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Minutes Historic Preservation 9 20 07f ~1 ti~sroR.ic MINUTES ~~ ~ ~ ~~~~ REGULAR SESSION Thursday, September 20, 2007 5:30 p.m. Auditorium, Carnegie Stout Library 360 W. 11th Street, Dubuque, Iowa D FT PRESENT: Chairperson Christine Olson; Commission Members John Whalen, Keisha Wainwright, Mary Loney Bichell, Chris Wand, Matthew Lundh and Bob McDonnell; Staff Members David Johnson, Laura Carstens and Jon Dienst. ABSENT: Commission Member Mike Coty. AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Olson at 5:36 p.m. MINUTES: Motion by Bichell, seconded by McDonnell to approve the minutes of the August 16, 2007, meeting as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye - Olson, Wainwright, Bichell, and McDonnell; Nay -None. DESIGN REVIEW: Application of William & Renee Souto for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install laminated asphalt "Carriage House" shingles on the mansard roof located at 1655 Main Street in the Jackson Park Historic District. NOTE: Commissioners Wand and Whalen arrived at 5:38 p.m. William and Renee Souto, 1655 Main Street, were present to review their application. Mr. Souto explained after purchasing the property in 2005, the roof leaked badly during the winter causing the second and third floor ceilings to be replaced. He stated they replaced the flat portion of the roof with a rubber membrane, and the following winter the mansard roof leaked once again, requiring the second floor ceiling to be replaced. He explained they are requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow a laminated asphalt carriage house-style shingle on the mansard roof to address those issues. He explained they hired Eastern Iowa Construction (EIC) and Roofing to replace the asphalt and slate shingles on the mansard roof. He explained contrary to their contractual agreement, EIC Roofing failed to acquire the necessary permits and Commission approval prior to installation of the inappropriate and poorly installed laminated asphalt shingles. He stated they would like have the mansard roof repaired and replaced in accordance with City Code. Staff Member Johnson reviewed the staff report. He explained the architectural guidelines for historic structures slate materials selected for roofing can have a dramatic Minutes -Historic Preservation Commission September 20, 2007 Page 2 impact on the appearance of buildings. He stated slate was a very popular material on the larger, high style homes, and original materials should be retained and repaired whenever possible. He explained the guidelines state these materials can be prohibitively expensive, however, and substitute materials may be acceptable, if installed properly. He explained the guidelines suggest that if the original materials are no longer present, a severely deteriorated, or prohibitively expensive, substitute material, such as fiberglass, metal, or architectural asphalt shingles are acceptable. New materials should attempt to match the original in color, size and shape. He stated new asphalt or fiberglass material should be appropriate in color, such as black, gray, or dark brown. Dark red, blue/gray, and dark green are also appropriate if replacing slate or tile. The Commission questioned the percentage of roof that was slate. Mrs. Souto stated approximately 50% of the material on the mansard roof was slate prior to EIC Roofing removing the material. The Commission discussed the color and style of the shingles on 1655 Main Street and similar homes. Mr. Souto explained they would like to install laminated asphalt carriage house-style shingles on the mansard roof like those on the Ryan House, except in gray. Mr. Souto distributed photographs of mansard roofs found in Dubuque with the carriage house-style shingle that they want to install on 1655 Main Street. Motion by Wand, seconded by Bichell, to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness to install the laminated asphalt carriage house-style shingles as presented and gray in color. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Whalen, Olson, Wainwright, Bichell, Wand, Lundh and McDonnell; Nay -None. ADVISORY DESIGN REVIEW: Request by City of Dubuque for Advisory Design Review of the project to repair and reconstruct the W. 11th Street Elevator/Stairs located at W. 11 t" Street in the W. 11 t" Street Historic District. Jon Dienst, City Engineering Department, reviewed the project. He described the project involves partial reconstruction and repair of the stairs and repair of the railing at the top of the West 11t" Street stairs. He explained the project will involve the removal of the street pavement on Grove Terrace around the upper portion of the 11t" Street stairs, excavating above the existing arch, installation of a reinforced concrete bridge with ties to hold the existing arch in place, reshaping of the existing roadway subgrade to correct drainage deficiencies, installation of new curb and gutter and limestone barrier wall, installation of new concrete pavement and installation of new decorative fencing. The existing retaining walls along the 11t" Street stairs will be repaired and replaced where needed using native Dubuque limestone and proper tuckpointing. He explained the existing materials will be used to the greatest extent possible with new materials to match the existing materials in size, color and material type. He explained a historic pedestrian light is proposed to be placed along the sidewalk below the arch to provide illumination for the lower portion of the stairs as well as illuminate under the arch itself. He explained the City would like to begin this project in the spring of 2008 .. t' Minutes -Historic Preservation Commission September 20, 2007 Page 3 with an estimated completion date in the summer of 2008. He explained by removing the street above the arch and installing a concrete bridge to support the street over the arch, the arch will no longer support the weight of the street, consequently strengthening the arch. He explained that decorative hoop railings with limestone pillars will be installed at the top of the stairs. He explained the limestone pillars would be a bid alternate. He explained Engineering is also proposing a decorative pedestrian light on the limestone pillar to illuminate the arch and stairs. Commissioners discussed how the storm water will be handled. Commissioners reviewed which walls will be repaired and replaced. Staff Member Dienst explained how drain the will be installed and how the entrance at Grove Terrace will be changed. He noted the current stair entrance on