Historic District Commission
Regular MeetingManistee, MI · September 3, 2015
Minutes
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Council Chambers, City Hall
70 Maple Street
Manistee, MI 49660
MEETING MINUTES
September 3, 2015
A Meeting of the Manistee City Historic District Commission was held on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 3:00
p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan.
Meeting was called to order at 3:17 p.m. by Chair Kracht.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Dave Carlson, Teena Kracht, Mary Russell, and Lee Trucks
Members Absent: Aaron Bennett (excused), T. Eftaxiadis (excused), and John Perschbacher (excused)
Others: Brandon Ball (Chair DDA), Patrick Kay (DDA Director), Mark Fedder (Museum Director)
Steve Harold (Museum Curator) and Denise Blakeslee (Planning & Zoning Administrator)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
MOTION by Mary Russell, seconded by Lee Trucks that the Agenda be approved as prepared.
With a voice vote this motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
MOTION by Dave Carlson, seconded by Mary Lee Trucks that the Minutes of the August 6, 2015 Meeting be
approved as prepared.
With a voice vote this motion passed unanimously.
MOTION by Dave Carlson, seconded by Lee Trucks that the Minutes of the August 14, 2015 Emergency Meeting
be approved as prepared.
With a voice vote this motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
None
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2015 Page 1
OLD BUSINESS
344 River Street
An emergency meeting of the Historic District Commission was held on August 14, 2015 regarding the building
at 344 River Street. The motion for approval required the Chair to send a letter to each member of the DDA
regarding the situation. Commissioners reviewed the letter drafted by Chair Kracht.
MOTION by Lee Trucks, seconded by Mary Russell that the letter prepared by Chair Kracht be sent (attached).
With a roll call vote motion passed 4 to 0.
Yes: Carlson, Trucks, Russell, Kracht
No: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Patrick Kay, DDA Director - spoke to the commission about meeting with the applicant and that there was a
misunderstanding in the process. He assumed that approval was received from the Commission had been
granted. He gave copies of their guidelines to the Commissioners.
Brandon Ball, DDA Chair – spoke about meeting with Mark Fedder and discussing the issue. He plans for the
DDA to make changes to their procedures, including adding the application for a Certificate of Appropriates to
the application.
Commissioner Trucks asked who approved the applications.
Mr. Ball said the Design Committee Reviews the requests and makes recommendations to their Board. The
Board makes final approvals.
Discussion followed about the need that contractors working on all projects (not just projects with façade
grants) be educated about the process. A checklist could be developed that take the applicants through the
process that as part of the application may be beneficial. Staff offered to help with the checklist.
CORRESPONDENCE
Commissioners received a copy of the Understanding Tourism for Michigan Communities Workshop being held
on September 17th.
STAFF REPORTS
Patrick Kay DDA/Main Street Director – the DDA has moved their office to 294 River Street; owner of 346/348
River Street has express interest in making application for a Façade Grant.
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2015 Page 2
Mark Fedder, Museum Director – Issued the following permits:
City of Manistee, 70 Maple Street – Routine Repair and Maintenance and Paint Colors – Issued Permit
PHDC2015-011
Famous Flynn’s, 344 River Street – Projecting Sign – Issued Permit PHDC2015-013
Kit Holmes & Cynthia Millonzi, 346/348 River Street – Window Signage – Issued Permit PHDC2015-014
Denise Blakeslee, Planning & Zoning Administrator – spoke to the Commission about Ed Kriskywicz’s building at
387 River Street. She met with Ed, the City Engineer and DPW Director to look at a situation he has with his
building. He wants to replace the wooden deck with a concrete patio. This will require that the “pit” located
below the deck be filled and engineered for drainage. He currently is experiencing flooding and structural
damage to his building because of water. She showed pictures of the area. Since the project does not change
the visible exterior of the building consensus from the Commission that the request does not require approval
from the Commission.
Steve Harold, Museum Curator – spoke to the Commission about window wraps used at the Traverse City Mall;
Mackinac Island is looking a developing a fine policy for projects that are started/completed without approval
from their Historic District Commission. He spoke of previous discussion when the Historic Overlay Committee
was operating to have a policy in place to fine projects without permits between $200 and $500.
MEMBERS DISCUSSION
Chair Kracht expressed her appreciation to the members for rearranging their schedules to attend the
emergency meeting and thanked them for their service.
The Next meeting of the Historic District Commission will be on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Lee Trucks, seconded by Mary Russell that the meeting be adjourned.
Motion passed unanimously.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 3:42 P.M.
MANISTEE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
__________________________________________
Denise J. Blakeslee, Recording Secretary
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2015 Page 3
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2015 Page 4
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2015 Page 5
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2015 Page 6
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2015 Page 7
Agenda
MANISTEE CITY HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Meeting of Thursday, September 3, 2015
3:00 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street,
Manistee, Michigan
AGENDA
I Call to Order
II Roll Call
III Approval of Agenda
At this time the Historic District Commission can take action to approve the September 3, 2015
Agenda.
