[00:00:15]
WE ARE ALMOST THERE, BUT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START THE FRONT END OF THE MEETING.
UM, TODAY'S MEETING OF THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION, HAHC, IS CALLED ORDER.
I AM COMMISSION CHAIR DAVID EK TO VERIFY WE HAVE A QUORUM.
I WILL CALL THE ROLE THE, THE CHAIR IS PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER COSGROVE PRESENT.
UH, COMMISSIONER MARK SMITH IS PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER BROWNING IS SICK TODAY.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS PRESENT AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR WI ROBERT WILLIAMSON PRESENT.
I WILL BEGIN BY THE CHAIR'S REPORT.
UM, WITH THE SPEAKER RULES FOR THIS MEETING.
THE MEETING CAN BE VIEWED ON HTV, ALTHOUGH VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION OPTIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
UM, PLEASE NOTE THE MEETINGS DO, DO OFTEN START AFTER THE SCHEDULED TIME TO ALLOW THE HV BROADCAST TO GO LIVE.
UH, SPEAKERS, IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON AN ITEM, PLEASE FILL OUT ONE OF THE SPEAKER FORMS, UH, BEFORE THE ITEM IS CALLED AND TURN IT INTO, UM, THE STAFF MEMBER NEAREST THE FRONT DOOR.
UH, THE SPEAKER RULES ARE POSTED ON THE AGENDA BUT ARE AT MY DISCRETION AT THIS.
AT THIS MEETING, THE APPLICANT OR THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE APPLICANT WILL BE ASKED TO OPEN AND SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
UM, IN DOING SO, YOU MAY ALSO BE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE WITH AN ADDITIONAL TWO MINUTES.
OTHER SPEAK, PUBLIC SPEAKERS MAY SPEAK ONE TIME UP TO TWO MINUTES.
UH, WHEN I RECOGNIZE YOU TO SPEAK, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHAIR OR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND MAY CALL UPON YOU FOR ADDITIONAL, UM, ANSWERS.
UM, PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION OF CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS AFTER STAFF'S INITIAL PRESENTATION, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST AND COMMISSION MEMBERS, PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS FOR STAFF UNTIL, UM, THE PUBLIC, UH, THE PUBLIC DELIBER DELIBERATION SORRY, HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND WE HOPE TO, UM, UH, KEEP THIS MEETING ON SCHEDULE EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE A LONG, UH, LIST OF ITEMS TODAY AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE'LL BE PASSING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR HICK, AND GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I'M ROBERT WILLIAMSON, ACTING SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR MY REPORT TODAY.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
FIRST, WE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 24TH TO REVIEW AND SOLICIT COMMENTS FOR THE PROPOSED NOR HILL DESIGN GUIDELINES.
ALL THE COMMENTS RECEIVED ARE BEING REVIEWED AND EVALUATED IN A REVISED DRAFT, WILL BE POSTED FOR FINAL HEARING AND VOTE BY HAHC AT THE MAY MEETING.
SO GUIDELINES CAN THEN BE FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
SECOND IS A HOUSEKEEPING NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE RECORD.
SO BEGINNING THIS PAST FEBRUARY, STAFF INSTITUTED A HARD CUTOFF DATE FOR APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY THE END OF THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY, A WEEK BEFORE THE NEXT HAHC MEETING, THIS IS REQUIRED SO STAFF HAS ENOUGH TIME TO FINALIZE DRAFT REPORTS FOR POSTING ON FRIDAY, ALLOWING COMMISSIONERS AND THE PUBLIC TIME TO REVIEW BEFORE THE UPCOMING H-A-H-H-A-H-C MEETING.
THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY, APPLICANTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO PRESENT ADDITIONAL REV AND REVISED INFORMATION AT THE HAHC MEETING WHEREBY COMMISSIONERS MAY ACCEPT AND CONSIDER THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR DEFER THE APPLICATION TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME TO REVIEW.
THIS CHANGE ALSO SUPPORTS THE COMMISSION'S LONGSTANDING POLICY OF ONLY ALLOWING COMMISSIONERS TO ABSTAIN FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
FINALLY, SINCE OUR TWO FEBRUARY, 2026 MEETING, WE RECEIVED NINE REQUESTS FOR PRE-APPLICATION DESIGN REVIEWS, 40 NEW COA APPLICATIONS, WHICH BRINGS OUR TOTAL PRE-DESIGN TO 20 AND OUR YEAR TO DATE COAS TO 99.
UH, TODAY'S MEETING IS THE MOST ACTIVE MEETING WE'VE HAD ALL YEAR.
[00:05:01]
WE'VE ALSO ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED 10 COAS DURING THIS CYCLE, BRINGING OUR YEAR TO DATE COUNT TO 22.IN CLOSING, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CALL THE HOUSTON OFFICE OF PRESERVATION HOTLINE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 6 5 5 6 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE@HOUSTONPLANNING.COM.
UH, WE WILL NOT HAVE A MAYOR'S LEE AS ON REPORT TODAY, SO WE WILL MOVE ON FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026 HAHC MEETING.
MINUTES COMMISSION MEMBERS, IF, HAVE YOU HAD A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE MINUTES? MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A SECOND JONES? SECONDS.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT MOTION PASSES AND WE WILL NOW, UH, MOVE ON TO ITEM A, THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION APPLICATION FOR THE HOUSE AT 1317.
RUTH VAN STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 1 9.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON SAMANTHA DEONE.
I SUBMIT FOR ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, ITEM A AT 1317, RUTH FN STREET FOR THE PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF THE HOUSE AT 1317.
RUTH FN 1317, RUTH FN IS A CIRCA 18 94 1 STORY COTTAGE BUILT FOR THE LEWIS C ART SEI AROUND 1894 AND IS LISTED AS A CONTRIBUTING HISTORIC STRUCTURE IN THE FREEDMAN'S TOWN NATIONAL REGISTER.
HISTORIC DISTRICT, THE HOUSE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST SURVIVING STRUCTURES IN FREEDMAN'S TOWN.
A COMMUNITY SETTLED AFTER EMANCIPATION THAT BECAME A THRIVING CENTER OF BLACK, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THROUGH THE FIRST THREE DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
THE FREEDMANS TOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT HAS UNDERGONE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, AND APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN LOST SINCE SO FEW HISTORICAL BUILDINGS REMAIN.
EVEN MODEST HOUSES SUCH AS THE HOUSE OF 1317 ROOF BEEN HAVE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND SERVE AS IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS TO THE STORY OF FRIEDMANS TOWN.
FIRST TO THE SMALL IMMIGRANT, UH, ITALIAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT SETTLED IN THE AREA IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS TO THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS AND LATER AS A REMINDER OF THE WORKING CLASS AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES WHO WERE ABLE TO BUY AND OCCUPY THEIR HOMES DURING A TIME WHEN OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO WERE LIMITED.
THE CURRENT OWNER IS SEEKING PROTECTED LANDMARK STATUS FOR 1317 RUTH BIN TO PRESERVE ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING HISTORIC HOMES ON THE STREET AND TO ENSURE IT REMAINS PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES THE HOUSE, A TWO STORY OUTBUILDING ON THE SOUTHWEST CENTER OR SOUTHWEST CORNER.
A NON HISTORIC SMALL SHED ON THE EAST SIDE AND A NON HISTORIC PER, UH, PER UH, PERGOLA STRUCTURE IN THE BACKYARD PROTECTED LANDMARK STATUS WOULD APPLY ONLY TO THE PRIMARY HOUSE.
THE NON HISTORIC OUTBUILDINGS IN THE PERGOLA ARE EXCLUDED.
THE HOUSE AT 1317 RUTH FN MEETS CRITERIA 1 4 5 AND EIGHT FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND CRITERIA ONE, TWO, AND THREE FOR PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THE NOMINATION WAS WRITTEN BY DAVID PUTTS AND EMILY ARWIN WITH PRESERVATION HOUSTON STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL THE PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF 1317 STREET HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 1 9, KNOWN AS THE HOUSE AT 13 17TH.
RUTH BEN CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
I KNOW THAT EMILY ARWIN FROM PRESERVATION HOUSTON IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M ALSO AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS TIME.
I HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM, WHICH IS EMILY WAN.
I'M, UH, EMILY WAN WITH PRESERVATION HOUSTON SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE NOMINATION FOR 1317 RUTH FIN STREET.
UM, I MEAN, YOU, YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH FRIEDMANS TOWN.
IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT HISTORIC RESOURCES IN HOUSTON, AND WE WELCOME ANY OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT ONE OF THE, UM, PRECIOUS FEW OLDER STRUCTURES THAT ARE STILL REMAINING.
UM, SO WE PREPARED THIS NOMINATION, UH, AT THE REQUEST OF THE HOMEOWNER, UM, AND WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A PRETTY WELL PRESERVED HOUSE IN ADDITION TO BEING ONE OF THE OLDER, UM, SURVIVING, UH, HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UM, WE ARE JUST HONORED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO SUBMIT THIS NOMINATION.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE SUPPORT IT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM BUT DID NOT FILL OUT A FORM? NOT HEARING ANYONE.
I'LL CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK COMMISSION MEMBERS IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF FOR THIS APPLICATION OR IF THERE'S A MOTION,
[00:10:01]
I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND JONES WILL SECOND.ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT MOTION PASSES WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM B.
ITEM B WILL BE THE CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON REFERRAL TO THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR NOMINATION TO THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR THE STYLE AND STEEL TOWNHOUSES.
UM, AT HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
THEY ARE 4 1 5 6 4 1 5 8 AND 4 1 6 0 MEYER WOOD DRIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 2 5.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON SAMANTHA DELEON.
I SUBMIT ITEM B FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON REFERRAL TO TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR THE NOMINATION TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR THE STYLE AND STEEL TOWNHOUSES, THE STYLE AND STEEL TOWNHOUSES LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE RELATIVELY SMALL SUBDIVISION OF TOWNHOUSE MANOR, APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES SOUTHWEST OF HOUSTON'S DOWNTOWN, UH, COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SIX 10 AT 41 56, 41 58, AND 41 60 MEYER WOOD DRIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THEY WERE BUILT IN 1968 AS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR THE JANUARY, 1969.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOME BUILDERS SHOW AT THE ASTRO DO ASHO HALL, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL INSTITUTE, HOUSTON LIGHTING AND POWER AND GENERAL ELECTRIC.
THE HOUSES WERE A PROMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTENDED TO SHOW THE PRACTICALITY AND ADVANTAGES OF STEEL AND RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION.
STEEL WAS USED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE, NOT ONLY IN THE STRUCTURE ITSELF, BUT ALSO IN THE FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AND FITTINGS.
THE STYLE AND STEEL TOWNHOUSES WERE ALSO USED TO DEMONSTRATE THE LIVE THE LIVE BETTER ELECTRICALLY.
GOLD MEDALLION HOME CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM SPONSORED NATIONALLY BY GENERAL ELECTRIC AND ALL THREE TOWNHOUSES FEATURED A WIDE ARRAY OF INNOVATIVE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR ELECTRIC APPLIANCES AND ACCESSORIES.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STYLE AND STEEL TOWNHOUSES WAS EXTENSIVELY DOCUMENTED IN PUBLICIZED THE STYLE AND STEEL TOWNHOUSES ARE SIGNIFICANT UNDER CRITERION C IN THE AREA OF ARCHITECTURE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE.
AS AN AS AN EXCELLENT INTACT EXAMPLE OF A DEMONSTRATION HOUSE PROJECT CONSTRUCTED DUR CONSTRUCTED DURING THE MID 20TH CENTURY.
THE PROJECT INCORPORATED CHARACTERISTICS FOUND IN STEEL DEMONSTRATION HOUSES CONSTRUCTED STARTING IN THE 1930S AS WELL AS THE INNOVATIVE ALL ELECTRIC HEATING, POWER LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES PROMOTED BY GENERAL ELECTRIC, UH, IN THE 1950S AND SIXTIES.
THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE IS 1968.
THE YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE HAAC REFER THE NOMINATION OF THE STYLE AND STEEL TOWNHOUSE TO THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AT THIS TIME I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME NOW.
I WILL CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING COMMISSION MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR, UM, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO REFER THIS, UM, THESE, THESE ADDRESS PROJECTS TO THE COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTRY? SO MOVED.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION PASSES AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEMS C FOR THE CONSIDERATION IMPOSSIBLE ACTION ON REFERRAL TO THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR THE NOMINATION TO THE NATIONAL NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY AT 1300 COURT STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 7.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON ERIN EDWARDS.
I SUBMIT ITEM C FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON REFERRAL OF TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR THE NOMINATION TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN OLIVE WOODS CEMETERY.
OLIVE WOODS CEMETERY IS AN EXCELLENT AND SELDOM EXAMPLE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CEMETERY WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN BURIAL TRADITIONS AND DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT WAS FOUNDED IN THE ASSOCIATION WITH THE RURAL CEMETERY MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY.
THE CEMETERY REPRESENTS A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND INCLUDING LEADERS IN EDUCATION, THE CHURCH AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THE COMMUNITY PLAN TO THE PLAN THE CEMETERY DURING RECONSTRUCTION AS A GATHERING PLACE, MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH, SCHOOLS AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH THE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION PURCHASED THE CEMETERY LAND AND DESIGNED THE CEMETERY LANDSCAPE
[00:15:01]
AT A TIME WHEN ONLY CEMETERIES AVAILABLE TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE SEGREGATED.LEADERS IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH A PRIVATE SPACE WHERE THEY CAN INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND HONOR THEIR ANCESTORS ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN CULTURAL TRADITIONS.
OLIVE WOOD HAS A FORMALLY DESIGNED LANDSCAPE INFLUENCED BY THE RURAL CEMETERY MOVEMENT WITH AN ELLIPTICAL DRIVE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE CEMETERY, A PARK LIKE SETTING WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF PLANTED TREES AND A VIEW OF NEARBY WHITE OAK BAYOU AT THE TIME.
IT CONTAINS GRAVE DECORATION AND GRAVE TENDING GOODS, SPECIFICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND AFRICAN INFLUENCE BELIEF SYSTEMS. OLIVE WOOD THUS RECOGNIZES THE COEXISTENCE OF AFRICAN INFLUENCE BELIEF SYSTEMS WITH CHRISTIANITY WITHIN REPRESENTS THE COEXISTENCE OF A PARK-LIKE AESTHETIC.
THE PRESENCE OF STYLED AND HOMEMADE MARKERS REFLECT THE RANGE OF PEOPLE BURIED IN OLIVE WOOD FROM PROMINENT BUSINESSMEN TO LE TO LABORERS OR LAUNDRESSES WHO HAVE BEEN, WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ECONOMICALLY LESS SECURED BUT PROUDLY EXERCISED.
THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THEIR, FOR MANY OF THOSE WHO WERE INTERRED INTO OLIVE WOOD HAVE TIES OF STATE AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, POLITICS AND PEOPLE.
SEVERAL PEOPLE BURIED IN OLIVE WOOD HAVE CONNECTIONS, UM, WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN INTELLECTUALS SUCH AS BOOKER T WASHINGTON AND PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON.
OLIVE WOOD IS HOUSTON'S FIRST PRIVATE AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERY AND STANDS OUT FOR ITS INTEGRITY, LOCATION, DESIGN MATERIALS ASSOCIATION, AND THE FEELING THROUGHOUT OF THE 1875 THROUGH 1961 PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
THE OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY IS NOMINATED FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES UNDER CRITERION A FOR ETHNIC HERITAGE, BLACK AND COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT UNDER CRITERION C FOR LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE AT THE STATE LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE.
IT ALSO MEETS CONSIDERATION D FOR CEMETERIES BECAUSE ITS PRIMARY SIGNIFICANCE IS DERIVED FROM BURIALS OF HOUSTON EARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS, THE UNIQUE MERGING OF RURAL CEMETERY MOVEMENT, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, AND AFRICAN DERIVED SYMBOLISM AND BURIAL PRACTICE.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE HAHC REFER TO THE NOMINATION OF OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY TO N TO TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTION.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IN THIS ITEM.
UM, I DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK FOR THIS ITEM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROJECT OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO SO NOW NOT HEARING ANY.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMISSION MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS APPLICATION OR IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT, UH, THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF TO REFER THIS ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION TO THE THC? MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? THAT MOTION PASSES AND WE'LL NOW MOVE ON FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
UM, ONE OR MORE ITEMS MAY BE TAKEN IN ONE MOTION AS CONSENT ITEMS AND WE WILL NOW UM, HEAR THE PROPOSED CONSENT ITEMS FOR REVIEW.
WE'VE GOT 31 ITEMS. UM, SO EVERYONE BUCKLE THEIR SEAT BELTS.
UH, I'M GONNA DO THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
UM, I WAS GONNA JUST MENTION THE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THAT WOULD IN TURN STILL HAVE TO, UH, STATE THE NUMBERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ANYWAY.
SO I'M JUST GONNA DO IT THE REGULAR WAY.
I'M GOING TO SKIP THE APP APPLICATION TYPE AND THE HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME AND JUST SAY THE ADDRESS, THE NUMBER, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IF THAT'S OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMMISSIONERS AND THE PUBLIC.
I'M STAFF MEMBER TERRENCE JACKSON.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR ACTION PER STAFF RECOMMENDATION IN ONE MOTION ITEMS D 1 12 46 AUSTIN RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 2 12 35 YALE RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 4 15 21 COLUMBIA RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS D 5 15 21 COLUMBIA STREET.
RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 7 6 0 7 HARVARD RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS D 8 6 0 7 HARVARD STREET.
THIS IS A GARAGE AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVAL
[00:20:01]
D 9 15 19 SOUTH BOULEVARD.RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 14 815 WEST COTTAGE STREET.
DENIAL OF A COA ISSUANCE OF A-C-O-R-D 15 4 15 HARVARD STREET ALTERATION.
RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL D 16 415 HARVARD STREET ALTERATION OF GARAGE RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 17 2 0 2 EAST 31ST STREET.
IT'S EAST 31ST AND HALF STREET HAS BEEN DEFERRED BY THE APPLICANT.
D 18 5 28 COLUMBIA STREET DENIAL OF A COA ISSUANCE OF A-C-O-R-D 19 5 28 COLUMBIA STREET ALTERATION, UH, RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS D 25 25 T SHORN RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL D 22 8 2 4 WEST TEMPLE RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 23 8 24 WEST TEMPLE, NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A GARAGE.
RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 24 13 16 HARVARD RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 25 13 16 HARVARD ALTERATION OF A GARAGE.
RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 26 5 0 5.
RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS D 27 300 MAIN STREET RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 28 19 0 7 DECATUR RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL, EXCUSE ME.
D 29 21 10 DECATUR STREET, RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL D 30 11 12 JEROME STREET, RECOMMENDATION, APPROVAL D 31 39 37 0 9 MONTROSE BOULEVARD.
RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTS APPROVAL OF ALL STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THESE PROCEEDING ITEMS, THE ITEMS PROPOSED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, THEREFORE ARE ITEMS D THREE, D SIX, D 10, D 11, D 12, D 13 AND D 21.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS? I JUST GOT A LITTLE LOST.
UM, THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WERE FOR DENIAL WERE WHICH ONES? 1418.
SO THERE ARE DENIAL OF A COA AND ISSUANCE OF A COR FOR D 14 815 WEST COTTAGE D 18 528 COLUMBIA STREET AND THAT'S IT.
DENIAL OF A COA ISSUANCE OF A COR.
I'VE GOT COMMISSIONER ELL, IT'S ON, I DON'T THINK IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH.
I'VE GOT, UH, I'VE 19 AND 26 AS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE THAT.
THE APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS? NO, WE HAVE D FOUR APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.
I MEAN I'M D 4 15 21 COLUMBIA STREET APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS D 7 6 0 7, HARVARD APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS D 19 5 28 COLUMBIA STREET APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS AND D 26, 5 0 5 SAW ROSS STREET APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.
I FEEL AS THOUGH I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEEN UPDATED FROM FRIDAY TO NOW.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ADD 4, 5, 7, AND EIGHT.
OKAY, SO WE'LL REMOVE 4, 5, 7, AND EIGHT AND I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE ONES THAT ARE, UM, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF A DENIAL, UM, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE REPORTS.
UH, DENIAL AND DENIAL WITH COMMISSION CONDITIONS.
THEY COULD BE REALLY FAST, BUT
[00:25:01]
YOU MEAN DENIAL OF A COA ISSUANCE OF A COR? CORRECT.SO TERRANCE, THAT'S GONNA BE 14 AND 18? YES.
UM, SO THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE TO BE, UM, WELL, WE'RE NOT DONE YET, I THINK.
MR. SIL, THERE ARE STILL ITEMS 19 AND 26 AND JUST, IS THAT YEAH, I THINK THOSE WERE PART OF THE GROUP.
THEY WERE NOT, BUT YOU CAN HAVE.
YEAH, WELL I WOULD LIKE TO PULL 19 AND 26 TOO FOR THE SAME REASON, JUST TO RUN THROUGH THE CONDITIONS, THAT'S ALL.
AND I DO BELIEVE FOR THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE PULLED FOR APPROVAL WITH, WITH CONDITIONS, THERE WERE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THEM FROM THE AUDIENCE.
SO IN ALL CASES, ARE THERE ANY OTHER, FOR THE COMMISSION, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT YOU WANT TO, UM, I WAS COMMISSIONER BE BE CHECKED ON ITEM DD 2 12 35.
UH, I NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM THAT, SO I'M NOT SURE, UM, HOW THAT WORKS BEING THE FRESHMAN MEMBER HERE OR COMMISSIONER HERE.
UM, DO I NEED TO NOT VOTE ON THE, ON THE, UM, I BELIEVE I'LL ASK LEGAL.
