HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

Transcription

1 HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEMBERS Chair Amanda Harrell-Seyburn Vice-Chair James Robertson Chuck Roboski Aron Sousa Karessa Wheeler Diane Wing VACANCY City Coucil Liaison Ruth Beier Staff Liaison Pablo Majano Cty of East Lansing PLANNING BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT 410 Abbot Road East Lansing, MI (517) AGENDA September 10, :00 p.m. 54-B District Court, Courtroom #2 101 Linden Street 1) CALL TO ORDER A) Roll Call B) Approval of Agenda C) Approval of Minutes August 13, ) COMMUNICATIONS 3) COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS 4) PUBLIC HEARINGS A) A request from Capital Area Housing Partnership for Bailey LDHA LP, for the property at 300 Bailey Street to renovate the existing school and an addition to provide 26 senior independent living apartments. This property is zoned C, Community Facilities District. 5) OLD BUSINESS 6) NEW BUSINESS A) Local Landlord Presentations 7) COMMISSIONER REPORTS 8) STAFF REPORTS 9) ASSIGNMENTS 10) ADJOURNMENT Future Meeting: October 8, 2015 Historic District Commission Meeting, 7:00 PM City of East Lansing Historic District Commission Agenda September 10, 2015 Page 1 of 1

2 Historic District Commission Amanda Harrell-Seyburn Chairperson James Robertson Vice Chair Charles Roboski, Aron Sousa, Karessa Wheeler, Diane Wing and 1 VACANCY Pablo Majano, Secretary Historic Preservation Code The East Lansing Historic Preservation Code was adopted in The purpose of the ordinance, as noted under Section 20-2, is to: "Ensure the recognition, preservation and protection of historical and architectural sites, buildings, structures, objects, features, and open spaces;...encourage property owners and residents to participate in preservation activities; enhance, improve, and preserve neighborhoods; stabilize and improve property values...strengthen the local economy; foster civic beauty and pride; and promote the use of Historic Districts and Heritage Neighborhoods for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of East Lansing... In addition, the scope of the Ordinance notes under Section 20-4: "The provisions of this Code are intended to acknowledge the eclectic nature of early 20th century architecture and are expressly intended to permit changes to buildings within Historic Districts which help them retain their historic character as established by this Chapter." Historic District Commission Review The Historic District Commission meets the second Thursday of each month. The Historic District Commission's review of proposals that require a public hearing use the following process: 1. Staff report is given which describes location, property owner, description of building and building history, current zoning, applicant's request, and the relevant sections of the Historic Preservation Code. 2. Applicant's presentation - Applicant may speak on his/her own behalf and present additional information. 3. Questions by the Commission. 4. Public Hearing Opened (pertaining to this case). 5. Rebuttal/additional comments by applicant. 6. Public Hearing Closed, followed by Commission discussion and action. The Historic District Commission will act on each request within 60 days of the filing date of the application unless an extension is agreed upon in writing by the applicant and the Commission. Guidelines for Public Comment The Commission asks that if you have written comments, please submit a copy to the Secretary for inclusion in the record and give a summary of the comments in the public comment portion of the meeting. Thank you for your interest in East Lansing s Historic Districts

3 Department of Planning, Building and Development Staff Contact: Pablo Majano Phone No: (517) HDC Agenda: September 10, 2015 STAFF REPORT HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION September 4, Bailey Street Capital Area Housing Partnership APPLICATION RECEIVED/ACTION REQUIRED BY: 08/27/ /27/2015 Existing Conditions: Staff Photo Historic District: Bailey Property Status: Use District: Community Facility C, Community Facilities

4 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 2 September 4, 2015 Description: Bailey Community Center was originally used as a neighborhood school; after it was no longer needed as a school the City took it over and used it as a Neighborhood Community Center. The entire site is 3.81 acres in size and is zoned C, Community Facility. The property is surrounded by properties zoned R-2, Medium Density Single-Family Residential, with a mix of owneroccupied and renter-occupied properties. Two Certificates of Appropriateness were granted for the Bailey School. One was issued in 1990 for replacement/renovation of windows in the oldest parts of the building. The second was issued in 1996 to replace two existing windows with a new entrance for the elevator lobby and the four upper windows with Pella windows matching the style of the replacement windows used in Historical Description: The City-owned structure, acquired on February 28, 1989 from the East Lansing School District Board of Education, was built in 1922 with a one-story addition to the east side of the building built in This structure was named after Liberty Hyde Bailey, an American horticulturist, botanist and co-founder of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Historical Ownership: No significant figures have lived at this location in the past. Historic District Significance: There are 116 properties in the Bailey Historic District. According to City records 65 of these

