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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1998-030 Staff Report And Recommendations 05/29/1998SL City of Little Rock HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS PREPARED BY: V. Anne Guthrie DATE: 29 May 1998 APPLICANT: Marsha Taul ADDRESS: 1305 Cumberland COA REQUEST- Apply vinyl siding on structure's north side BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: In 25 January 1997, the owner filed a COA application to apply vinyl siding on three elevations of a two -storied structure; the west (front) elevation would be painted. The 20 February 1997 public hearing date was deferred until 3 April. At that time, the LRHDC voted to approve the application with the condition that siding could be applied only on the east (rear) elevation and that the siding on the north was to be removed. In the April letter to the applicant, five points justify the reasoning of the LRHDC's decision, which are part of this recommendation. A copy of the 3 April 1997 minutes and two letters (April 14 and February 26) are enclosed. No staff recommendations were prepared at that time. Note: the LRHDC adopted an artificial siding policy in June 1997; for policy details, consult Appendix C, Design Review Guidelines: MacArthur Park Historic District. Prior to the application and meeting dates, the applicant had applied vinyl siding on two elevations, the north and the east, so the COA application was an after -the -fact request. Also, the owner had not obtained the required building permit for repairs and siding. A stop work order may have been issued, but there is no record in the city permitting files as they do not retain files past two months. At the public hearing, the applicant stated that there are structures in the historic district that have siding and do not have LRHDC approval. An official Complaint and Notice of Appeal was filed with the county Chancery Clerk's office but later was dismissed. NEIGHBORHOOD REACTION: None to date STAFF RECOMMENDATION: It is the recommendation of staff that the COA application be approved. Upon site inspection and to the untrained eye, there is little differentiation between the vinyl siding on the north and the wooden on the west; the vinyl is somewhat similar to the width of the wooden and the vinyl's shadow is minimal. Also, due to the structure's close proximity to the house on the north, the size of trees and foliage along the south side of 13th and the east side of Cumberland streets, there is a minimal and obstructed visual perspective of the subject property's north elevation. MARSHA TAUL 216 W 14 Little Rock, Ar 72202 Telephone 501 399-9834 Ann Guthrie Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs 615 W Markham Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Ann, I am requesting a hearing to reconsider Certificate of Appropriateness on my property at 1305 S Cumberland. The work that was done is the installation of vinyl siding on the left side of building. Please take this in your consideration. Thank you, Marsha Taul �� 5-LITTLE ROCK }`�7,� 1"01ISTORIC ;; i C T) T .0 T R T P T r,rlye-•�,; APPLICATION FOR A 1 "CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Tb- Application Date: 1. Date of Public Hearing: day of I" e�� 1998 atP.M. 2. Address of Property: 3. Legal Description of Property: 4. Property Owner (Name, Address, Phone, Fax): C 1 5. Owner's Representative: fS, 6. Project Description (additional pages may be added): I JI LU r� S 7. Estimated Cost of Improvements: 8. Category of Work: I II III IV 9. Notification Requirements: Yes (properties within 150 feet) No 10. Signature of Owner or Representative: Historic District Commission Action (to be completed by staff): _ Denied _ Deferred _ Approved _ Approved with Conditions Staff Signature: NOTE: Approval by the Little Rock Historic District Commission does not excuse the applicant, owner or representative from compliance with any other applicable codes, ordinances or policies of the City of Little Rock unless expressly stated by the Commission or staff. Responsibility for identifying such codes, ordinances or policies rests with the applicant, owner or representative. Little Rock Historic District Commission ♦ Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs 615 W. Markham Street, Suite 100 ♦ Little Rock, AR 72201 ♦ Phone: 501.244.5420 ♦ Fax: 501.399.3461 City of Little Rock Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs 615 West Markham Avenue, Suite 106 Little Rock, Ar 72201 501.371.6825 Fax: 501.399.3461 26 February 1997 Marsha Taul 1503 Scott Street, Apt 2 Little Rock, AR 72202 Dear Ms. Taul, I am writing to notify you formally that the Historic District Commission at their 20 February meeting deferred your request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install vinyl siding on three elevations of 1305 Cumberland Street; the deferral is until the 3 April meeting of the Commission. Due to the deferral, it will not be necessary for you to notify adjacent property owners of the April meeting, as the City assumes the responsibility for the notification process. Regarding the condition of your loan and our telephone conversation on Monday, there is no problem with your painting the front (west) elevation of 1305 Cumberland. Do let me know if you need a letter from this office regarding the deferral of your request and the loan agreement's deadline for making improvements to the structure. Enclosed are your invoice from the abstract company and copies of the survey and property owner listing. Respectfully, V. Anne Guthrie Historic Preservation Administrator Enclosures City of Little Rock HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION 14 April 1997 Marsha Taul 1503 South Scott, Apt 2 Little Rock, AR 72202 Dear Ms. Taul: On behalf of the Historic District Commission, I am writing to notify you formally that your application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to apply siding on three sides of the structure at 1305 Cumberland was approved with conditions, at the Commission's 3 April monthly meeting, to allow siding on one elevation, the rear. The motion by Commissioner Jameson was to "approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the application of siding with the condition that it is only on the rear (east) elevation and only on the rear because of the significant alterations, extreme deterioration and the fact that it is