I BELIEVE SINCE WE'RE POTENTIALLY VOTING ON PROJECTS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE DISCUSSING OUTRIGHT, YOU CAN STAY IN THE ROOM AND YOU, YOU'LL BE NOTED AS AN ABT EXTENS FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IF, IF IT IS TO PASS, AND IF IT, IF IT WERE TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, THEN YOU, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD LEAVE THE ROOM WHILE THE DELIBERATIONS WOULD HAPPEN, BUT YOU'RE, FOR NOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE STILL TAKE HOLD ON YOUR SEAT.
AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, BECAUSE I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS TO SPEAK ON THEM, ALTHOUGH MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN PULLED.
BUT IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT IS HERE FOR AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IF YOU AGREE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, I WOULD ADVISE NOT TO SAY ANYTHING AND LET IT BE VOTED ON.
BUT IF IN FACT YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE APP, THE PROJECT BE DISCUSSED OPENLY, UH, PLEASE, UH, APPROACH THE PODIUM TO ANNOUNCE YOUR, YOURSELF, YOUR NAME AND WHAT THE PROJECT NUMBER YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FOR, UM, THE CONSENT.
UM, YES, STAFF MEMBER TERRANCE JACKSON.
WHY, WHILE WE AWAIT THAT, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I, I, UH, POINT OUT THAT, UM, NO DRAWINGS HAVE CHANGED, UM, SINCE THE DRAFTS HAVE BEEN UPLOADED BECAUSE OF THE POLICY THAT ROBERT MENTIONED EARLIER.
SO, UM, THERE MAY BE CONDITIONS THAT WERE ADDED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT NO DRAWINGS HAVE CHANGED ON ANY, UH, DRAFTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AT THE DEADLINE.
I'M NOT HEARING ANY OTHER, UM, REQUEST FOR PULLING ITEMS. I'LL WAIT FOR, THIS IS MRS. MATTHEW MENDOZA, LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO INDICATE WHICH ITEMS ARE NOW UP ON CONSENT AGENDA.
I, I'LL READ, I'LL READ THE REMAINING LIST.
JUST SO THE AUDIENCE IS ABLE TO KNOW WHETHER THEIR ITEM WILL BE ON CONSENT AGENDA OR HAS BEEN PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS.
I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME AND I'LL READ, UM, WHAT IS CURRENTLY THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, WHICH IS FOR, UH, ITEM 1 12 46 OLSON STREET.
ITEM 2 12 35 YALE STREET, ITEM 9 15 19 SOUTH BOULEVARD, ITEM 15 14 15 HARVARD STREET, ALONG WITH ITEM 16, ALSO AT THE SAME ADDRESS.
THAT'S A DEFERRAL STREET, WHICH IS A DEFERRAL, BUT IT WILL BE DEFERRED BY CONSENT.
UM, AND THEN NEXT IS ITEM 25 25, TEACH SORN STREET, ITEM 22 8 24 WEST TEMPLE STREET.
ALSO ITEM 23, ALSO AT THE SAME ADDRESS.
ITEM 24 13 16 HARVARD STREET, ITEM 25 13 16 HARVARD STREET AS WELL.
ITEM 27, 300 MAIN STREET, ITEM 28, 1900 DECATUR STREET, ITEM 29, 2010 DECATUR STREET, ITEM 30, UM, 1,112 JEROME STREET.
AND LASTLY, ITEM 31 37 0 9 MONTROSE BOULEVARD.
THE, UH, ONLY MINOR CORRECTION I HAVE IS THAT IT'S 1907 DECATUR STREET.
NINE 1900, I'M SORRY, 1907 DECATUR STREET.
[00:30:01]
THAN THAT, THAT'S THE CORRECT CONSENT AGENDA.UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REVISED CONSENT, UM, AGENDA LIST AND THE RECOMMENDED, UM, UH, AND THE RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF? SO MOVED SECOND HILL.
I DON'T HAVE A COIN, BUT I'LL, I'LL DON'T CARE.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL LET MR. BECK TAKE THE MOTION.
ANY OPPOSED? AND ANY ABSTENTIONS? UM, THERE, THERE'S ONE FOR ITEM TWO FOR GARCIA.
SO AT THIS TIME WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 3, 5 28 WOODLAND STREET.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR EK AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON YASMINE ARSLAN.
TODAY I SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AGENDA ITEM D THREE AT 5 28 WOODLAND STREET.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A HISTORIC 1,685 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE WITH A TWO STORY GARAGE TO TOWARDS THE REAR ON A 7,500 SQUARE FOOT CORNER LOT.
IT IS A CONTRIBUTING CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW RESIDENCE CONSTRUCTED CIRCA 1920, LOCATED IN WOODLAND HEIGHTS.
THE EXISTING STRUCTURE IS A ONE STORY HOUSE WITH A DETACHED GARAGE AND GARAGE APARTMENT.
THE PROPOSED WORK INCLUDES, UM, ADDING SQUARE FOOTAGE, UM, AT THE REAR ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES ATTACHING THE EXISTING GARAGE STRUCTURE TO THE MAIN HOUSE.
THE HOUSE CONTAINS, UM, THE HOUSE'S.
UM, THE, THE PROPOSAL ADDS 571 SQUARE FEET OF CONDITIONED SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND 1,700 ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
THE EXISTING ROOF PITCH IS SEVEN OVER 12 AND THE ADDITION IS GOING TO BE SIX OVER 12.
THE EXISTING RIDGE HEIGHT IS 23 FEET AND FOUR INCHES, AND THE PROPOSED IS GOING TO BE 30 FEET AND ONE, THE EXISTING EXTERIOR, UH, CLADDING, UM, IS A FIVE AND A HALF INCH TRI REVEAL WOOD LAP SIDING.
THE ADDITION WILL USE SMOOTH FACE, UH, FIBER CEMENT LAP SIDING WITH THE SAME, UM, INCH TRI TRIVIAL WITH THE SAME FIVE AND A HALF INCH TRIVIAL TO MATCH EXISTING.
THIS APPLICATION HAS RECEIVED FIVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE, AND A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS DEED RESTRICTIONS.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
UM, I DO HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE, UM, INDICATED THEY ARE THE APPLICANT.
SO I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT, UH, SAM GINO.
SAM GINO, YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK FIRST, UM, TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UM, MARTINEZ.
THOSE, AND THEN ONE SECOND PICTURE, SORRY.
I HAVE SOME 3D RENDERINGS HERE ATTACHED.
SHOW THE THREE, THE, THE, THE THESE FOUR FOR SOME.
UM, ONE IS OF THE EXISTING HOUSE FROM THE STREET, FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
UM, THE, THEN THE SIDE VIEW OF THE, THIS IS OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
IT HAS A BIG GARAGE AT THE BACK.
SO THE MASSING IS, IS PRETTY GOOD SIZE THERE.
THEN IF YOU'LL GO TO THE, HERE IS YES, THERE'S THE
[00:35:01]
SIDE, UH, THE SIDE OF IT.THEN THE NEXT PAGE, THEN THAT'S THE FRONT WITH THE ADDITION.
AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE SHOWS THE ADDITION.
UM, THE, THERE, THERE WERE FOUR PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND IT SHOW THE SHADED ONE I GAVE YOU THERE, THERE ARE FOUR PREVIOUSLY APPROVED HOUSES.
UH, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDING, HE'S GONNA SHOW YOU HERE IS THE SHADED PART IN THE MIDDLE.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU SEE THERE, THE CLEAR OR THE WHITE, NOT, NOT SHADED, IS THE ORIGINAL HOUSE.
WE HAVE ALSO HAVE FOUR OTHER HOUSES, ONE AT 400 BURN, UH, OR 5 0 4 BURN, 400 OMAR, THREE 10 EUCLID AND 3 0 9 BAILIN THAT WERE ALSO APPROVED.
WHERE IS THAT? WE ARE, THAT WERE ALSO APPROVED, UM, ONE THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO, UM, WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WAS APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE AT THREE 10 EUCLID THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THAT WAS, HAS A, A MASSIVE REMODEL TO THE BACK OF IT.
UH, THEN 3 0 9 BAILIN, WHICH IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, IS THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITION THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED LAST MONTH.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER OF THE COMMISSION? OKAY, THANK YOU.
UM, I DO KNOW THERE ARE ONES, WE SHOW A FEW MORE FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS, UH, ITEM, WHICH ARE ALSO, UM, SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT IN THE NEXT MARTINEZ STEVENS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SAM STEVENS.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO RAISE OUR GIRLS THERE.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT TRAVIS ELEMENTARY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY CONTINUE, UH, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, UH, WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS AND ALSO THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND WE JUST, UM, WOULD, UH, ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TODAY.
MY NAME'S SAM STEVENS, MARTINEZ, HUSBAND, OWNER OF, UH, 5 2 8 WOODLAND.
I'D JUST LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT, UM, WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS, WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND WE GREATLY VALUE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH, WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, WHICH IS ALSO WHY WE CHOSE SAM FOR THE, UH, ARCHITECTURE TO, TO DO OUR BEST TO MATCH THE HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO, UM, USE THE RENOVATION TO AMPLIFY THE HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOUSE.
WE PURCHASED THE HOUSE FROM BYRON KING WHO HAD LIVED THERE SINCE THE EARLY EIGHTIES.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY AS HE AGED, HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE HOME EVEN THOUGH HE, HE DID, UH, CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE HISTORIC VALUE AND HE, UM, SOLD THE HOME TO US WITHOUT BEING PUT ON THE MARKET BECAUSE WE HAD MET HIM AND HE, HE LIKED THAT WE CARED VERY MUCH FOR THE HOME.
AND, UM, SO WE JUST, UH, ASKED FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND KNOW THAT WE ARE USING THIS FOR, UH, OUR FAMILY TO LIVE IT AND TO RAISE THEM AND TO VALUE THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ONE MORE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM, WHICH IS, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S A NAIL, UH, PRANK.
UM, I AM A NEIGHBOR OF THE STEVENS.
I LIVE AT 4 0 5 HIGHLAND, WHICH IS ALSO ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
I KNOW THIS STEVENS WELL, THEIR DAUGHTER IS MY BEST FRIEND.
I'VE LOOKED AT THEIR DRAWINGS IN DETAIL.
I THINK THEY PRESERVE THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF OUR HOME.
I THINK THEY'RE APPROPRIATE TO THE SIZE AND SCALE OF OTHER HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ONLY HAVE 386 HOMES IN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS AND NOT THAT MANY OF US WE'RE VERY CLOSE AND I HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD OF OPPOSITION.
EVERYONE THAT I'VE TALKED TO IS IN FAVOR OF THIS AND I'D ASK YOU TO APPROVE IT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM, BUT IS IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE ANNOUNCE YOURSELF NOW.
I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMISSION MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? QUESTION FOR STAFF COMMISSIONER BROBECK.
WERE THE ITEMS THAT WERE DISPLAYED BY THE APPLICANT'S AGENT A FEW MINUTES AGO, WERE THOSE INCLUDED IN THE, A APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS? NO.
SO WE'RE SEEING THEM TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S SHOWING EXAMPLES OF THINGS.
[00:40:01]
TO PUT THEM IN THE STAFF REPORT.THAT'S NOT A, NOT A NECESSITY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THE APPLICATION BY A MONTH BECAUSE WE WERE PRESENTED WITH NEW MATERIAL THAT THE COMMISSIONERS DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IN ADVANCE.
THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS COMMISSION SINCE I JOINED, AND IT'S GOTTA STOP AT SOME POINT.
I, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE SEEING THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE MEETING.
I MEAN, UM, COMMISSIONER BROBECK, WE DON'T CONTROL WHAT THE APPLICANT WANTS TO PRESENT AS LONG AS WE HAVE A COMPLETE STAFF REPORT THAT IS NOT MISSING HIM PROVIDING US WITH PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DRAFT IS, IS NOT A MUST FOR A STAFF REPORT.
SO IT DOESN'T INCOMPLETE THE STAFF REPORT.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS PRESENTING THESE AND, AND SO THERE'S NO NOTHING CONTRADICTING WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING.
AGAIN, STAFF AND LEGAL CAN, UM, SPEAK ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE AGAINST OR WE CONTROL WHAT THEY PRESENT, ESPECIALLY HERE.
I MEAN THE, AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED TODAY, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, YOU KNOW, I GUESS ASKED THE DIRECTOR FOR CLARIFICATION, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT AS THERE ARE TWO STATEMENTS HERE, ONE, THE APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON FRIDAY IS STILL THE VALID APPLICATION.
THAT'S STILL, STILL BEFORE US.
THE SECOND ONE IS, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE APPLICANTS COULD SHOW INFORMATION FOR CLARITY AT THIS MEETING.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT? THAT IS CORRECT.
THE, THE APPLICANTS ARE FREE TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AFTER THE CUTOFF TIME AT THE, THE MEETING TODAY AND THE COMMISSIONERS CAN DECIDE TO REVIEW THAT, ACCEPT THAT INFORMATION, OR MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER TO, TO STUDY IT.
I, I THINK THE ISSUE IS, AND, AND I DO HAVE A MOTION, SO, SO JUST MENTION THAT, JUST TO MAYBE ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE MOTIVE OF THE MOTION.
UM, IF IT'S, IF I DIDN'T, IF I DIDN'T MISUNDERSTAND NO, KNEW THAT THE SCHEME THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE RENDERINGS WAS NOT DIFFERENT FROM THE SCHEME THAT'S IN THE APPLICATION.
SO IT'S NOT AS THOUGH WE'RE BEING ASKED TO RULE ON SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ONLY SEEN IN VERY RECENTLY PRESENTED MATERIALS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF, UH, BASIS FOR RULING IN THE APPLICATION AS IT IS.
THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM IF SOMEONE SAID, OH, OH, I, I KNOW MAYBE YOU WON'T LIKE WHAT'S IN THE APPLICATION.
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING DIFFERENT AT THE HEARING THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC IN MY VIEW IF I MAY.
UM, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING YOU JUST SAID.
FOR ME, IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF THE MATTER.
WHEN WE ACCEPT MATERIALS FROM APPLICANTS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MEETINGS, WE'RE SETTING A PRECEDENT AND WHAT DO WE DO NEXT TIME NEW MATERIALS ARE SUBMITTED THAT DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND THAT ACTUALLY HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT WANTED TO ABSTAIN AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULDN'T.
SO I'D LIKE TO STOP IT SO THAT NEW MATERIALS ARE NOT SUBMITTED BY APPLICANTS AT THE MEETING.
I DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T THINK IT'S WRONG.
YOU MAY DISAGREE, BUT WHAT NEW MATERIALS ARE BEING PRESENTED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION? I DON'T, I'VE, I'M KIND OF FOLLOWING YOU.
I'M, I'M NOT REAL SURE WHAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING 'CAUSE I WAS IN HERE WHEN THAT OCCURRED.
BUT IN THIS CASE, UH, WE'VE GOT 3D RENDERINGS.
WE JUST GOT A BETTER VERSION OF THE SAME THING.
SO COMMISSIONER DAVIS, YOU HAD A COMMENT? YES.
UM, JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE APPLICANT CAN'T JUST GIVE THE OFFICE WHAT THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE PRESENTED THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE BRILLIANT TO HAVE A BULLETED POINT FROM THE APPLICANT THAT EXPLAINS WHY THEY WANTED TO DO WHAT THEY DO.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S NOT, THAT THAT'S NOT A THING THAT THEY CAN'T DO THAT.
SO IS THERE ANY OTHER PLACE THAT, FOR THESE IMAGES TO BE, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
UM, BECAUSE THE, JUST NOTICING THAT THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF IS APPROVAL AND ALL THE SPEAKERS, UH, WERE ON THE SIDE OF APPROVAL.
[00:45:01]
BIT WONDERING WHY THIS WAS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.SO I MEAN, IS THERE AN ISSUE EVEN, UM, APART FROM THE ONE THAT WAS JUST RAISED THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON? UH, I THINK THAT THE, THE ADDITION, UH, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN EXISTING HOME AND EXISTING GARAGE.
THERE'S STILL A LARGE MASS THAT'S BEING ADDED FROM A MASSING PROPORTION STANDPOINT.
UM, WOODLAND HEIGHTS, I WANT TO SAY DOES HAVE A NUMBER OF HOMES THAT, UM, THAT THE REQUESTS ARE MADE FOR LARGER ADDITIONS TO THEM.
SO IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD, AS YOU MAY KNOW THAT DOESN'T HAVE A DESIGN GUIDELINES, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE LIKE A FAR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO THERE'S NOT A LIMITING FACTOR TO TRY TO SET WHAT, WHAT MASSING WOULD BE.
SO, UH, I I BELIEVE IT'S MORE ABOUT THE MASSING AND, UM, WHICH IS WHY IT'S, IT'S BEING DISCUSSED OPENLY WITH THE COMMISSION TO SEE WHAT THE COMMISSION, UM, HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
MY MY MAIN MY MAIN RESPONSE TO THE, THE QUESTION THOUGH IS JUST IF THE APPLICATION HASN'T CHANGED PER THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE, THE CITY STAFF, I, I DON'T KNOW IF HAVING A RENDERING OF THE SAME PRODUCT IS AN ISSUE.
IF, IF I MAY, THIS IS MATTHEW KNOWS A LEGAL DEPARTMENT, PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER BECK, UM, THE APPLICANT MAY PRESENT NEW MATERIAL AT THE MEETING, BUT THE COMMISSION IS, IT'S WITHIN THEIR DISCRETION TO, TO INCLUDE THAT, TO APPROVE THAT NEW MATERIAL OR DENY IT OR DEFER.
UM, SO WE STILL HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER ON THE TABLE THAT'S WELL WITHIN THE COMMISSION'S RIGHT TO DEFER.
UM, WITH THIS PARTICULAR INFORMATION BEING PRESENTED IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION, IT'S KIND OF UP TO Y'ALL ON HOW Y'ALL WILL DECIDE ON WHETHER THAT MOTION TO DEFER IS PASSED OR NOT.
IF I'M MR. CHAIR, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT.
UH, THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN WE DON'T KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT NEW MATERIALS WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
ONCE PICTURES ARE SHOWN TO US, YOU CAN'T UNSEE THINGS.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS JUST PUT A STOP TO NEW STUFF BEING SHOWN TO US BY APPLICANTS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE MEETING.
I'M TRYING TO PUT A STOP TO, IF I MAY EXPLAIN THE 3D RENDERING THAT IS BLACK AND WHITE IS SHOWN ON THE REPORT.
THAT IS WHAT WAS IN THE DRAFT AND IS IN THE FINAL.
UM, I, I GUESS WHAT THE APPLICANT HAS DONE IS, UH, RENDER IT USING AI TO MAKE IT LOOK REAL.
UM, IT'S THE SAME DESIGN, BUT YES, THIS WAS NOT GIVEN TO STAFF.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I SEE IT, BUT IT IS THE SAME DESIGN AND YOU, YOU CAN COMPARE IF YOU WOULD LIKE, UH, WITH THE BLACK AND WHITE RENDERING.
AND THEN, UM, THIS, SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.
UM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR WILLIAMSON, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMENT, I DON'T THINK THIS ARISES TO THE LEVEL OF NEW INFORMATION.
UM, IT JUST, THE INFORMATION'S IN THE PACKET.
THIS IS JUST ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TO KNOW WHETHER AN APPLICANT, IF AN APPLICANT SAYS, I WOULD WANT YOU TO PUT THIS IN THE PACKET, WILL YOU DO THAT? UM, SO IF, IF THEY, UM, YES, WE, WE CAN, IF IT'S GIVEN BEFORE, UM, UM, I WAS NOT ASKED TO PUT IT IN, IN THE, IN THE, UH, REPORT, UM, TO EXPLAIN PROCESS.
LET'S SAY SOMEONE COMES IN TO SUBMIT A AND WANTS TO SPEAK WHETHER IN SUPPORT IN OR IN OPPOSITION, THEY MIGHT HAVE A LETTER, THEY MIGHT HAVE A PHOTO STAFF USUALLY DOESN'T CHECK WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO PRESENT AS PART OF THE APPLICANT'S MATERIAL.
WE'RE ONLY IN CONTROL OF WHAT WE PUT IN THE REPORT, WHETHER IT'S THE DRAFT OR FINAL.
UM, WE TYPICALLY DON'T REGULATE WHAT THEY PRESENT AT THE COMMISSION, WHETHER IT'S A PUBLIC COMMENT, LETTER OF SUPPORT, UM, THEY SHOW UP, SIGN UP TO SPEAK, AND UH, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DOCU TO SHOW WHAT WHATEVER DOCUMENTS THEY FEEL NECESSARY.
AS LONG AS IT'S, UM, IT, IT MIGHT AFFECT COMMISSION DEPENDING ON YOU.
BUT IN THIS CASE IT WAS JUST A DIFFERENT STYLE OF RENDERING.
CAN I EXPLAIN FROM MY SIDE OF MR. JIM? UH, MR. LUCAS, UH, WE'VE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO AT THIS TIME, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE THESE DELIBERATIONS, BUT THANK YOU.
UM, COMMISSIONER SEL? YEAH, I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
IS THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS APPLICATION IN YOUR VIEW THAT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE? NO.
AND THAT IS WHY STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, RIGHT? IN OUR OPINION.
[00:50:02]
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT IS THAT I-I-I-I-I KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, UM, BUT TO CREATE, UM, WHAT SORT OF FEELS LIKE A PUNISHMENT, UM, IN, IN DEFERRING AND KICKING THIS APPLICATION DOWN A MONTH, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE IS OUR CHARGE HERE.WE HAVE A MOTION, UM, IN ORDER TO, UM, PURSUE THAT MOTION, I NEED TO HAVE A SECOND.
I, IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION TO DEFER? OKAY, SO NOT HEARING A SECOND.
IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION? BLAKELY MOTION MOVES TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE REVISED MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION? AYE.
THIS IS MATTHEW MENDOZA AGAIN.
UM, WE HAVE A POLICY OF NO ABSTENTIONS UNLESS THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THIS CASE.
UM, THE DEFERRAL MOTION WAS, DID IT NOT PASS? SO, UM, IN THIS CASE, COMMISSIONER BRABECK, I THINK YOUR ONLY OPTION IS BE TO OPPOSE.
