September 21 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - Virtual

City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission Monday, September 21, 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 August 17, 2020. Seconded by Mr. Clemans and carried 5-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. RESOLUTION(S): Laufman, 1125 New York Avenue, 1117/22, 23, 24 – Resolution #2020-10 Blevins, 1122 New Jersey Avenue, 1115/17-19 – Resolution #2020-11 Motion made by Mr. Cogswell to approve Resolutions #2020-10 and #2020-11. Seconded by Mr. Clemans and carried 5-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. APPLICATIONS APPROVED IN REVIEW: Hogan, 1043 Washington Street, 1112/8.01, Contributing – Raise Roof, Garage Door O’Donoghue, 811 Corgie Street, 1091/18, Contributing – Siding Walls, 22 Second Avenue, 1012/4, Contributing – Decking, Railing Mogck, Jr., 1246 Lafayette Street, 1129/19, Not Rated – Repair & Enclose Deck 705 Jefferson LLC, 814 Corgie Street, 1090/5, Not Rated – Rear Ramp Guinan, 1033 New York Avenue, 1103/39, 40, 41, Contributing – Revised Materials List Lafferman, 811 Sewell Avenue, 1074/12, Contributing – Siding, Roofing, Garage 917 Stockton LLC, 917 Stockton Avenue, 1082/16, Not Rated – HVAC Dempsey, 810 Columbia Avenue, 1074/4, Contributing – Mini Split Condensers, Lattice Enclosure HPC 1 September 21, 2020 Motion made by Mr. Clemans to approve the Applications Approved in Review. Seconded by Mr. Cogswell and carried 5-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. Ms. Wilson Stridick joined the meeting at 6:07 PM. OLD BUSINESS: CAPE COACHMAN.………..…………………………............................................205-211 BEACH AVENUE REVISIONS BLK 1019 LOT 26 & 40 (NON CONTRIBUTING) Anthony Monzo, Esquire, of Monzo Catanese Hillegas, along with Robert Shepanski, Project Manager, were present for this application. Attorney Monzo described the application as a minor change to a previously approved HPC application. Project Manager Shepanski said the revised plans moved the office to the left side of the drive as they want continuous and matching one building to the next. The elevation pages of the plan, A2.1 and A2.2 (dated March 6, 2019 revised December 4, 2019) were shown by Attorney Monzo. Project Manager Shepanski went through the materials list dated 9/1/2020 with all materials the same as originally approved with the exception of a brick walk from one building to the next. Members were given time for questions and asked about the signage. Attorney Monzo said that the lettering is the same with a similar font. Motion made by Mr. Clemans to approve the application as presented. Seconded by Mr. Testa and carried 6-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. NEW BUSINESS: KANE….………………………………………………………………………………………………817 KEARNEY AVENUE DEMO/REBUILD REAR PORCH & GARAGE BLK 1069 LOT 6 (CONTRIBUTING) Architect Catherine Lorentz introduced this application along with the owners, Matthew and Simone Kane. Architect Lorentz shared her screen which showed the application, page by page, that was submitted to the HPC. Architect Lorentz gave a history of the property that indicates an 1890- 1909 one-story addition and a two-car garage with a roof deck on top added around 1933. She added that the current application represents the final project of the restoration of the property. Architect Lorentz showed mismatched railing in photos of the property and said that the railing will be matched and period appropriate. Photos of the rear porch and garage show the damage that will be eliminated by the proposed project. There was discussion on whether the nine points of demolition need to be reviewed with Solicitor Fineberg saying that it is a judgement call, because it is not the main building and seems to be part of a normal renovation. It was later decided that as the rear porch component does not really contribute to the rating, and the nine points of demolition need not be reviewed. Architect Lorentz listed the deficiencies, discovered by the Engineer, Lamont Czar, PE, including no foundation in the garage and roof rafters that are over stressed. She said they need to make the building code compliant and safe. Mr. Carroll joined the meeting at 6:39 PM. HPC 2 September 21, 2020 Architect Lorentz completed her presentation by stating that Matt and Simone Kane are available for questions. Simone Kane said they want the property to be restored as it was but need it to function and be safe. Commissioners were allotted time for comments and questions. Commissioner Clemans thanked Architect Lorentz for her concise application. Commissioner Cogswell asked about the side porch support, and Architect Lorentz said she saw holes in the wood from the outside and will salvage where possible. Commissioner Testa asked if the garage doors will look like the old ones but operate like modern ones, and Matthew and Simone Kane indicated yes. Commissioner Cogswell asked about the roof deck pitch, and Architect Lorentz said there will be pitch in the roof deck when it is rebuilt plus a drain. Motion made by Mr. Clemans to accept the plan for final approval as presented. Seconded by Mr. Cogswell and carried 6-0. Those in favor: Mr. Clemans, Mr. Cogswell, Mr. Testa, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Cataldo, Mr. Coupland. Those opposed: None. Those abstaining: None. MCBRIDE ETAL……………………………………………………………………………………….11 DECATUR STREET A/C CONDENSORS ON PLATFORM BLK 1047 LOT 8 (CONTRIBUTING) Warren Coupland explained to the Commissioners the large number of