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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-9-08MINUTES HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY January 9, 2008 A. and B. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice -Chairman Merry Stinson called the regular monthly meeting of the Historic District Commission to order on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. in Conference Room 1 of the Washington County Administrative Annex, 80 West Baltimore Street. Members present included: Merry Stinson, Michael Gehr, David Wiles, Robert Bowman II, Sandy Izer, Chris Horst, and Charles Stewart. Also present were Staff members Stephen T. Goodrich and Debra Eckard. C. MINUTES Ms. Izer made a motion to approve the December 5, 2007 minutes as amended. Seconded by Mr. Stewart. Unanimously approved. D. COMMUNICATIONS & BILLS Mr. Goodrich distributed copies of the State Highway Administration's proposed bridge remedial work to Structure No. 21095X0, Project #2380721-X095X0, in Washington County, Maryland. The State Highway Administration has determined there are no historic structures located in the APE; therefore, there will be no impact on historic structures. E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Mr. Goodrich introduced Mr. Chris Horst as the newest member of the HDC. Mr. Horst was appointed by the BOCC to replace Ms. Viar, who has served two consecutive terms. Ms. Stinson, Ms. Izer and Mr. Bowman were reappointed by the BOCC for three years. F. BUDGET None. G. NEW BUSINESS Permit #2007-07563 — 3768 Harner's Ferry Road Mr. Goodrich presented for review and approval Permit #2007-08162 for property located at 20229 Rohrersville School Road in the Rohrersville Rural Village. The structure is located outside of the historic portion of the rural village. A copy of the permit application, a map to locate the property, a map of the boundary of the historic district contained within the rural village zoning, a map of the rural village boundary, a copy of the inventory information that describes the history of the rural village and a copy of drawings detailing the proposed addition was included in the agenda packet. The applicant, Mr. Cronise, and Mr. Thompson, the owner, were present at the meeting. Mr. Thompson is proposing an addition that includes a 16' x 20' laundry room with half bath addition and an 8' x 20' covered side porch to their existing dwelling. Mr. Cronise stated that the brick veneer, windows, and shutters on the addition will match the existing residence and the roof line will match the pitch of the existing roof. Several members concurred that the addition is consistent with the current dwelling and there will be minimal impact on the historic structures in the area. Motion and Vote: Ms. Izer made a motion to approve Permit #2007-08162 for property located at 202229 Rohrersville School Road based on an inspection of the project plans and if constructed in accordance with the plans, the addition will be compatible with other non-contributing structures existing in the Rural Village of Rohrersville and the adjoining properties in the neighborhood and is consistent with the design guidelines of the Secretary of Interior's standards and the Rural Village zone. Seconded by Mr. Stewart. Unanimously approved. 5404 Mondell Road — proposed cell tower Mr. Goodrich presented for review and comment a proposed telecommunications tower to be located at 5404 Mundell Road, Sharpsburg. The property is a 20.20 parcel and the owners of record are Scott and Dena Wrote. The proposed telecommunications stealth tower will be housed inside of an approximately 120 foot constructed farm silo structures. In the Agenda packets, Mr. Goodrich provided a site location map of the proposed tower, a map showing historic properties within a /z mile radius of the proposed site and the inventory sites survey forms for the historical structures. During the meeting he also provided additional sites listed on the historical sites inventory including the Antietam Battlefield, which is a National Register site, the Lee Headquarters marker, which is inside the Town of Sharpsburg and is listed on the National Register as part of the Antietam National Battlefield, and the entire town of Sharpsburg. The Town is probably National Register eligible but it is not actually listed on the National Register. Mr. Goodrich stated that a planner from Washington County and representatives from the National Park Service attended a "balloon test" performed at this site. A letter from Mr. Howard, Superintendent at Antietam Battlefield, with regard to the "balloon test" was distributed to the HDC members prior to the meeting. Mr. Howard is opposed to the proposed cell tower and believes it would have a negative impact on the Antietam National Battlefield. Mr. Goodrich stated that he has composed a draft letter to Burgess & Niple stating that Board of Zoning Appeals approved would be required. He has also asked for a copy of the drawings showing the proposed farm silo structure that would be used to house the proposed tower. Comments: Ms. Stinson expressed her opinion that the proposed cell tower would have a negative impact on all of the surrounding historical sites. Ms. Izer does not believe that the proposed site structure would be compatible with