I HAVE REQUESTED LEGAL GUIDANCE ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN ABSTAIN FOR REASONS OTHER THAN CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
YES, SO UNTIL SUCH TIME I ABSTAIN.
UM, THAT LEGAL GUIDANCE IS FORTHCOMING.
UM, WE CAN MAKE NOTE OF YOUR ABSTENTION JUST FOR, FOR THE RECORD AT THIS MOMENT, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT THAT GUIDANCE WILL INFORM YOU OF WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU, UM, THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO OPPOSE NOT ABSTAIN UNLESS THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE JUST CONSIDER ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE TOGETHER.
UM, SORRY, WAIT, BROAD REC SECONDS.
UM, WE WILL, UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF HEARING THESE TWO ITEMS PRESENTED AT THE SAME TIME.
WE WILL STILL VOTE ON THEM SEPARATELY IS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
CHAIR EK AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON, UH, YASMINA ARSLAN, I SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AGENDA D FOUR AT 1521 COLUMBIA STREET IN HOUSTON HEIGHTS.
THIS PROPERTY INCLUDES A HISTORIC 1000 476 1 STORY WITH SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE SITUATED ON A 6,600, UH, UM, HUNDRED 6,600 SQUARE FOOT INTERIOR LOT.
IT IS A CONTRIBUTING BUNGALOW, CRAFTSMAN STYLE RESIDENCE CONSTRUCTED CIRCUIT 1925, LOCATED IN HOUSTON HEIGHTS, EAST HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING, UM, A ONE STORY EDITION AT THE REAR OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
IT, UM, I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMBINE THEM TOGETHER.
AND HE'S ALSO, UH, PROPOSING TO BUILD A TWO STORY, UH, GARAGE AND GARAGE APARTMENT AT THE REAR CONSTRUCTION OF 506, UH, 569 FIRST LEVEL REAR ADDITION TO THE EXISTING HOUSE.
THE APPLICANT ALSO WANTS TO ADD SKIRTING AS THE FOUND AT THE FOUNDATION TO BE COMPATIBLE.
UM, REMOVAL OF NONE ORIGINAL PORCH COLUMNS AND REPLACEMENT WITH, UM, PORCH SUPPORTS CONSISTING OF BRICK PIERS WITH DOUBLE WOOD COLUMNS.
UM, HE WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE NON-ORIGINAL ALUMINUM WINDOW WITH INSIDE AND RECESSED WOOD, UH, WINDOWS.
LET ME ON THE PROPOSED SIDING ON THE ADDITION WILL BE FIVE AND A HALF INCHES SMOOTH FIBER CEMENT, UH, LAP SIDING.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.
THIS IS FOR THE ADDITION THAT THE FRONT EAST ELEVATION TO FEATURE A SINGLE TAPERED COLUMN AT THE PORCH RATHER THAN THE PROPOSED DOUBLE COLUMN CONFIGURATION.
AS FOR THE PROPOSED GARAGE, IT'S A TWO STORY STRUCTURE, DETACHED GARAGE AND GARAGE APARTMENT AT THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, IT INCLUDES AN FIRST FLOOR GARAGE THAT IS 527 SQUARE FEET AND A SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT,
[00:55:01]
UH, WITH ALSO 5 27 SQUARE FEET, UH, ALL WINDOWS TO BE INSET AND RECESSED.UM, THE PROPOSED EXTERIOR CLADDING FOR THE, THIS STRUCTURE WILL ALSO BE FIVE AND A HALF INCH FIBER CEMENT SMOOTH LAP SIDING.
UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND IT MEETS, UM, HOUSTON HEIGHTS MEASURABLE STANDARDS.
AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME, I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGN UP FOR THIS ITEM.
BOTH HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO I BELIEVE SAM GINO WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO BE FOLLOWED BY LISA OSBORNE.
UM, LISA AND OTHER CLIENTS THAT TAKE ON THESE REMODELS, UH, REALLY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED WITHOUT THEM.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'D BE WITH THESE HOMES.
NOW, THE, THE HOUSE ON THE TOP IS, IS THE EXISTING HOUSE.
THE HOUSE IS ON THE BOTTOM IS THE HOUSE, THE DOUBLE COLUMNS THAT WE WANTED TO DO ON THIS PARTICULAR HOUSE.
UM, THAT'S A RENDERING OF THE HOUSE FROM ABOVE.
THERE ARE MANY HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST JUST THUMB THROUGH THUMB THROUGH THIS.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE 12 EXAMPLES OF DOUBLE COLUMNS WITHIN A FEW BLOCK RA UH, RADIUS OF THIS HOUSE.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS A, A HOUSE WHICH WAS ACTUALLY HAD AN ENCLOSED PORCH.
AND WHEN THEY CAME IN FRONT OF HISTORICAL TO OPEN UP THE PORCH AND REMODEL THE HOUSE, HISTORICAL ALLOWED THEM TO DO TWO COLUMNS, A DOUBLE COLUMNS, JUST, JUST AS WE'RE PROPOSING.
THERE'S A TOTAL OF 17 EXAMPLES OF DOUBLE COLUMNS IN THE HEIGHTS AREA.
MY PR CLIENT PREFERS THE DOUBLE COLUMNS.
I WAS GONNA PULL THIS FROM CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS REALLY
BUT, UH, EVEN IN THE HEIGHTS BOOK THAT, UH, ANNE SLOAN WROTE, THERE'S FOUR EXAMPLES OF DOUBLE COLUMNS IN THIS PARTICULAR BOOK.
AND AS YOU CAN JUST KEEP FLIPPING THROUGH, THERE'S A HOUSE THAT HAD A CLOSED PORCH AND NOW THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HAS THE DOUBLE COLUMNS.
AND THEN IN THE HEIGHTS BOOK ITSELF, THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT HOUSES THAT ARE CELEBRATED AND THEY ALL HAVE DOUBLE COLUMNS.
AND SO I THINK RESTRICTING THESE HOUSES TO A SINGLE COLUMN, WHEN THERE'S OTHER EXAMPLES OF DOUBLE COLUMNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT HURTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING JAZZY AND NOT JUST A BORING COLUMN.
SORRY MR. JU THERE'S A QUESTION FOR YOU FROM MR. COSGROVE.
IS THERE ANY PICTORIAL EVIDENCE OF WHAT THE PORCH LOOKED LIKE, COULD NOT FIND A THING? ARE THERE ANY FOOTINGS THAT INDICATE THAT IT HAD PUT COLUMNS? NO, THERE REALLY AREN'T.
AND AND NONE OF THE WINDOWS ARE ORIGINAL.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT LEFT OF THIS ORIGINAL STRUCTURE.
EVEN THE PORCH LOOKS LIKE IT WAS BUILT ON AT A DIFFERENT TIME, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD REPRESENT, UH, WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE, EITHER IN THE ARCHIVES OR, YOU KNOW, DIGGING AROUND THE HOUSE ITSELF.
AND I THOUGHT THAT THESE DOUBLE COLUMNS REALLY LOOKED NICE AND MY CLIENT LIKED THEM, WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT.
NOW, MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE CREATING A FALSE HISTORY FOR THE HOUSE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE OF WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THERE, WE TYPICALLY DEFER TO A MUCH SIMPLER CONSTRUCTION.
SO MAYBE NOT THE BRICK COLUMNS, BUT THE, BUT JUST A STANDARD WOOD COL.
I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING LIKE, WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW AND WE'VE CREATED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LOOKING HOUSE, BUT, BUT, AND WE DON'T HAVE ACTUAL PICTORIAL EVIDENCE OF WHAT THAT HOUSE MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE.
SO WITH THAT THEORY THOUGH, THAT MEANS THAT EVERY HOUSE THAT WE DO ON THE FRONT, THAT WE CAN'T PROVE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, THAT WE JUST NEED TO DUMB IT DOWN BECAUSE I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN OPTION A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW.
SOMEBODY WILL DRIVE BY THE HOUSE AND GO OUT.
LOOK HOW DUMB THAT HOUSE LOOKS.
AT LEAST WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME JAZZY SOMETHING ON THE FRONT OF THEM.
I THINK, I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ABOUT US PUTTING A, A TAPERED COLUMN ON THERE, UH, OR THE BRICK COLUMNS AND THEY LOOK GREAT.
I MEAN, YOU SAW IT IN THE PICTURE.
UM, I, I'M SORRY, UH, COMMISSIONER DAVIS, RIGHT? SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE SANBORN MAP, AND THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL FRONT OF THIS HOUSE TO BEGIN WITH.
AM I COR AM I WRONG ON THAT? IT'S, IT'S HARD TO TELL THAT, THAT, WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PORCH WENT STRAIGHT ACROSS AND SO THEN THAT, THEN THE PORCH WOULD'VE BEEN TAKEN IN ON THE LEFT SIDE.
IT IT, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUPLEX AT, AT AT A DIFFERENT TIME BECAUSE IT WAS A DUPLEX AT ONE TIME.
[01:00:01]
KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.AND MY GUESS IS THAT THIS WAS ORIGINALLY ONE OF THE PC POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING.
AND OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A PROCESS BY WHICH THESE, WHEN THESE CAME UP, THE ONES THAT WERE POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO, TO EVALUATE THEM AS TO WHETHER THEY'RE POTENTIALLY CONTRIBU REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING OR NOT.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, I MAY HAVE AN ANSWER TO PART OF YOUR QUESTION.
IN THE STAFF REPORT, THERE'S A PINK SLIP IN THERE THAT SAID THE HOUSE BURNED IN 1931, WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE'RE MISSING SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.
AND WE'RE SEEING SUCH A CHANGE TO THE FRONT CONFIGURATION OF THE HOUSE.
AND YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THOSE LATER, LIKE THE MORE FEDERALIST TOUCHES ON THE TOPS OF THE WINDOWS AND EVERYTHING OF WHERE THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN REMODELED.
YEAH, AND THE FIVE FOOT HEADER HEIGHTS, I MEAN THE HEADER HEIGHTS ARE LIKE WAY DOWN HERE.
UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER WAS SIGNED UP IS LISA OSBORNE.
IF YOU COULD ADDRESS COMMISSION AND RESTATE YOUR NAME IN THE MICROPHONE FOR THE RECORD, I'D BE HAPPY TO.
MY NAME IS LISA OSBORNE AND I'M THE OWNER OF 1521 COLUMBIA STREET.
I HAVE A FEW REMARKS FOR YOU TODAY.
I COME BEFORE YOU, NOT AS A DEVELOPER, NOT AS AN INVESTOR, BUT AS A WOMAN WHO WAS STARTING OVER AND WHO CHOSE THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS TO DO IT.
I RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A DIVORCE AND LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THAT SEASON OF LIFE, I FOUND MYSELF ASKING, WHERE DO I BELONG? NOW THE ANSWER IS 1521 COLUMBIA STREET FOR ME.
AND IT HAS BEEN LEFT UNCARED FOR, FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND IS BASICALLY UNLIVABLE.
AND I DIDN'T WALK AWAY FROM IT.
THIS HOME NEEDS EVERYTHING AND I'M GIVING IT EVERYTHING, MY TIME, MY RESOURCES, MY MONEY, MY LOVE, AND MY FULL COMMITMENT TO DOING THIS RESTORATION THE RIGHT WAY AND THE MANNER THAT'S WORTHY.
THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE DOUBLE COLUMNS ON THE FRONT ELEVATION ARE CENTRAL TO MY VISION FOR THIS PORCH.
I SEE MYSELF THERE AS AN OLD LADY DRINKING MY COFFEE AND INTERACTING WITH MY NEIGHBORS.
THERE ARE NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
THERE ARE DELIBERATE DESIGN CHOICE THAT I BELIEVE HONORS A CHARACTER AND CHARM THAT DEFINES A HEIGHTS.
AND AS YOU SAW, THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT SIGNALS TO NEIGHBORS AND PASSERS BY THAT THIS HOME IS CARED FOR AND THAT SOMEONE IS INVESTED IN IT AND THAT IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE STREETS SCAPE FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS.
I ASK HIS COMMISSION TO SEE WHAT I SEE IN THIS PROJECT.
NOT JUST A REHABILITATION OF A STRUCTURE, BUT THE RESTORATION OF A HOME AND THE BEGINNING OF MY LIFE AS A PERMANENT COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM THAT I'M AWARE, BUT IF YOU ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UM, SOMETHING ABOUT THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE ANNOUNCE YOURSELF AT THIS TIME, NOT HEARING ANYONE.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN, UH, ASK COMMISSION MEMBERS IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THIS APPLICATION.
SO, UH, THERE ARE TWO RENDERINGS IN HERE OF THE FACADE OF THE GARAGE AND THEY EACH SHOW DIFFERENT WINDOWS ABOVE THE GARAGE DOOR.
WAS WONDERING WHICH IS CORRECT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GARAGE APPLICATION.
SO THERE'S, UM, ON PAGE 12 OF 22, THERE'S A 3D RENDERING OF THE GARAGE AND THE HOUSE, WHICH SHOWS PAIRED WINDOWS THAT APPEAR TO BE PROBABLY SIMILAR TO THE SIZE OF THE WINDOWS THAT ARE ON THE MAIN HOUSE.
AND THEN ON PAGE 17 OF 22, THERE IS A FRONT ELEVATION THAT SHOWS THREE DIFFERENT SIZED WINDOWS.
DO YOU WANNA RESPOND MR. NUCO? YES, SAM, YOU CAN RESPOND.
CAN I, UH, WHEN WE INITIALLY SUBMITTED THE DRAWINGS TO YASMINE, THE, THEY HAD TRANSOM WINDOWS ABOVE THE GARAGE.
AND THEN WHEN I MET WITH HER, SHE SAID, WE CAN'T DO THOSE TRANSOM WINDOWS.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A WINDOW THAT'S MORE LIKE WHAT'S ON THE HOUSE.
AND THAT'S WHY THE, THE DIFFERENCE 'CAUSE THE INITIAL SUBMITTAL HAD TRANS TRANSOMS. THE FINAL SUBMITTAL HAS THE FULL WINDOW.
AND FOR THE, AND FOR THE RECORD, THE COMMENT WAS MADE BY SAM ENOKIS
[01:05:02]
HAS ANY OTHER, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF COMMISSIONER BROADWAY, PLEASE? YES.UM, THE, UH, THE, THE PHOTOS THAT WERE SHOWN EARLIER BY THE APPLICANT'S AGENT, UH, SHOWING EXAMPLES OF OTHER HOMES, UH, IN THE SAME DISTRICT, HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT HAD THE DOUBLE COLUMNS, CAN STAFF VERIFY THAT THOSE HOMES ARE ALL ACTUALLY IN THE SAME DISTRICT? I, I NEED TO KNOW THE ADDRESS.
UM, BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THERE ARE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT HAS DOUBLE COLUMNS.
BUT WE GENERAL, WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HOUSE LOOKED LIKE, WE GO WITH THE MAJORITY AND THE MAJORITY ARE SINGLE TAPERED COLUMNS.
SO WE'RE NOT SAYING THEY'RE INVISIBLE OR THEY DON'T EXIST.
UM, BUT I HAVEN'T VERIFIED THAT THEY ARE IN THE DISTRICT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
SO, UM, FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION, THIS KIND OF MAKES MY POINT.
WE WERE BEING SHOWN PHOTOS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE APPLICANT AND THE APPLICANT IS REPRESENTING THAT THEY'RE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
WE WOULD NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO VERIFY THAT THEY'RE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN, UH, THE RATIONALE OF REJECTING THE DOUBLE COLUMN? MAYBE I'M SORRY IF YOU EXPLAINED IT BEFORE.
UM, FROM STAFF'S POINT OF VIEW, WE GO WITH THE MORE, UH, SIMPLE VERSION AND WHAT'S ON THE MAJORITY OF THE HISTORIC CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT THERE ARE NO HISTORIC HOMES THAT HAVE THE DOUBLE COLUMN, BUT THE MAJORITY, UH, DO NOT.
AND SO AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROOF THAT THERE WERE DOUBLE COLUMNS, UM, WE, WE GO WITH A MORE SIMPLE VERSION.
I, I'M, I'M TORN I HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THAT, UH, RATIONALE.
AT THE SAME TIME, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO MAKE IS I HEARD THE SORT OF FALSE HISTORY ARGUMENT AS WELL, AND IF THE MAJORITY ARE NOT DOUBLE, THEN IT WOULDN'T BE SUGGESTING A FALSE HISTORY TO USE DOUBLE COLUMNS BECAUSE UH, THAT'S RARE.
RIGHT? SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, I'D, I'D JUST LIKE TO CONFIRM I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS AND I CAN CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY DOUBLE COLUMNS IN THE HEIGHTS.
UM, AND I DON'T AGREE WITH GOING TO THE MOST SIMPLE FORM.
THE HEIGHTS IS INCREDIBLY ECLECTIC.
THERE ARE AT LEAST, I DON'T KNOW, 10 OR 15 DIFFERENT STYLES OF HOUSES IN THE HEIGHTS.
AND IF WE APPLY THIS, THIS STANDARD, WE'RE GONNA END UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS, DOESN'T REPRESENT WHO WE WERE.
IT MAKES IT MORE COOKIE CUTTER MORE AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO WALK BY AND GO, THEY DID APPLY FOR THAT, THAT THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT THEY WOULD LET THEM DO, DO SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SUPPORT WHAT THE APPLICANT WANTS.
CAN, CAN I ASK A QUESTION OF STAFF? CAN YOU DESCRIBE, OR IS THERE A, A BLOWN UP DRAWING OF THE PROPOSED DOUBLE COLUMNS? BECAUSE, UH, JUST, JUST AS A MATTER OF REFERENCE, I MEAN, ONE OF THE WAYS TO AVOID A FALSE PAST WHEN YOU HAVE AN ELEMENT, UM, THAT IS BASED ON TRADITIONAL CONFIGURATION IS TO ABSTRACT THAT THOSE ELEMENTS NONETHELESS.
SO THAT FROM THE STREET IT MAY, IT MAY BE A DOUBLE COLUMN, BUT, BUT ON CLOSE INSPECTION IT MAY BE VERY STRAIGHT SQUARE, UM, LACKING ANY SORT OF LIKE OVERTLY TRADITIONAL DETAILING SO THAT IT GIVES THE APPEARANCE THAT IT IS OF OUR TIME NEW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME CONVEYS A SENSE OF, UM, OF, OF THE TWO COLUMNS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT A, FROM MY EXPERIENCE, IT'S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE, UH, ANSWER TO IT.
EVERY, EVERY CASE IS ITS OWN CASE.
BUT, UM, I'M, I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS FROM A, A DISTANCE FOR THESE DRAWINGS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME WAY TO SIMPLIFY THAT DETAILING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, UM, WHERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRIM OR, OR HISTORIC MOLDING APPLIED, BUT IT'S MORE OF A SQUARE AB IT'S REALLY THROUGH ABSTRACTION.
IS THE WAY THAT YOU SATISFY THIS, UH, THIS CRITERIA ESSENTIALLY? UM, IT'S, IT'S THE DETAILING OR THE LACK, THE KINDA SIMPLIFY THE DETAILING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY ONE COLUMN VERSUS TWO COLUMNS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I MEAN, ONE COULD MAKE A, COULD MAKE A CASE WITH TWO COLUMNS IF, IF THE TWO COLUMNS WERE VERY ABSTRACT AND SIMPLE AND SQUARE AND SQUARE, LIKE
[01:10:01]
S FOUR S, WE WOULD CALL THAT IN, IN CABINETRY WORLD.UM, BUT SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF DETAILING, UH, FOR THE PROPOSED COLUMNS IN, IN THE SUBMISSION? CAN YOU GO TO THE FRONT ELEVATION? I'M SORRY, NOT THE GARAGE, THE ADDITION? YEAH.
THIS, THIS IS THE PROPOSAL AND UM, THE LEVEL OF DETAILS THAT SHOWN ON THE FRONT EL YOU, YOU GOT IT SAMANTHA? JUST, UH, NO, 50 50, 21.
THE FRONT ELEVATION FOR 1521, NOT THE GARAGE, THE ADDITION.
MAYBE WE CAN JUST ALLOW, MAYBE WE JUST ENLARGE THE IMAGE.
COMMISSIONER BLAKELY, UM, I, MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION FOR THE ARCHITECTS ON THE COMMISSION, BUT WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT DOUBLE YOUR SINGLE COLUMNS, BUT THE OTHER SORT OF BIG MOVE HERE IS ADDING THE COLUMN NEAR THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING BECAUSE IN THE, UH, PHOTO IT ONLY HAS A COLUMN ON THE CORNER.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S NATURAL THAT THAT OTHER COLUMN WAS ADDED, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY A MORE MAJOR CHANGE THAN THE QUESTION OF DOUBLE OR SINGLE TO MY MIND.
SO YOU'RE, ARE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ON THE CORNER OF THE, OF THE PORCH ITSELF HAVING AN ADDITIONAL COLUMN BEHIND THAT COLUMN? OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING? SO THE PORTION OF THE FACADE MM-HMM
THE EDGE OF THE FACADE BY THE PORCH.
WHEREAS IN THE ORIGINAL HOUSE, THERE'S NO COLUMN THERE.
THERE'S ONLY A COLUMN AT THE CORNER.
THERE'S NO, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE AND IT'S NOT.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S LOGICAL THAT YOU WOULD PUT, YOU WOULD FRAME THE ENTRANCE, RIGHT, THE PORCH.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE GONNA DO INCH AND THREE QUARTER BED MOLD ON THE TOP OF THOSE SIX BY SIXES.
UH, COMMISSIONER DAVIS, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NOT TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE, BUT IF I WERE LOOKING AT THIS HOUSE, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A MINIMAL TRADITIONAL HOUSE, UM, THAT WAS BUILT AFTER.
AND SO I WOULD'VE SAID IT WAS MINIMAL TRADITIONAL, WHICH IT WAS NOT BUILT TO BE MINIMAL TRADITIONAL.
SO ADDING SIMPLE JUST EMPHASIZES THAT.
