HARB

Historic Architectural Review Board
Meeting Minutes

February 18, 2009

Chairman Gary Shaffer called the Historical Architectural Review Board to order at 7:33 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2009.

Those in attendance were: Board members Nancie Gudmestad, Peggy Gustafson, Elwood Christ, and Dale Gettel, Borough Code Enforcement Official; Claire Lewis, Borough Council liaison; and Merry Bush, Borough Planner. Norm Forness was absent. The number of Board members present constituted a quorum. Others in attendance were Stephanie Calp, Elm Street program manager; Rich Farr and Geoff Spangler, Adams County Transit Authority (ACTA) J.R. Crushong and Darlene Brown, Adams County Housing Authority (ACHA); Scot Pitzer, Gettysburg Times.

There were no additions or corrections to the agenda. Peggy Gustafson moved to accept the minutes of January 21, 2009 as written. Nancie Gudmestad seconded and the motion carried.

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, March 9, 2009.

Update on Elm Street neighborhood

Stephanie Calp, manager of the Elm Street program, gave a brief overview of the status of the Elm Street neighborhood plan implementation. A façade improvement program has been created that will provide up to $5,000 in grant funds. Grants are available for both residential and commercial property owners. All proposed projects will be brought before HARB for review. Two applications have been submitted so far, one of which has been approved-62-64 Breckenridge Street.

Gary Shaffer asked about any planned streetscape improvements. An architect, hired through a pilot program with the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) and the Pittsburgh Design Center, is preparing streetscape designs. The current focus is on the historic intersections along S. Washington Street, Middle Street and South Street, Elm Street is partnering with PennDot on Middle Street and the Gettysburg Garden Club on S. Washington and South Streets. The Elm Street program is working with Gettysburg Hospital to upgrade the two or three blocks on S. Washington Street-the gateway from the south.

A local historian has been hired to carry out a historic property survey.

Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness

A. New Construction. Transit Station. 103 Carlisle Street. Adams County Transit Authority (ACTA).

Rich Farr and Geoff Spangler, representing ACTA, said that they had walked around town with their engineering firm and gave ideas for the design of the building. They did not want to take away from the historic Gettysburg Train Station but wanted a building that looked like an annex to the train station.

Nancie Gudmestad liked the design of the three circles with an arch above the front windows and wondered where she had seen it before. Mr. Farr said the design was found in the second floor windows of the train station. Ms. Gudmestad asked about signage and the floor plan of the building.

Mr. Farr said that the signage would be simple like that on the Train Station and would also be similar to the new wayfinding signage being installed in the Borough. Other than planned public restrooms, the floor plan has not been finalized.

Peggy Gustafson said that the transom above the front door needs to be the same width of the window. Merry Bush suggested that the transom on the drawing had been electronically pasted in. Mr. Farr said that construction and final elevation drawings need to created by an architect.

Peggy Gustafson asked about the depth of the building. Mr. Spangler said that it was about 40 feet deep.

Elwood Christ asked about the width of the driveway running along the northern boundary of the site. The driveways are designed for buses 35-feet long and no more than 102-inches wide. When asked how close the driveway was to the building to the north of the site, Mr. Farr said that it was quite close to the building.

Peggy Gustafson said that she had briefed Norm Forness about the new design. He votes yes in absentia.

Elwood Christ asked if a second floor could be added later. Rich Farr said that it was not possible because the structure to support a second floor would not be included in the design. Mr. Farr said that the $1.2 million budget for the project did not include enough money to build structural support for a second floor.

Findings of Fact: The proposed building is located within the Gettysburg Battlefield National Register Historic District and Gettysburg Borough Historic District. The project is new infill construction that meets most if not all of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Nancie Gudmestad made a motion to give full support to the conceptual drawing for the Gettysburg Transit Station. Peggy Gustafson seconded and the motion carried, 5 to 0.

Rich Farr said that he hoped there would be additional funds for Rural Transportation in the stimulus package.

Elwood Christ asked if the fuel tanks had been removed. Mr. Farr said that they had been removed some time ago.

Merry Bush will prepare a letter noting the Board's support for the package to sent to the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission.

Gary Shaffer recused himself due to a fiduciary relationship with the following applicant.

B. Renovation. 62 Breckenridge Street. Adams County Housing Authority.

ACHA reevaluated its options and decided to return 62-64 Breckenridge Street to a single-family home instead of the duplex previously approved. Once the interior was demolished, architectural evidence of a single front door was found. The window locations will remain the same. The applicant plans to replace the windows, doors and the roof. The windows will be aluminum-clad wood Jeld-wen windows. The aluminum siding will be removed. The original wood siding will remain but will be covered with weather proofing before being sided with simulated-wood siding. The cement board siding will be on all four sides of the building.

Nancie Gudmestad suggested that the original historic interior doors be reused.

Peggy Gustafson said that she was thrilled that the house will be for a single family. She had suggestions for the interior including pocket doors.

Merry Bush asked if they had considered adding a back door that would lead directly to the rear yard. Gary Shaffer, the architect, said that they had tried to include a rear door but could not do so and keep the larger kitchen.

Peggy Gustafson moved to recommend to Borough Council that a Certificate of Appropriateness be issued for the work at 62 Breckenridge Street. Nancie Gudmestad seconded and the motion carried, 4 to 0, with one abstention.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Merry V. Bush

Borough Planner and Historic District Administrator