IV Approval of Minutes
At this time Historic District Commission can take action to approve the August 6, 2015 meeting
minutes.
At this time the Historic District Commission can take action to approve the August 14, 2015
emergency meeting minutes.
V New Business
VI Old Business
344 River Street
An emergency meeting of the Historic District Commission was held on August 14, 2015 regarding
the building at 344 River Street.
At this time the Historic District Commission will finalize paperwork for file.
Permit Review
At this time the Commission may take action to close out any outstanding permits.
VII Public Comments and Communications concerning Items not on the Agenda
At this time the Chair will ask if there are any public comments.
1
VIII Correspondence
At this time the Chair will ask if any correspondence has been received to be read into the record.
IX Reports
Main Street/DDA Director
Museum Curator
Museum Director
Planning & Zoning Administrator
X Members Discussion
At this time the Chair will ask members of the Historic District Commission if they have any items
they want to discuss.
XI Worksession
XII Adjournment
2
MEMORANDUM
231.398.2805
City of Manistee Planning & Zoning Administrator Fax 231.723-1546
dblakeslee@manisteemi.gov
www.manisteemi.gov
TO: Historic District Commissioners
FROM: Denise Blakeslee, Planning & Zoning
DATE: August 28, 2015
RE: Historic District Commission Meeting September 3, 2015
Commissioners, the next Historic District Commission meeting will be on Thursday, September 3, 2015.
We do not have any requests for the September meeting, but will need to finalize the paperwork from
the emergency meeting held on August 14, 2015 for the building at 344 River Street.
If you are unable to attend the meeting please call me at 398-2805, see you next Thursday!
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Council Chambers, City Hall
70 Maple Street
Manistee, MI 49660
MEETING MINUTES
August 6, 2015
A Meeting of the Manistee City Historic District Commission was held on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan.
Meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. by Chair Kracht.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: T. Eftaxiadis, Teena Kracht, Mary Russell, Lee Trucks
Members Absent: Aaron Bennett, Dave Carlson, John Perschbacher (excused)
Others: Mark Fedder (Museum Director) and Denise Blakeslee (Planning & Zoning
Administrator)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
MOTION by T. Eftaxiadis, seconded by Mary Russell that the Agenda be approved as prepared.
With a voice vote this motion passed unanimously
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
MOTION by Mary Russell, seconded by T. Eftaxiadis that the Minutes of the June 4, 2015 Meeting be approved
as printed.
With a voice vote this motion passed unanimously
Note the July meeting was cancelled
NEW BUSINESS:
Historical Building Information
The Commission discussed building history/plaque pages that are being developed for the buildings in the
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes August 6, 2015 Page 1
district. Staff showed how the pages will be accessed on the City Web Page. The commissioners discussed how
to proceed with developing the remaining pages.
OLD BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
CORRESPONDENCE
None
STAFF REPORTS
Mark Fedder, Museum Director – Issued the following permits:
Briny Inn, 50 Filer Street, - Routine maintenance of brickwork issued permit #PHDC2015-07
Manistee Elks 251, 432 River Street – Awning issued permit #PHDC2015-008
Manistee Elks 251, 432 River Street – Paint Colors issued permit #PHDC2015-009
Manistee Elks 251, 432 River Street – Railings issued permit #PHDC2015-010
MEMBERS DISCUSSION
Commissioner Eftaxiadis asked if trees can be planted on River Street.
The Next meeting of the Historic District Commission will be on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Mary Russell, seconded by T. Eftaxiadis that the meeting be adjourned. Motion passed
unanimously.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 3:58 P.M.
MANISTEE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
__________________________________________
Denise J. Blakeslee, Recording Secretary
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes August 6, 2015 Page 2
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Council Chambers, City Hall
70 Maple Street
Manistee, MI 49660
EMERGENCY MEETING MINUTES
August 14, 2015
An Emergency Meeting of the Manistee City Historic District Commission was held on Friday, August 14, 2015 at
3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan.
Meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. by Chair Kracht.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Aaron Bennett, T. Eftaxiadis, Teena Kracht, John Perschbacher, Mary Russell, Lee Trucks
Members Absent: Dave Carlson
Others: Dena (Famous Flynn), Gerald (Orshal Construction), Mark Fedder (Museum Director)
and Denise Blakeslee (Planning & Zoning Administrator)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
MOTION by Lee Trucks, seconded by T. Eftaxiadis that the agenda be approved with the removal of Approval of
Minutes being moved to the next regular meeting.
