Historic District Commission

CITY OF BATTLE CREEK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING 10 North Division, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Minutes for Monday, October 14, 2024 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Chairperson Simpson at 4:03 p.m. ATTENDANCE: Roll call was taken: Comm. Simpson, Present Comm. Drozdowski, Present Comm. Davis, Present Comm. Sallee, Present Comm. Thornton, Present Comm. Steinbrunner, Present Comm. Case, Present Staff Present: Travis Sullivan, Planning Administrator, CJ Sivak-Schwennesen, Planner, Melody Carlsen, Administrative Assistant, Marcel Stoetzel, Deputy City Attorney. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA: Addition of Study Committee Memorandum. Staff asked for permission to add a Study Committee Discussion to the end of the agenda. Chairperson Simpson approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the September 9, 2024 meeting minutes. COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 MEETING MINUTES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER THORNTON. A ROLL VOTE WAS TAKEN. ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. Commissioner Steinbrunner not present for vote. CORRESPONDENCE: None. NEW BUSINESS: A. H16-24 (162 Oaklawn Ave) Petition for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the property located at 162 Oaklawn Ave, filed by Irma Chavez Hernandez for the replacement of one window. Parcel #3550-00-068-0. Staff Presentation: CJ Sivak-Schwennesen gave the staff report for item H16-24, for the property located at 162 Oaklawn Ave. Staff recommends disapproval of this item. Applicant Presentation: Applicant was not present to speak. Commissioner Question: 1  Commissioner Davis asked for verification of the location of the subject window, questioned the reason for replacement, and expressed concerns about the window being cracked with cold weather approaching. State a desire to see the new trim reflect the character of the current trim. Commissioner Simpson asked the age of the current window, if the proposed window was going to be trimmed out with something similar to the current trim, and if staff’s recommendation was to disapprove this item. Commissioner Case discussed replacing only the glass in the window frame. COMMISSIONER CASE MADE A MOTION TO DISAPPROVE. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER THORNTON. COMMISSIONER CASE AMENDED THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM H16- 24. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER THORNTON. A roll vote was taken: TWO APPROVED, FIVE DISAPPROVED. MOTION DENIED. B. H17-24 (95 Oaklawn Avenue) Petition for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the property located at 95 Oaklawn Ave, filed by Lance Shaver for the replacement of 16 windows. Parcel #3550-00-050-0. Staff Presentation: Travis Sullivan gave the staff report for H17-24 for the property located at 95 Oaklawn Avenue. Staff recommends disapproval. Applicant Presentation: Lance Shaver was present to speak. Questions from Commissioners: Commissioner Drozdowski asked if the current windows were installed prior to the house being placed on the historic registry and if the homeowner was replacing the windows like for like. Commissioner Simpson asked the homeowner which windows he has previously replaced, if the house is sealed, if any windows on the front of the house will be replaced, how many of the proposed windows are being replaced, who installed the vinyl siding, will the trim paint match the siding, if the bay window was still in place, which proposed windows will be used, and what the plan was for the siding; replacing or repainting. Commissioner Steinbrunner asked if the top window crown molding will be kept. Commissioner Davis asked if the kitchen expanded inside so that the window will have to be raised or can a full window be put back in, and if the two windows on the dormer will be restored. Commissioner Case questioned the applicant about if the kitchen was remodeled before he purchased the house and whether the previously replaced widow that was reduced in size could be replaced with a full window to match the original window or it would need to be replaced with a similar small window and asked which proposed windows would be used and how the kitchen window would be trimmed. Commissioner Salle asked questions about a historic photo provided by Commissioner Davis. APPLICANT AMENDED HIS APPLICATION TO MODIFY THE KITCHEN WINDOW FRAME TO ITS APPROPRIATE SIZE. IF SIDING TO MATCH CURRENT SIDING IS NOT AVAIABLE, THE HOMEOWNER WILL FIND A WINDOW TO MATCH THE SASH FRAME AND MODIFY THE KITCHEN INTERIOR. 2  MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI TO APPROVE H17-24 WITH THE MODIFICATION AS STATED ON THE RECORD. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SALLEE. A roll vote was taken: ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. C. H18-24 (196 NE Capital Ave) Petition for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the property located at 196 NE Capital Ave, filed by the Historical Society of Battle Creek for eavestroughing replacement. Parcel #4110-00-015-0. Staff Presentation: Travis Sullivan gave the staff report for H18-24 for the property located at 196 NE Capital Ave. Staff recommends approval. Applicant Presentation: Bill White was present to speak. Questions from Commissioners: Commissioner Stienbrunner inquired about the material of the current gutters and the material the new gutter. Commissioner Simpson asked who provided the applicants cost estimate and why the gutters were being replaced, Commissioner Case inquired about which gutters will be replaced and if the application included the installation of gutters where there is currently no gutters. Commissioner Davis asked if there were gutters around the square turret, will there be something fancy on the front porch? MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER DROZDOWSKI TO APPROVE ITEM H18-24, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CASE. A roll vote was taken: ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. OLD BUSINESS: A. H14-24 (170 Oaklawn Ave) Petition, filed by Ricky Lincoln, on behalf of owner, Melissa McNichols, for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a carport for the property located at 170 Oaklawn Avenue Parcel #3550-00-068-0. Applicant Presentation: Applicant was not present to speak. Questions by Commissioners: Commissioner Case asked about the siding of the carport and recommended the siding match the house. Commissioner DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK ITEM, NO ACTION NEEDED. APPLICANT WILL REAPPLY AT A LATER DATE. NEW BUSINESS: D. STUDY COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 3  Introduction of a Steering Committee regarding development of economic and technical feasibility standards and historic district design guidelines. Staff is recommending a Steering Committee of three Historic District Commission members to begin the process of the developing an economic and technical feasibility document, as well as a set of design guidelines. Chairperson Simpson petitioned the Commission for volunteers who would be interested in sitting on the Steering Committee. Commissioner Case, Commissioner Davis and Commissioner Thornton volunteered. DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK ITEM, NO ACTION NEEDED. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None. COMMENTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF: Commissioner Simpson made a proposal for adding another historic district in the City of Battle Creek and asked Staff how we could move forward with the project. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Simpson adjourned the meeting at 6:10 pm. Submitted by: Melody Carlsen, Planning and Zoning Administrative Assistant 4