August 17 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - Virtual

City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission Monday, August 17, 2020 - 6:00 PM Opening: The regular meeting of the City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Warren Coupland at 6:00 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, Chairperson Present Mr. Carroll, Vice Chairperson Present Mr. Cataldo Present Mr. Clemans Present Mr. Cogswell Present Ms. Wilson Stridick Present Mr. Testa Present Vacant Alt. 1 -------- Mr. Stevenson Alt. 2 Present Also Present: Robert Fineberg, Esquire – Commission Solicitor Zack Mullock, Commission Liaison Karen Keenan, HPC Secretary Motion made by Mr. Cogswell to approve the minutes of July 20, 2020. Seconded by Mr. Testa and carried 6-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: Mr. Cataldo. RESOLUTION(S): Thibodeau, 636 Hughes Street, 1066/2 – Resolution #2020-07 Shapiro, 1413 Beach Avenue, 1161/1.13 – Resolution #2020-08 Sea Mist Cape May, LLC, 927 Beach Avenue, 1081/18 – Resolution #2020-09 Motion made by Mr. Clemans to approve Resolutions #2020-07 and #2020-09. Seconded by Mr. Cogswell and carried 6-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: Mr. Cataldo. Motion made by Mr. Clemans to approve Resolution #2020-08. Seconded by Mr. Cogswell and carried 5-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: Mr. Testa, Mr. Cataldo. APPLICATIONS APPROVED IN REVIEW: Caitbridge Properties LLC, 315 Ocean Street # 23, 1059/1 CC-23, Not Rated – Sign Adams, 925 Stockton Avenue, 1082/12, Not Rated – Driveway Carneys Inc., 411 & 419 Beach Avenue, 1041/21, 22 & 23, Contributing - Deck, Porch, Roof Steenrod, 1011 Washington Street, 1111/8, Contributing – Roof Frigo, 106 First Avenue, 1015/4.01, Contributing – Revised Garage Plan HPC 1 August 17, 2020 Motion made by Mr. Clemans to approve the Applications Approved in Review. Seconded by Mr. Cataldo and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. OLD BUSINESS: LAUFMAN……………………..…………………………….....................................1125 NEW YORK AVENUE ADDITIONS/NEW GARAGE BLK 1117 LOT 22, 23, 24 (CONTRIBUTING) Attorney Michael Lario of Nehmad Perillo Davis & Goldstein was present for this application along with the applicant, Mrs. Laufman and Project Architect Joseph Courter. Attorney Lario explained that this application for a first and second floor addition and a detached garage was previously presented in September 2019, and the applicant is returning after making revisions including removing the side addition based on the HPC comments. Chairperson Coupland referred to the Design Standards regarding dormers and asked the applicant to address the request for dormers in the presentation. Architect Courter described the application for additional space in the rear of the building, a porch and upper floor deck porch, which requires replacing the roof. He reviewed the materials list and indicated that the front porch would not change. Chairperson Coupland asked about the windows being Jeld-Wen windows, and Architect Courter said they are painted wood Jeld-Wen windows. Chairperson Coupland indicated that the contributing structure is a four square design, and the dormers are not consistent with a four square and are visible from the street. Architect Courter described the proposed garage to be within the setbacks and detached from the current shared garage with the agreement of the neighbor. Tom Carroll joined the meeting at 6:20 PM. The nine points/criteria of demolition were reviewed for the garage noting that the last two points are for relocation and do not apply to this application. Motion made by Mr. Testa for approval of demolition of the existing garage. Seconded by Mr. Cogswell and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: Mr. Carroll. Commissioners were allotted time for observations and questions regarding the proposed revisions to the house. Mr. Clemans expressed concern about the additional square footage including the garage to be greater than 2,000 square feet with the interior almost doubling and referred to the national standards that any addition as large or greater is prohibited, inadvisable and reduces historic character of the structure. Architect Courter replied that there is significant attic space now. Chairperson Coupland said that the 1,585 square foot addition plus 560 square feet of porches make a total of 2,145 total square feet. Commissioner Testa said he is troubled by the size of the dormers that really interfere with the roof and really change the overall shape of the structure as seen from the street. HPC 2 August 17, 2020 There was discussion on the dormers, pier systems and lattice over the painted brick. The applicant agreed to revise the plans to reduce the dormers to four at the size of the existing side dormer or keep it as it is and add one in the rear