SO I'M THINKING THAT THAT'S CONTRARY TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
SORRY, YOU, BUT YOUR, UM, YOUR COMMENT BASED ON THE APPLICATION, YOU, YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THE, OF THE APPLICATION OR THERE'S, OR YOU I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONDITION.
I, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE, UM, THE APPLICANT'S DESIRE TO PUT THE COLUMNS ON THE COURT ON THE PORCH.
COMMISSIONER SEIDEL, SIMILAR QUESTION FOR STAFF.
IS THE PROPOSED DOUBLE COLUMNS ON TOP OF THE BRICK BASES IN ANY SORT OF VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE? OR IS THIS JUST WE FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD DO A SIMPLER COLUMN? NO, IF YOU CAN GO TO CRITERIA AGAIN, STAFF BELIEFS THAT IT DOES NOT MEET CRITERIA.
CAN YOU GO THERE? OH, I, UM, WITH APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS, IT'S, IT'S, UH, A BIT COMPLICATED.
WE DON'T PUT IT AS DISSATISFY BECAUSE THE CONDITION THAT STAFF HAS PUT MAKES IT SATISFIES AND THAT IS WHY.
AND IF STA COMMISSION WOULD LIKE IT TO CHANGE, THEN WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
TALKING ABOUT, IF, IF YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS, IS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS, YOU'RE INCORPORATING THOSE CONDITIONS INTO SATISFY, DO NOT SATISFY, CORRECT? WE SHOULD, YES.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WASTE TIME TALKING THAT OVER.
[01:15:01]
GIMME A SECOND.I THINK WE SHOULD BLAKELY, PART OF THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ORIGINAL HOUSE PASSADE LOOKED LIKE.
IF WE DID, THEN THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT, BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT'S APPARENTLY WHAT WAS REBUILT AFTER A FIRE, WHICH MAY NOT BE WHAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS.
SO IT SEEMS THAT, UH, WE CAN'T REALLY SATISFY CRITERION SEVEN, WHICH SAYS THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF FEATURES SHOULD BE BASED ON ACCURATE DUPLICATION SUBSTANTIATED BY AVAILABLE HISTORICAL, PHYSICAL, OR PICTORIAL EVIDENCE.
UM, SO I WOULD, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE, ALTHOUGH I'M, I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
WELL, I MEAN, I MAY SAY YOU COULD RECOMMEND DOUBLE COLUMNS, BUT THAT THE BASE AND THE CAPITAL BE SQUARED, SQUARED OFF AND ABSTRACTED SO THAT THEY DON'T REFLECT A HISTORIC PROFILE SECTION.
SO FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE DRAWING SHOWS IT IN THE APPLICATION.
UM, THAT IS A WAY THAT, THAT, THAT ABSTRACTION, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT'S HOW THE TEXAS WORK COMMISSION WOULD LOOK AT PROJECTS THAT WERE BEING REVIEWED FOR SAY, TAX CREDIT PROJECTS.
AND THEY ADHERING TO THE SAME, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ADHERING TO STANDARDS, WHICH ARE WHAT OURS ARE BASED ON.
BUT THIS SAME PAUL'S PASS AS PART OF THAT REVIEW AS WELL.
SO, UM, IT'S REALLY IN THE DETAILS WHERE SOME OF THIS GETS, UH, WORN OUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE.
SO IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DOUBLE COLUMN CONFIGURATION, YOU COULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE ORNAMENTATION BE ABSTRACTED FOR THE CAPITAL AND THE BASE.
'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY, THAT'S THE ONLY THING ON IT OTHER THAN THE STRAIGHT, THE TWO STRAIGHT COLUMNS THAT BEING SUB, YOU KNOW, SUBMITTED.
BUT I MEAN, IT, IT'S, BUT IT'S YOUR CALL.
I MEAN, IT'S THE, I'M SAYING THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME DEFERENCE THAT WE ANYONE HAS ON THIS COMMISSION TO MAKE.
I, I WOULD, I SUPPOSE I WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT WE WERE STIPULATING DESIGN IF WE SAY EITHER DOUBLE COLUMN OR NOT DOUBLE COLUMN.
SO MAYBE IT'S JUST, MAYBE THAT'S NOT QUITE THE RIGHT WORDING YET.
WELL, I MEAN, UM, WE WON'T DESIGN IT FROM HERE.
I, I DON'T BELIEVE, BUT I MEAN YOU, A MOTION COULD BE CRAFTED THAT GIVES STAFF THE ABILITY TO WORK THAT OUT IF NONETHELESS.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK TODAY ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S A SINGLE COLUMN OR DOUBLE COLUMN, BUT YEAH, I THINK I, I PERSONALLY THINK THIS COMMISSION, YOU'VE SEEN A DRAWING OF DOUBLE COLUMN.
THE COMMISSION I THINK CAN MAKE A VOTE UP OR DOWN TO SUPPORT A DOUBLE COLUMN.
I'M JUST SAYING IF IN TERMS OF WHAT STAFF IS THE REASON THAT THEY RECOMMEND A SINGLE COLUMN.
'CAUSE THERE IS NO PROOF OF WHAT IT WAS.
AS COMMISSIONER COSGROVE SAID, UM, THAT CAN BE SOMEWHAT REMEDIED BY ABSTRACTING WHAT TRIM IS UTILIZED TO BE MORE ABSTRACTED, WHICH MEANS THAT IT NOT HAVE A BED MOLD, YOU KNOW, DESIGNED SO THAT IT, THAT IT'D BE MORE SQUARE, YOU KNOW, MORE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF, UM, OF OUR TIME SATISFIES THAT, THAT, THAT CRITERIA.
COMMISSIONER BROBECK, OH SORRY, PLEASE, SIR.
UM, I THINK THE DOUBLE COLUMNS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
UM, MS. OSBORNE, I, I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT VISION FOR THE HOUSE.
UM, BUT WE CAN'T PROVE WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY, WHICH IS WHY, WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF IT IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA MATTERS AND THE APPLICANT MADE THAT AN ISSUE BY SHOWING US THOSE PICTURES.
SO PENDING VERIFICATION THAT THOSE PICTURES REALLY ARE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT THE DOUBLE COLUMNS AND THE REST OF THE APPLICATION, BUT I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY IT.
SO MAYBE WE DEFER OR MAYBE WE APPROVE IT ALL PENDING VERIFICATION OF THE DOUBLE COLUMNS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU HAD A QUESTION? IF, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE ON THIS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE LOOK TO, UM, THE VERNACULAR, THE AR AREA, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF, DOES IT MAINTAIN OR DOES IT PRESENT THE ELEMENTS, THE HISTORIC ELEMENTS? UM, THE SCALE AND PROPORTION OF THE HOUSES AROUND THERE? THE HISTORICAL, UM, ASPECT AND, AND I THINK IT DOES, YOU KNOW, IF THE, IF THE TWO
[01:20:01]
COLUMNS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL MASSING.SO YOU, YOU CAN HAVE TWO CO TWO SIX BY SIX COLUMNS THE SAME AS A 12 INCH, UM, TAPERED TO AN EIGHT INCH, UM, CORNER COLUMN.
SO IT, IT'S ALL SCALE AND PROPORTION AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T, UM, CONFLICT WITH THAT.
AND, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN EYE SOURCE.
SO THE, THE PICTURE WE SEE, UM, WITH THE SINGLE COLUMN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S OUT OF SCALE AND PROPORTION, SO, SO YOU CAN TELL THAT, THAT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T ORIGINAL, BUT, UM, I, I, I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THE, TO SUPPORT THE, UM, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON THIS CHRISTOPHER STAFF IS THERE IN THE CONTEXT AREA, WHICH WOULD BE THE BLOCK FACE.
ARE THERE ANY DOUBLE COLUMNS? I'VE WORKED ON SO MANY STAFF REPORTS.
SO THESE ARE, I TRY TO INCLUDE CONTEXT AREA TO SHOW YOU THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS OF THAT PARTICULAR HOUSE.
UM, I HAVEN'T SEEN, WHEN I WAS LOOKING, I DIDN'T SEE, UM, UM, A HOUSE WITH DOUBLE COLUMN THAT IS CLOSE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T EXIST, BUT CLOSE TO THAT HOUSE ON THAT AREA AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES.
I DIDN'T SEE ONE WITH A DOUBLE COLUMN.
CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE? I CAN BE WRONG, BUT I'M SHOWING GOOGLE STREET VIEWS.
UM, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T LOOK AT OF WHAT'S, AND YEAH, LIKE AGAIN, MOST OF THEM ARE ONE COLUMN.
SO IS THE CONTACT AGAIN, BECAUSE WE ARE, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
THERE'S NO IMAGE THAT SHOWS HOW IT WAS HISTORICALLY.
STAFF, UM, RECOMMENDED IT THAT IT BE ONE THERE.
IF YOU, IF YOU PUSH YOUR SIDE OUT, GO TO GOOGLE STREET VIEW.
I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT ONE, ONE IN FROM THE CORNER THAT HAS DOUBLE COLUMNS, 1543.
SO IT'S ON THE, I BELIEVE THE NORTH.
UH, IF I'M, I, I DIDN'T ORIENTATE MYSELF ON THE, THIS IS JONES, MR. JONES.
SO I DON'T THINK, FOR ME, THE DOUBLE COLUMNS ISN'T THE ISSUE.
IT'S, IT'S LOOKING AT A HOUSE THAT BURNED DOWN IN 1931 BEFORE WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF IT THAT WAS KIND OF TURNED MORE MINIMAL, TRADITIONAL.
AND SO HOW, HOW FAR BACK DO WE TAKE IT TO THE 1920S AND PERSONALLY DOUBLE COLUMN'S FINE, BUT MAYBE A SIMPLIFIED LOOK AT IT.
SO YOU'RE STILL DOING A NOD TO THE CRAFTSMAN HISTORY OF THE HOUSE, BUT YOU'RE NOT LEANING INTO IT, RIGHT.
YOU'RE NOT BUILDING A FALSE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE.
YOU'RE STILL NODDING THAT THIS HOUSE HAS A HISTORY TO IT THAT HAS IT NOW IN ITS PRESENT FORM.
I MEAN, I MEAN, TO ME, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ORIGINAL WAS.
THE ORIGINAL COULD HAVE HAD DOUBLE COLUMNS, SO, RIGHT.
THAT'S HOW I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.
ASK FOR A MOTION, BUT, WELL, IS THERE A MOTION, UH, GARCIA, A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS? OKAY, WAIT A SECOND.
AND APPROVE THE, UM, THE GARAGE AS WELL WITH THE CONDITIONS, STAFF CONDITIONS.
SO IT'S A, THE MOTION IS TO, FOR, FOR ITEM FOUR, THE MOTION IS TO ASSUME TO, TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WITH THE CONDITION AND ALSO FOR ITEM FIVE TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED GARAGE.
AND IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? I, I, I THINK IT'S, YOU'RE, YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OF THE DOUBLE COLUMNS.
I'M, YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OF APPROVING IT AS DRAWN.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION GOING TO A SINGLE COLUMN? IS, IS THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION? YES.
UH, I DID, I I, I, I APOLOGIZE.
I, I, I, UM, MAY I REPHRASE THAT? IT IS NOT A SECOND.
UM, GARCIA IN SUPPORT OF ITEM FOUR WITH THE DOUBLE COLUMNS OKAY.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE DOUBLE COLUMNS.
SO APPROVAL AS IS, MAY, MAY, MAY WE SHOW THE, THE FRONT ELEVATION JUST TO VERIFY.
APPROVAL IS SUBMITTED BY, BY APPLICANT.
BY THE APPLICANT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOTION.
AND IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT ELL SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE? I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
UM, COULD WE SET ASIDE THE DOUBLE COLUMNS PENDING VERIFICATION
[01:25:01]
THAT THERE REALLY ARE SOME IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA AND IF THERE ARE, GREAT MOVE FORWARD.IF NOT, IT WOULD COME BACK TO US.
DO, DO YOU, DO YOU GUYS HAVE GOOGLE STREET? JANUARY 20, 21, 5, 4, 3 COLUMBIA.
I I MEAN THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT TO
DO WHAT DON'T THEY? WELL, YEAH, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE OLD AND, AND HOUSES IS IN TROUBLE, BUT THERE'S 17 IN THE AREA.
I'M HAPPY TO GIVE THE ADDRESSES TO THE GUYS IF YOU'D LIKE.
I WILL RETRACT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTIONS FOR BOTH ITEMS. FOUR AND FIVE.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
UM, ITEMS D 10, 11, 12, AND 13.
UM, THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO THE TOP TO BE PRESENTED NOW, UM, AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO ITEM THE, THE REST OF THE ITEMS, BUT, OKAY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE ITEMS? 10, 11, 12, 13 COSGROVE MOVES TO MOVE ITEMS 10, 11, 12, 13 TO THE CURRENT POSITION ON THE AGENDA AND THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER THEM ALTOGETHER.
IS THERE A SECOND? JOAN? SECONDS.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, PLEASE PROCEED.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S BRING SOME EXCITEMENT INTO THIS THING RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO, UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, UM, I'M GONNA PRESENT THESE AS ONE ITEM.
UM, IT'S FOUR INDIVIDUAL COAS.
SO AS MENTIONED BEFORE, ITEMS D 10, D 11, D 12, AND D 13.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE HHC.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON TERRENCE JACKSON.
AND TODAY I SUBMIT TO YOU ITEMS D 10, D 11, D 12, AND D 13 AT 1108 VICTOR STREET.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A FOUR 49,998 SQUARE FOOT CORNER LOT AND CURRENTLY INCLUDES THREE HISTORIC ONE STORY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.
THE PROPERTIES ARE SOUTHERN COLONIAL STYLE LANDMARKS BUILT CIRCA 1921.
THE ORIGINAL HOUSES RETAINS THE ORIGINAL ONE OVER ONE WINDOWS AND MOST OF THE ORIGINAL SIGHTING, AND I'M SORRY, ONE OF THE HOUSES HAS TWO OVER TWO WINDOWS, ALL WHICH HAVE SEEN A VAST AMOUNT OF DETERIORATION OVER THE YEARS.
THE FIRST COAD 10 IS FOR THE RELOCATION OF PROPERTIES, WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN THE PROVIDED SITE PLANS.
THE REMAINING COAS, D 11, D 12, AND D 13 IS FOR THE ALTERATION OF THE THREE STRUCTURES ON THE SITE.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS, INCLUDING REPAIR EXISTING SIDING AS NEEDED WITH INCOME INTERIORS.
MATERIALS REPAIR EXISTING WOOD WINDOWS, REPLACE EXISTING WINDOWS THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEYOND REPAIR.
REPLACEMENT WINDOWS ARE TO MATCH THE EXISTING LIGHT PATTERN AND ORIGINAL OPENING ALL NEW WINDOWS TO BE INSET AND RECESSED.
SEE, SEE ATTACHMENT, MODIFY THE FENESTRATION PATTERNS OF SOME OPENINGS TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE PROPOSED USE.
REPLACE THE ROOF WITH COMPOSITION SHINGLES AND ADD SKYLIGHTS TO EACH STRUCTURE.
REPAIR AND REPLACE EXISTING TRIM, CORNER TRIM AND FACIAL BOARDS.
REPAIR AND REPLACE WINDOW AND DOOR CASINGS.
CONSTRUCT A REAR DECK THAT WILL CONNECT THE THREE HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND CONSTRUCT AN A DA RAMP AT THE SIDES.
THEY WILL ALSO RELOCATE ALL THREE STRUCTURES, SEE THE DETAILS IN THE REPORT, AND THE CONTRACTOR IS TO STABILIZE ALL FOUNDATIONS PRIOR TO RELOCATION.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE HHCI AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT THIS IS, THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN, UH, FRIEDMANS TOWN.
I'M SORRY, DID NOT MENTION THAT.
UH, AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DO HAVE ONE, UH, SPEAKER SIGNED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, WHICH IS, UH, SHARON FLETCHER.
UH, MY NAME IS, UH, SHARON FLETCHER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HOUSTON FRIEDMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY.
UM, BUT GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, UH, WHO ARE SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, TODAY I AM JOINED, UH, BY OUR PARTNERS, THE CON, UH, CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, HOUSTON CO-DIRECTORS, UH, RYAN AND RYAN DENNIS AND MELISSA LUAN.
FIRST I JUST WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, CARE, AND THOUGHTFUL REVIEW YOU HAVE GIVEN TO OUR WORK.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON
[01:30:01]
FOR OUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP AS WE STEWARD, UM, THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION AND REVITALIZATION OF FREEMAN'S TOWN.AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, FREEMAN'S TOWN IS THE OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN SETTLEMENT IN HOUSTON POST EMANCIPATION.
IT STANDS AS A LIVING MONUMENT TO THE RESILIENCE, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND SELF-DETERMINATION OF PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE COMMUNITY BRICK BY BRICK, EVERY PROJECT IS ROOTED IN HONORING THAT LEGACY AND ENSURING ITS AUTHENTICITY.
UM, INDOORS THIS, UM, ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT IS SIGNIFICANT NOT ONLY TO THE FREEMANS TOWN COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT CONTINUES THE PRESERVATION DRIVEN REVITALIZATION THAT BEGAN WITH THE OPENING OF THE FREEMAN'S TOWN VISITOR CENTER IN 2024.
SO TODAY'S PROPOSAL PROJECT, UM, STRENGTHENS THAT MOMENTUM AND DEEPENS OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL PRESERVATION.
THIS SPACE, UM, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OR PROJECT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, UM, NOT ONLY PROTECT AND UPLIFTS THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT PRESERVES THE LEGACY AND HISTORY OF THE ANCESTORS WHO BUILT IT.
UM, IT CREATES A CULTURAL HUB THAT IN INTENTIONALLY SERVES A COMMUNITY AND MOUNT HOB, UH, MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
UM, IT WILL SHAPE A FUTURE WHERE DESCENDANTS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THIS PROJECT.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS A STRONG EXAMPLE OF CIVIC ARTS PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTING THE CAPABILITIES OF CULTURAL AND ART INSTITUTIONS WORKING TOGETHER.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HONOR THE VISION OF THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF FREEDMAN'S TOWN.
THIS PROJECT IS MORE THAN ABOUT THE BUILDINGS.
IT IS ABOUT MEMORY, IDENTITY, AND THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY, THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY OF FREEDMANS TOWN.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW MORE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION I CAN SEE, BUT IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE APPLICATION? OKAY, NOT HEARING ANYONE.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF STAFF ABOUT THE APPLICATION OR THESE PROJECTS? NUMBER NUMBERS 10, 11, 12, AND 13.
COMMISSIONER HILL, UH, ARE THE REPLACEMENT WINDOWS, THE NEW WINDOWS GOING TO BE WOOD SASHES? AND UM, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE TURN COLUMNS WERE THE ORIGINAL COLUMNS THAT WERE ON THESE STRUCTURES? UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE QUESTION.
UH, THE, UM, THE COLUMNS QUESTION, NO, WE DON'T THINK THEY WERE ORIGINAL, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S OUT THERE NOW.
AND I THINK THE ARCHITECTS WERE JUST TRYING TO, UM, MATCH WHAT WAS OUT THERE.
NOW, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RECOMMEND THAT THEY JUST USE A EIGHT BY EIGHT OR A SIX BY SIX.
UM, WOULD THE ARCHITECT BE OPEN TO SUCH A CHANGE AS FAR AS CHANGING THE COLUMNS? YEP.
SO THE ARCHITECT WOULD BE, UH, WOULD ACCEPT MAKING SUCH A CHANGE.
UM, AS FAR AS THE WINDOWS, UM, RIGHT NOW THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE, UH, ALL THE WINDOWS REFURBISHED.
HOWEVER, UM, THE MAJORITY OF THE WINDOWS ARE IN REALLY, REALLY BAD SHAPE, SO THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHAVED.
UM, SO WHAT WE ARE RECOMMEND, WHAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED TO THE ARCHITECT IS TO, UM, GO WITH A WOOD OR WOOD CLAD WINDOW AS LONG AS IT MATCHES THE PROFILE.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, JUST A QUESTION.
UM, YOU RECOMMENDED A CHANGE FROM THERE AND HE ACCEPTED, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE APPROVED IT AS IS, IS HE OR YOU ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL? YEAH, SO WE HAVE THE, YOU GUYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS SO WE CAN MAKE THAT A CONDITION, RIGHT? YOU'RE SUGGESTING WE MAKE IT A CONDITION? 'CAUSE I DIDN'T, SO WHO, WHO THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
WHERE DID THAT COME UP? DID, DID I MISS THAT COMMISSIONER? WELL, COMMISSIONER HILL ASKED IF THOSE WERE THE ORIGINAL COLUMNS.
UM, AND MY RESPONSE TO HIM WAS THAT THEY ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL COLUMNS AND STAFF WOULD BE FINE WITH, UM, CHANGING THE COLUMNS TO A SIX BY SIX OR AN EIGHT BY EIGHT IF THE ARCHITECT WAS INCLINED OR FELT INCLINED TO DO SO.
AND THE ARCHITECT SAID THAT HE WAS FINE WITH DOING SO.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
BUT THAT WA HE ASKED A QUESTION.
HE DIDN'T ASK YOU TO CHANGE ANYTHING WOULD SO WOULD BE OKAY WITH IN THE COMMENTS WOULD WHY? I'M JUST ASKING WHY TERRENCE, DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE COLUMNS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED THERE? I DON'T, THAT'S WHAT I DON'T GET.
'CAUSE THOSE COLUMNS ARE NOT ORIGINAL.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NOT ORIGINAL, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW AND THEY'RE ALSO NOT KNOW, NOBODY ON SUGGESTED THAT HE CHANGED THEM.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE AREN'T APPROVING THIS AS THE, AS, UM, ORIGINALLY REQUESTED SINCE, UNLESS I MISSED IT, NOBODY ON THE BOARD ASKED HIM TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
[01:35:01]
WOULD YOU CONSIDER CHANGING THE COLUMNS TO SIX BY SIX TREATED? I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.IS IT POSSIBLE, UH, FOR THE RECORD, THE ARCHITECT SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DOING SO.