With a voice vote this motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
344 River Street – Famous Flynn’s
A stop work order was issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 for the building at 344 River Street for façade
modifications that were being made without a permit. The owner had applied for a Façade Improvement Grant
from the DDA for their building and has proceeded under the direction of the MS/DDA Director. Staff spoke
with the owner after the Stop Work Order was issued. The owner believed that all the necessary permits were
in place. An emergency meeting has been called in order to prevent the owner from losing their contractor and
delaying the start of the business. The owner was working under a directive of a Public Servant and the
modifications to the building were made in good faith. The owner has expended money for elements that were
not installed but were under that directive.
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Emergency Meeting Minutes August 14, 2015 Page 1
The commission reviewed the application that was submitted to the DDA for the façade grant and the drawings
that were part of the request against the work that was started on the building. The Commission worked with
the owner on what modifications were made to the building so that they could get the permits needed to open
and what changes would be needed to meet the Secretary of the Interior Standards for renovations.
Storefront
Installation of exterior lights adjacent to the entrance door - The installation of two exterior light fixtures would
have been questioned by the Historic District Commission. There is sufficient lighting from the street lights for
the buildings on River Street. If a light fixture were to have been approved it would most likely have been a
single fixture hanging above the door.
Recommendation: Remove two light fixtures; allow a single fixture to be installed that can be
approved by Museum Director Mark Fedder.
Removal of the Double Hung windows in the entry, replaced with single pane of glass - The installation of a
single pane of glass is approvable, the commission would have required a specification sheet on the window that
includes what type of glass was used.
Recommendation: Acceptable as installed
Removal of Paneled Bulkheads (all except one of the bulkheads have been removed) – There is no historical
documentation on how the front of the building appeared when it was constructed. The bulkheads could
have been left in place and repainted; there would not have been a requirement from the commission to have
them removed.
Recommendation: Frame out to look similar to the bulkhead at 387 River Street, add beadboard
and trim to match custom front door.
Removal of trim detail around entrance door - The detailed trim around the entrance door has been removed
on the east side. There is no historical documentation on how the front of the building appeared when it was
constructed. The trim that was in place could have been left in place and repainted; there would not have been
a requirement from the commission to have it removed.
Recommendation: Either reinstall trim and paint or remove trim, sand and paint
Installation of new entrance door – Building owner had purchased a custom door that cannot be returned. This
door would not have been acceptable to the commission.
Recommendation: Commission will allow the door to be installed
Installation of vinyl or aluminum wrap around storefront windows – this type of material is not acceptable and
does not meet the secretary of the interior standards.
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Emergency Meeting Minutes August 14, 2015 Page 2
Recommendation: Replaced existing window wrap, the commission will allow it as repair and
maintenance must be painted.
Rear of the building
Renovations to the rear façade, staff when reviewing the work that had been done on the building
photographed the rear of the building where the siding has been removed; windows and door have been
replaced. A photograph of the building that showed the conditions prior to work shows that this portion of the
rear building addition that was constructed in the 1992 was reviewed by the Commission. The Historic District
Commission has oversight for all exterior modifications to the building. The changes that had been made were
not reviewed or approved by the commission.
Siding – The siding was removed
Recommendation: Building owner will install 6” cement board that will be painted
Windows – New windows were installed, the windows that were installed would not have been approved by the
Commission.
Recommendation: Allow the windows to remain, add 3 ½ inch trim with paint
Door – New door was installed, the door that was installed would not have been approved by the Commission.
Recommendation: Allow the door to remain
Light Fixture – Light fixture was installed.
Recommendation: Commission will allow it to remain; they would have liked to have seen a fixture
that matched the fixture in the front.
NOTE: Paint colors for rear of the building must be submitted to the Museum Director for final approval.
A permit will be issued for the project to allow the business to open for business. This permit is NOT a
Certificate of Appropriateness.
MOTION by John Perschbacher, seconded by T. Eftaxiadis that the Stop Work Order for the Building at 344 River
Street be lifted and a permit is issued that allow the owner to make the necessary modifications to the building
to obtain the permits needed to open the business. The Historic District Commission directs the Chair to send a
letter to each member of the Main Street/Downtown Development Authority advising them of the situation and
that the Historic District Commission holds them responsible for the necessary corrections needed to bring the
building at 344 River Street in compliance.
With a roll call vote this motion passed 6 to 0.
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Emergency Meeting Minutes August 14, 2015 Page 3
Yes: Bennett, Perschbacher, Eftaxiadis, Trucks, Russell, Kracht
No: None
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Lee Trucks, seconded by Mary Russell_ that the meeting be adjourned. Motion passed
unanimously.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 4:45 P.M.
MANISTEE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
__________________________________________
Denise J. Blakeslee, Recording Secretary
City of Manistee Historic District Commission
Emergency Meeting Minutes August 14, 2015 Page 4
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