Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-7-07MINUTES HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY November 7, 2007 A. and B. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Michael Gehr called the regular monthly meeting of the Historic District Commission to order on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room 1 of the Washington County Administrative Annex, 80 West Baltimore Street. Members present included: Michael Gehr, David Wiles, Robert Bowman II, Sandy Izer, Carla Viar and Merry Stinson. Also present were Staff members Stephen T. Goodrich and Debra Eckard and County Commissioner Kristen Aleshire. C. MINUTES Ms. Izer made a motion to approve the October 3, 2007 minutes as presented. Seconded by Mr. Bowman. Unanimously approved. D. COMMUNICATIONS & BILLS Mr. Goodrich noted that the Forum News was included as part of each member's Agenda packet for their information. E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS The next meeting to continue work on the Design Review Guidelines is scheduled for Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. F. BUDGET Ms. Stinson made a motion to reimburse Ms. Izer for photocopy expenses associated with the Design Review Guidelines. Seconded by Ms. Viar. Unanimously approved. G. NEW BUSINESS Permit 2007-06835 -17907 Tilahmanton Road Mr. Goodrich presented for review and approval Building Permit #2007-06835 for property located at 17907 Tilghmanton Road in the Fairplay Rural Village zone. The property is located within the historic portion of the Rural Village; however, the existing house is not a contributing structure. The applicant, Mr. Darin Longerbeam, was present at the meeting. The applicant is proposing to replace a 14 x 70 -foot single -wide mobile home and construct a 1,228 -square foot one-story ranch style house on a concrete slab. The property has frontage on both Fairplay and Tilghmanton Roads. Discussion: Commissioner Aleshire asked about the minimum lot size requirements. Mr. Goodrich stated that the 11 -foot side yard setbacks have been modified because the property is a lot of record. Ms. Stinson expressed her opinion that the structure is inconsistent with other structures in the surrounding area. Ms. Izer stated it is not inconsistent with regard to mass or form. The other structures sit along the main road and this house would sit back on its lot. Ms. Izer stated her opinion that the proposed structure is compatible and in harmony with the neighborhood. Ms. Viar stated that the Secretary of Interior Standards tend to be less stringent in setting guidelines for new construction with the idea that the new construction should not look like a duplication of historic structures. Ms. Stinson expressed her opinion that the structure may be compatible but it is not consistent with other structures in the area. Mr. Goodrich stated that compatibility with surrounding structures is very important. Design guidelines are very flexible so new construction does not have to look like all the other structures in the neighborhood. Ms. Viar expressed her opinion that the new structure would not have a negative impact on any of the contributing structures in the Rural Village. She noted that the proposed structure would obviously be new construction and from a different time period; however, it would not be a detriment to the Rural Village. Mr. Wiles expressed his opinion that it is the HDC's responsibility to make sure that the Rural Villages are preserved. Mr. Gehr made an inquiry with regard to a front porch. Mr. Longerbeam stated a porch is proposed for the front of the house in the future. He stated that the porch roof would probably be a shed -type roof. Plans have not been submitted for the porch. Mr. Goodrich stated that the porch would be reviewed by the HDC when the applicant applies for a permit. Motion and Vote: Ms. Izer made a motion to approve Permit #2007-06835 at 17907 Tilghmanton Road based on inspection of the proposed plans, the old house is a non-contributing structure in the Fairplay Rural Village zone and the new structure, in accordance with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for new construction, will be compatible with other structures in the surrounding area. Seconded by Ms. Viar. The motion passed with Ms. Izer, Ms. Viar and Mr. Bowman voting "Aye" and Ms. Stinson and Mr. Wiles voting "Nay". Permit #2007-07153-25472 Military Road Mr. Goodrich presented for review and approval Building Permit #2007-07153 for property located at 25472 Military Road in the Highfield Rural Village zone. Mr. Goodrich distributed copies of the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the member's referral when reviewing this permit application. The applicant, Mr. Willemain, was in attendance at the meeting and presented photographs of the structure from the summer of 2005. Mr. Goodrich stated that the applicant is proposing various exterior changes on the west side and front of the house. Mr. Goodrich distributed copies of a photograph from 2001 from the inventory for Highfield, which shows the front porch roof that was previously removed. He reviewed several drawings of the proposed improvements that are part of the permit application. Mr. Goodrich noted that members received a copy of the Highfield inventory and highlighted the architectural features to compare for compatibility with surrounding structures. The house is a contributing structure in the historic portion of the Highfield Rural Village. Discussion: Mr. Willemain explained in detail the changes he is proposing that are different than the proposal that was submitted with the permit application. He also explained future changes that he is proposing. Ms. Stinson suggested that the Commission should only review what is relative to the current permit application. Ms. Izer expressed her opinion that the applicant's application should not be reviewed at this time for the following reasons: the application lacks detail, it lacks elevation and scaled drawings as required by Section 5.D.5 of the Zoning Ordinance, the house is a contributing structure in the Highfield Rural Village, improvements have been made without prior review and approval by the Commission, and the applicant has failed to establish continuity with the features of the original structure. Mr. Gehr expressed his opinion that the plans are difficult to follow and the intent of what the final project will look like is unclear. He suggested that the applicant should submit revised drawings and elevations of the building. Action: Building Permit #2007-07153 for property located at 25472 Military Road in the Highfield Rural Village zone was tabled pending receipt of a completed application in accordance with Section 5.D.5 of the Washington County Zoning Ordinance. SP -07-052 — Fort Ritchie Redevelopment Mr. Goodrich presented for review and comment the site plan for the Fort Ritchie Redevelopment. The property is located west of MacAfee Hill Road at Military Road in Cascade. All buildings that are being re- used are within the historic district and considered contributing structures, with