FOR THE RECORD, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE ARCHITECT TO, UH, JUST ANNOUNCE THE HIMSELF IN A MICROPHONE? JUST FOR, UH, THE VIEWERS THAT ARE NOT HERE AND WATCHING? I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE ARCHITECT OF THIS PROJECT WITH HINZ AD.
AND SO THE QUESTION WAS, UM, UM, IF YOU COMMISSIONER, I WOULD RESTATE YOUR QUESTION.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER THE COLUMNS ON THESE THREE HOUSES, UH, TO BE, UH, SIX BY SIX TREATED PINE? MAYBE NOT A TREATED PINE, BUT MAYBE IN KIND, LIKE, MAYBE LIKE A CEDAR? THAT'S MORE OKAY.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ONE MORE THING IS I DON'T THINK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNING FROM APPAREL, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A DESIGN CHANGE THAT, UM, I WOULD SAY IF HE WANTS TO DO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE SUGGESTING THAT.
WELL, I THINK IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM A DESIGN CHANGE.
IT'S, UM, IT'S A QUESTION JUST BASED ON LIKE, EVEN IF THE COLUMN WASN'T ORIGINALLY, THAT COLUMN SPECIFICALLY, WAS THE ORIGINAL COLUMN LOOKING LIKE THE EXISTING COLUMN THAT'S IN THE PACKAGE FOR, FOR THE QUESTION WAS WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ORIGINAL.
AND WOULD THE ORIGINAL HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT? I, I THINK THE COMMISSION HAS, YOU HAVE SOME DEFERENCE TO, UH, I I GUESS ON THIS ISSUE, IT'S WHERE THE CONSENSUS OF THIS BODY COMES IN TERMS OF THE COLUMN WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE COLUMN IN THE APPLICATION OR TO ASK THE APPLICANT TO ABSTRACT THE COLUMN, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT WAS STATED.
UM, YOU COULD ASK THE, THE ARCHITECT WHAT HE WOULD PREFER TO DO AND WHAT HE WOULD PREFER THAT THE COMMISSION VOTE ON, UH, FOR INSTANCE.
BUT BECAUSE HE'S, HE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK HIM, I MEAN, WHAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE ON THE COLUMNS? SO OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO MAINTAIN WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE KNOW OF THE PROJECT IS WHAT WE SEE NOW.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT AS CLOSE TO WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW AS POSSIBLE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? IS THERE MAKE A MOTION OR, OR I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITEMS 10, 11, 12, AND 13.
AND THAT'S AS THEY WERE PRESENTED IN THE PACKET AS THEY WERE PRESENTED IN THE PACKET.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION, GARCIA? SECOND.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE VOTE? AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED TO THE VOTE? MOTION PASSES.
UH, MOVING I BELIEVE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, CORRECT.
CHAIR RE AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON YASMEEN ARSLAN.
I SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AGENDA ITEM D SIX AT 4 0 5 HIGHLAND STREET, WOODLAND HEIGHTS.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A, UM, HISTORIC 2,261, UM, HOUSE ON A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT INTERIOR LOT.
IT IS A CONTRIBUTING CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW RESIDENCE CONSTRUCTED CIRCA 1920 IN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICT.
A DETACHED TWO AND A HALF, UM, STORY GARAGE HAS BEEN APPROVED AT THE REAR OF THE LOT.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES A SECOND FLOOR ADDITION TO THE EXISTING ONE STORY CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
THE ADDITION CONSISTS OF TWO ROOF MASSES, A PRIMARY FIVE OVER 12 MASS AT 27 FEET AND SIX INCHES SPANNING THE FULL WIDTH AND EXTENDING OVER MORE THAN 50% OF THE FOOTPRINT FROM THE REAR.
A SECONDARY FIVE OVER 12 MASS, UH, WITH A RIDGE HEIGHT OF 26 FEET EXTENDS OVER THE FRONT.
50% OF THE CONTRIBUTING HOUSE ADDITION CREATES APPROXIMATELY 762 SQUARE FEET OF NEW CONDITIONED SPACE.
STAFF RECOMMEND, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL AS IT DOES NOT SATISFY CRITERIA 10 AND 11.
[01:40:01]
UM, STAFF RECEIVED 35 LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC AND RECEIVED A LETTER FROM, UH, WOODLAND HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT OF, UM, THE PROJECT.UM, AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.
UM, A NUMBER THAT HAVE ALSO INDICATED THEY ARE THE APPLICANT.
HOMEOWNER AND THE APPLICANT BREVITY IS NOT MY STRONG SUIT, SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK QUICKLY.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ME TO STOP.
UM, WE'VE OWNED THIS HOUSE SINCE 2010.
WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR 16 YEARS.
WE TRULY VALUE LIVING IN A HISTORIC COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK Y'ALL DO IN KEEPING THIS LOOKING LIKE A HISTORIC AND FEELING LIKE A HISTORIC COMMUNITY AND PRESERVING THE HISTORIC FEELING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, OUR NEEDS HAVE CHANGED SINCE WE INITIALLY BOUGHT THE HOUSE.
WE NOW HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN.
I HAVE AN ADULT SISTER WITH SEVERE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES LIVING WITH ME.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LIVES WITH US.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME YOU'RE HEARING CRYING TODAY.
UM, SO THIS HOUSE SIMPLY DOES NOT MEET OUR NEEDS ANYMORE, BUT WE DO NOT WANT THE MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE.
YOU HEARD THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR LESS THAN SI 700 SQUARE FEET.
UM, WE HAVE CONSULTED OUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS.
YOU, YOUR PACKET SAYS 35 LETTERS.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 50 NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE SIGNED ONTO THIS.
IT HAS STRONG NEIGHBOR SUPPORT.
THERE ARE, I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE,
45 OF THOSE HOMES HAVE ASKED YOU GUYS TO SUPPORT THIS.
UM, AND I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE OFFER TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT COULDN'T BE.
IF THEY'D KNOWN THAT IT WAS GONNA BE FOUR 30, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE TWO POINTS THAT STAFF ADDRESSED ON OUR PROPOSAL.
FIRST, THEY SAID WE DIDN'T MEET, UM, THE CRITERIA FOR MASSING SIZE AND SCALE.
OUR ADDITION IS COMPATIBLE WITH BOTH OUR HOME AND THE BLOCK.
THERE ARE 13 HOMES ON OUR BLOCK FACE, EIGHT OF THEM.
WE ARE DIRECTLY NEXT DOORS TO A BEAUTIFUL THREE STORY QUEEN ANNE.
UM, WE ARE ONLY ASKING FOR 670 SQUARE FEET.
THAT'S ONLY A 33% CHANGE FROM OUR EXISTING SQUARE FOOTAGE.
I LOOKED AT WHAT THIS COMMISSION HAS APPROVED SINCE JANUARY OF 2025.
IN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS, EVERY SINGLE EDITION HAS APPROVED BETWEEN 50% AND 207%.
WE ARE STAYING EXACTLY ON THE FOOTPRINT.
WE ARE NOT MOVING OUR DISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY LINE AT ALL, WHICH IS THE SECOND THING THAT WAS ADDRESSED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
I'M BEGGING Y'ALL TO ALLOW US TO STAY IN THIS HOME.
WE'LL NOT BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS IF YOU DON'T ALLOW US TO DO THIS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM LUCAS, FOLLOWED BY MARTINEZ STEVENS, SAM JANIS CREOLE DESIGN.
UH, THIS HOUSE, UM, HAS A EXISTING STAIRCASE.
IT CURRENTLY HAS A A, A FINISHED OUT SECOND FLOOR IN THE ATTIC THAT'S CONDITIONED.
AND I KNOW THE KIDS, Y'ALL DON'T REALLY POLICE INSIDE OF HOUSES THE INTERIORS, BUT THE EXISTING STAIRCASE LOCATION IS, CAN YOU SHOW THIS EXISTING STAIRCASE? LO LOCATION IS RIGHT AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, AND IF WE WERE TO MOVE IT BACK, IT WOULD ONLY DESTROY HISTORIC MATERIALS.
UH, THE COMMISSION CRITERIA, SECTION 33 2 4 1, DIRECTS US NOT TO DESTROY HISTORIC MATERIAL.
WE'RE, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HONORING THAT PRINCIPLE BY DESIGNING AROUND THAT CONSTRAINT, CONSTRAINT THAT WE HAVE BY LEAVING THE STAIRCASE WHERE IT IS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DESTROY ANY OF THE HOUSE.
SHE LOVES HER HOUSE IF YOU CAN'T TELL AND DOESN'T WANT TO TEAR UP ANYTHING OR RELOCATE A STAIRCASE TO GET FURTHER BACK INTO THE HOUSE.
AND SINCE IT ALREADY HAS A STAIRCASE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE'RE USING THAT EXISTING STAIRCASE, THE SECOND FLOOR MASSING COULD BE REMOVED.
WHATEVER WE DO, WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE NOW IS INSET FROM THE SIDE WALLS.
AND SO IF YOU DECIDED THAT YOU WANTED TO REMOVE IT AND GO BACK TO JUST AN ATTIC SPACE UP THERE, IT'S, IT'S REMOVABLE.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT.
NOT THAT ANYBODY'S EVER GONNA DO IT, BUT, UH, I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT THIS HOUSE ISN'T ANYMORE.
UH, HERE IS A 3D RENDERING OF THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
HERE'S A, WELL, FIRST, LET'S AT THE FRONT, HERE'S THE FRONT THAT'S WITH THE ADDITION.
YOU CAN BARELY SEE THIS IS FROM THE CORNER.
THIS IS THE SIDE ADDITION RIGHT THERE.
AND THEN I'LL SHOW YOU ONE THAT WAS APPROVED ON BURN STREET, THAT THAT WAS ON CONSENT AGENDA, BY THE WAY.
AND SO IT, UH, IT WAS AT, UH, 5 0 4 B, 5 0 4 BURN STREET.
AND SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT BECAUSE
[01:45:01]
OF THE RESTRAINT WITH THE STAIRCASE AND NOT DESTROYING ANY MORE HISTORICAL MATERIALS INSIDE THE HOUSE, AS YOU KNOW, MOVING OUT A STAIRCASE BACK IS DESTROYED THAT THIS WAS A GOOD SOLUTION FOR THIS HOUSE.THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARTINEZ STEVENS, FOLLOWED BY SAM STEVENS PRESENTATION MODE.
UH, MY NAME IS MARTINEZ STEVENS.
I'M HERE AS A NEIGHBOR IN SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE NER FAMILY IS, UH, VALUABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE THE LIFE OF THAT ENTIRE BLOCK, AND THEY HAVE UNIQUE CI UH, CIRCUMSTANCES, UH, IN THEIR FAMILY WITH MULTI-GENERATIONS LIVING WITH THEM.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, WE SUPPORT THE DESIGN AS IS, UM, AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE PREVIOUS, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TO HAVE LIKE A CANTILEVER HANGING OUT OVER THE SIDE.
UM, THE 50% OVER THE ALLOWANCE IS NOT, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL IS UNATTRACTIVE FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
I'M SAM STEVENS, UH, ANOTHER NEIGHBOR.
IT'S HERE TO VERIFY WHAT, UH, MS. RAGNER HAS SAID ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT THAT SHE'S GONE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE RENDERINGS AND NO ONE THINKS THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT STANDS OUT AMONGST, UH, THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE MASSIVE HOUSES WE SEE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT HER ADDITIONAL 700 SQUARE FEET IS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT, UM,
AND AGAIN, THE WAY THEY'RE DOING IT BY PRESERVING THE STAIRCASE, THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, DUE RESTRICTION, UH, DIRECTOR JULIE MOORE SUPPORTS THAT.
UH, IT'S, IT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO DO THAT FOR THEM TO STAY IN THE HOUSE.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE, UH, AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS, UM, PROJECT? I'M, I'M SORRY.
THERE'S NOT A REBUTTAL IF, IF, IF NO ONE SPEAKS AGAINST YOUR PROJECT.
THERE'S NOT A, THERE'S NOT A REBUTTAL, BUT NO ONE'S SPEAKING AGAINST
BUT, UM, THERE, THERE COULD STILL BE TIME, BUT THEY HAVE TO STAND UP AND ANNOUNCE THEMSELF.
BUT, UM, BUT IF ANYONE ELSE DOES WANNA SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, FOR OR AGAINST, THEY, UH, PLEASE ANNOUNCE YOURSELF AT THIS TIME, NOT HEARING ANYONE.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, SO COMMISSION MEMBERS, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THIS APPLICATION OR THE MASSING THAT THEY REFERRED TO? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
UM, COULD SOMEONE MORE THOROUGHLY EXPLAIN TO US YOUR CONCERNS AROUND, UM, CRITERIA 10 MASSING? YES.
SO TYPICALLY THE SECOND FLOOR STAYS TOWARDS THE REAR, TOWARDS THE 50% REAR.
UM, THE DESIGN SUBMITTED AS IS, UM, DOES NOT IT ENCROACHES, THERE ARE TWO MASSES, AN ADDITION THAT IS CLOSER THAN 50 FEET, THAT'S THE BIGGER MASS.
AND THEN THE SECOND MASS IS ALSO WITHIN THE FIRST 50% OF THE HOUSE.
SO, UM, WE TYPICALLY DON'T, UM, APPROVE SECOND STORY ADDITIONS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND, AND SO WITHIN THE CONTEXT AREA, YES, THERE ARE TWO STORY HOMES, UM, BUT NOTHING WITH AN ADDITION THAT IS THAT CLOSE TO THE FRONT.
AND COURSE THERE IS A SHALLOW PROOF IN THE ORDINANCE, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO BUILD AT 50% IF YOU DON'T BUILD BACK OR SIDEWAYS, UM, WHICH YOU, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD, UM, TO THE WALLS.
BUT BASICALLY, UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S ONLY A SHALLOW PROOF IF YOU, IF YOU, UM, MEET THAT, MEET THAT RESTRICTION IF YOU WILL.
UM, OR ANYTHING OTHER, I MEAN THE, THE, THE FIRST MASS ITSELF MAY, MIGHT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY IF IT WERE A DORMER THAT WAS INDEPENDENT OF THE REAR ADDITION.
SO THAT, I MEAN, DORMERS ARE ENCOURAGED AT LEAST IN THE HEIGHTS.
AND, UM, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOES NOT HAVE DESIGN GUIDELINES, BUT IT IS, UM, AFTER NOR HILL, I BELIEVE IT IS NEXT ON THE, UH, AGENDA TO RECEIVE, UH, DESIGN GUIDELINES.
AND SO CERTAIN ASPECTS CAN ALSO BE RESOLVED WITH INPUT FROM, FROM THE RESIDENTS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT, BUT AT THIS TIME, UM, PART OF THE ISSUE IS, AS I'M SAYING IT, IS THAT THE FORWARD DORMER IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE REAR MASS.
I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE STAIR THAT WAS MENTIONED, UM, UH, IN, IN FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR STAFF, PLEASE.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO CRITERIA 11,
[01:50:01]
CAN STAFF TELL ME BY HOW MUCH THE, UH, APPLIED SETBACKS THAT ARE IN THE APPLICATION EXCEED WHAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO STAFF OR WHAT WOULD'VE EARNED YOUR RECOMMENDATION? OKAY.UM, SO IF, IF YOU SEE THAT THE SECOND STORY, THE ENCROACHES ON THE 50%, THE BIG MASS.
AND SO, AND THEN THE SMALLER MASS ENCROACHES EVEN FURTHER.
AND, AND THAT IS WHY WE WOULD'VE PUT CONDITIONS IF WE CAN OR ASKED THEM TO, TO PUSH IT IF IT, IF IT WAS ONLY THE BIGGER MASS.
BUT BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS VERY FAR OFF FROM WHAT WE CAN APPROVE.
WE DID, UM, UH, WE, WE'VE HAD A PRE-DESIGN.
UM, SHE, UH, WELCOMED US, UM, TO HER HOME FOR A PRE-DESIGN, UH, TO SEE THE SITUATION.
UM, WE, WE ASKED IF IT CAN BE SWITCHED TO A DORMER.
SO IF THE BIGGER MASS WAS AT THE 50%, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A, LIKE A SHALL APPROVE.
SO IT WOULD'VE BEEN APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
AND THEN, UM, MAYBE SHE CAN PUT A DORMER INSTEAD OF THE SECOND MASS.
BUT SHE SAID THAT DOESN'T MEET, UM, WHAT SHE NEEDS OUT OF THAT HOUSE TO STAY IN IT.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF STAFF, MR. BIGLEY? DO I HAVE TO REC MYSELF OR SOMETHING BECAUSE I MISSED PART OF THE PRESENTATION OR CAN I JUST JUMP BACK? YOU, YOU'RE, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT, UM, YOU DON'T HAVE A CONFLICT WITH THE PROJECT, SO YEAH.
UM, YES, I AM JUST WONDERING IF, UM, THE, THE SORT OF LOT COVERAGE OF THE PROPOSED EDITION WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT I NOTICE IS THAT IF THEY PULLED THE WHOLE TWO STORY EDITION BACK, THEY COULD WITH IT, THEY, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE UP MORE OF THE YARD, RIGHT? SO WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT THIS AS A TRADE OFF BETWEEN COMING A LITTLE BIT FAR FORWARD, FORWARD OR COVERING MORE OF THE LOT.
AND I, I THINK IN THAT RESPECT, THAT MIGHT BE A KIND OF A VIRTUE OF THIS PROPOSAL THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE UP MORE OF THE, THE SPACE OF THE BUILDABLE AREA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER DAVIS? OKAY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DRAWINGS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STATE THIS.
I AM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD APPROVE THE DRAWINGS AS THEY WERE SUBMITTED TAKING IN, SINCE WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.
ALL EXTREMELY VALUED, VAL, VALUABLE.
SO, UM, MY MO MY MOTION IS HELP ME WITH IT.
SO HOW DO WE, YOU, YOU, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE APPLICATION AS SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? COMMISSIONER MARK SMITH? ARE YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR YOU'RE, YOU ARE SECONDING? YES, I'M SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE? YEAH, I, I DO, I'VE I'VE GOT A QUESTION.
UM, FOR THE APPLICANT, UH, PROBABLY SPECIFICALLY THE APPLICANT'S ARCHITECT, SAM JANUK IS CREOLE DESIGN.
UM, IS THE ONLY REASON THAT WE'RE, I MEAN, WE'RE CLEARLY VIOLATING THAT 50% SITUATION AND, AND I CAN'T SEE ANY OTHER REASON WHY WE WOULD BE DOING THAT SAVE FOR KEEPING THE STAIRWELL WHERE IT'S EXACTLY THE MINUTE WE HAVE TO MOVE THAT STAIRCASE.
WE'RE TEAR TEARING OUT HISTORIC MATERIAL AND, AND ARIEL LOVES THAT OLD HOUSE AND IT LOOKS FANTASTIC INSIDE.
SO THE MINUTE WE MOVE THAT STAIRCASE BACK, WE'RE, WE'RE TEARING OUT ALL THAT HISTORIC MATERIAL.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
I, I DON'T, I, I, I WOULD'VE NOT,
[01:55:01]
UH, PUT THAT PART THERE, BUT I NEED HIS HEAD HEIGHT FOR MY, FOR, UH, CITY CODE.IT'S ONLY SIX FOOT THERE AT THAT POINT.
AND SO WE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE HEAD HEIGHT AND I DROPPED THE PLATE HEIGHTS DOWN AS FAR AS I COULD TO GIVE US THE HEAD HEIGHT.
IT REALLY WAS TO PRESERVE THE REST OF THE HOUSE AND ALL OF THAT, ALL OF THAT MATERIAL THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON THAT ADDS THAT SECOND FLOOR.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO REMOVE IT IN THE FUTURE AND GO BACK TO AN ATTIC, THEY CAN GO BACK TO AN ATTIC.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT IS THE CLEANEST WAY TO GET TO THAT SECOND FLOOR, AND IT ALREADY EXISTS AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TEAR UP THAT OLD HOUSE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC INSIDE TALL CEILINGS, GREAT MOLDINGS.
THE MINUTE WE HAVE TO MOVE THAT, UH, BACK, IT JUST, IT, IT JUST COMPROMISES THE WHOLE HOUSE AND ALL THE HISTORIC MATERIAL THAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE.
AND NOT ONLY THAT IT COST PROHIBITIVE, BUT REALLY THAT, THAT IS WHY THAT IS THAT WAY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE ON THE MOTIONS? UH, YES.
I'D, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE I EMPATHIZE WITH THE APPLICANT, UM, WITH RESPECT TO, UH, THE CHALLENGES CAUSED BY HAVING TO POTENTIALLY MOVE AROUND THINGS ON THE INTERIOR, INTERIOR ELEMENTS ARE OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMISSION AND WE CAN'T CONSIDER THAT AS PART OF OUR DECISION MAKING.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS, AS WAS SECONDED? AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? OPPOSED JONES? AYE, BECK.
OKAY, SO THAT MOTION DOES NOT PASS.
IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION OR A MOTION TO DEFER? MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS? UH, YASMINE, CAN YOU, COULD YOU RESTATE YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE RECORD? STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION TO, FOR DENIAL? I, I'M NOT GETTING A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO DEFER? NO, I WOULD LIKE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE PLEASE.
UM, APPLICANTS CAN'T DEMAND OUTCOMES.
UM, JUST FOR, FOR JONES, YOU MADE THE MOTION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WHAT'S THE MOTION NOW? THE MOTION IS TO SECOND DEFER IS TO DEFER.
CAN I JUST ADD SOMETHING? IT DOES NOTHING TO DEFER THERE.
DEFERRING THIS DOES NOTHING FOR THE APPLICANT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE THEIR OPINION OVER THIS NEXT MONTH, SO TO DEFER IS JUST ADDING MORE PAIN AND SUFFERING.
IT'S, SO I JUST WANTED TO BE ON THE RECORD SAYING THAT I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE DEFERRING IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT THE APPLICANT WANTED.
UH, I'LL JUST POINT OUT THERE WAS A MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF DENYING AND IT WAS NOT SECONDED.
