buildings on the street can be saved.
The motion carried, with a 6 to 0 vote.
Gary Shaffer recused himself. He has a fiduciary relationship with the following applicants. Elwood Christ assumed the role of chairman.
New Business
A. Alteration. ADA-Compliant Ramp. 19 Lincoln Square. Stephen Morro, owner.
Drawings were submitted to H.R. Gray, the Borough's ADA consultant, for review. H. R. Gray made a few suggestions to tweak the drawings bringing the proposed ramp into compliance. The company also suggested a different approach.
Gary Shaffer, serving as the architect, said that they did not follow Gray's suggestion to wrap the steps around the both sides of the ramp. The entrance to the building is a destination and not where the public walks as they move around the square. In addition, the Pub is located next door. Beginning in the spring, the Pub installs four to five flowerpots on the property line adding a decorative element to its outdoor dining area. The steps suggested by H.R. Gray would end where the flowerpots would block them.
A black iron or stimulated iron railing will be installed. Merry Bush asked how high the ramp would rise from bottom to top. Gary Shaffer said that the rise is about 10 inches so that a railing is required.
There is an existing walk-out basement door. That entrance will be covered with a half-inch type B steel deck with the concrete ramp poured on top to make a composite slab. Mr. Shaffer noted that wet concrete has no structural strength so the steel base is needed until the concrete has a chance to dry. Dale Gettel said that this is standard practice. The ramp is located below the balcony overhang.
Findings of Fact: The building was built between 1908 and 1909 on the western portion of Lot 1 of James Getty's new town. The building, built for Jacob B. Wineman, replaced the Martin building built about 1813.
Nancie Gudmestad moved to recommend that the elevations drawings be approved as submitted. Judi McGee seconded. The motion passed without further discussion, 5 to 0, with 1 abstention.
B. Alteration. New construction. 38 W. Middle Street. Lisa Portmess and Harry Stokes, owners.
The house at 38 W. Middle Street was built ca. 1884 by Murray M. Sheads, a cigar maker working for Edgar Faber . A conceptual drawing was presented at the February meeting.
The new owners plan to restore the front section of the house. The first steps will be to stabilize the structure and enlarge the crawl space. The sill plates will be replaced. The home will be a single family residence. Most of the rear first floor room will be retained. The floor will be removed and the roof raised to accommodate the addition of a half floor. An extension to the east will house new stairs built to code, though the original staircase will be maintained.
A new addition will be built to the rear to house a first-floor master bedroom along with a bathroom and laundry room. The new construction will add two bedrooms. Three bedroom homes have greater resale value.
Meeting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards requires that new construction be compatible with the historic fabric of the original house but be distinctively different so as not to recreate history.
The rear addition will be built into the hill. The foundation and walls will be made of Styrofoam block filled with concrete resulting with an R-45 insulation value. No wood will come in contact with the soil. An eight-inch cement, simulated-wood siding with a smooth surface will be installed on both the middle section and on the rear addition. The siding will be painted.
Symmetrical windows will be built on the rear addition.
Judi McGee asked why the two sets of stairs are so close. Gary Shaffer explained that the original stairs are not up to code so new stairs must be added. It is the intent of the owner, however, to maintain as much of the historic fabric as possible while providing a home for suitable for modern living. Peggy Gustafson asked about the roof materials. Mr. Shaffer said that the back will be a simple shingled building while the front will have maintain its historic roofing material. The two dormers on the east elevation will provide light to the new bedroom, as well as the stairwell.
Peggy Gustafson moved to recommend approval as submitted. Nanci Gudmestad seconded. The motion carried 4 to 0, with 2 abstentions. Both Gary Shaffer and Elwood Christ recused themselves.
New Business
Peggy Gustafson said she had been approached by a property owner who asked about replacing the porch handrail using in-kind materials and whether the property owner must come before HARB. The porch railing is very unique. The porch decking must also be replaced. Ms. Gustafson advised the owner that if that any alterations to the porch including raising the height of the porch would trigger a HARB review.
Old Business
Troy Truax will definitely attend the April meeting to give a presentation on the Steinwehr Avenue Revitalization Plan.
The meeting adjourned at 8:43 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Merry V. Bush,
Borough Planner and
Historic District Administrator