01-11-2021 - Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - Virtual

City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission Monday, January 11, 2021 - 6:00 PM Opening: The regular meeting of the City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Mr. Coupland at 6:03 PM virtually on Zoom and livestreamed on Facebook. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting was provided. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Roll Call: Mr. Coupland, Chairman Present Mr. Carroll, Vice Chairman Present Mr. Clemans Present Mr. Cogswell Present Ms. Pessagno Present Ms. Wilson Stridick Present Mr. Testa Absent Mr. Stevenson Alt. 1 Present Mr. Boecker Alt. 2 Present Also Present: Robert Fineberg, Esquire – Commission Solicitor Chris Bezaire, Commission Liaison Karen Keenan, HPC Secretary John Tudor, HPC Compliance Officer Reorganization: Oaths of Office for Commission Members Appointment of Chairperson: Motion made by Mr. Carroll to appoint Warren Coupland as the Chairperson to the Commission for the year 2021. Seconded by Mr. Clemans and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Appointment of Vice Chairperson: Motion made by Mr. Coupland to appoint Tom Carroll as the Vice Chairperson to the Commission for the year 2021. Seconded by Ms. Wilson Stridick and carried 6-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: Mr. Carroll. Appointment of Legal Advisor/Solicitor to the Commission: Motion made by Mr. Clemans to appoint Robert Fineberg, Esquire as Legal Advisor/Solicitor to the Commission for the year 2021. Seconded by Mr. Coupland and 1 HPC January 11, 2021 carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Mr. Fineberg thanked the Commission for the honor to serve the Commission since 1999. Designation of Official Newspaper: Motion made by Mr. Clemans for the approval of the Cape May Star & Wave as the official newspaper with the Atlantic City Press as the alternate newspaper of the Commission for the year 2021. Seconded by Mr. Coupland and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Designation of Meeting Dates and Time: Motion made by Mr. Carroll to approve the advertised meeting dates for the Commission for the year 2021 and first meeting of 2022 to be January 10, 2022. Seconded by Ms. Pessagno and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Appointment of a Rotating Member Review Committee: Motion made by Mr. Carroll for a rotating Member Review Committee to meet on an ad-hoc basis. Seconded by Ms. Pessagno and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Resolutions: Sherman, 1525 New Jersey Avenue, 1175/5 – Resolution #2020-25 Krupinski, 1307 New Jersey Avenue, 1147/34, 35, 36 – Resolution #2020-26 Hollenbach, 1030 New York Avenue, 1102/17 – Resolution #2020-27 Fisher, 710 Sewell Avenue, 1070/2 – Resolution #2020-28 Motion made by Mr. Clemans to approve Resolutions #2020-25, #2020-26, #2020- 27, and #2020-28. Seconded by Ms. Wilson Stridick and carried 4-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: Ms. Pessagno, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Application Approved in Review: Thibodeau, 718 Columbia Avenue, 1071/5, Contributing – Walkway, Driveway, Border NEW BUSINESS: WALCHAK………………..…………………………………………………….834 LAFAYETTE STREET DORMERS, ROOF, SIDING BLK 1092 LOT 10 (CONTRIBUTING) 21 HPC January 11, 2021 Architect Pam Fine and Owner Mary Walchak presented this application for four new dormers. Architect Fine referred to Sheets P2 and P3 that are included in the application and referred to the materials proposed for the project. Commissioners were allotted time for questions. Chairperson Coupland asked about the dimensions on the dormers and Architect Fine said she will send the dimensions to the HPC Secretary. Commissioner Carroll found the project to be balanced with other buildings in the town and asked if the awnings will remain, and Owner Walchak said she will keep the awnings and there will be no awnings on the dormers. There was a discussion on shutters with the determination being that the owner will install shutters should the existing awnings be removed in the future. Mr. Cogswell joined the meeting at 6:32 PM. Motion made by Mr. Carroll to approve the application contingent on final plans with dimensions on all new elements to be approved by the Review Committee, the awnings to stay and the awnings to eventually be replaced with shutters particularly on the front of the house, also subject to Review Committee approval. Seconded by Mr. Clemans and carried 6-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: Mr. Cogswell. Reorganization: The Oath of Office for Mr. Cogswell was undertaken at this time. GOUNARIS……………..………………..……………………..