5 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 3 September 4, 2015 (56%) were constructed between 1900 and The City of East Lansing Historic District Study Committee, Final Report of March 1988, states the following: HISTORIC DISTRICT DESCRIPTIONS BAILEY The Bailey Historic District, which centers on the former Bailey Elementary School, includes much of the Fairview Additions, as well as Edgewood and some closely related blocks of Angell s and Chase s Subdivision to the west. Taken together, these structures are the surviving part of what was once the eastern outgrowth of the City s development surrounded on three sides by open fields. Unlike most of the earlier plats, the layout of the Bailey Historic District makes few concessions to the angle of the major streets. Instead of streets and lot lines running perpendicular to Grand River Avenue, the lines run resolutely north and south, creating parallelogram lots and a zigzag building line. Though generally considered a less desirable arrangement, this approach does set each house in a visible position somewhat analogous to a corner lot. (Excerpts) Proposal: The applicant is proposing to demolish the eastern one-story side of the Bailey School and build a similar three-story addition to allow for 25 affordable housing units on the first, second and third floors. The applicant is seeking Historic Preservation Tax Incentives. The applicant has been in contact with the State Historic Preservation Office to assure that this building will meet the Secretary of Interior Standards. There will be some renovation of the interior of the existing buildings. The commercial/office space is being marketed to daycare providers and low traffic office/commercial uses. In order for the applicant to demolish the building, the Historic District Commission must first issue a Notice to Proceed in order for a historic resource to be demolished. REVIEW PROCESS Staff comments and points of observation are highlighted in gray and unless specifically noted. Note: In order to assist in reviewing applications as required under this Code, Staff has included those portions of the Historic Preservation Code that it feels could be used in making a decision. These are intended to be a guide in assisting the Commission and are not intended to be all inclusive. These sections include: I. Section (c) (e) Review Process for Certificate of appropriateness - (c) Standards for decisions - (e) Special Considerations II. Section Preservation Guidelines, which includes:

6 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 4 September 4, Section (b) 1 The Secretary of the Interior s Standards for Rehabilitation (Revised 1990) and guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as set forth in 36 CFR 67 III. Section (b) 2-19 Historic District Commission Preservation Guidelines IV. Section Powers and Duties of Historic District Commission V. Section Notice to proceed I. Sec Review Process for Certificate of Appropriateness Standards for Decisions (c) In reviewing applications for a certificate of appropriateness, the Commission shall base its decision only on the preservation guidelines stated in section , and on any additional preservation guidelines adopted by the historic district commission and approved by the city council and the following: 1. The historic or architectural value and significance of the resource and its relationship to the historic value of the surrounding area 2. The relationship of any architectural features of the resources to the rest of the resource of the resource and to the surrounding area 3. The general compatibility of the design, arrangement, texture, and materials proposed to be used 4. Other factors, such as aesthetic value, that commissions finds relevant. 5. Recommendations from the historic preservation office, the building official, the design assistance team, and any affected neighborhood association (e) Special considerations. - New resources in historic districts shall be compatible with the surrounding resources and shall not intrude upon the overall historic character of the streetscape and the historic district. Contemporary architectural styles, materials and methods of construction may be introduced into the district through new resources when they serve to develop the district as a vital, attractive neighborhood and are sensitive to the historic context. The historic district commission shall evaluate new resources for conformance with the Secretary of the Interior's standards. The historic district commission's review of new resources shall also evaluate the compatibility of the proposal in the areas of height, scale, massing, directional expression, setback, platforms, sense of entry, shapes, rhythm of openings and historic imitations. II. Sec Preservation Guidelines (a) The Commission shall establish preservation guidelines in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter. The preservation guidelines shall govern the Historic Preservation Officer and Commission's decisions with regard to Certificates of Appropriateness. (b) The preservation guidelines shall include the following:

7 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 5 September 4, 2015 (1) The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as set forth in 36 CFR part A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment. 2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided. 3. Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken. 4. Most properties change over time; and that provide that those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved. 5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property shall be preserved. 6. Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or pictorial evidence. 7. Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken using the gentlest means possible. 8. Significant archeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken. 9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.

