Minutes_Historic Preservation Commission 03.19.26 Copyrighted
June 1, 2026
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings for May 18; Resilient Community
Advisory Commission of April 9; Human Rights Commission
of April 14; Historic Preservation Commission of March 19;
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission of February 18;
Community Development Advisory Commission for April 22;
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of April 28
and May 4
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 5-18-26 City Council Proceeding 5-18-26s
2. 26-04-09 RCAC Minutes
3. April 14, 2026 OHRC Minutes
4. Minutes HPC 03-19-26 Approved
5. Minutes LRPAC 02-18-2026 APPROVED
6. CD Approved Minutes 4.22.26
7. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.28.26
8. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 5-4-26
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MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
City Council Chambers, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson Janice Esser; Commissioners, Bill Doyle,
Christina Monk, Heidi Pettitt, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger
Commissioners Excused: Tim Gau
Commissioners Unexcused: none
Staff Members Present: Chris Happ Olson
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Janice Esser at
5:30 p.m.
MINUTES: Motion by Monk, seconded by Pettitt, to approve the minutes of February
19, 2026 meeting as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Janice
Esser, Bill Doyle, Christina Monk, Heidi Pettitt, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam
Schwendinger; Nay— none.
ACTION ITEMS:
DESIGN REVIEW
Applicant: Bruce Timmerman/Zephyr Aluminum
Owner: Gabriel Bonn
Address: 1175-1193 Highland Place
Project: Replacement of one window
District: West 11t" Street Historic District
Staff Member Happ Olson presented the staff report explaining that this project is very
similar to one seen on the other half of this duplex last year, except that it is less visible
from the public right of way. The two duplex halves are owned by the same owner and
the applicant is the same. She referred to imagery in the staff report and the enclosed
previous staff report and notice of decision in the packet as a reference. The applicant
requests removing a wood window with replacement with the same size, shape, and
style with a new fiber composite window. She referred to the analysis and asked for
questions.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission- March 19, 2026 Page 2
Bruce Timmerman, applicant with Zephyr Aluminum, approached the podium and
provided the Commission with samples of the window sections for reference.
Commissioner Monk asked if this window would have the same profile as the last
window they reviewed. The applicant said there is only one option, and yes they are the
same.
Commissioner Schwendinger stated that the preference for historic properties is to
retain the original windows when possible. The applicant said he wasn't sure of the
condition, as his sales representative made the house call. Chairperson Esser asked if
they provide repair services. The applicant said no, only new windows. He stated that if
a customer says they want wood windows, they refer them to Dubuque Window and
Door.
Motion by Doyle, seconded by Witthoeft, to approve the application as submitted.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye Janice Esser, Bill Doyle, Christina Monk,
Heidi Pettitt, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft; Nay — Adam Schwendinger.
SECTION 106 COMMENT REQUEST
Applicant: Eocene for AT&T
Owner: Midwest One Tower
Address: 895 Main Street
Project: New equipment proposed at tower
District: Located in Downtown Neighborhood Conservation District
Staff Member Happ Olson opened the action item with an explanation of the Section
106 process, and how this request is not for approval or denial, but an opportunity for
the applicant to gather comment from an interested body, the Commission. Happ Olson
felt that the impact to the resource, the surrounding historic districts and downtown and
hill neighborhoods was significant enough to warrant the Commission's comment and
therefore had asked that the Commission be a consulting party.
Happ Olson presented the staff report, referring to the imagery, historic research,
proposal and past imagery of the structure, when other cellular arrays had been
installed. The new project proposes changes to the weather beacon as well as the
roofline of the tower.
Commissioner poyle stated first that he felt in addition to the tower building being
significant, he felt the weather beacon had also gained significance on its own.
Commissioner Schwendinger referred to the Midwest One website where it documents
the weather beacon's original installation in November of 1962, recognizing that it had
passed the 50 year threshold for evaluation for significance by the National Park
Service standards.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission- March 19, 2026 Page 3
Commissioners discussed whether the beacon is in working condition, and also wanted
to ensure that no project would impede whether the beacon can continue to work in the
future.