Grove Terrace will be moved 90 degrees, and a vehicle barrier will be added. In response to the question by the Commission, Staff Member Dienst noted the course work will be horizontal and the plans are incorrect in this respect. He noted the project will take about two months and will block the entrance to one property. The Commission requested a trash can be added at the base of the arch. Staff Member Dienst explained that the existing rail would be sandblasted, painted and re-used where possible. The Commission requested that a more decorative hand rail or re-use of the existing rail with the hoop rail behind it. Staff Member Dienst explained that Engineering will evaluate how far the railing will be repaired and replaced, and a decorative railing may be a bid alternate. The Commission suggested using the decorative hoop railing proposed on the top of the stair entrance as the decorative rail to be used along to the stairs. Staff Member Dienst confirmed the existing arch supports will be cleaned and painted. The Commission discussed the proposed lighting at the base of the arch. The Commission recommended the historic pedestrian light fixture proposed at the stair landing at the base of the arch be relocated and fixed atop another of the proposed stone pillars. The Commission recommended discretely located and historically appropriate light fixtures to up-light and illuminate the under side of the arch as an alternative to the pedestrian light fixture. The Commission explained that would be a preferred lighting alternative since a pedestrian light fixture near the stair landing at the base of the arch would create an interruption in the sight line and distance as you look up or down through the arch. The Commission emphasized the lighting would have to be evenly distributed under the arch. The Commission discussed moving the switch back of the stairs under the arch. The Commission discussed the previous location of the West 11th Street elevator in relation to the stairs. Staff Member Dienst confirmed the stairs will follow the current alignment and be built to City Code. The Commission discussed whether the stairs could be rebuilt with a straight run without the dog leg by removing fill under the arch. The Minutes -Historic Preservation Commission September 20, 2007 Page 4 Commission discussed the added cost of excavation and removal of the north facing stairs. By consensus, the Commission tabled the Advisory Design Review for the repair and reconstruction of the West 11th Street stairs to a future meeting and requested Engineering evaluate the following options to be presented to the Commission at a later date: 1) Excavate the fill under the arch, remove the north facing stair, and consider a straight run of stairs. 2) Limestone coursework to run horizontal. 3) Up-light the arch instead of the pedestrian light fixture at the stair landing at the base of the arch. 4) Combine the proposed decorative hoop railing with the existing style of handrail on the stair. 5) A trash container be located at the bottom of the stairs. ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: Envision 2010 Rail Committee: The Commission discussed the memorandum from the Envision 2010 Rail Committee requesting support in bringing passenger rail service back to Dubuque. Motion by Bichell, seconded by McDonnell, to direct staff to write a letter of support to bring passenger rail service between Dubuque and Chicago. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Whalen, Olson, Wainwright, Bichell, Lundh, Wand and McDonnell; Nay -None. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: Elect Vice Chairperson: The Commission discussed electing a new vice chairperson. Commissioner Wand stated the new vice chairperson should be someone who has not served as vice-chairperson or the chairperson of the Commission. He explained the vice chairperson position should be filled by a commissioner who would like to eventually become chairperson. Motion by Wainwight, seconded by Bichell, to nominate Commissioner Lundh to be vice chairperson for the Historic Preservation Commission. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Whalen, Olson, Wainwright, Bichell, Lundh, Wand and McDonnell; Nay - None. HPC Meeting Location: The Commission discussed where future Historic Preservation Commission meetings will be located, given the recent renovation to the Historic Federal Building. The Commission noted that the old City Council Chambers in the Carnegie Stout Minutes -Historic Preservation Commission September 20, 2007 Page 5 Public Library where the Commission currently meets will soon be under reconstruction as well. Motion by Wand, seconded by Olson, to direct staff to look into the possibility of the Historic Preservation Commission regularly meeting at the Historic Federal Building beginning in 2008. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Whalen, Olson, Wainwright, Bichell, Lundh, Wand and McDonnell; Nay -None. Electronic Meetings: Commissioner Wainwright noted with the City's recent efforts towards becoming a Green City and more sustainable, the Commission should consider sending agendas electronically and having laptops at meetings. The Commission discussed possible ways to review the electronic agendas. The Commission agreed that agenda packets could be loaded on laptops, which could be provided to each member at meetings, and agendas could be mailed out in advance in the form of an email or a CD. The Commission directed staff to look into what needs to be done to transition to an electronic meeting format. ITEMS FROM STAFF: Building Services Dept. -Status Report on Historic Preservation Enforcement: Staff Member Johnson reviewed the report and noted where progress has been made. He noted a number of places where the report has not been updated, and a full report cannot be made. The Commission expressed concern that the property owner at 1017 Bluff Street was operating a construction business out of the home, and storing construction and other types of debris in the yard. The Commission requested staff have the Building Services Department provide a report on outstanding Code violations and debris in the yard at 1017 Bluff. Staff Member Johnson stated he did forward the Commission's request to have the Building Services Department check into the unsafe porch for the building next to Central School in the 1500 block of West Locust; however, no indication of that happening is provided in the current Building Services Department Enforcement Report. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, David Johnson, Assistant Planner Adopted