Historic District Commission

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting Minutes September 12, 2016 CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chair Mr. Michael Troutman, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Patrick Barnett Kim Tuck Jim Hopkins John Paul Wilson Bruce Phillips Kaytee Faris, City Commission Liaison Excused: Daniel Buscher, and Mike Troutman Staff Present: Marcel Stoetzel, Deputy City Attorney, Admin. Services Glenn Perian, Senior Planner Leona Parrish, Admin. Assistant, Planning Dept. ADDITIONS / DELETIONS TO AGENDA: Addition under New Business item (B) – Regarding 86 S. Division Street from Mr. Andrew D. Schweitzer, Vice President/COO, Schweitzer Incorporated, requesting this property to be reviewed by the commission to become an Historic Property on the city register. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES: MOTION MADE BY MR. BRUCE PHILLIPS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE APRIL 11, 2016 HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING, SECONDED BY MR. PATRICK BARNETT. ALL IN FAVOR; NONE OPPOSED; MINUTES APPROVED CORRESPONDENCE: Mr. Glenn Perian handed-out additional information provided by Mr. Halldorson regarding his property at 68-70 Frelinghuysen Avenue. (See Attachment A) OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: A) 68-70 Frelinghuysen Avenue – (Request to demolish and rebuild front porch from owner Mr. Steven Halldorson.) Mr. Glenn Perian stated petition filed by Steven Halldorson, owner of 68-70 Frelinghuysen Avenue, for the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness/Notice to Proceed for work that will comply with zoning and historic district commission requirements at 68-70 Frelinghuysen including tearing off the front porch, front porch roof, constructing a new porch and new roof over the front doors of the duplex. The owner submitted an application for similar work on June 28, 2016, that was returned by the Planning department because there was not enough information included in the application packet to determine exactly what work was being proposed for the property. In response to the 1 returned application the homeowner met with staff for clarification on what materials should be included with the application and the attached application and accompanying information was submitted. Mr. Perian stated staff recommends denial until we get further information, as he does not believe enough information has been submitted for them to know exactly what is being proposed for the new porch addition and roof. Mr. Halldorson property owner was present, stated the city is requesting work to be done and noted there is mold on the roof and want to re-shingle roof and repair to it’s original. Said he has a builder here with him today that would assist with the work; explained the work on the posts and that the only thing that can be done is to repair the roof only. Mr. Halldorson said $12,000 dollars is his cost, which he does not have and plans to only do a porch deck area. Stated he wants to hear what the Historic District Commission wants to see done, before spending $1,000 dollars for an architect to do drawings. Discussion: Mr. Bruce Phillips asked Mr. Halldorson if he is asking to leave the porch open and not rebuild. Mr. Halldorson stated he wanted to remove the porch roof and also porch if he can. Mr. Glenn Perian stated they were getting ahead of themselves and need to determine if they need to do a Notice to Proceed to tear off the porch. Stated the information they received had the incorrect address noted on the document provided and is not sure; need to see if it is cost prohibited to remove the porch. Mr. Halldorson stated at the beginning of the letter the address noted was for a property on Cherry Street and had been crossed out and re-written for 68-70 Frelinghuysen. Chairperson Mr. Jim Hopkins asked what was the cost for this property. Mr. Halldorson stated $10,000 dollars; with an SEV of about $30,000 dollars. Stated it needs something safe and want to increase his income and not value of the property as the neighborhood has drugs, etc. and with lower income properties. Commissioner Faris stated she agrees it is a low income area and that she lives near this house and see it’s condition. Said she feels the owner needs to submit a complete application. Mr. Halldorson stated it will not be a historic value if porch is redone as the current building code does not work; said he had spoken with the Building Inspector. Commissioner Faris stated we need to see the cost to demolish and rebuild, so we can get an overall impression of what we are dealing with regarding this property. Mr. Glenn Perian stated the commission can make a motion to approve; deny or postpone for additional information to be submitted. Mr. Halldorson asked if they wanted a quote to rebuild. Mr. Stoetzel, Deputy City Attorney, stated if they choose to postpone they would need to set a date for next review. Mr. Halldorson stated he is under court order to have had it done 2 months ago and want to fast- track; asked it