Historic District Commission

1 of 19 AGENDA Historic District Commission Meeting Date: Monday, October 9, 2023 Time: 4:00 P.M. Where: City Hall, Room 301 1. Call to Order: 2. Attendance: 3. Additions or Deletions to Agenda: 4. Approval of minutes: September 11, 2023 5. Correspondence: 6. Old Business: 7. New Business: H10-23 (291 Champion St.) The petition, filed by Mr. Jim Coughlin of Roach Home Improvement on behalf of Mr. David Ellis, 291 Champion St., is for the proposed application of 4” vinyl siding over the deteriorated existing 4” wood siding. Parcel #5020-00-047-0. 8. Comments by the Public: 9. Comments from Commission members and Staff: 10. Adjournment: The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aides or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: Office of the City Clerk, P.O. Box 1717, 10 North Division – Suite 111, Battle Creek, MI 49016, (269)966-3348 (Voice), (269)966-3348 (TDD) Division Site 117 Battle Creek M Fax (269) 910 N. Di 10 N. DIVISION ST. P.O. BOX 1717 BATTLE CREEK MICHIGAN 49016-1717 PHONE (269) 966-3320 FAX (269) 966-3555 WWW.BATTLECREEKMI.GOV  2 of 19 CITY OF BATTLE CREEK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION 10 North Division, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Minutes for Monday, September 11, 2023 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Chairperson Newman at 4:01 p.m. This meeting was held in-person. ATTENDANCE: A roll call was taken: Comm. Newman, Present Comm. Simpson, Present Comm. Drozdowski, Present Comm. Davis, Present Comm. Sallee, Present Comm. Thornton, Absent Comm. Steinbrunner, Absent Staff Present: Travis Sullivan, Planning and Zoning Administrator, Melody Carlsen, Administrative Assistant, Marcel Stoetzel, Deputy City Attorney. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of August 14, 2023 minutes. MOTION MADE BY COMM. SIMPSON TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR AUGUST 14, 2023. SECONDED BY COMM. DROZDOWSKI. A vote was taken and all those in favor to say “aye”: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. CORRESPONDENCE: None. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: A. H09-23 (86 Oaklawn Ave) Petition from property owner of 86 Oaklawn Avenue, Joy Brown, for a Certificate of Appropriateness for restoration and/or replacement of front porch decking, front and storm doors, windows, replacement of back porch, and repair of basement brick wall, as well as various additional external repairs and replacements. Parcel #3550-00-053-0. Application Presentation: Travis Sullivan presented the Staff Report for property located at 86 Oaklawn Ave. The petition is for various repairs and replacement of deteriorated external features of the house. Staff recommends approval of proposed exterior repairs and replacements as they meet the standards outlined in Chapter 1470.09 “Review of Applications. “ Chapter 1470.07 “Preservation of Historic Features” and Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines. 1  3 of 19 Applicant Presentation: Linda Joy Brown, property owner of 86 Oaklawn Ave. was present to speak and answer questions from commissioners. MOTION MADE BY COMM. SIMPSON TO APPROVE ITEM H09-23 WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY STAFF, SECONDED BY COMM. DROZDOWSKI. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, NON OPPOSED, MOTION APPROVED. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None. COMMENTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF: None. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Newman adjourned the meeting at 4:17 p.m. Submitted by: Melody Carlsen, Planning and Zoning Administrative Assistant 2  4 of 19 Battle Creek Historic District Commission Staff Report Staff Report 291 Champion St. Meeting: October 9, 2023 To: Historic District Commission From: Travis Sullivan, Planning and Zoning Administrator Date: September 26, 2023 Subject: The petition, filed by Mr. Jim Coughlin of Roach Home Improvement on behalf of Mr. David Ellis, 291 Champion St., is for the proposed application of 4” vinyl siding over the deteriorated existing 4” wood siding. Summary Staff recommends approval of the subject petition at 291 Champion St., as the proposed residing of the building meets the standards outlined in Chapter 1470.09 “Review of Applications,” Chapter 1470.17 “Preservation of Historic Features” and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines, as well as maintains consistency with previous siding jobs approved by the Historic District Commission. Figure 1: Red pin on aerial points to subject site (291 Champion St.) located within the local Old Advent Town Historic District. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.  