Commissioner Monk as the Commission's architect representative referred to the
technical drawings showing the changed to the new corner antennas on the beacon and
how it will project from the current footprint, creating a new shape and shadow/view
blocking from the proposal. Multiple commissioners expressed the desire to see three-
dimensional renderings of the beacon, and how that would be helpful to evaluate the
proposal. A strong concern for the aesthetic change to the beacon was voiced. Although
there are existing antennas on the corners of the beacon, they are more flush with the
lighted face. These new shrouded, projecting, larger antennas will create a new
massing, shape and subsequent shadows. Based on the plan drawings of the beacon, it
was determined that each new antenna and shroud will have an approximate footprint
of four times the size of the existing antennas and shrouds.
The Commission moved to discussion about the cellular array on the sled-structure
proposed on top of the elevator shaft. Concern was raised about the prominence of this
new intrusion on the highest part of the roof, visible from almost anywhere in the
downtown or bluff neighborhoods. Schwendinger noted that there appeared to be
adequate space on the northwest quadrant of the main roof to house the sled system
for holding the new array, and that would be somewhat less prominent than the current
proposal. There was discussion that for about the last decade there has been no array
on the roof. The new proposal, in comparison with the 2013 array shown in the staff
report, appears to be less transparent and more solid overall, which is unfortunate.
Doyle noted that it would be preferable to have the array located farther away from the
edge of the roof. There were discussions of other arrays in Dubuque, such as at the
Roshek and Julien Hotel buildings, where there is a much larger roof, being able to set
arrays back from the edge. This proposal is unfortunate because the roofline is the
tallest building roofline in the area, outside of a steeple like on old St. Mary's Church.
Also, with the very small footprint and focus on the weather beacon, it's very prominent.
Motion by Monk, seconded by Doyle, for staff to draft a comment letter, to be reviewed
and signed by the Chairperson, to the State Historic Preservation Office and the agency
(represented by Eocene) reflecting the comments that were presented at the meeting,
and that the City continue to be a consulting party on the project. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye Janice Esser, Bill Doyle, Christina Monk, Heidi Pettitt, Rick Stuter,
Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger; Nay — none.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: none.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: none.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission- March 19, 2026 Page 4
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
1. Awards Planning Update
Event Details: Tuesday May 19, 5:30-7:30 pm, Carnegie Stout Library
Ken Kringle Historic Preservation Awards
• Ham House, 2241 Lincoln Ave.
• Holy Ghost School apartments, 2901 Central Ave.
• Jacob Rich House, 890 W 3rd St.
• First Roshek Store, 799 Main St.
• 346-348 W. Locust St.
• 1706 Central Ave.
Duane Hagerty Award for Preservation Excellence
• Randy Lyon/Encyclopedia Dubuque
Potential Roles for Commissioners:
• Informing awardees of upcoming awards
• Presenting at the Awards
• Pettitt, Monk (Encyclopedia Dubuque), Witthoeft and Schwendinger (Ham
House) expressed interest. Doyle expressed interest in presenting 1706
Central, however, he said he'll need to check his availability.
• Attending the event (same as above, with Esser noting she will be out of town)
2. Trainings
Preserve lowa Summit: Put on by the State Historic Preservation Office in
partnership with the City of Ankeny, the summit will take place in Ankeny on June 2
& 3 at the FFA Enrichment Center. We will be able to take two Commissioners with
us for this training and pay for their related expenses — please consider attending.
2026 NAPC Forum: see next page for more information on the upcoming
Minneapolis MN training, put on by the National Alliance of Preservation
Commissions.
No commissioners committed to attending, however poyle said he would check with
his employer for the PI Summit, while Pettitt is considering attending the NAPC
Forum.
3. UDC Update - Staff Member Happ Olson postponed the Unified Development Code
update as she noted that staff are still working through other non-historic
preservation sections of the zoning code.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission- March 19, 2026 Page 5
4. Reminder: The regularly held April 16, 2026 Meeting will be held in a different
location, at the Jule Operations and Training Center at 949 Kerper Blvd. Free
parking available on-site.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Doyle, seconded by Monk to adjourn the March 19, 2026
Historic Preservation Commission meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —
Janice Esser, Bill Doyle, Christina Monk, Heidi Pettitt, Chad Witthoeft and Adam
Schwendinger; Nay — none.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
> May 19, 2026
ris Happ Olson, Assistant Planner Adopted
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