this can be done. Mr. Perian stated we do not normally hold a special meeting; noted this had been started last June. 2 Mr. Marcel Stoetzel noted to the commission to approve it would need to meet the criteria for the Preservation of Historic Features, Chapter 1470, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines. With no others wishing to speak, Chairperson Mr. Hopkins asked commissioners for a motion. MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. BRUCE PHILLIPS TO POSTPONE THE NOTICE TO PROCEED FOR THE PROPOSED WORK FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 68- 70 FRELINGHUYSEN AVENUE UNTIL THE OCTOBER 10, 2016 MEETING, IN ORDER TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED; SECONDED BY MR. PATRICK BARNETT. ALL IN FAVOR; NONE OPPOSED; MOTION APPROVED Commissioner Faris asked what work is the city asking to be done. Mr. Perian stated the work requested to be done is by the Code Compliance department in order to bring the property up to code. B) 86 S. Division Street - (Request by Schweitzer Inc. to be put on the list of the City’s Local Historic Places) Request from Schweitzer Inc., Mr. Andrew D. Schweitzer, V.P & COO, for property formerly known as Taylor Produce/Norman Foods to be considered for inclusion on the City of Battle Creek Register of Historic Places. Mr. Glenn Perian stated this is a request from Schweitzer Inc. to have their property located at 86 S. Division Street to be considered for inclusion on the City of Battle Creek Register of Historic Places. Mr. Perian stated he would ask two members to volunteer to prepare a report for submittal; noted staff can assist if needed. Mr. Drew Schweitzer, owner and Mr. Larry Rizor, architect, was present on behalf of their request. Mr. Schweitzer stated they have been in business for 54 years and that the last 5-6 years they have been looking for a new building to get closer to the downtown and have everyone in one location. Stated he had asked Mr. Larry Rizor to assist to get this property on the city’s listing of Historic Places registry. Mr. Larry Rizor stated this property is a good four story building and would be a good use for historic designation. Stated the present day code since 1970 has changed; noted the Sullivan Barn was done as a Local and National Historic property for tax credits and was approved because of its history. Said they are only asking for this property located at 86 S. Division Street to be on the Local Historic District designation. Mr. Rizor noted this property is adjacent to railroads that have jarred the building for years and that the 1922 a portion of the building has stucco that had become unattached and was in danger of collapse and had been repaired. Stated they are asking for only the 1922 portion to be designated and not the entire site and may ask for the freight elevator to be added for preservation. Mr. Schweitzer stated they had used the freight elevator in 2011 – 2012. Mr. Larry Rizor quoted the ordinance for the Historic District as being a benefit to the downtown and community and if approved by the Historic District; it can retain some of the old items such as handrails etc., and would not require it to be brought up to code, which would be costly. 3 Mr. Glenn Perian stated they are asking for this property to be placed on the City Local Historic Registry and in order to do this they are asking to have two commission members to volunteer to prepare a report to be presented to the City Commission and recommend action. Mr. Kim Tuck stated he would volunteer as he has been involved in this in the past. Mr. Bruce Phillips and Mr. John Paul Wilson also stated they would volunteer. Mr. Glenn Perian asked Mr. Marcel Stoetzel if they may have three members prepare the report. Mr. Stoetzel stated the guidelines note that they need to vote for at least two members to be appointed. MOTION MADE BY MR. PATRICK BARNETT TO APPOINT THREE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEMBERS; KIM TUCK, BRUCE PHILLIPS AND JOHN PAUL WILSON TO PREPARE A REPORT FOR 86 S. DIVISION STREET TO BE ADDED TO THE CITY’S LOCAL HISTORIC PLACE REGISTRY, SECONDED BY MR. JIM HOPKINS. ALL IN FAVOR; NONE OPPOSED; MOTION APPROVED PUBLIC COMMENTS: None COMMENTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF: Mr. Glenn Perian stated 68-70 Frelinghuysen Ave. has been a difficult property for staff and was sorry to have brought it before the commission at this time; will hopefully get more information submitted by the owner to present at next month’s meeting. Mr. Marcel Stoetzel stated the assessed value for 68-70 Frelinghuysen Ave. is $29,000 dollars and Mr. Ian Wright, City Attorney has three code violations currently open for this property. Commissioner Faris stated she believes both sides of 68-70 Frelinghuysen Ave. are currently being rented and we need to check to see if they are in violation. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Michael Troutman, Vice-Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4:52 P.M. Submitted by: Leona A. Parrish, Administrative Assistant, Planning Department 4