or flip the front size one to the rear (only increase to egress) so the front dormers will be equal to the size of the side dormers. The discussion turned to the rear porches with the determination being that the rear porches may not compromise the contributing status if they are considered as a reversible addition that could be removed without damaging the structure. Motion made by Mr. Carroll for conceptual approval of the application subject to the front and two side dormers to match and be identical, the rear dormer to be large enough to allow egress if necessary, the rear addition and porches, and materials used, including cut sheets for the windows, with the applicant to return with drawings for further review by the whole Commission. Seconded by Mr. Testa and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Discussion then turned to the garage for this property. Architect Courter described the garage which is shown on Sheet A-4 of the application. The trim detail, dormers and siding to the base foundation were discussed with the determination made that revisions will need to be made. Motion made by Mr. Coupland for conceptual approval of the garage for this application as presented with the exception that the tops of the garage doors will be straight, the dormer will match the dormers on the house, and a cut sheet/spec sheet will be provided for the garage door and side door with the applicant to return to the full Commission for final approval. Seconded by Mr. Clemans and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. NEW BUSINESS: BLEVINS (PETER)….………………………….…………………………………………1122 NEW JERSEY AVENUE DEMO/NEW HOME BLK 1115 LOT 17-19 (NOT RATED) Contract Purchaser Scott Peter presented this application seeking demolition of a 1970s house and conceptual approval of new construction of a single family home. The nine points/criteria of demolition were reviewed noting that the last two points are for relocation and do not apply to this application. Motion made by Mr. Cogswell for approval of demolition of the existing structure. Seconded by Mr. Clemans and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Chairperson Coupland said that it may be best for comments on the plans that were submitted and said he thought the plan is skewed to the left. Vice Chairperson Carroll commented that the details are mismatched, unbalanced, and not in keeping with the Design Standards. Commissioner Testa asked what the requirements are in this case with Chairperson Coupland replying that the HPC 3 August 17, 2020 streetscape is to be considered plus the applicant should provide a contemporary interpretation of a single design from the Design Standards. Motion made by Mr. Testa to table the application. Seconded by Mr. Cogswell and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Comments on the design continued after the application was tabled. Applicant Peter said he wanted a hipped roof in the front and asked for input. Vice Chairperson Carroll suggested an American shingle style, that is somewhat unique to Cape May, and Colonial Revivals which are predominant in the area. He went on to say that these styles feature balance with big wide porches, large trim, brackets and windows and offered to walk around the neighborhood with Mr. Peter to show examples of good details/styles that are in keeping with the neighborhood. Commissioner Testa said the structure was part of the East Cape May Real Estate Development Company and suggested going for more balance and symmetry. Commissioner Cogswell referred Mr. Peter to the Design Standards starting on page 70 regarding new construction. OPEN TO PUBLIC: Discussion was open to the public at 7:30 PM and closed at 8:05 PM with no public coming forward. DISCUSSION: Chairperson Coupland discussed the draft of an ordinance for presentation to City Council for standards for elevating buildings. He added that this is a relaxation of the standards for flood mitigation to preserve properties into the future and stated that he looked at other communities’ standards. Commissioner Cogswell said that elevation surveys should be certified by a licensed surveyor. Commissioner Testa said that location inside or outside of Coastal Flood Zone A is important for determining what is appropriate for elevating buildings in addition to location of garages, and limiting of venting. Commissioner Cogswell asked about notification of the neighbors on a 200-foot list when a structure is proposed to be elevated, and Solicitor Fineberg said he would have to look at land use law to see if it could be added to the draft ordinance. Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Cogswell at 8:11 PM, with all in favor. A verbatim recording of said meeting is available on the City of Cape May website in the Livestream section. Respectfully submitted: Karen Keenan – HPC Secretary HPC 4 August 17, 2020