the surrounding area because there are no silos that tall in the area and no farm structure close to the proposed site. Ms. Izer noted that there are currently 3 antennas on the top of the water tower in the Town of Sharpsburg. She also noted that the Town currently leases the top of the water tower for these antennas. Mr. Goodrich stated that regulations encourage the use of existing structures for antennas. Mr. Stewart expressed his opinion that regardless of what the tower looks like it would have a negative impact on the Battlefield and the Town of Sharpsburg. Mr. Bowman expressed his concern with regard to wind resistance of the tower. Mr. Gehr expressed his opinion that a monopole would look better than a farm silo. Motion and Vote: Mr. Stewart made a motion to make the following comments with regard to the proposed telecommunications tower to be located at 5404 Mundell Road in Sharpsburg: the visual dominance over the National Register eligible Town of Sharpsburg and the Antietam National Battlefield would have a major negative impact on the viewshed from these sites regardless of the appearance of the proposed silo; the attempt to disguise the tower within a 120 -foot silo is inappropriate; the proposed site is clearly inappropriate due to the numerous sites listed on the Maryland Historical Trust Sites Survey, the Washington County Historical Sites Survey, and the National Register and National Register eligible sites; and there is a more appropriate alternative present in the area (the top of the Town's water tower). Seconded by Ms. Izer. Unanimously approved. 11850 Indian Lane — Proposed cell tower Mr. Goodrich presented for review and comment a proposed telecommunications tower to be located at 11850 Indian Lane. The proposed facility consists of a 150 -foot stealth tree monopole and an 11.6 -foot by 30 -foot equipment shelter located within a 35 -foot by 50 -foot fenced compound on a 50 -foot by 50 -foot lease area located west of the existing house and outbuildings. Mr. Goodrich provided a copy of the tax map showing the various inventory properties nearby and copies of the Maryland Historical Trust Worksheets pertaining to sites shown on the map. He noted there is an existing house located in close proximity to the proposed tower. Mr. Goodrich also provided copies of an aerial photograph of the site showing the location of the site and the location where he took video footage of the site. Motion and Vote: Ms. Izer made a motion to recommend that the following comments should be made to EBI Consulting with regard to the proposed cell tower to be located at 11850 Indian Lane: if the applicant proceeds with the proposed cell tower, the HDC would recommend denial of the application due to the negative impact it would have on the historical sites in the surrounding area. In addition, the proposed tree -like structure is inappropriate for any location in Washington County. Lastly, there are more appropriate sites in Hagerstown that could be used without creating a negative impact on the historic structures of Washington County. Seconded by Ms. Stinson. Unanimously approved. PP -07-003 and PP -07-004 — Williamsview I and II Mr. Goodrich presented for review and comment the Preliminary Plats for Williamsview I and II for property located along the south side of Sterling Road west of Maryland 632. Mr. Goodrich gave a brief history pertaining to this site and previous reviews by the HDC. The current plan proposes 508 single- family residential lots. The property is currently zoned A — Agriculture and the proposed density is allowed under the current zoning designation. Discussion and Comments: Members discussed the need for additional buffering, a recommendation that has been provided to the applicants during each previous review by the HDC (Preliminary Consultation and PUD applications). Ms. Izer expressed her opinion that the proposed plan lacks sensitivity to all historic structures in the surrounding area. She also expressed her concern that the applicant has disregarded all recommendations by the HDC with regard to a buffer for the transition from rural use to agricultural use and the properties that contain historic structures. Motion and Vote: Ms. Izer made a recommendation that the applicant should provide a buffer between the development and agricultural use properties as previously recommended. Seconded by Mr. Stewart. Unanimously approved. H. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Gehr announced that the next design guidelines meeting has been scheduled for January 19, 2008. Due to scheduling conflicts, the meeting was changed to Sunday, January 20'h at 9:30 a.m. Members had a brief discussion with regard to a new addition receiving any tax credits. Ms. Izer expressed her concern with regard to recommendations being made by the HDC. In particular, two recent recommendations were made with regard to historic structures on properties being reviewed for rezoning and were considered by the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners at public hearings. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. J. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Stewart made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. Seconded by Ms. Izer. So ordered. Respectfully submitted, Stephen T. Goodrich Chief Planner