Montgomery News

City of Gaithersburg Historic District Commission met January 24.

Here is the minutes provided by the Commission:

1. Call To Order

The Regular Session of the Historic District Commission was called to order at 7:30 pm with Commissioner Chris Kirtz presiding.

Attendee Name; Title; Status; Arrived:

Dean Ventola; Chair; Present;

Marc Feinstein; Commissioner; Present;

Chris Kirtz; Commissioner; Present;

Mary Jo LaFrance; Commissioner; Present;

John Roddy; Commissioner; Present;

Robert Love; Alternate Commissioner; Present;

2. Approval Of Minutes

A. Regular Session held December 20, 2017

Result: Approved [Unanimous]

Mover: John Roddy, Commissioner

Seconder: Dean Ventola, Chair

For: Ventola, Feinstein, Kirtz, Lafrance, Roddy, Love

3. Courtesy Reviews

A. AFP-7812-2018: Exterior alterations, addition, and outbuilding at 16 South Summit Avenue in the CBD (Central Business District) Zone

Planner Berger provided a Staff introduction for the proposed Police Station and Council Chambers at 16 South Summit Avenue. The property was zoned CBD (Central Business District) and was located in the Olde Towne Courtesy Review area. The property included a three (3)-story, 43,650-square-foot office building and associated parking lot constructed in 1998.

The applicant, the City of Gaithersburg, proposed to construct a 1,952-square-foot sally port on the south elevation; two (2) new vestibules located on the front (150 square feet) and rear (134 square feet); a 2,185-square-foot outbuilding at the property’s southwest corner; a 1,416-square-foot generator enclosure on the south elevation; and a 335-square-foot transformer enclosure on the south elevation.

Representing the applicant was David Schrader, managing partner of Schrader Group Architecture. Mr. Schrader described the proposed changes to the building on each façade. On the building, the applicant proposed to clean the cast stone; replace all windows with spandrels and clear glass with anodized metal frames; replacement of gooseneck lighting with globe lighting fixtures; install three (3) new egress doors; and add new roof screening. Alterations to the property include removal of spaces to the south of the building; installation of metal and wood fencing; installation of flag poles; and reconfiguration of the parking lot islands and planters.

Mr. Schrader said the proposed one (1)-story sally port on the south elevation would be secured by fencing. The sally port will maintain the materials, architectural features, and rhythm of the existing building to integrate the two masses. The generator enclosure attached to the west of the sally port will also retain some of the same materials as the building and include metal wires where vegetation can grow.

Mr. Schrader explained the use of the outbuilding to include evidence and bicycle storage. It will be one (1)-story tall and be built of brick, cast stone panels, and stucco with a standing seam metal roof. The trash enclosure will be built of brick with a cast stone band at the base.

The applicant stated that the plans provided to the HDC have changed on two topics since they were distributed: a fence was provided around the transformer instead of the listed brick, and the proposed trash enclosure would not include the footer articulation that was originally illustrated.

Chair Kirtz asked if there was anyone in the audience who would like to comment. No one responded. Vice Chair Roddy disclosed that he lived near the property but said it was not a conflict. Commissioner Ventola disclosed he spoke with Mr. Schrader before the meeting while waiting for the Council Chambers to be unlocked. In the interest of complete transparency, Commissioner Ventola stated that they only spoke about the weather and nothing relating to the application.

Alternate Commissioner Love complimented the presentation and particularly admired the proposed lights. He inquired whether signage will indicate it is a police station. Mr. Schrader responded that signage plans have not been finalized, but the intent was to minimize signage on the rear and limit it to the front. Alternate Commissioner Love asked about potential vehicular warning signage at the South Summit Avenue entrance. Mr. Schrader said this will not be the main entrance and there would be no change to the traffic volume. Alternate Commissioner Love inquired about the future use of the existing police station. Deputy City Manager Dennis Enslinger responded that no City use yet had been determined for the building.

Commissioner Ventola expressed admiration for the existing building at 16 South Summit Avenue. He agreed with the proposed aluminum-framed windows. He sought clarification if the applicant would in fact install spandrel glass. Mr. Schrader answered affirmatively. Commissioner Ventola asked if the panels would be more reflective than shown on the rendering. Mr. Schrader answered affirmatively. Commissioner Ventola asked if the applicant had considered extending the spandrel panels to the sally port in order to soften the façade. He also asked if the applicant had considered making the fence dark green to match the metal panels on the building. Mr. Schrader said they had not.

Vice Chair Roddy agreed with Commissioner Ventola’s comments. He asked if the fencing along South Summit Avenue turns the corner before it changes from metal to wood. Mr. Schrader confirmed that the fencing does indeed turn the corner and change to wood about 70 feet away from South Summit. Vice Chair Roddy noted the proposed metal fencing was horizontal panels, but the proposed wood fence was vertical panels. He asked if choosing a single panel type for both fences was considered. Mr. Schrader said it was not considered, but he was intrigued by Vice Chair Roddy’s point.

Commissioner LaFrance liked the overall design and agreed that all the fencing should be green.