already there." One member abstained from the vote, and four members voted in favor of the motion. The reasoning behind the motion and the subsequent decision was discussed at length prior to the vote and are numerous: ► the north side of the two -storied structure (where artificial siding is already in place) is quite visible from the street, as it is a one-way street south, and the house on the north is one-story, all of which point to the fact that the new siding does not match; ► corner board on northwest corner does not match; ► it would have been helpful if the Commission had the application prior to the siding installation and had the opportunity to comment on product selection; ► the siding product selected for the north side is not the right sort; it is a modified shiplap and does not duplicate the original; Letter to Ms. Marsh Taul 14 April 1997 Page Two ► siding on north is to be removed but allow the pre-existing artificial siding on the rear (east) to remain due to its previous alterations and poor condition. One recourse is that you may apply for the same request after one year has passed. Or you may appeal the decision of the Historic District Commission to the county chancery court within thirty (30) days of the 3 April vote. If there are any questions, you may call me at 244-5420. Respectfully, V. Anne Guthrie Historic Preservation Administrator LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Commissioners Present: John Bush Charles Marratt Staff Present: V. Anne Guthrie 3 April 1997 John Greer Julie Wiedower Anthony Black Tommy Jameson The meeting for the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC) was called to order and roll call was given. As there was a quorum, the February minutes were approved as amended; the minutes from the March meeting, which were distributed at the meeting's onset, will be reviewed and approved at a later date. A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) application, which had been deferred from the 20 February meeting, was the first agenda item: Applicant: Marsha L. Taul Address: 1305 Cumberland Street Request: Install vinyl siding on the structure's three facades Ms. Taul asked about two COA siding applications that previously had come before the LRHDC and what actions were taken. The siding requests were for Poe Travel at 915 - 917 Cumberland Street and for 411 East 6th Street. An overview was presented by staff of the previous artificial siding applications for both addresses, their request, vote and conditional approval. Poe's first application for siding was November 1990, and it was denied unanimously. Their second application was submitted in 1991 and, reading from the minutes, was approved (3-1 vote) with four conditions, which were: iD the fascia, soffit, crown & cove moldings and upper trim not be covered with artificial siding; OO covering the flat fascia with gutter is acceptable; OO all louvers remain the same configuration; and ® drip molding be reinstalled where missing. The application for siding at 411 East 6th Street came before the LRHDC in May 1993 and was unanimously approved with the following conditions: O the north facade, including one west panel in the porch area have no artificial siding; (2) no siding be allowed on the bay on the structure's west side; Oa wood lattice on the west and south sides be replaced with wood lattice; and ® all details of original features are to remain unaltered. Little Rock Historic District Commission Minutes of 3 April 1997, Page 2 There was discussion about the conditions and implications of artificial siding on a structure's architectural detailing. It was noted that the subject property at 1305 Cumberland Street is listed as a contributing structure to the historic district and discussion focused on the application of artificial siding to contributing structures. The artificial siding that's already in place on the north side does change the appearance and condition of the structure and its architectural details. Chair Bush asked for comments regarding siding and the proposed artificial siding policy that was discussed at the agenda meeting; especially how the proposed policy would effect the applicant's request (NOTE: a copy of the draft artificial siding policy is enclosed along with these minutes). Commissioner Marratt stated that the applicant should have a copy of the proposed siding policy in order to know how issues will be addressed in the future. The applicant stated she had a FHA 204 rehabilitation loan, which has a deadline of the end of March. Guthrie stated that a letter was written to the applicant following the February meeting, offering to notify FHA regarding the deferred request before the LRHDC. There was no response to this letter. Commissioner Wiedower asked about the furring strips for the siding and its effect upon the existing wooden siding. There was a question regarding other architectural detailing that would be covered by the artificial siding. Commissioner Jameson explained the mechanics of applying artificial over original wooden siding, and how it effects the original. He stated that the applicant's choice of artificial siding does not duplicate the original siding. This is evident on the northwest corner of the house where one can see the difference between the artificial siding in place on the north and the original siding on the west (the west, or front, facade is to retain the original siding; only painting is planned for this facade). After discussion regarding the application of artificial siding, Jameson made a motion (first explaining the reasoning for the motion) to approve the COA application for artificial siding with the condition that it only be allowed on the rear, or east, facade of the structure. A vote was taken and four (4) were in favor of the motion to approve the application with the one condition; there was one (1) abstention from the vote. After the vote, the applicant did want to register a complaint regarding a neighborhood structure that had artificial siding applied but did not receive approval to do so. It was stated that the applicant may file a letter of complaint with the LRHDC. Wiedower raised a concern about the north facade of the 1305 Cumberland structure where upcoming repairs will be necessary when the existing artificial siding is removed. There may be available funds to make such repairs, and staff will provide names and phone numbers to the applicant.