SO THAT VOTE COULD NOT OCCUR WITHOUT A SECOND.
SO THE MOTION FAILED TO, TO, YOU KNOW, TO APPROVE THAT THE APPLICATION, UH, AS SUBMITTED.
SO THE ONLY OTHER MOTION WE HAVE IS DEFER, WHICH I, WHICH PASSED.
BUT WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO INDICATE MIGHT HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE NEXT TIME OR WOULD WE JUST GO THROUGH THE SAME THING AGAIN? I THINK, UH, YASMINE STATED VERY CLEARLY FOR STAFF'S POINT OF VIEW, IF THE SECOND FLOOR EDITION STARTED AT THE 50% LINE AND IF THE, THE DORMER IN FRONT OF LIKE, IN, IN FRONT OF THE 50% LINE WAS DETACHED FROM THE, FROM THE SECOND FLOOR MASS, THEN STAFF, THEN STAFF WOULD, COULD LOOK AT THAT DORMER AS NOT A SECOND FLOOR ADDITION.
UM, THE ISSUE IS IT'S, IT'S ATTACHED TO IT, SO IT'S READING AS PART OF THE MASS ITSELF.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE, THAT'S A RECOGNITION FROM, FROM STAFF AS WAS STATED AS I, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
[02:00:04]
YES, THAT IS CORRECT.SHE HAS, UM, SHE, SHE WAS IN, OKAY, SHE HAS HER MASTER BEDROOM IN THE ATTIC, I BELIEVE.
UM, AND SO BECAUSE OF WHERE THAT STAIRCASE IS, UM, WE WENT ON A PRE-DESIGN AND WE TRIED TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS TO HER.
NOTHING WORKS BECAUSE SHE WANTS THAT STAIRCASE TO REMAIN BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS ORIGINAL ON THE INTERIOR AND UNFORTUNATELY WE, WE REGULATE THE EXTERIOR.
SO THE ADDITION AS IS, UM, WE HAVEN'T APPROVED THAT AND, AND THE CONTEXT AREA DOESN'T HAVE SOMETHING THAT, THAT ENCROACHES THAT MUCH.
UM, SHE ALSO WANTS HER, UH, FIRST FLOOR, UH, FOOTPRINT TO REMAIN THE SAME.
THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE, SHE DID NOT WANT TO ADD TO THAT.
SHE ALSO HAVE A, HAS A, UM, A, A FUNCTIONAL, CUTE BACKYARD THAT SHE WOULD ALSO NEED TO REMAIN.
SO THAT IS THE ONLY, UM, PROPOSAL THAT SHE IS, UM, OKAY WITH AND AS IS STAFF FELT, UM, THAT IT DID NOT MEET CRITERIA.
SO WE TRY TO WORK, UM, WITH HER.
THE ONLY OTHER WAY I KNOW IS TO, UH, USE STEEL TO MAKE THE, THE, THE CEILING JOISTS, WHICH ARE IN FACT NOW FLOOR JOISTS IF YOU WILL.
UH, NOT AS TALL AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE RAPTORS NOT AS, AS DEEP.
ALTHOUGH THESE HOMES WEREN'T BUILT WITH VERY TALL MEMBERS, UM, FOR ATTICS FOR OR FOR CEILINGS.
SO, UM, AND I DO WANNA MENTION THAT, UM, YOU SEE THIS NOW, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEFORE IT.
I PERSONALLY WENT ON A SITE VISIT AND THEN WHEN I SAW THAT THIS WAS A DIFFICULT SITUATION, I ALSO INVITED, UM, CHAIR HICK TO OFFER HIS EXPERTISE AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO OKAY, WE WILL BE MOVING ON.
CAN I ADDRESS, UM, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONER'S STATEMENTS? YES.
UM, THIS, UH, SORT OF BUSINESS OF INTERJECTING WHILE THE COMMISSIONERS ARE DELIBERATING FOR AN UP OR DOWN VOTE, THAT'S VERY IMPROPER, SO WE JUST REQUEST THAT THAT NOT HAPPEN ANY LONGER.
IF YOU MAKE THAT STATEMENT WHILE YOU HAVE YOUR SPEAKING TIME, THAT'S YOUR, UM, THAT'S AT YOUR LIBERTY.
UM, COMMISSIONERS YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO, UM, GIVE A UP OR DOWN VOTE IF A APPLICANT ASK.
YOU HAVE THE DEFERENCE TO APPROVE, DENY, DEFER, UM, SO YOU CAN DO THAT UP OR DOWN VOTE, BUT IT'S NOT, UM, ANY OBLIGATION FROM THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO THAT PRACTICE, WE NEED TO CURTAIL THAT.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO ITEM SEVEN AND EIGHT AND I MAY NEED A MOTION TO, UH, HAVE SEVEN AND EIGHT PRESENTED, UH, TOGETHER.
I'LL MOVE THAT WE PRESENT SEVEN AND EIGHT TOGETHER.
CHAIR, HICK AND MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON YASMEEN ARSLAN.
I SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ITEM D SEVEN AT 6 0 7 HARVARD STREET IN HOUSTON HEIGHTS SOUTH.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A 2,100 SQUARE FOOT TWO STORY BRICK SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE SITUATED ON A 13,200 SQUARE FEET CORNER LOT.
IT ALSO HAS A, UM, ONE AND A HALF STORY GARAGE AT THE REAR.
IT IS A CONTRIBUTING QUEEN AND STYLE RESIDENCE.
CONSTRUCTED CIR 1915 IN THE HOUSTON HIGH HEIGHTS SOUTH HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE PROPOSAL TO THE MAIN, UM, HOUSE IS TO, UM, BUILD A TWO STORY ADDITION.
THE EXISTING TWO STORY SINGLE FAMILY, UM, UM, RESIDENCE.
UM, IT WILL HAVE NO CHANGES TO THE EXISTING BASEMENT, WHICH IS VERY, IT HAS A, IT HAS A BASEMENT, UM, AND THEY WILL BE REPLACING NON-ORIGINAL WINDOWS AS SHOWN ON THE ELEVATIONS.
THE APPLICANT PRO PROPOSES REMOVAL OF NON-ORIGINAL STUCCO FROM THE FRONT ELEVATION AND WRAPAROUND PORCH RESTORING, UM, THOSE AREAS TO HOW THEY WERE.
UM, ORIGINALLY THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO, UM, BUILD A FIRST, UH, FLOOR REAR ADDITION THAT IS 571 SQUARE FEET AND A 644
[02:05:02]
SECOND FLOOR.UM, REAR ADDITION, THE ORIGINAL CORNER WILL BE MAINTAINED ON THE NORTH ELEVATION.
ORIGINAL CORNER ON SOUTH ELEVATION.
UM, APPLI, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS TO NSET FOR TWO FEET AT THE ORIGINAL CORNER ON THE SOUTH ELEVATION FACING, UH, WHITE OAK STREET.
AS FOR, UM, ITEM D EIGHT, ALSO AT 6 0 7 HARVARD PERTAINING TO ALTERATIONS TO THE NON-CONTRIBUTING GARAGE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING AN ADDITION, UH, TO THE EXISTING, UM, UH, GARAGE APARTMENT AT 6 0 7 HARVARD.
THE STRUCTURE, UH, CURRENTLY CONTAINS 1000, UM, 33 SQUARE FEET OF, UH, CONDITION SPACE.
THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES ADDING 145 SQUARE FEET ON THE FIRST LEVEL AND, UH, REMOVING 1 69 SQUARE FEET FROM THE SECOND LEVEL.
THE NEW ROOF WILL MATCH, UM, HOUSE ORIGINAL, UM, EIGHT 12 WITH THE EVE HEIGHT BEING UM, MAX OF 18 FEET AND FOUR INCHES.
UM, INCREASING THE RIDGE HEIGHT TO 27 FEET.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS THAT THE RIDGE HEIGHT OF THE STRUCTURE BE, UH, 26 FEET TO MEET MEASURABLE HOUSTON HEIGHTS MEASURABLE STANDARDS FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES.
AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
UM, I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM, WHICH IS SAM NUAS.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THIS WAS GONNA BE ON CONSENT AGENDA, SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING UNLESS Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC THAT'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NOT HEARING ANYONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION OF STAFF OR IS THERE A MOTION OR A MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITEM SEVEN AND EIGHT? MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION
ALL IN FAVOR OF BOTH SEVEN AND EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS OF STAFF.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, THAT PASSES.
WE'RE MOVING ON, I BELIEVE TO NOW.
I CAN ALMOST SAY GOOD EVENING.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE HHC.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON TERRENCE JACKSON.
I SUBMIT, I SUBMIT TO YOU ITEM D 14 AT EIGHT 15 WEST COTTAGE STREET IN THE NOR HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A 1,606 SQUARE FOOT, ONE STORY W WOOD FRAME, SINGLE FAMILY BUNGALOW STYLE RESIDENCE, CONSTRUCTED CIRCUIT 1925 AND A DETACHED GARAGE SITUATED ON A 5,512 SQUARE FOOT INTERIOR LOT.
THE APPLICANT RAISED THE HOME TO HAVE A 39 INCH FINISHED FLOOR HEIGHT WITHOUT A COA, THUS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CONTRIBUTING CHIMNEY OF THE HOME.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO REMOVE ONE EIGHT INCH BLOCK TO GIVE THE HOME A FINISHED FLOOR HEIGHT OF 31 INCHES ABOVE GRADE.
STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF A COA AND ISSUANCE OF A COR FOR WORK PERFORMED WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT THE APPLICATION REMOVE THE BRICK FROM THE CHIMNEY PRIOR TO LOWERING THE HOME.
ONCE THE LOWERING IS COMPLETE, THE APPLICANT MUST REBUILD THE CHIMNEY AS IT WAS PRIOR TO THE DAMAGE WITH THE EXISTING CONTRIBUTING BRICK CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE HHCM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM FROM THE PUBLIC? I DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM OR SHE DOESN'T WANNA SPEAK UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THIS APPLICATION? IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION OR FOR, UH, OR MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER JONES SECOND.
DO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AFTER THE PROMOTION OR WHEN DO WE DISCUSS? UH,
[02:10:01]
IF WE NEED TO DISCUSS? LET'S DISCUSS NOW.YEAH, BECAUSE I DIDN'T CALL FOR DISCUSSION, SO, OKAY.
UM, I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT EVERYONE THINKS.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? I KNOW WHAT I THINK, BUT I'M CURIOUS WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK.
HOW ABOUT YOU START? WELL, UM, I, IT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT, UM, IT REALLY DOES VIOLATE ALL OF THE CRITERIA THAT AS PART OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME MAYBE, UM, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
SO, BUT THERE ARE MORE CRITICAL EYES IN THE ROOM THAN JUST MY OWN, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU THOUGHT.
I'LL JUST SAY AS SOMEONE THAT WORKS, UM, ON OLDER HOMES, UM, THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE OF RAISING HOMES.
MANY OF THE HOMES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ACTUALLY TOO LOW.
UM, THE, THE WOOD WHILE THE, WHILE THE WOOD WAS OLD GROWTH IN MANY CASES, A VERY GOOD WOOD, UM, UM, IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOISTURE AND DAMPNESS, UM, AND TERMITES.
SO IT'S THE WAY THAT THE CURRENT CODE READS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THAT IF YOU USE A WOOD APPEARING BEAM STRUCTURE, UM, UNLESS YOU HAVE 18 INCHES CLEAR DIMENSION FROM THE, UH, GROUND LEVEL BELOW THE HOUSE TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR WOOD, YOU HAVE TO USE TREATED WOOD, WHICH YOU, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
UM, AND I THINK THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, HAVING 18 INCHES OF SPACE UNDER, UNDER A HOME THAT'S BALLOON FRAMED IS A GOOD IDEA.
AND THAT WILL GENERALLY EQUATE TO A FINISHED FLOOR THAT'S SOMEWHERE JUST UNDER 30 INCHES OR JUST OVER 30 INCHES DEPENDING ON HOW THE HOUSE WAS BUILT.
UH, I WOULD DEFER TO COMMISSIONER SEL WHO HAD MORE EXPERIENCE WITH, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
UM, SO I, I SEE NO ISSUES WITH LOWERING THE HOUSE ONE BLOCK.
UM, THE ISSUE HERE, IT WAS RAISED AN ADDITIONAL BLOCK, SO IT'S A, IT'S IT'S REALLY TALL AND THE ONLY OTHER CASE STUDY WE HAVE FOR RAISING HOUSES BEYOND THE, THE MINIMUM OF 18 INCHES IS IF YOU'RE IN A FLOODPLAIN AND THERE'S AN ESTABLISHED, YOU KNOW, FEMA RISK, UM, THEN WE ALLOW HOMES TO BE RAISED EVEN HIGHER.
SO, UM, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS FOR THIS LOCATION, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.
IT'S VERY, IT'S A VERY HIGH ELEVATION.
IT HAS NOT FLOODED HISTORICALLY.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT IN A FLOOD PLAIN AS FAR AS FEMA'S CONCERNED THAT I'M AWARE OF.
BUT, UM, THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT I KNOW ABOUT RAISING HOUSES AND, AND WHEN TO STOP RAISING THEM.
BUT YEAH, I THINK, I THINK YOUR, YOUR UH, UH, DIMENSIONS ARE, ARE ACCURATE, BUT I I GUESS DID, DID THIS, UH, DID THE RAISING OF THE HOME GO THROUGH APPROVAL? NO, THAT'S WHY IT'S A C OF R SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A C OF R THAT THAT'S, THAT'S MY ASSUMPTION.
SO, UM, HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT IT? LIKE THAT'S, THAT'S NOT OKAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I YOU WE, WE CAN SIT HERE AND, AND, AND SPLIT HAIRS OVER 8, 16, 24 INCHES IN THE BLOCKS.
I MEAN THE, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS YOU ADJUSTED A PRETTY CONSISTENT, UH, A PRETTY, I MEAN, YOU, YOU CHANGED QUITE A BIT WITHOUT GETTING IT APPROVED AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S OKAY.
SO I MEAN, WHAT WOULD STOP YOU FROM DOING 10, 10 BLOCKS, YOU KNOW? SO THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? OKAY, SO I'M GONNA CALL THE VOTE OFFICIALLY JUST ONE NOTE.
I MEAN, SO ANY SORT OF WORK THAT'S DONE WITHOUT A COA, UM, IT'S CONSIDERED A ALTERATION OF THIS SORT PROPERTY.
SO THERE ARE REMEDIES THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HHC WOULD SEEK FROM, COULD SEEK FROM THE LIABLE PARTY, UM, THAT'S UNDER THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD.
SO THERE ARE METHOD OR THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE, I GUESS, PUNITIVE FOR WORK THAT'S DONE WITHOUT A COA.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE OVERARCHING GOALS I THINK IS OF THE ORDINANCES TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC CHARACTER.
SO IF A COR CAN DO THAT, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS LIKES TO DO.
OKAY, WITH THAT, I'LL CALL THE OFFICIAL VOTE FOR THE MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
UM, WE ARE NOW MOVING ON, I BELIEVE TO ITEM 18 AND IF THERE WAS A MOTION TO JOIN, UM, 18 AND 19 TO BE PRESENTED AT THE SAME TIME.
IS THERE A SECOND? JOAN? SECONDS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO COMBINE, UH, ITEMS 18 AND 19 TO BE PRESENTED AT THE SAME TIME? YES.
[02:15:01]
I MEAN, I'M VOTING IN FAVOR OF YES, THE MOTION SECONDED.I THINK IT'S AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK OR JUST ABOUT ALMOST.
YEAH, IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE HHC.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON TERRANCE JACKSON, AND TODAY I SUBMIT TO YOU ITEM D 18 AT 5 28 COLUMBIA STREET.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A 1,320 SQUARE FOOT.
ONE STORY CONTRIBUTING CRAFTSMAN STYLE RESIDENCE AND DETACHED GARAGE.
SITUATED ON A 6,600 SQUARE FOOT INTERIOR BLOCK INTERIOR LOT.
THE APPLICANT REMOVED THE WINDOWS, SIDING AND SHIPLAP IN VIOLATION OF THEIR APPROVED COA HP 20 25 0 2 5 2 WHICH WAS APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS SPOKEN TO THE APPLICANT AND VERIFIED THAT THE EXISTING WINDOWS ARE BEING REPAIRED AND REFURBISHED BY PLUM ALLEY.
DURING CONSTRUCTION, THE APPLICANT REMOVED THE FOLLOWING, THE EXISTING WOOD SIDING, ORIGINAL WOOD WINDOWS, EXISTING COMPOSITION SHINGLE ROOF, FRONT PORCH STEPS AND BRICK PONY WALL, AND THE EXISTING SHIPLAP FROM THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF A COA AND ISSUANCE OF A COR TWO.
INSTALL THREEQUARTER INCH PLYWOOD IN PLACE OF THE REMOVED SHIPLAP.
INSTALL WOOD BEVEL SIDING TO MATCH EX MATCH THE EXISTING REPLACE FRONT PORCH STEPS AND BRICK PONY WALL ON ORIGINAL STRUCTURE AND RESTORE THE EXISTING WINDOWS WITH ORIGINAL LIGHT PATTERN.
UM, THIS APPLICATION IS PROPOSING TO, UM, IT'S GONNA BE A BIT REPETITIVE HERE, BUT REPLACE THE REMOVE SIDING WITH WOOD BEVEL SIDING TO MATCH THE HISTORIC CHARACTER.
RESTORE THE ORIGINAL WINDOWS AND REIN.
REINSTALL AT THE ORIGINAL LOCATIONS.
REPLACE THE REMOVE ROOFING WITH COMPOSITION SHINGLES.
CONSTRUCT THE NEW BRICK STEPS, BUILD NEW WALLS AND REVISE ROOF CONFIGURATION TO PROVIDE SEVEN FOOT CLEARANCE AT THE STAIRS AND CONSTRUCT THE BUILDING ACCORDING TO THE PREVIOUS COA WITH THE REVISED STAIR CLEARANCE, THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION PROPOSED THE FOLLOWING, A TWO STORY REAR ADDITION TOTALING, UH, 1,584 SQUARE FEET WITH THE FIRST FLOOR OF 471 FOOT SQUARE FEET, A SECOND FLOOR OF 1,123 SQUARE FEET.
THE MAX RIDGE HEIGHT OF 29.5 WITH A FIVE OVER 12 ROOF PITCH.
AND A COM AND COMPOSITION SHINGLES.
THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE RIDGE HEIGHT AT 22 FEET, 10 INCHES WITH THE EIGHT OVER 12 ROOF PITCH MIX OF FIXED AND SINGLE HUNT VINYL WINDOWS, INSET AND RECESS, AND MIX OF SINGLE LIGHT AND ONE OVER ONE PATTERN.
SMOOTH CEMENTITIOUS SIDING WITH A FOUR INCH REVEAL.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS TO INSTALL WOOD OR WOOD COMPOSITE WINDOWS.
ON THE PROPOSED ADDITION, INSTALL THREEQUARTER INCH PLYWOOD IN PLACE OF THE REMOVE SHIPLAP, INSTALL WOOD BEVEL SIDING, FRONT PORCH STEPS AND BRICK PONY WALL ON ORIGINAL STRUCTURE, AND RESTORE THE EXISTING WINDOWS WITH ORIGINAL LIGHT PATTERN CHAIR.
AND HHCI AM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT TOO UNDERSTOOD.
AT THIS TIME I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
UH, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS AYA MD AND I ALSO HAVE, I, I CAN'T QUITE READ THE, THE NAME.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, FOR THE PROJECT.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR COMMISSIONERS.
UM, REGARDING PROJECT FIVE TO EIGHT COLUMBIA, UH, I'LL BE TRANSPARENT.
UH, WE ARE HERE TO REMEDIATE A MISTAKE WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
OVER THE HOLIDAYS, UH, NEW YEAR'S EVE, UH, ONE OF OUR SUBCONTRACTORS MADE AN AUTHORIZED CHANGES THAT DEVIATED FROM OUR PRESERVATION GOALS.
MY FOCUS NOW IS, UH, STRICTLY TO CORRECT THOSE ERRORS AND RESTORE THE HOME TO ITS HISTORICAL INTEGRITY.
UM, THE RESTORATION PLAN INCLUDES WHAT, UM, MR. TERRANCE WAS MENTIONING NEW WOOD SIDING, UH, JUST TO REPLACE THE, THE WELL TO JUST ADD IT INTO THE WALLS THAT WERE REPLACED OR REMOVED AND JUST RETAIN THE UNIQUE BUBBLE HOUSE SHAPE.
WE'RE USING ALWAYS B INSIDE PLYWOOD TO, UH, REPLACE THE SHIP LAB, OR AT LEAST, UH, TRY TO MAINTAIN IT AS IT WAS A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN, UH, FOR THE WINDOW RESTORATION, FORTUNATELY WE HAD, WE HAD SALVAGED THE WINDOWS PRIOR TO THE, LET'S CALL IT ACCIDENT.
[02:20:01]
UH, THESE HAVE BEEN RESTORED ALREADY BY PLUM ALLEY, UH, AT A HUGE EXPENSE.AND THE WINDOWS FOR THE ADDITION ARE ALREADY WOOD WINDOWS, UM, NOT VINYL ANYMORE.
SO THIS MATERIAL IS ALREADY RESTORED AND READY TO BE INSTALLED.
THE CHALLENGE WILL BE NOW TO, UH, RESTORE OR REFURBISH THE, UH, WOOD SIDING.
AND THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALIYAH M DINDA.
THIS IS ALIYAH DINDA FROM DESIGN THREE.
I I ONLY WANNA ADD THAT THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY DONE FOR ANOTHER, UH, CLIENT, AND THIS WAS BOUGHT IN A FLOW, UH, FORECLOSURE.
AND SO IT WAS ALREADY IN SUDDEN BACK CONDITIONS.
THE CURRENT OR OWNER WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RESTORE THIS HOUSE.
UM, AND I GUESS IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY HAD A C OF A, BUT THAT C OF A EXPIRED, AND THEN IT WAS SOLD AS, AS WAS MENTIONED.
SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND IT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NOT HEARING ANYONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMISSION MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION? SO MOVED.
I NEED ANY DISCUSSIONS? YEAH, PLEASE.
SO I, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A LOT THERE, TERRENCE, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO LIKE, CAN YOU PUT IT INTO A TERM THAT JUST AN OLD BUILDER CAN UNDERSTAND OF, OF WHAT THE, WHAT I, I CLEARLY SEE THE VI I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WENT DOWN HERE.
NO, THAT'S NOT WHERE I'M GOING.
BUT LIKE, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE VOTING TO REMEDY? UH, OR TO GO FORWARD AS, AS THEY ARE STATING THEY WANT TO.
SO, UM, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURE, SO WHAT, WHAT WE'RE UH, RECOMMENDING IS THAT FIRST WE PUT, UH, THREE QUARTER INCH PLYWOOD ON THE INTERIOR WALLS TO, IN REPLACE OF THE SHIPLAP, UH, BECAUSE THE SHIPLAP WAS REMOVED.
UM, SECOND IS TO, UH, REFURBISH THE WINDOWS OF THE ORIGINAL HOME.
UH, THIRD IS TO HAVE WOOD OR WOOD COMPOSITE WINDOWS PLACED IN THE ADDITION VERSUS THE PROPOSED, UH, VINYL.
UM, FOURTH WOULD BE THE, UM, TO REPLACE THE ROOF COMPOSITION SHINGLES.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, TO REPLACE THE, I'M SORRY, TWO MORE.
REPLACE THE SIDING THAT WAS REMOVED WITH WOOD SIDING ON THE ORIGINAL HOME.
AND THEN, UH, REPLACE THE STAIRS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE PORCH OF THE ORIGINAL HOME.
AND ALSO TO REPLACE THE, UH, BRICK PONY WALL THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ORIGINAL HOME.
SO BASICALLY, UM, EVERYTHING ON THE ORIGINAL HOME THAT WAS TAKEN, THAT WAS REMOVED, UM, THE ONLY THING THAT REMAINS ARE THE WINDOWS.
SO THE WINDOWS ARE AT PLUM ALLEY GETTING REFURBISHED RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE SHIPLAP HAS BEEN DISPOSED OF, SO THEREFORE THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE, UH, PLYWOOD.
AND THEY WILL HAVE TO GO BACK WITH BEVEL WOOD SIDING TO MATCH THE REVEAL, WHICH I THINK IS, UH, FOUR INCHES.
AND I'LL JUST, UH, SAY THE REASON SHIPLAP, WHICH IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE IS REGULATED BY THIS COMMISSION IS BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF BALLOON FRAMING WALLS.
SO IT'S WHAT, ACTUALLY, IT'S YOUR, IT DOESN'T HAVE HEADERS AND SO FORTH, LIKE WESTERN FRAMING.
SO IF YOU REMOVE IT, UM, YOUR WALL SAGS YOUR WINDOWS BREAK.
AND SO THAT'S, UH, AS WAS STATED, WE, WE DON'T REGULATE THE INSIDE OF HOMES, BUT WE DO REGULATE SHIPLAP ON THE EXTERIOR WALLS, WHICH ARE HOLDING UP THE EXTERIOR, IF YOU WILL.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? QUESTION FOR STAFF? UM, SO THE CHAIR MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A PRIOR COA THAT HAD EXPIRED.
HOW MUCH OVERLAP IS THERE BETWEEN THE PRIOR COA THAT EXPIRED AND WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US NOW IS ARE THEY REALLY SIMILAR? NOT VERY SIMILAR.
UM, DO, DO YOU MEAN IN SIM DO YOU MEAN SIMILARLY SIMILARITIES IN THE COA? CORRECT.
SO THE PROPOSED COA, UM, JUST BASICALLY HAS A BUMP OUT, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THIS IS 18 NINE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT ON 19 THERE IS A BUMP OUT AT THE STAIRCASE TO, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE CLEARANCE.
THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT'S, UH, CHANGING FROM THE PREVIOUS COA IS THAT THEY'RE ASKING TO HAVE THAT CLEARANCE OF THE STAIRWAY.
SO THERE WAS A PRIOR COA THAT WE APPROVED THAT EXPIRED THE NEW ONE IN 2023? YES.
[02:25:01]
ONE HAS THAT ONE DIFFERENCE? YES.BUT THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO DENY YES.
DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING? YES.
WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO COAS.
UM, I THINK WE, FOR THIS CONVERSATION, LET'S SEPARATE 18 D 18 AND D 19.
WHAT I JUST DISCUSSED WAS D 19.
THAT'S FOR THE, UM, UH, REVISION, SO TO SPEAK TO THE PREVIOUS COA.
D 19 IS FOR THE REMEDIATION OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE WITH, UH, IN VIOLATION OF THE PREVIOUS COA, SO THE REMOVAL OF THE SHIPLAP, REMOVAL OF THE WINDOWS, UM, REMOVAL OF THE SIDING STAIRS AND THE PONY WALL.
SO WE DENY THAT'S JUST STANDARD PROTOCOL DENY OF THE COA OR ISSUE OF A COR FOR, UH, REMEDIATION.
SO THEY'RE AGREEING TO REMEDIATE EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE TO REVERSE THAT AND BRING IT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, JUST A QUESTION.
SO ALL OF THE, THE PROPERTY CHANGED HANDS YES.
UH, THE, WHAT WE NEED TO NOW REMEDIATE WAS NOT DONE BY THE PREVIOUS COA OWNER, BUT THE CURRENT OWNER.
SO, SO I CAN JUST TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE.
WHEN WE GOT THE CALL, WE GOT THE CALL THAT THERE WAS WORK BEING DONE WITHOUT A PERMIT, WITHOUT A COA.
UM, WHEN I WENT OUT ON SITE, I ASKED THE CREW, UM, COULD I SPEAK TO THE OWNER OR COULD I SPEAK TO THE, UH, GENERAL CONTRACTOR? THEY, IN TURN CALLED THIS GENTLEMAN HERE WHO WAS OUT OF TOWN.
AND THEN HE CALLED ME BACK WHEN HE GOT BACK INTO COUNTRY.
SO AS HE MENTIONED, THEY DID REMOVE THE SIDING.
WAS IT THEY, I BELIEVE THEY REMOVED THE SIDING AND SHIPLAP.
SO DID THEY DO EVERYTHING? NO.
UM, WHICH I'M JUST NOW FINDING OUT, BUT WHEN I WENT ON SITE, THEY HAD JUST REMOVED AND THE DUMPSTER, THEIR PICTURES OF THE DUMPSTER, THEY HAD REMOVED THE WINDOWS, SHIPLAP SIDING.
DID THE PREVIOUS OWNER DO ANYTHING? I HONESTLY DON'T, DO NOT KNOW.
WE DID NOT GET ANY CALLS WHEN THE PREVIOUS OWNER WAS WORKING.
COULD YOU ASK A QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT? YES.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT.
WAS ANY OF THE WORK FOR THE PREVIOUS CO COA BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, WAS ANYTHING DONE DURING THEIR OWNERSHIP OR WAS EVERYTHING, UH, ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE THAT NOW HAD TO BE REMEDIATED AFTER THE SALE? SO THE PONY WALL AND THE STAIRCASE, THE BRICK STAIRCASE, UH, OR THE STEPS WERE NOT THERE WHEN WE, UH, BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.
UH, THE SIDING AND THE SHIP LAB, IT WAS OUR MISS.
UH, THE, THE, THE STEPS WERE, WERE NOT, THAT, THAT WAS ALREADY PART.
NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT, UM, WHEN I FIRST ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY, WE WERE, UH, SUMMONED BY THE SAFE, A SAFETY COMMISSION BECAUSE THE PROPERTY WAS FALLING.
AND SO I NEEDED TO FIRST ENSURE THAT THE WALLS WERE NOT GOING TO FALL.
AND BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN EXPOSED WITH ALL, WITHOUT ALL THE BACK PART.
SO WE, WE REDID ALL THE FOUNDATION AND WE BUILT THE ADDITION TO SUPPORT THE WALLS.
NOW, WHERE I GOT THE MISTAKE OF HAVING A, LET'S CALL IT A FULL WITH INITIATIVE, WAS THEY REMOVED WHAT WAS FALLING, WHICH WAS THE SIDING AND THE SHIPLAP, UH, WHICH SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE AND IT WAS NOT.
AND JUST A QUESTION TO LEGAL, JUST 'CAUSE I HAVE TO GET THIS CLEARED IN MY HEAD.
ANYTHING, UM, BECAUSE I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WHERE, WHERE A HOMEOWNER HAS DONE SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE AND THEN THEY SELL THE PROPERTY AND THE NEW PEOPLE IT'S IN.
IS IT INCUMBENT UPON THE NEW PEOPLE TO REMEDY WHAT WAS DONE PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE HOUSE? JUST TRYING TO SEPARATE RESPONSIBILITY.
I MEAN THE, I THINK THE ORDINANCE, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE CONTEMPLATES THE SITE, UM, NOT NECESSARILY THE OWNER OR THE LIABLE PARTY.
UM, SO THE, THE, THE SITE ITSELF OR THE PROPERTY ITSELF, UM, THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REMEDIATED, WHETHER IT'S BY YOU.
AND IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT IT'D BE THE PRESENT OWNER, UM, THAT WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT REMEDIATION TO HOLD THE PRIOR OWNER LIABLE.
[02:30:01]
UM, I THINK THAT'S OUTSIDE THE BOUNDS OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, TO NOT CONSIDER.BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HOLD A PREVIOUS OWNER LIABLE FOR, UM, WORK THAT THEY DID OUTSIDE OF THE COA.
UM, IF THAT WAS DONE, IF IF WORK THAT WAS DONE WORK WAS DONE OUTSIDE OF A COA BY A PRIOR OWNER AND THEN THEY TRANSFERRED THE PROPERTY, UM, I BELIEVE THE WAY THAT WE WOULD OPERATE, WOULD THEY, LIKE THE PRESENT OWNER WOULD HAVE TO GET A COR, UM, TO REMEDIATE THAT WORK? UM, SHOULD THAT BE WHAT STAFF DETERMINES? YEP.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RE RECOMMENDATION? OKAY.
DO WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS FOR BOTH ITEMS 18 AND 19? THIS IS FOR BOTH.
THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOTH 18 AND 19 FOR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE HHC.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON TERRENCE JACKSON, AND TODAY I SUBMIT TO YOU ITEM D 21 AT 11 18 2 LANE STREET.
THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A HISTORIC 943 SQUARE FOOT.
ONE STORY CRAFTSMAN STYLE OF WOOD SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, SITUATED ON THE 6,600 SQUARE FOOT INTERIOR LOT LOCATED IN THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICT.
CONSTRUCTED IN CIRCA 1915, THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT A TWO-STORY ADDITION TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE HOME AND AN INTERIOR REMODEL OF THE EXISTING HOME.
THE EXISTING STONE HAS CAUSED THE FOUNDATION AND FRAMING OF THE HOME TO DETERIORATE.
THUS, THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE STONE PIECE BY PIECE, REPAIR THE FOUNDATION AND WALL FRAMING, THEN INSTALL SIDING IN PLACE OF THE STONE.
PREVIOUS STAFF INSTRUCTED THE APPLICANT TO REMOVE THE STONE, HAVE IT PLACED ON A PALLET AND NUMBER TO BE PUT BACK IN PLACE AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.
STAFF BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE, THIS WOULD PLACE A HUGE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON THE PROJECT AND WOULD ASK THAT THE HHC TO CONSIDER THE STONE BE REPLACED WITH SIGHTING OR PROVIDE OTHER SUGGESTIONS.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT A 1,770 SQUARE FOOT REAR EDITION FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS.
THE FIRST FLOOR WILL HAVE A 732 SQUARE FOOT EDITION, AND THE SECOND FLOOR WILL HAVE A 1038 SQUARE FOOT EDITION.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO MAINTAIN ALL EXISTING WINDOWS AND DOORS, PARTIALLY DEMOLISHED THE REAR WALL TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE REAR ADDITION CONSTRUCT, WITH TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITH A MAX RIDGE HEIGHT OF 24 FEET, NINE INCHES.
CONSTRUCT THE SECOND FLOOR EAVE HEIGHT AT 19 FEET, 10 INCHES TO THE TOP OF THE EAVE CONSTRUCT.
THE ROOF WITH NEW COMPOSITION SHINGLES WAS SIX AND A HALF WITH A SIX AND A HALF, SIX OVER 12 ROOF PITCH, I'M SORRY, DEMOLISHED THE EXISTING THREE OVER 12 ROOF PITCH AND RECONSTRUCT WITH SEVEN OVER ROOF.
ROOF PITCH TO ACCOMMODATE FOR MECHANICAL SERVICES.
THEY PROPOSED TO CONSTRUCT A HOME WITH NINE FOOT FIRST FLOOR CEILING HEIGHT AND A NINE FOOT SECOND FLOOR CEILING HEIGHT.
INSTALL NEW WINDOWS TO BE WOOD CLAD, INSET AND RECESSED IN THE ADDITION.
SMOOTH SIMIAN SIDING AND TRIM AT THE ADDITION, REPAIR THE EXISTING SIDING, I'M SORRY, ALL NEW WINDOWS NEED TO BESET AND RESET C ATTACHMENT A FOR DETAILS.
UM, AND THEY WILL REPAIR THE EXISTING PATIENT'S OFFICE WITHIN COMM MATERIAL.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE HHC.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UM, AT THIS TIME, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP FOR THIS ITEM.
IF ANYONE IS HERE, PLEASE ANNOUNCE YOURSELF NOT HEARING ANYONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION OF STAFF? I HAVE QUESTION COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER COSGROVE, UM, IS THE STONE ORIGINAL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE? UH, SO, UH, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
[02:35:02]
SO ALL THE, UH, BLA INFORMATION THAT WE FOUND IN ALL, I MEAN, AS YOU GUYS KNOW THIS, I THINK WE'VE SEEN THIS PROJECT ABOUT 10 TIMES.UM, AND, UH, ALL THE BLA INFORMATION IS, DOES NOT GO BACK FAR ENOUGH TO VERIFY IF IT IS.
UM, STAFF TENDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT ORIGINAL, UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE, UM, WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE IF, IF HAD IT BEEN ORIGINAL THAT THIS FRAMING AND THIS FOUNDATION PROBABLY WOULD'VE COLLAPSED LONG AGO, UM, THE FOUNDATION LOOKS TERRIBLE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO CONSIDERING, AND I'M JUST GOING OFF ON A TANGENT HERE, BUT ALSO CONSIDERING THE PROCESS THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE STONE AND THEN PLACE IT ON A PALLET AND NUMBER IT, AND THEN PLACE IT BACK, YOU KNOW, AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS DETERRED THIS OWNER FROM, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH ANY COAS.
UH, SO HE'S TRIED DEMOLITION, HE'S TRIED, UH, SEVERAL ADDITIONS.
HE'S TRIED, UH, TO HAVE IT, UM, MADE NON-CONTRIBUTING.
UM, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED IN THE FILES AND I MEAN, IT'S LIKE ALMOST A PAGE FULL OF COA.
SO I DON'T, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, STAFF DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS A ORIGINAL, BUT IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE LIKE THE REMOVAL OF SOME OF THAT SAID SI THE STONE TO ACTUALLY VERIFY THAT, WHICH I DON'T THINK THE OWNER IS WANTING TO DO, INCUR THAT EXPENSE UNTIL HE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
AND IS THE, THE FOUNDATION OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE IS PIER AND BEAM? YES, SIR.
AND HOW HIGH OFF THE GROUND IS IT? OOH, IT'S NOT HIGH AT ALL.
IT'S, I'D SAY IT'S CLOSE TO ABOUT 16, 18 INCHES.
SO ARE THEY GONNA RAISE THIS HOUSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED? I MEAN, I, I ONLY ASK BECAUSE THE DRAWINGS SHOW VIRTUALLY NO FOUNDATION ON EITHER THE ADDITION OR THE HOUSE.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND FROM THESE DRAWINGS WHAT EXACTLY THE INTENTION IS.
SO, I MEAN, THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
AND THEY'RE ALSO, ALL THE RENDERINGS ARE SHOWING NOT SIDING ON THE HOUSE.
AND SO IT'S VERY HARD TO LIKE, INTERPRET WHAT THE APPLICANT HAS IN MIND.
AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY DEVELOPED SET OF PLANS.
I MEAN, IS THE ADDITION ON A SLAB? YES, AS FAR AS I KNOW, YES SIR.
BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA RAISE THE PIER AND BEAM HOUSE.
HE HAS NOT MENTIONED TO ME THAT THEY PLAN TO RAISE THE HOME.
NOW LET ME ALSO STATE WHAT I'VE INFORMATION THAT I'VE BEEN PRIVY TO.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND THIS MAY HAVE MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING, BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS, UM, THE HOME IS GOING UP FOR SALE AND THE PLAN IS TO GET AN APPROVED COA AND THE COA TO BE PART OF THE SALE.
SO MAYBE THAT'S WHY THERE ISN'T MUCH DETAIL ON THE RAISING OF THE FOUNDATION, BUT MAYBE HAVEN INVESTED INTO THE PROJECT ENOUGH TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO.
WELL, UM, I MEAN IT, SO I HAVE, UH, THIS HAS BEEN INTERESTING.
UM, I, FULL DISCLOSURE, THE AGENT HAD A BABY LIKE LITERALLY FIVE DAYS AGO, SO HE AND I JUST LOST COMMUNICATION AND I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO HIM.
SO, UM, I, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THEM.
WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DEFERRING.
THEY ARE, THEY ARE OKAY WITH, THEY WERE OKAY THEN WITH DEFERRING THE PROJECT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE DID LOSE SOME TIME.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT IF A DEFERRAL IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PUT ON THE TABLE IN ORDER TO GET THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND OR ASKED, UM, OR ASKED AND OR ANSWERED, I AM TOTALLY ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH DOING SO.
UM, I MIGHT ADD THAT IF WE, IF THE DEFERRAL IS CONTEMPLATED FURTHER, MAYBE EITHER NOW OR SUBSEQUENT, UH, JUST TO INCLUDE THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WE MIGHT SHOW THE APPLICANT, UM, JUST SO THAT WHEN THEY DO COME BACK UP, UM, THEY'RE NOT SURPRISED AND ABLE TO ANSWER ALL THAT IN THE PACKET AND THEN IF NEED BE WHEN THEY SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, YOU HAD A QUESTION? SO, LOOKING AT THE SANBORN MAP, I COULD BE INCORRECT, BUT ACCORDING TO THE SANBORN MAP, THIS WAS A ONE STORY WOOD FRAME HOUSE, NOT BRICK.
I'M NOT ST THE STONE ISN'T INDICATED ON THERE.
COMMISSIONER, IT INDICATES, YES, I WAS, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA ASK A SIMILAR QUESTION.
WHAT DATE IS THIS SANBORN? UH, THIS SANBORN I BELIEVE CAME FROM 2024 TO, UH, 1924 TO 54 TO 55 OR YEAH, 55 OR 51
[02:40:01]
OR 55.'CAUSE IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU CAN GET THE COLORIZED.
IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE EXTERIOR MATERIAL IS.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW, COMMISSIONER DIVIS IS RIGHT.
IT'S WITHOUT ANY MARKING ON THERE.
UM, BUT BY THE LATER SANBORNS, IF THEY'RE BLUE OR YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT COLOR, IT'S GONNA TELL YOU IF IT'S BRICK STONE OR OKAY.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THE, THE, THE SANBORNS THAT ARE ON DISPLAY IN THAT IN THE JULIE ADDISON LIBRARY ARE, ARE IN COLOR AND THEY ARE OF THIS PERIOD.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, ANOTHER QUESTION JUST FOR, I KNOW FOR THE HEIGHTS, THE SANBORN MAPS THAT ARE THERE IN THE LIBRARY REFLECT 1963.
THEY DON'T REFLECT THE OR, SO, YOU KNOW, THEY PASTE IT OVER EVERY YEAR.
SO YOU GET COLOR, BUT YOU MAY NOT GET THE ORIGINAL FORMATION.
SOMETIMES THE, IT DEPENDS ON THEIR PROJECT.
SOMETIMES THEY WERE NEVER CHANGED AND SOMETIMES THEY WERE CHANGED.
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE LAYERS OF, OF, UM, THE, THE, WHEN THEY'RE PASTING OVER, IT'S FAIRLY TRANSPARENT, BUT, UM, OFTEN THERE ARE BLACK AND WHITE COPIES OF EARLIER VERSIONS OF IT.
SO YOU CAN KIND OF, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BLACK AND WHITE VERSIONS THAT ARE DIGITAL, YOU CAN RETRACE THE LAYERS.
BUT IT ALL, IT'S ALL A CASE BY CASE, UH, BY THAT PROPERTY.
BUT IF THERE WERE CHANGES MADE, YOU'LL KNOW, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE PAPER AND SEE SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT UNDERNEATH AS WELL.
BUT IT'S A, BUT IT'S STILL A GOOD RESOURCE.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF REP RECOMMENDATION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVAL, CORRECT? YES, IT WAS
SO IS IT FIVE FOUR? CAN, CAN WE UH, PLEASE REDO THAT FOR THE RECORD? OKAY.
SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO ACCEPT, ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
BROBECK, BROBECK, SMITH, SEL, DAVIS, AND HILL AND HILL, BROBECK SMITH, DAVIS AND HILL.
AND HAVE ONE, TWO, THE COUNT JUST CHANGED.
AND I HAVE, DO I HAVE SIX THAT ARE OPPOSED? THERE'S OPPOSED.
SO THAT MOTION PASSED DOESN'T PASS.
SO IS THERE, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER.
I WOULD SECOND THE MOTION TO DEFER AND I WOULD, IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU SAID, I BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO BE DEVELOPED BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS GONNA WIND UP LIKE 5 28 COLUMBIA.
IF IT CHANGES HANDS AND SOMEONE'S GOING TO TAKE SOME PLANS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE GONNA BE IN FRONT OF US.