Commissioner Feinstein asked if the applicant had considered tinted glass above the spandrel to lessen its impact. Mr. Schrader said the design team had decided there should be a level of consistency between the windows regarding tint. He added that the rendering probably shows windows far more transparent than they would in reality. Commissioner Feinstein asked how the roofing will be addressed on the front vestibule. The applicant stated that they had considered painting it green, but they have not come to a conclusion as of yet. Commissioner Feinstein suggested enclosing the second story down to meet the vestibule though he recognized it was a challenge to resolve. He added that he supported the style of the fencing and complimented the proposed generator screening and sally port.

Chair Kirtz praised Mr. Schrader’s presentation. He agreed that further dressing of the sally port would be desirable. He also stated that using black for the fence coloring would reinforce the use of the building for police but green would reinforce the building as an inviting office building.

Chair Kirtz asked if anyone from the public wished to comment. Ken Wagner of 35 South Summit Avenue commended the presentation. He suggested it may be possible to place the generator below grade, if it was within the budget. He also supported green fencing.

Chief of Police Mark Sroka thanked the applicant for the quality of work and said he is pleased with the design.

4. Election Of Officers

A. Election of Chair

Chair Kirtz called for nominations of Chair of the HDC.

Vice Chair Roddy nominated Chair Kirtz as chair. There was no second.

Commissioner Feinstein nominated Commissioner Ventola. Commissioner Love seconded.

Commissioner LaFrance moved to close nominations. Commissioner Ventola seconded. The HDC unanimously agreed to close nominations.

Commissioner Feinstein moved to elect Commissioner Ventola to the position of Chair. Alternate Commissioner Love seconded. The HDC unanimously voted to elect Commissioner Ventola to the position of Chair.

Result: Passed [4 To 0]

Mover: Marc Feinstein, Commissioner

Seconder: Robert Love, Alternate Commissioner

For: Marc Feinstein, Mary Jo Lafrance, John Roddy, Robert Love

No Vote: Dean Ventola, Chris Kirtz

B. Election of Vice Chair

Commissioner Kirtz called nominations for the Vice Chair of the Historic District Commission.

Chair Ventola nominated Vice Chair Roddy for the position of Vice Chair. Commissioner LaFrance seconded.

Vice Chair Roddy nominated Commissioner Kirtz for the position of Vice Chair. Commissioner Kirtz declined.

Commissioner Kirtz moved to close nominations. Commissioner Feinstein seconded. The HDC unanimously agreed to close nominations.

Chair Ventola moved to re-elect Vice Chair Roddy to the position of Vice Chair. Commissioner LaFrance seconded. The HDC unanimously voted to re-elect Vice Chair Roddy to the position of Vice Chair.

Result: Passed [4 To 0]

Mover: Dean Ventola, Chair

Seconder: Mary Jo Lafrance, Commissioner

For: Dean Ventola, Marc Feinstein, Mary Jo Lafrance, Robert Love

No Vote: Chris Kirtz, John Roddy

5. From Staff

Planner Berger provided before and after photos of 11 Cedar Avenue responding to a request from Commissioner LaFrance. The HDC provided a courtesy review of the property at its August 2016 meeting. Commissioner LaFrance suggested that the HDC include that project when considering Historic Preservation Month awards in May.

Planner Berger said he was organizing the annual HDC training and would reach out to commissioners soon with potential dates.

Planner Mann informed the HDC that the Historic Preservation Element of the Master Plan was in the public review period and said the joint public hearing between the Mayor and City Council and the Planning Commission will be held on February 20, 2018.

6. From Commission

Commissioner LaFrance inquired about the possibility of considering 106 North Frederick Avenue, the former Hershey Cleaners, as a potential addition to the Preservation Element of the Gaithersburg Master Plan as a “Other Resources of Note.”

Commissioner LaFrance asked what future plans were for the current Gaithersburg City Hall at 31 South Summit Avenue in light of the migration of Mayor and City Council and Commission meetings to the new facilities at 16 South Summit Avenue and if should be considered for historic designation. Chair Ventola noted that the addition is different in appearance from the original section, but the property could be considered historic. Deputy City Manager Enslinger stated that the building would remain as is and the current meeting chambers would be repurposed, but no other changes are foreseen at this time.

Commissioner Feinstein thanked Commissioner Kirtz for his time as Chair and all at the dais applauded his service.

Commissioner Kirtz commended the design of the building in Chair Ventola’s advertisement in Architectural Digest magazine.

Commissioner LaFrance reminded her fellow commissioners that she would like the HDC to revisit what can and cannot be approved by Staff without HDC approval.

Commissioner Kirtz reminded the HDC that May is Historic Preservation Month and Washington Grove is planning a homes tour.

Commissioner Kirtz thanked Vice Chair Roddy and the other commissioners for their work. He added that he would like to see the HDC and Staff provide a survey of applicants to enhance customer service. Commissioner LaFrance suggested that the HDC and Staff find a way to provide applicants access to historic preservation resources.

Chair Kirtz thanked Staff for their support. Assistant City Attorney Johnson said he often cited Commissioner Kirtz as an example to other commissions as to the best way to ensure a thorough record is created.

7. Adjournment

There being no further business, the session was adjourned at 8:46 pm

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