compressors proposed as the reason for this application to be heard by the full Commission versus being considered in review. Donna McBride, who was present with her sister, Linda McBride, explained that Broadley’s, their contractor was not present for the presentation of this application. She went on to say that she had not seen the actual application that was submitted by Broadley’s on their behalf and shared that the project includes four compressors on the front porch, three on the rear porch, and three on top of the rear showers for a total of ten compressors. The compressors on the front porch are to be covered with lattice, behind the balustrades and not visible from the street. She added that they suffered from a recent storm and are taking advantage of the interior walls being removed. Linda McBride explained that the contractor said all of compressors cannot be installed in the rear due to the distance to service area and could not be installed on the side of the house due to flood issues. Commissioners were given time for comments and questions. Chairperson Coupland expressed concern that the units may be visible from the street and that more details about locations of the compressors may be in order. Commissioner Cogswell said he visited the property and talked to Donna McBride while there. He shared that the third floor porch is currently under construction, and the porches are deep. Commissioner Testa asked for specifics on the stacking of the compressors. Commissioner Carroll said the compressors on the porches can interfere with guest use of the porches and suggested maybe a captain’s walk/widow’s walk that would be out of noise level and not interfere with height limitation. He went on to say that, if not possible, more details on placement would be needed in order to make a decision. Commissioner Carroll offered two examples: Virginia Hotel with a widow’s walk and Mainstay Cottage with a captain’s walk. Commissioner Testa added that the efficiency of units may be increased if the compressors are placed on the roof. Linda McBride said their property is susceptible to winds and that the roof placement had been considered. She said they lost their entire roof in April. HPC 3 September 21, 2020 Motion made by Mr. Cogswell to table the application. Seconded by Mr. Carroll 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. OPEN TO PUBLIC: Discussion was open to the public at 7:06 PM and closed at 7:15 PM with no public coming forward. DISCUSSION: HPC Standards for Flood Adaptation There was discussion on the subject with the Commissioners agreeing that it is important to set a standard and ensure enforcement regarding flood adaptation in the Historic District. Motion made by Mr. Cogswell to accept the HPC Standards for Flood Adaptation. 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. Public Safety Building The Commissioners discussed the proposed public safety building and comments that had been possibly attributed to the HPC without HPC intention. There was a motion by Mr. Testa and seconded by Mr. Cogswell to postpone the discussion. The motion was subsequently withdrawn by Mr. Testa and Mr. Cogswell after much back and forth about the two competing proposals on this subject on the November ballot. Solicitor Fineberg read the zoning ordinance, that has not been necessarily followed, Section 525-37 H.1 Requirements of Obtaining Certificates of Appropriateness for Government Actions, which can be summarized as when plans are completed for any City-owned property in any historic district or site, the City is to submit them to the HPC for an advisory report on the appropriateness of the plans before the work is undertaken, with the onus on the City to make a presentation to the HPC. Chairperson Coupland said he would try to get the City to schedule a full presentation of the plans for the public safety building to the HPC. Commissioner Wilson Stridick said, and Commissioner Testa agreed, that any incorrect press attributed to the HPC should be corrected and that a decision on the public safety building is best made after a presentation has been made. HPC Compliance Officer Chairperson Coupland shared with the Commissioners that City Council has approved the position of an HPC Compliance Officer. He added that it is a step in the right direction for the City given the buildings that have been almost completely rebuilt without appropriate HPC approval. He shared concerns about stop work orders that do not stop work and temporary certificates of occupancy with no end date. One example he shared is an applicant who agreed to plan changes to receive HPC approval, and the original design is what is currently being built. The Commissioners shared their distress about these issues. HPC 4 September 21, 2020 Chairperson Coupland reported that he and Solicitor Fineberg drafted a job description for the HPC Compliance Officer. The Commissioners suggested duties and procedures for the HPC Compliance Officer including cross reference the construction plans with the approved HPC plans, ensure that the HPC plans are at job sites, attend or watch HPC meetings, sign off on recommendations for certificate of occupancy, visit job sites frequently, write violations and issue fines. Chairperson Coupland said he will make a list to distribute to the Commissioners and asked the Commissioners to continue to think of additions to the job duties list. Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Cogswell at 8:53 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 5 September 21, 2020