the exception of Buildings 152, 519 and 304. The historic structures that are being re -used must be reviewed and approved by the Pen Mar Development Corporation with specific guidelines for the exterior appearance as presented during the HDC's previous meeting. The majority of the buildings will be re -used for office space with the exception of Buildings 11, which is a proposed restaurant, Building 101 is being proposed as a mechanical/electrical facility, Buildings 124 and 401 are proposed storage facilities, and Building 154 is being proposed as a credit union. Mr. Goodrich explained that any undertaking by the Federal government with regard to the closure of the Fort Ritchie Army base must take into consideration its effect on historic structures. Therefore, a review was required of the Fort and all historic structures on the site documented. Prior to the transfer from the Federal government to a private entity, Pen Mar Development Corporation made an agreement to protect the historic resources and created a review process and appointed a reviewing committee. No action required. RZ-07-007 Mr. Goodrich presented for review and recommendation a Map Amendment for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. for property located along the south side of MD 68, 800 -feet west of the intersection with Bottom Road. The applicant is proposing to rezone approximately 77.08 acres from Agriculture to Agriculture with Industrial Mineral Overlay. The applicant is proposing to expand their mining operation at the Pinesburg Quarry. Mr. Goodrich provided members with a copy of the rezoning application, a copy of a portion of the Historic Inventory Map that shows inventoried sites within a one -mile radius of the proposed quarry expansion site, copies of the inventory forms for four properties within the one -mile radius. Mr. Goodrich stated that Staff will submit an extensive report to the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners about the affects of this rezoning request on historic structures and other resources in the area. Discussion: Ms. Izer stated she made a visit to the proposed site and discovered an 1860's (signed and dated) farmhouse identified as WA -V-250 on the Maryland Historical Trust Historic Sites Inventory. She distributed copies of a map that identifies (in red) several other historic structures identified by the Maryland Inventory of Historical Places. The farmstead was built by Dr. Frederick Dellinger, completed about 1863. Ms. Izer quoted the following description of the Dellinger Farm, "is a significant architecturally for a well-preserved farmhouse and barn, both of which are excellent examples of their type. The large brick farmhouse is an example of a Georgian "I" house and an important house from this region. It is unusually elegant and substantial for this area. The house is dated by a stone in the south gable wall giving the builder as Mr. Dellinger and is dated 1863. The bank barn is also in an excellent state of preservation and a very good example of its type." Motion and Vote: Ms. Izer made a motion to recommend denial of rezoning application RZ-07-007 from Agriculture to Agriculture with Industrial Mineral overlay of 77.08 acres. (See attached document submitted by Ms. Izer.) Seconded by Mr. Wiles. Unanimously approved. Membership Mr. Gehr stated that Ms. Izer's term on the HDC will expire on December 31, 2007. Ms. Izer has served only one term and would be eligible for reappointment according to the policy established by the BOCC. Ms. Izer stated she would be interested in serving a second term if reappointed. Mr. Goodrich stated that he enclosed a copy of an application for an individual interested in serving on the HDC. Ms. Stinson expressed her opinion that Ms. Izer has been doing a lot of work on the Design Review Guidelines and she believes it would be a great loss to the HDC if Ms. Izer is not reappointed. Ms. Stinson made a motion to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that Ms. Izer should be reappointed as a member of the Historic District Commission. Seconded by Mr. Wiles. Unanimously approved. H. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Goodrich noted that the meeting calendar for 2008 was included in the Agenda packet. I. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. J. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Viar made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. So ordered. Respectfully submitted, Stephe T. Goodrich Chief Planner Zoning Ordinance Case RZ-07-007 Motion to recommend denial of rezoning application to rezone agricultural 77 acres to Agricultural with IM overlay for the purpose of annexation of the quarry. This change in zoning would have enormous adverse affects on the numerous surrounding historical structures as identified on the attached aerial map. The most devastating loss would the destruction of the historic Del- linger Farm built by Doctor Frederick Dellinger, competed about 1863. This architecturally significant brick I -shaped Georgian home is dated 1863 but it's appearance on the 1859 Taggert map of Washington County indicates it may have been under construction as early as 1859. This unusually large and substantial brick house and stone bank barn are all well -maintained with very few alterations. They are excellent examples if their type. This farm was originally part of "The Addition to Jack's Bottom" patented in about 1770 as an enlargement of one of Washington County's first land patents of "Jacks Bottom" granted Jeremiah Jack in 1739. This house does not appear on the Washington County Historical Site Survey. This oversight was corrected in 1982, when the house was placed on the Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites Inventory by the Mary- land Historic Trust (see attached inventory form WA -V-250). Second, this quarry is contiguous to the rural Village of Pinesburg. Although this rural village has not yet had it's inventory completed by the Washington County Commissioners, the Maryland Historical Trust has identi- fied and documented numerous historic structures within this rural village as part of it's State Historic Sties Inventory (see attached). Section 5D of the Rural Village Ordinance was written and approved to preserve the unique historic or rural character of existing villages and to prevent large amounts or inappropriately scaled development or uses that would detract from the existing rural or historic character of the village. Section 5D.6 of the same ordinance even provides limitations on development within 1,000 feet of a rural village requiring a planning commission review. Finally, this change in zoning would significantly alter the existing agricultural nature and character of the neighorhood and undoubtedly have an adverse affect on the ground water supply to the surrounding agricultural farms. The fact that a quarry has already altered part of this very historic area should not be considered a prec- edent, but rather a learning experience we should not repeat or exacerbate. Sandralzer f- 0 � I P t ;" / Iti __ t W t�Li H .Q 4: b � s' 1 � .y