'CAUSE THEY RAISED IT THREE BLOCKS BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THERE'S NOTHING FOUNDA.
YOU KNOW? AND I JUST, I JUST FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GONNA APPROVE SOMETHING, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY APPROVE WHAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT, NOT SOMEONE'S IDEA THAT THEY WANT TO SELL.
AND CAN I ADD, I ALSO THINK THAT WE CAN ANSWER THE LIMESTONE BLOCK QUESTION.
OR AT LEAST GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO WHAT IT IS AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE IDEA OF PALLETIZING ALL OF IT.
FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TROUBLE, I DON'T THINK THE STONE IS PROBABLY REAL.
I DON'T HAVE ISSUE WITH THE CHANGE TO THE SIDING, BUT I MEAN, THE DRAWING DOESN'T SHOW SIDING, SO, I MEAN, THERE'S JUST TOO MANY INCONSISTENCIES.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET LEGAL COVERED.
UM, THE QUESTION IS, UM, WILL YOU RAISE THE EXISTING FOUNDATION? UM, CAN YOU SHOW THE FOUNDATION ON THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE FOUNDATION? AND WHAT WILL THE FOUNDATION OF THE ADDITION BE? ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER ELL? YEAH, I, UM, IS THERE, IS THERE ARE, ARE THEY HERE? THE APPLICANT? NO, SIR.
I MEAN, RICHARD COMMISSIONER DAVIS, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
MY, I GUESS I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I'M JUST IN SUPPORT OF WHAT IS BEING SAID.
THAT THE, THE PLANS NEED TO BE ACCURATE AND MORE DEVELOPED.
AND AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN INSIDE OR
[02:45:01]
EVALUATED THAT EXACT HOME, YOU GOTTA GIVE 'EM, LIKE, THEY'VE GOT TO EVALUATE THE FOUNDATION SITUATION.I MEAN, THE GRADE BEAM'S ALMOST ENTIRELY UNDER THE GROUND.
UM, I DO, WELL, JUST FOR POINT OF CLARITY, UM, DOES NO ONE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CHANGING OF THE EXISTING ROOF? I, I, COMMISSIONER BLAKELY LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE ELEVATION DRAWINGS ON PAGE 15 ARE INCOMPLETE, THERE'RE ARROWS WITH NO TEXTS NEXT TO THEM.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNCLARITY AROUND WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THEY INTEND TO DO.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DETAIL, UH, PRESENTED.
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE, THE TEXT FROM THE ARROWS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A COMPLETE DRAWING THAT CLEARLY INDICATES, UH, ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE INDICATED ABOUT THE PROPOSED ELEVATION.
COMMISSIONER DAVIS, AND I PROBABLY VOTED THE WRONG WAY HERE, A LITTLE CONFUSION, BUT, UM, I CAN APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY WANT A LITTLE CLARITY.
THE PE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SELLING IT WANT A LITTLE CLARITY ON WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
AND, UM, SO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE, WITH REGARD TO THE, UM, THE STONE, I KNOW THAT TYPE OF STONE IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR SALES IN THE HEIGHTS.
SO CAN WE GIVE THEM, UH, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE PROBABLY REALLY INTERESTED IN.
CAN WE GIVE THEM ANY GUIDANCE IN THAT DIRECTION? YEAH, I, UM, SO, SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND I THINK FROM THE, I'LL CALL THEM PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD THUS FAR, IT SEEMS LIKE, BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE SANBORN, UM, PRELIMINARILY OF COURSE, AND BASED ON WHAT IT'S DONE TO THE FOUNDATION, UM, I THINK EVERYONE WOULD BE, OKAY.
WELL, I DON'T WANNA SAY EVERYONE.
I THINK THEY MIGHT, THE MAJORITY MIGHT BE OKAY WITH REMOVING THE STONE.
UM, THAT'S, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'VE TAKEN FROM THIS CONVERSATION.
IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE LIKE ANYONE WAS GOING TO OBJECT TO THAT.
UM, HOPEFULLY, UM, WHAT I CAN DO FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION AND FOR THE NEXT REPORT, I CAN GET TO THE HOUSE AND I CAN GET PHOTOS OF WHAT IT'S DONE TO THE FOUNDATION TO ADD TO THE REPORT SO THAT YOU ALL CAN SEE WHAT THE FRAMING AND THE FOUNDATION LOOK LIKE.
'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT GOOD WHATSOEVER.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT WILL HELP IN AIDING ON THE DECISION OF ALLOWING THEM TO, UH, USE SIDING RATHER THAN THE STONE.
AND PLUS ASKING SOMEONE TO PALLETIZE STONE IN NUMBER, IT IS KIND OF, AND THEY NEED TO REPRESENT THAT ON THE DRAWINGS.
LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO SIDING, YOU SHOULDN'T SHOW STONE ON YOUR DRAWING.
UM, IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THIS APPLICATION HAS COME FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ALL PROPOSED WORK? YES.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE COMMISSION DEFERS, UM, AN APPLICATION TWO TIMES ON THAT THIRD OCCASION THAT IT SHOWS UP IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION, IT'S CONSIDERED APPROVED.
UM, JUST TO KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR FUTURE.
AND JUST FOR POINT OF CLARITY, IT WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED, I MEAN, DEFERRED BY THE APPLICANT.
ALL OPPOSED? THAT MOTION PASSES.
WE'RE DOWN TO OUR LAST ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 26.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRPERSON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS STAFF PERSON CHARLES SADLER.
I SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ITEM D 26 AT 5 0 5 AND 5 0 3 SOL ROSS IN THE FIRST MONTROSE COMMONS HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THESE RE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ARE BEING CONVERTED TO COMMERCIAL USE AS PART OF THE SURROUNDING MONARCH COMMUNITY REHABILITATION CENTER.
AND JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION, THE TWO LOTS WERE RE PLATTED IN THE PAST, SO NOW THEY'RE BOTH CONSIDERED ONE LOT.
THESE ARE BOTH CONTRIBUTING PROPERTIES.
I'LL START WITH 5 0 3 SOLE ROSS FIRST PROPOSING REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS, WHICH WOULD BE ANDERSON E-SERIES, WOOD HISTORIC SERIES.
THESE ARE EQUALLY DIVIDED, ONE OVER ONE INSET AND RECESSED.
SO THEY MEET THE HISTORIC GUIDELINES THAT WE GO BY.
UH, NEXT ITEM FOR THAT ADDRESS
[02:50:01]
WOULD BE, EXCUSE ME, REMOVE EXISTING DASH FINISHED STUCCO, WHICH IS IN VERY POOR CONDITION AND IS, HAS, HAS SEPARATED FROM THE BUILDING AND SPOTS AND THEN BEEN REPAIRED.AND THEN THEY WOULD REPLACE THAT WITH DASH FINISHED STUCCO.
AND NEXT, UH, BUILDING IS 5 0 5 SOUL ROSS.
AND THAT THOSE POINTS THERE ARE RESTORE AND REPAIR EXISTING WOOD WINDOWS.
AND THOSE WINDOWS ARE ACTUALLY A DEFINING FEATURE.
AND THEY ARE, UH, DIVIDED LIGHT WINDOWS WHERE THE, THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR IS JUST ONE OVER ONE.
AND I'VE MET WITH THE APPLICANTS ABOUT THAT AND THEY'VE AGREED TO THAT.
UH, NEXT POINT, REPLACE EXISTING WOOD SHUTTERS WITH WOOD SHUTTERS OF THE SAME PROPORTIONS.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, THE NORTH ELEVATION IN LARGE.
UH, AND THIS IS FOR A DA COMPLIANCE.
UM, AND SINCE IT IS A HEALTHCARE TYPE FACILITY THAT'S PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE.
UM, SO IN THE NORTH ELEVATION AND LARGE, THE BRICK FRONT ENTRY AREA, SO THE, AS YOU COME OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR, THERE'S REALLY JUST MAYBE 1216 INCHES.
SO THEY'RE PROPOSING A LANDING, WHICH IS REQUIRED, AND THAT LANDING WILL HAVE WROUGHT IRON, UH, BANISTERS AND HANDRAILS, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT HAS RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN THE, THE OTHER POINT, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE DRAWINGS IS INSTALL AN A A DA COMPLIANT METAL RAMP, WHICH WILL HAVE WROUGHT IRON HANDRAILS AND THE PROPOSED RAMP, UM, HEADS FROM THE FRONT DOOR EAST AND, AND IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE FACADE AND IT'S BLACK.
SO IT'S PRACTICALLY, UM, IT'S VERY INCONSPICUOUS WHILE STILL MEETING THE NEEDS.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS AND THOSE CONDITIONS ARE FOR 5 0 3 SOL ROSS, THE APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT A SAMPLE DASH FINISH OF THE STUCCO FOR STAFF APPROVAL.
AND WE'LL WORK WITH THE BUILDING INSPECTOR ALSO ON THAT, UH, BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH RES STUCCOING, THE WHOLE BUILDING.
UH, THE ARCHITECT IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
LONGMEYER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DO HAVE TWO, UH, SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, UM, FOR QUESTIONS EACH.
UM, THE FIRST IS KATIE GARVEY, AND THE SECOND IS, UH, STEVEN LONGMEYER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY OR ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROJECT OR JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS IF NEEDED? QUESTION.
I'M, UH, THE ARCHITECT WORKING ON THE PROJECT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MONARCH COMMUNITY, UH, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THEY HAVE MULTIPLE HISTORIC, UH, PROPERTIES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE RUN THROUGH THIS PROCESS ON A FEW OF THOSE AS WELL.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WE LOVE TO RESTORE AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AND SO WE'RE JUST HERE TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE.
SO WE HAD PETE STOCKTON COME OUT AND EXPLAIN THE STUCCO, THE SHIPLAP PROPER WAY TO DEMO AND PUT THOSE THINGS BACK.
UM, SO YEAH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, JUST TO, TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND WE'D LOVE YOUR APPROVAL.
AND MR. LONGMEYER? HI, I AM STEVE LONGMEYER.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I WAS, I'M A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
I WAS THE ONE WHO WALKED THE PETITIONS TO CREATE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ITS HISTORY, THE HISTORY OF THIS PROPERTY OR THIS PROJECT DATES BACK TO, WELL, WELL BEFORE COVID AND OF THE ENTITY, UH, THE, WHICH IS NOW CALLED THE MONARCH COMMUNITY CENTER, DATES BACK INTO THE MID 1970S WHEN IT WAS A UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH, UM, PROGRAM.
IT WAS VERY LOOSELY RUN UNTIL JUST BEFORE COVID, UM, WITH MANY OF THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS LITERALLY FALLING DOWN AND IN HORRIBLE SHAPE.
UH, SO MUCH SO THAT WE ASKED A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION WHO RESTORES HISTORIC BUILDINGS TO COME OUT AND DO A CONSULTATION, AND IT TOOK HIM MONTHS TO GO THROUGH TO DO THE EVALUATION.
COMMISSIONER HICK HAS ALSO SERVED AS A CONSULTANT ON THE PROJECT IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THESE PEOPLE TO COMPLIANCE.
THERE'S A NEW OWNER, THERE'S A NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR.
THE METHODIST HOSPITAL HAS TAKEN OVER THE CARE OF THE, UH, UH, CLIENTS AT THIS INSTITUTION, AND IT IS UNIQUE IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, FINALLY, THE BUILDINGS WILL ALL BE BROUGHT UP TO CODE
[02:55:01]
AND THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS BROUGHT UP TO HISTORIC RESTORATION CODE.WE HAVE MET OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN TRYING TO HAVE THE LEAST IMPACT, WHICH IS WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS, UM, AND YET PRESERVE THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM.
SO, UM, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT THIS AND DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO APPROVE, UH, THE REQUEST THAT'S BEFORE YOU AND NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
YEAH, AND I CAN JUST SAY I'VE SAT ON A COUPLE REVIEWS FOR THIS, UH, WITH THE DESIGN FIRM, AND SO THEY'VE, UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED, UH, THE EFFORTS AND IT'S, IT'S ONGOING.
BUT, UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANYONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
YES, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, THE WINDOWS.
LAMAR, YOU'VE BEEN ADAMANT, UH, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT REPLACING IT, ABOUT RE REBUILDING WINDOWS RATHER THAN REPLACING AND HAVE MADE SEVERAL STATEMENTS THAT REPLACEMENT WINDOWS ARE NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS THE OLD WINDOWS.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS NOW AS TO WHY YOU'RE ADVOCATING REPLACEMENT WINDOWS INSTEAD OF REBUILDING THE EXISTING ONES.
UH, I ON 5 0 3, UH, WHICH IS THE, LIKE, TO BE BLUNT, LIKE THE PLANER OF THE TWO BUILDINGS, UH, ABOUT HALF THE WINDOWS ARE NOT ORIGINAL.
THERE'S EVEN SHEETS OF PLEXIGLASS THAT ARE CAULKED IN.
SO IT'S, IT'S ABOUT HALF OF THEM ARE NOT ORIGINAL AND THEN THE OTHER HALF ARE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE.
AND THEN THERE'S BEEN WINDOWS ADDED THAT ARE, THERE'S LIKE METAL CAGES AND, UH, SO IT'S THOUGH THE WINDOWS ARE, THEY'RE NOT A DEFINING FEATURE AND THERE'S REALLY ALMOST NONE THAT ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
AND, UH, AND THE OTHER BUILDING THE WINDOWS, THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND THEY'RE A DEFINING FEATURE.
AND SO WE WANTED TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT AND ALLOW THEM TO REPLACE ON THE ONE BUILDING WITH THE, WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY WOULD RESTORE ON THE OTHER BUILDING.
SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THAT, UH, LIKE, UH, SUGGESTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS TO STAFF? GOT A QUESTION FOR, UH, CHAIR IF, IS THERE, UM, I, I JUST, I STILL FEEL A LITTLE LOOSE ON AND BECAUSE I'M NEW, BUT LIKE, UM, REQUIREMENTS AROUND WINDOWS, UH, CAN YOU JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT? I MEAN, E-SERIES IS A CLOUD WINDOW, SO I DON'T, I'M NOT, ANY WINDOW THAT I'VE EVER INSTALLED ON A HOME IS PAINTED WOOD WITH THE SAME PROFILE.
SO I'M, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN? UM, IF ORIGINAL WINDOW IS IN GOOD SHAPE OR A REPAIRABLE SHAPE REASON REASONABLY REPAIRABLE, UM, IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE STOR FABRIC AND SHOULD BE RETAINED AND REPAIRED IF, IF NEEDS REPAIRING.
UM, BUT THE ORDINANCE SET DOES HAVE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT SAYS IF THE WINDOW IS, UH, REALLY DIS DISTRESSED AND WOULD REQUIRE AN EXTRA ORDINARY, UM, UM, REPAIR THAT, UM, REPLACEMENT IS ALLOWED.
AND IN THAT CASE, AS LONG AS VISUALLY THE REPLACEMENT WINDOW LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL WINDOW IS INSET AND RECESSED, IT COULD BE A DIFFERENT MATERIAL THAN THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS LONG AS IT MAINTAINS SIGHT LINES, LIGHT PATTERNS, AND, UM, AND STILL ADHERES TO THE INCIDENT RECESS, UH, RECESSED, UH, REQUIREMENTS.
SO WHAT HAPPENED, I DON'T QUITE, I CAN'T QUITE REMEMBER IF IT WAS UNDER THIS NEW COMMISSION OR THE FORMER, BUT I THINK ACTUALLY THE DAY THAT THIS NEW COMMISSION CAME INTO BEING THERE WAS AN OPINION PAPER WAS, WAS, UM, WAS ACTUALLY, UH, ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC ON THAT SAME DAY.
UM, THAT JUST REITERATING WHAT I JUST SAID, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UM, ON AN EIGHT, NINE BY 11 INCH SIZE SHEET.
AND YOU, WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN THAT SHEET DISPLAYED AS PART OF APPLICATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS DAY.
SO IT'S, UM, SO IT'S REALLY DOWN WHAT THE CONDITION OF THE WINDOW WAS IN, CAN IT BE FIXED? DOES IT WARRANT REPLACEMENT? ONCE IT'S, ONCE IT REACHES THAT THRESHOLD, THEN THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPTIONS THAT YOU COULD GO BACK WITH YOU.
SO A QUESTION FOR YOU STAFF THEN IS, ARE ALL THE WINDOWS THAT ARE BEING REPLACED ON THE STUCCO STRUCTURE MEET THAT CRITERIA? SO, AND THEN TO ELABORATE ON WHAT BUCHE SAID, UH, WHEN WE WORK WITH THE BUILDING INSPECTOR, WE DO A SITE VISIT.
IF THE WINDOWS, IF AT LEAST 50% IS UNREPAIRABLE, WHERE IT'S WARPED ROTTED, UM, SOMETIMES IT'S ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED AND THEN THAT'S THE STANDARD, UH, THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S, IT'S REASON.
[03:00:01]
REPAIR.AND THAT'S WHAT THESE WINDOWS MET AND THERE WERE LIKE 50% OF THEM THAT WERE ORIGINAL ABOUT, AND THEY DID, THEY HAD 50% OR MORE THAT WAS DAMAGED.
AND THAT WAS ALSO PART OF DOING, I THINK THREE SITE VISITS AND, AND INSPECTOR STOCKTON WAS PART OF THOSE.
YEAH, AND I'LL SAY THAT, UM, THE, UH, THIS IS A LARGE COMMERCIAL, UH, HABITATION OF, OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD EXISTING IN THESE STRUCTURES.
UM, A LOT OF THE FOCUS, UM, FOR THE SESSIONS I SAT ON WERE HOW TO MAINTAIN THE UNIQUE QUALITY OF EACH OF THESE SINGULAR STRUCTURES AND KIND OF MINIMIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE REALLY LIKE A MUCH LARGER BUILDING, BUT THEY DON'T LOOK, THAT DOESN'T FEEL INSTITUTIONAL.
UM, AND BECAUSE THEY'VE RETAINED THESE SMALLER STRUCTURES AND SCALE, THEY'VE MADE THE CONNECTIONS MORE RECESSIVE.
UM, AND THEY'VE TRIED TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE YARDS IN OTHER AREAS GARDEN LIKE, WHICH IS AGAIN, HISTORICALLY SINCE THE 1840S HAS BEEN ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE, UM, WAYS TO THINK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW TO BUILD FACILITIES THERE FOR A SERIES OF HOSPITALS BUILT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL IN AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE GREAT EXAMPLES, SURVIVING EXAMPLES OF THAT TYPE.
I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER ONE IN, UM, UPSTATE NEW YORK, UM, IN, I, I'M BLANKING ON THE BUFFALO.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, I I FIND IT TO BE A VERY INTERESTING PROJECT AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE, THE, THE CLIENT AND THE DESIGN TEAM AND WHAT THEY TRIED TO, YOU KNOW, WORK.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROJECT THEY HAVE BECAUSE UM, IT WASN'T AN EASY, UH, DESIGN, UM, PROCESS THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION? SECOND.
AND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES AND WE WILL MOVE ON.
UH, TO ITEM E COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THERE'S STILL SOME PUBLIC OUT THERE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK EITHER.
SO I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM F, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER'S REPORT.
DO YOU WANT A REPORT OR NOT
SO GOOD EVENING CHAIR EK COM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS YASMIN ARSLAN AND I AM SERVING AS THE INTERIM PRESERVATION OFFICER.
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE PRESERVATION OFFICER'S REPORT FOR APRIL HIGHLIGHTING KEY UPDATES AND ONGOING EFFORTS TO PRESERVE HOUSTON'S HISTORIC CHARACTER.
WHILE WE DID NOT HOLD A REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING IN MARCH AND TOOK NO APPLICATIONS, STAFF REMAINED BUSY WITH THE FOLLOWING STAFF CONTINUED TO PROCESS PRE-DESIGN APPLICATIONS, CONDUCT MULTIPLE SITE VISITS AND ISSUE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS, ETHICS TRAINING FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL COMMISSION AND THE HISTORICAL APPEALS BOARD WAS HELD ON MARCH 12TH AND WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED.
WE THANK ALL COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR TIME PARTICIPATION AND CONTINUED SERVICE.
A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE NOR HILL DESIGN GUIDELINES WAS HELD ON MARCH 24TH.
DURING THAT HEARING, WE RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM BOTH COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC STAFF WILL NOW BEGIN REVIEWING THE STAFF THE DRAFT DESIGN GUIDELINES TO ADDRESS AND INCORPORATE THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED.
ONCE REVISIONS ARE COMPLETE, WE WILL SCHEDULE THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT DATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED.
ONCE CONFIRMED STAFF IS CONTINUING TO TEST THE HOUSTON PRESERVATION TRACKER SITE AND IS WORKING WITH IT TO RESOLVE REMAINING TECHNICAL ISSUES.
A SURVEY WAS SENT TO APPLICANTS TO GATHER FEEDBACK ON THE TRACKER AND A LINK TO THE SURVEY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR PRESERVATION TRACKER WEB WEBSITE.
THE SURVEY WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE END OF APRIL AND WE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE.
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS IN THE MEAN TIME, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.
LASTLY, UM, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TEAM FOR WORKING OVERTIME TO MEET CURRENT WORKLOAD DEMANDS AND SUPPORT, TIMELY REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS AND MEETING DEADLINES.
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF PRESERVATION REVIEW OCCURS BEHIND THE SCENES AND IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE FINAL AGENDA ITEMS. APPLICATIONS ARE NOT SIMPLY REVIEWED AT SUBMITTED, PARTICULARLY WHEN DENIAL IS ANTICIPATED.
[03:05:01]
WITH APPLICANTS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS BY PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTING REVISIONS TO MOVE TOWARDS, UM, AN APPROVAL CLOSING.IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CALL THE HOUSTON OFFICE OF PRESERVATION HOTLINE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 6 5 5 6 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE@HOUSTONPLANNING.COM.
THIS IN CONCLUDES MY PRESERVATION OFFICER REPORTS.
AND WITH THAT WE ARE ADJOURNED.