8 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 6 September 4, New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired. III. Section (b)10 Historic District Commission Preservation Guidelines (10) The shape, size, number, arrangement and function of replacement windows and doors shall preserve the basic design and size of the originals. Replacement windows shall be substantially similar to the old windows and within ten percent of the original dimensions. Muntins on new windows must appear to be of the same width as the original muntins. Alternate materials may be used for replacement, provided the new materials replicate the original in appearance. (2) Protected architectural features include, but are not limited to, a building's general shape; gables, dormers and other roof features; cornices, brackets and eaves; size, shape, arrangement, number and size of window panes and muntins; beveled, leaded and stained glass; door and window trim; ornamental moldings; distinctive siding, such as stone, stucco, brick or patterned shingling; distinctive roofing, such as false thatch, slate and Spanish tile. (3) Demolition of any resource within a historic district shall be prohibited unless the historic district commission finds said demolition to meet the criteria outlined in section (please see section v) IV. Section (7) Powers and Duties of Historic District Commission To review and approve or deny applications for certificates of appropriateness in accordance with preservation guidelines, and where appropriate, advise and refer applicants to appropriate persons, agencies and organizations for technical and financial assistance to meet the requirements of this chapter. In reviewing plans, the commission shall follow the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, as set forth in 36 CFR 67 V. Section Notice to Proceed Applicable An application for a certificate of appropriateness for work, determined by the commission to be in noncompliance with the preservation guidelines, may be allowed upon issuance of a notice to proceed. The commission shall issue a notice to proceed instead of a certificate of appropriateness if any of the following conditions are found to prevail and the commission finds that, upon the recommendation of the building department and the historic preservation officer, the proposed work is necessary to substantially improve or correct any of the following conditions: (1) The resource constitutes a hazard to the safety of the public or to the structure's occupants and the building official considers emergency maintenance is necessary.

9 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 7 September 4, 2015 (2) The resource is a deterrent to a major improvement program that will be of substantial benefit to the community and the applicant proposing the work has obtained all necessary planning and zoning approvals, financing, and environmental clearances. (3) The proposed alterations or additions constitute the only available or feasible alternative to provide barrier-free accessibility. (4) Retaining the resource will cause undue financial hardship to the owner when a governmental action, an act of God, or other events beyond the owner's control created the hardship, and all feasible alternatives to eliminate the financial hardship, which may include offering the resource for sale at its fair market value or moving the resource to a vacant site within the historic district, have been attempted and exhausted by the owner as evidenced by the submission of the following: a. An estimate of the cost of the proposed construction, alteration, demolition, or removal and an estimate of any additional cost that would be incurred to comply with the recommendations of the commission for changes necessary for the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness; b. A report from a licensed engineer or architect with experience in rehabilitation as to the structural soundness of any structures on the property and their suitability for rehabilitation; c. Estimated market value of the property in its current condition; after completion of the proposed construction, alteration, demolition, or removal; after any changes recommended by the commission; and, in the case of a proposed demolition, after renovation of the existing property for continued use; d. In the case of a proposed demolition, an estimate from an architect, developer, real estate consultant, appraiser, or other real estate professional experienced in rehabilitation as to the economic feasibility of rehabilitation or reuse of the existing structure on the property; e. The amount paid for the property, the date of purchase, and the party from whom purchased, including a description of the relationship, if any, between the owner of record or applicant and the person from whom the property was purchased, and any terms of financing between the seller and buyer; f. If the property is income-producing, the annual gross income from the property for the previous two years; itemized operating and maintenance expenses for the previous two years; and depreciation deduction and annual cash flow before and after debt service, if any, during the same period; g. The remaining balance on any mortgage or other financing secured by the property and annual debt service, if any, for the previous two years; h. All appraisals obtained within the previous two years by the owner or applicant in connection with the purchase, financing, or ownership of the property; i. Any listing of the property for sale or rent, price asked and offers received, if any, within the previous two years;