5 of 19 Site & History The subject site is located at 291 Champion St. near the southeast corner of Champion St. and N Cass St. within the Old Advent Town local historic district. The home on the site was constructed in 1918 with an area of 1,248 sq. ft. and is currently in use as a single-family residence. The building is a 2-story single-family home consisting of a façade with 4” wood siding over the majority of the structure. A number of alterations can be observed when comparing photos from June 2023 to the historical photo of the property from the Willard Library collection, including the enclosure of the front porch area and an alteration to the roofline and addition of a window along the east side of the building. As it pertains to this project, a comparison between the two photos shows that the 4” wood siding covering most of the building currently is not the original siding material. Portions of the east and south side of the building still contain a small amount of the original cement wall shingle siding material. The homeowner has stated that these areas will not be resided, and will only be painted. Figure 2: Historical photo of structure on the subject property (undated). Photo courtesy of the Willard Library digital collection. 2 of 7  6 of 19 Figure 3: Street view of the subject site at 291 Champion St. facing southwest, June 2023. Photo courtesy Google Streetview. Summary of Request The applicant has filed the subject HDC Certificate of Appropriateness application for the residing of the building at the subject site with new 4” vinyl siding (Certainteed American Legend, Herringbone color) to be placed over the existing 4” wood siding and the original siding (possibly asbestos-based cement tile). The proposed 4” vinyl siding consists of a matte finish. The applicant states that the existing wood siding is damaged beyond repair, and requires replacement. Photographic evidence of the siding concurs with the applicant (included as supplementary information in this packet), and provides a sound basis for a request to reside the building with a vinyl material which matches the size and general aesthetic of the existing wood material. It is also important to note that should any asbestos exist within any of the original cement wall shingle siding material (presence of asbestos is unknown), the material is not proposed to be removed or altered with the exception of painting. No exposed (or currently covered) original siding material will be removed. 3 of 7  7 of 19 Applicable HDC Guidelines and Analysis for a Certificate of Appropriateness for various repairs and replacements of deteriorated external features of the house. This property is reviewed in accordance with City of Battle Creek Building and Housing Code Chapter 1470 "Historic Preservation", as amended, the Michigan's Local Historic Districts Act, as amended, and the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places as outlined in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines. Specifically, the Commission shall follow Section 1470.09 Review of Applications, as follows: (b) The Commission shall also consider all of the following: (1) The historic or architectural value and significance of the resource and its relationship to the historic value of the surrounding area. (2) The relationship of any architectural features of the resource to the rest of the resource and the surrounding area. (3) The general compatibility of the design, arrangement, texture, and materials proposed to be used. (4) Other factors, such as aesthetic value that the Commission finds relevant. (c) The Historic District Commission shall review and act upon only exterior features of a resource and shall not review and act upon interior arrangements… And 1470.17 PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC FEATURES. (a) Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide a compatible use for a resource which requires minimal alteration of the building, structure or site and its environment, or to use the resource for its originally intended purpose. Staff finds that the existing siding on the resource is significantly deteriorated, and requires replacement. The proposed replacement with a vinyl material with matching dimensions would, in staff’s opinion, be the minimum alteration necessary to maintain the resource in good condition, while also maintaining the historical character of the resource as closely as possible. The Commission may find this standard to be met. (b) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a resource and its environment shall not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features shall be avoided when possible. The distinguishing original qualities and character of the resource and its environment will not be destroyed as a result of the proposed residing. The 4 of 7  8 of 19 existing wood siding which covers most of the building is not original, as can be seen in the historical photo of the resource. Additionally, the likely original siding still present on the building may contain asbestos, which would prevent an in-kind replacement. Additionally, the applicant has attempted to match a vinyl material with the dimensions and generally aesthetic character of the existing wood siding. The Commission may find this standard to be met. (c) All resources shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historic basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged. The proposed residing will not create alterations that would result in an earlier appearance. The proposed new siding material is intended to match the wood siding which currently covers most of the building as closely as possible from a dimensional and aesthetic standpoint, while providing the property owner with a more economical option which requires less attention to maintain in good condition. The Commission may find this standard to be