Historic Preservation Commission

630 East Hopkins San Marcos, TX 78666 CITY OF SAN MARCOS Meeting Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Thursday, September 24, 2020 5:45 PM Virtual Meeting Due to COVID-19, this was a virtual meeting. For more information on how to observe the virtual meeting, please visit: https://sanmarcostx.gov/2861/Historic-Preservation-Commission-VideosA I. Call To Order With a quorum present the special meeting of the San Marcos Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2020. II. Roll Call Present 6 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Holder, Commissioner Arlinghaus, Commissioner Meyer, and Commissioner Kennedy Absent 0 III. 30 Minute Citizen Comment Period: Lisa Marie Coppoletta, 1322 Belvin Street, stated that her previous comments were directed at the former Chair of the Commission and not the Commission as a whole. She was disappointed that the historic resources survey had not been rolled out yet or ameliorated in the LDC. She said that her sense was the people on the Commission now care deeply about the citizens and the historic preservation of the city. She stated that it was offensive that developers are held to a higher standard that the city when it comes to tree protection and sidewalk projects. Chair Perkins closed the Citizen Comment Period. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. HPC-20-19 (317 Scott Street) Hold a public hearing and consider a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Edward Newman to allow the demolition of the historic-age detached garage located at the rear of the property along the alley and construct a two-car garage accessory dwelling unit in the same location on the property. Alison Brake gave a presentation outlining the request. She concluded to demolish the existing detached garage located at the rear of the property along the alley and construct a two-car garage accessory dwelling unit in the same location consistent with the Historic District Design Guidelines [Section C.1.2.4(2), Section C.1.2.4(3), Section C.1.2.4(5), Section C.1.2.4(6), Section C.1.2.4(7), Section C.1.2.4(8), Section C.1.2.4(9), Section  2 Historic Preservation Commission September 24, 2020 Special C.1.2.4(10), Section C.1.2.4(11), Section C.1.2.4(16), Section C.3.4.5(A) and Section C.3.4.5(B)], the San Marcos Development Code [Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(e) and Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(g)] and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation [Standards 9 and 10]. The applicant was available for questions. Lisa Marie Coppoletta, 1322 Belvin Street, stated that she was concerned with the domino effect the new structure would have on the neighborhood. She stated that the neighbors are overwhelmingly against it and said that it was disrupting to the neighborhood. There were no further questions and Chair Perkins closed the public hearing. Discussion between the applicant and the Commission ensued. Commissioner Perkins made a motion to deny the request for demolition of the detached historic-age garage located at the rear of the property along the alley and construct a two-car garage accessory dwelling unit in the same location on the property as the request was not consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. Commissioner Kennedy seconded. The motion carried by the following vote: For: 5 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Holder, Commissioner Meyer and Commissioner Kennedy Against: 0 Abstain: 1 – Commissioner Arlinghaus 3. HPC-20-21 (1114 West Hopkins Street) Hold a public hearing and consider a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Shawn Dupont to allow the renovation and expansion of the existing historic-age detached garage, to include construction of an accessory dwelling unit, located at the rear of the property. Alison Brake gave a presentation outlining the request. She concluded request to allow the renovation and expansion of the existing historic-age detached garage, to include construction of an accessory dwelling unit, located at the rear of the property consistent with the Historic District Design Guidelines [Section C.1.2.4(2), Section C.1.2.4(3), Section C.1.2.4(5), Section C.1.2.4(6), Section C.1.2.4(7), Section C.1.2.4(8), Section C.1.2.4(9), Section C.1.2.4(10), Section C.1.2.4(11), Section C.1.2.4(16), Section C.3.4.5(A) and Section C.3.4.5(B)], the San Marcos Development Code [Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(e) and Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(g)] and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation [Standards 9 and 10]. The applicant was available for questions. There were no further questions and Chair Perkins closed the public hearing. Discussion between the applicant and the Commission ensued. A motion was made by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Dake to deny the request for the renovation and expansion of the existing historic-age detached garage, to include construction of an accessory dwelling unit, located at  3 Historic Preservation Commission September 24, 2020 Special the rear of the property as the request is not consistent with Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, Standards 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 10. For:5 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Meyer, Commissioner Holder, and Commissioner Kennedy Against: 0 Abstain: 1 – Commissioner Arlinghaus 4. HPC-20-22 (552 Rogers Street) Hold a public hearing and consider a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Lisa Prewitt, on behalf of Mike Olstad, to allow the installation of two sixteen-inch rock faced retaining walls in the front yard of the property. Alison Brake gave a presentation outlining the request. She concluded while the installation of the retaining walls will not have a negative effect on the property, the removal of the concrete entrance steps will affect the historic integrity of the property. Staff finds the request for the installation of the retaining walls is consistent with the Historic District Design Guidelines [Section C.3.4.3(A) and Section C.3.4.3(B)(5)], the San Marcos Development Code [Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(g), Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(i)] and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation [Standards 9 and 10] but the removal of the concrete steps is not consistent with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation [Standard 2]. Staff recommended approval with the following conditions: 1. The concrete entrance steps located at street level, identified in My Historic SMTX as landscape features, are reconstructed in their previous location as shown on the Historic Resources Form from My Historic SMTX; and 2. The applicant shall notify the Historic Preservation Officer when installation of the project begins and when the project is completed. The applicant and the property owner were available for questions. Lisa Marie Coppoletta, 1322 Belvin Street, stated that $1,000 of limestone was removed from her and her neighbor’s properties for a sidewalk project and stated she was afraid that the removal altered her property’s historic integrity. She said that she was concerned that sidewalk projects and bus stop projects did not have to come through this particular Commission. She explained her concern with flooding that she believed the retaining walls would cause on neighboring properties There were no further questions and Chair Perkins closed the public hearing. Discussion between the applicant and the Commission ensued. A motion was made by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Dake Perkins to approve the request for the installation of two sixteen-inch rock faced retaining walls in the front yard of the property as the request met the criteria of the San Marcos Development Code [Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(g) and Section 4.5.2.1(I)(1)(i)] and is consistent with the Historic District Design Guidelines [Section C.3.4.3(A) and Section C.3.4.3(B)(5)] and Secretary of the Interior’s Standards [Standard Number 2] with the following conditions:  4 Historic Preservation Commission September 24, 2020 Special 1. The concrete entrance steps located at street level, identified in My Historic SMTX as landscape features, are reconstructed in their previous location as shown on the Historic Resources Form from My Historic SMTX; 2. The project will follow the plan shown in Rendering Number 2, identified as “EXHIBIT D” of the agenda packet item (Item #4); and 3. The applicant shall notify the Historic Preservation Officer when installation of the walls and stairs begins and when the installation of the walls and stairs is completed. For:5 – Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Dake, Commissioner Meyer, Commissioner Arlinghaus, and Commissioner Kennedy Against: 1 – Commissioner Holder Abstain: 0 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS There were none. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS CHAIR PERKINS DECLARED THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:42 P.M. ______________________________ Ryan Patrick Perkins, Chair ATTEST: _____________________________ Alison Brake, Historic Preservation Officer and Planner