10 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 8 September 4, 2015 j. The assessed value of the property according to the two most recent assessments; k. The real estate taxes for the previous two years; l. The form of ownership or operation of the property, whether sole proprietorship, for-profit or not-for-profit corporation, limited partnership, joint venture, or other; m. Any other information the owner chooses to provide. (5) Retaining the resource is not in the interest of the majority of the community as evidenced by the result of a referendum on the retention of the resource. STAFF REVIEW: FINDINGS: Applicable Code areas referenced as follows: Section (b) (10) (2) (3) Historic District Preservation Guidelines (10) The shape, size, number, arrangement and function of replacement windows and doors shall preserve the basic design and size of the originals. Replacement windows shall be substantially similar to the old windows and within ten percent of the original dimensions. Muntins on new windows must appear to be of the same width as the original muntins. Alternate materials may be used for replacement, provided the new materials replicate the original in appearance. (2) Protected architectural features include, but are not limited to, a building's general shape; gables, dormers and other roof features; cornices, brackets and eaves; size, shape, arrangement, number and size of window panes and muntins; beveled, leaded and stained glass; door and window trim; ornamental moldings; distinctive siding, such as stone, stucco, brick or patterned shingling; distinctive roofing, such as false thatch, slate and Spanish tile. (3) Demolition of any resource within a historic district shall be prohibited unless the historic district commission finds said demolition to meet the criteria outlined in section Sec Secretary of Interior Standards 2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided. 9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.

11 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 9 September 4, 2015 RECOMMENDATION: The project as a whole is supported by Staff and the community. It fits with the Comprehensive Plan and will be very beneficial to its users and community members. The project relies heavily on the fact that the applicant is seeking Historic Preservation Tax incentives for the project to be financially feasible. The applicant is working with the National Park Services to receive designation as a Certified Historic Structure. Considering the materials, the massing, size and scale fits in with the surrounding environment Staff can recommend approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness and a Notice to Proceed based on the findings provided in the report. ACTION NEEDED: Motion to approve or deny the Notice to Proceed as submitted based on above information and the code language in Findings or as determined by the Commission. Section Notice to Proceed (2) ACTION NEEDED: Motion to approve or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness as submitted based on above information and the code language in Findings or as determined by the Commission. Section (b) (10) (2) (3) Historic District Preservation Guidelines & Sec Secretary of Interior Standards (2) (9) Should the Commission approve the Certificate of Appropriateness, staff would recommend that the following conditions be included: 1) Applicant shall obtain building permits before any work is started Sec Resubmission and Appeals (b) An applicant aggrieved by a decision of the Commission may make modifications to the application and shall have the right to resubmit the application within 60 days of the Commission decision without the payment of any additional fee. (c) An applicant aggrieved by a decision of the Commission concerning a permit application may file an appeal with the state historic preservation review board of the Michigan historical Commission of the Department of State, in accordance with the provisions of PA 169 as amended. The appeal shall be filed within 60 days after the decision to deny is furnished to the applicant. (d) If an application is for work that will adversely affect the exterior of a resource the Commission considers valuable to the City, and the Commission determines that the alteration or loss of that resource will adversely affect the public purpose of the City, the Commission shall attempt to establish with the owner of the resource an economically feasible plan for preservation of the resource.

12 Staff Report 300 Bailey Street Page 10 September 4, 2015 (e) Any citizen or duly organized local historic preservation organization, as well as resource owners, jointly or severally aggrieved by a decision of the Historic District Commission may appeal the decision to the Circuit Court, except that a permit applicant aggrieved by a decision rendered by the Commission may not appeal to the court without first exhausting the right to appeal to the State Historic Preservation Review Board. Attachments: Location map Certificate of Appropriateness Narrative/Legal Description/Materials list 1990 & 1996 Certificate of Appropriateness Floor plans Elevations

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