met. (d) Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a resource and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected. No changes which may have taken place in the course of time will be altered as a result of the proposed residing of the building. The Commission may find this standard to be met. (e) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a resource shall be treated with sensitivity. The proposed residing of the building is intended to maintain the home in good order, and will not impact any stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize the resource. The Commission may find this standard to be met. (f) Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced wherever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historic, physical or pictorial evidence rather than on 5 of 7  9 of 19 conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other resources. It is important to note that on this particular block, just two residential structures remain; the building which is the subject of this application (291 Champion St.), and the building located at 36 N Cass St. The building at 36 N Cass St. is currently clad with a vinyl siding material, and allowance for the usage of vinyl siding at the subject site would not alter the general character of the immediate vicinity. The applicant’s proposed use of a 4” vinyl siding product with a matte finish is consistent with the only other existing residential use in the area, as well as matches the dimension and general aesthetic of the existing wood siding. The Commission may find this standard to be met. (g) The surface cleaning of resources shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic materials shall not be undertaken. Intensive cleaning application such as sand blasting will not be necessary for the project. The Commission may find this standard to be met. (h) Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archaeological resources affected by or adjacent to any project. It is not anticipated that any digging will be required of the applicant, and as such this standard is not relevant to this project. (i) Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing resources shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historic, architectural or cultural material and when such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the property, neighborhood or environment. Staff finds that the use of a vinyl siding material matching the size and aesthetic qualities of the existing wood siding would constitute a contemporary design which would not destroy significant historic, architectural or cultural material, and that such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material, and character of the property and the surrounding neighborhood. The case for this standard being met is strengthened by the fact that only one other residential structure exists on this block, with that structure being clad in vinyl siding itself, with the other adjacent surrounding parcels currently vacant. The Commission may find this standard to be met. 6 of 7  10 of 19 (j) Whenever possible, new additions or alterations to resources shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the resource would not be impaired. The installation of the new proposed vinyl siding will be done in such a fashion that, if removed in the future, would not impair the essential form or integrity of the resource. Additionally, the existing siding will remain in place underneath the vinyl material, should any owner of the property in the future desire to attempt repairs and refurbishing of the damaged material. The Commission may find this standard to be met. Recommendation The applicant’s proposed residing of the structure on the subject property seeks to maintain the resource in good and habitable order. While repair of the existing wood siding may be preferred, the use of a vinyl material with a matte finish and the same dimensions as the existing 4” wood siding matches as closely as possible the aesthetic form of the siding which currently covers the majority of the home, while providing the homeowner with a more economical and easier to maintain option. Additionally, the proposed vinyl siding would not impair the character of the surrounding vicinity, as the only other residential structure on the block features vinyl siding itself, with all other adjacent properties being vacant. Based upon staff’s analysis of the application and site conditions, the proposal does comply with all standards outlined in Chapter 1470 Historic Preservation and is recommended for approval. As contained herein, staff does not find any conflict with Chapter 1470 Historic Preservation, the Michigan Local Historic Districts Act, or the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines. Therefore, planning staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed residing of the home at 291 Champion St., as the request meets the standards outlined in Section 1470.09 “Review of Applications,” Section 1470.17 “Preservation of Historic Features” and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines, as outlined in the staff report. Support Material Historic District Commission Application Supplemental Photographs 7 of 7 11 of 19 12 of 19 13 of 19 14 of 19 15 of 19 16 of 19 17 of 19 18 of 19 19 of 19