…………………….515 BANK STREET MOVE STRUCTURE/NEW PORCH/ BLK 1054 LOT 19 (CONTRIBUTING) REAR ADDITION/ADD GARAGE & POOL Architect Pam Fine and Owners Dan and Karen Gounaris were present for this application to move the structure, new porch, rear addition, garage and pool. Chairperson Coupland asked about the removal of the masonry front end. Architect Fine replied that the masonry enclosure will be removed. Solicitor Fineberg said the nine points of demolition do not apply to this application. Architect Fine shared that the applicants propose to move the house back three feet to make a usable front porch and lift the house to comply with flood requirements and no higher. She referred to application Sheet S-2 showing various one story additions that do not work and a proposed new smaller first floor and second floor addition. She added that sidelights are proposed to the new front door and the front details to match existing. She referred to Sheets P-3 and P-4 that are included in the application and referred to the materials (which match existing materials with asbestos siding to uncover clapboard to be repaired or replaced with new wood clapboard) proposed for the project. The new garage was described on Sheet P- 5 as a front overhead carriage style door with details to match the home and pool with pavers to match the existing driveway. Commissioners were allotted time for questions. Chairperson Coupland asked for cut sheets for doors, sidelights, garage door, and lighting plus a sheet that indicates the windows to remain. Architect Fine agreed to supply the items. Commissioner Cogswell asked for elevation dimensions and Architect Fine said the peak of the roof is about 29’10” from grade and that the proposed structure is about 183 feet smaller than the existing structure. Commissioner Pessagno was pleased to see the project on Bank Street. Commissioner Boecker complimented 31 HPC January 11, 2021 Architect Fine and asked about the balusters and chimney. After discussion, it was determined that the spacing of the balusters 1 ¾ inches with three inch openings as the minimum spacing acceptable plus a strong bottom rail and stronger top rail encouraged and a true brick veneer chimney is appropriate. Architect Fine said she will add detail to the drawing. Commissioner Carroll commended the owners on the project and shared that second floor front shutters would help fill in the clapboard and asked about sidelights around the front door. After discussion, it was decided that sidelights on French doors to not be historically accurate. Motion made by Mr. Carroll for conceptual approval subject pending flood elevation certificate, number of windows to be saved, pavers cut sheets, lighting with cut sheets, design for rear pool fencing, plan for second floor front working shutters, old porch photos that agree with the proposed porch, cut sheets on garage doors, windows, true brick veneer if necessary on the chimney, side light windows for the front door only and not on French doors, French doors to be multiple paned windows, balusters to be at least one and three quarters (1 ¾) inches with three- inch spacing with beef on top and bottom rails and a return pending variance approval from the Zoning Board. Seconded by Mr. Clemans and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Discussion was open to the public at 7:20 PM and closed at 7:26 PM with no public coming forward. DISCUSSION: AME Church Chairperson Coupland described the condition of the AME Church and said he wants to support the Mayor and City Council in the potential acquisition of the property. There was a brief discussion by the Commissioners regarding the Church and parsonage buildings. Motion, as amended, made by Mr. Coupland that the City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission fully supports and endorses the City’s purchase of the Allen African American Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) building (key contributing) and parsonage building (non contributing). This culturally and historically important Church building (Cornerstone: 1888) includes a front addition from a design made by S. D. Button, Esq. The Church building was damaged by fire June 10, 2018. Now the Church is in disrepair and in danger of being demolished. Historic in its own right, the Church is also culturally important in that it is located near the Harriet Tubman Museum (formerly the Howell House), the Macedonia Baptist Church, the house built by Stephen Smith, the Franklin Street School, and the Franklin Street Church building—all historically significant buildings, all contributing to the African American heritage of Cape May’s Historic district. The Church building is to be preserved. Seconded by Mr. Cogswell and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Applications 41 HPC January 11, 2021 Commissioner Stevenson asked for a discussion on the completeness of applications specifically the inclusion of dimensions on plans, streetscape photos, and the lack of specific information needed to make decisions. It was requested that applicants be required to submit complete applications prior to applications being placed on agendas. Commissioners discussed requesting graphic scaled drawings while still preferring the 11” x 17” sized drawings for application submissions. Motion made to adjourn the meeting by Mr. Cogswell at 7:36 PM with all in favor. A verbatim recording of said meeting is available on the City of Cape May website. Respectfully submitted: Karen Keenan – HPC Secretary 51 HPC January 11, 2021