VILLAGE REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 18, 2017

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1 VILLAGE REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 18, 2017 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Gary Massanek, Vice Chair Connie Lundquist, Rebekah Beaulieu, Claudia Knox (arrived at 7:18), Laura Lienert, Annee Tara and Karen Topp MEMBERS ABSENT: All members were present. STAFF PRESENT: Director of Planning and Development, Anna Breinich A meeting of the Village Review Board was held on Tuesday, July18, 2017 at the Municipal Meeting Facility at 85 Union Street, Council Chambers. Chair Gary Massanek called the meeting to order at 7:15 P.M. 1. Tabled Case # VRB Maple Street The Board will remove from the table, discuss and take action on a Certificate of Appropriateness to determine acceptable siding for a new replacement residential structure, located at 7 Maple Street (Map U08, Lot 80). 2. Tabled Case # VRB Maine Street The Board will remove from the table, discuss and take action regarding a Certificate of Appropriateness to complete exterior renovations to the Field Block building, located at 147 Maine Street (Map U13, Lot 161). 3. Case # VRB Bath Road The Board will discuss and take action regarding a Certificate of Appropriateness to complete exterior ramp and porch renovations to the Riley House building, located at 7 Bath Road (Map U08, Lot 106). Anna Breinich introduced the application and reviewed the project summary dated July 18, Anna added that the college will reuse as much of the existing woodwork as possible, but they will not know the exact amount until they begin renovations. Karen Topp and Rebekah Beaulieu recused themselves as voting members from the proceeding. Ben Jamo, Facilities Management for Bowdoin College, explained that there is settling on the porch on the ramp side on the west side of the building. This settling has caused a bump between the ramp and porch connection and a trip hazard. In addition to this, there is another three inch gap between the door and porch making it very difficult for someone in a wheelchar to actually use this access. Ben said that the main purpose of this renovation is to bring the porch up three inches and replace the wood decking with Trex decking for longevity. In addition, the railing around the porch is only 24 inches high and they will bring it up to 42 inches per code. The other visible change would be adding a third step on the Bath Road side; right now there are two steps that are nine inches and difficult to climb. Connie Lundquist asked what the materials that they are proposing to 1

2 use. Ben replied that they plan on using pressure treated wood with roof tarping over it for traction. Connie asked when the last time was that they made changes to the porch. Ben replied that he has asked and it has been at least 20 years. Gary Massanek asked if they will be doing a diagonal lattice underneath. Ben replied that they were planning on a vertical lattice, but can do a diagonal one if that is preferred. Laura Lienert asked what type of material the current lattice is and what type of material they are proposing. Ben replied that the current lattice is wood and they are looking to use a vinyl. Ben added that they can use wood for the lattice if that is preferred, but they would really like the pressure treated material for the decking and composite rails. Laura asked what material the actual porch was made of. Ben replied that it is wood decking as well. Ben stated that they would still be using the posts for the porch and sister on the side of the joists to get the three extra inches that they need to go into the door straight. The ramp will have to grow by three feet towards the rear parking lot to keep the proper slope because of the three inches that they are raising it. Annee Tara pointed out that some of this project is so that they can be ADA compliant and asked for more clarification regarding this. Ben Jamo replied that there is a certain distance that you need to have on the ramp in order to turn and they currently do not have this radius. Gary Massanek added that the threshold also cannot be more than a half inch. Laura Lienert referenced the packet materials and pointed out that there is a lot of trim work at the base and asked what the plan would be if they go up three inches. Ben Jamo replied that they would also raise the trim work. If it is deteriorated they can replace it with wood. Annee Tara asked what they plan to do with the wrought iron rail in the back. Ben replied that they plan to replace the rail to match the deck and the porch. Chair Gary Massanek opened the meeting to public comment. No public comment was made and the public comment period was closed. Connie Lundquist referred to number 4 in the Village Review Design Guidelines and pointed out that this building is a contributing structure in the National Register-listed Federal Street Historic District and believes that the applicant needs to replace like for like materials. Laura Lienert said that she feels similar to Connie and thinks that even more attention needs to be made since it is in such a historic area. Laura said that she is open to the discussion of allowing Trex for the ramp as it would not have existed at the time the structure was built, but that they should still require wood for the porch. Claudia Knox replied that Trex can now be applied with a whole range of hangers and is impressed with the different looks that you can get. She explained that with the weather we get in Maine, porches really take a beating; the snow sits there even if you shovel it off. Claudia stated that if the applicant were using Trex all around it would look more authentic. With regards to wood for the railings, Claudia pointed out that they do not take the same beating and the applicant was willing to use wood for the railings not Trex. Annee Tara pointed out that if the porch is not treated in some way, it may still be slippery and even though Trex was not an option when the structure was built, she would support the Trex on both the ramp and porch as this is not for aesthetics, but for handicapped accessibility. Claudia stated that she has good traction on her porch that is 2

3 made of Trex as it does have a grain attribute to it. Connie stated that she supports Trex on the porch and the ramp as they were not part of the original structure and because of the use that it is being put up for and extra traction will be helpful. Laura stated that she supports the Trex on the ramp, but reiterated that the guidelines say like for like and wood is available for the porch. Ben Jamo clarified that the porch being replaced is the covered porch. Connie replied that in that case, she supports Trex on the ramp. But reiterated Laura s comment regarding the guidelines. Connie asked if they don t require like for like now, when would they require it. Gary said that once again they are dealing with a recommendation in the guidelines they are ultimately going to recommend changes for. As for the porch that they are raising and it is visible from the street, Gary would support wood. For the ramp, Trex would be a good compromise. Claudia asked Anna if are there instances where other Village Review Boards would have approved Trex decking as opposed to wood when looking at porch alterations, restorations, etc. Anna replied that she could not say definitively, but that they have not had many similar applications. Anna stated that in the case of the property on Lincoln Street, they kept wood for wood. Anna pointed out that they are proposing pressure treated wood and whether or not it looks the same then one is still a replacement for the other; it is still not the original. MOTION BY CONNIE LUNDQUIST THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATION IS DEEMED COMPLETE. MOTION SECONDED BY ANNEE TARA, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION BY CONNIE LUNDQUIST THAT THE BOARD APPROVES THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS TO THE EXISTING RAMP AND PORCHES AT 7 BATH ROAD WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 1. That the Board s review and approval does hereby refer to these findings of fact, the plans and materials submitted by the applicant and the written and oral comments of the applicant, his representatives, reviewing officials, and members of the public as reflected in the public record. Any changes to the approved plan not called for in these conditions of approval or otherwise approved by the Director of Planning and Development as a minor modification, shall require further review and approval in accordance with the Brunswick Zoning Ordinance. 2. That all renovations be made of wood with the exception of ramp decking which can be composite material as referenced in the application. MOTION SECONDED BY LAURA LIENERT. MOTION APPROVED BY GARY MASSANEK, CONNIE LUNDQUIST, AND LAURA LIENERT. MOTION OPPOSED BY CLAUDIA KNOX AND ANNEE TARA. MOTION CARRIED 3 2. Karen Topp and Rebekah Beaulieu returned to the meeting as voting members. 3

4 4. Case # VRB Cleaveland Street The Board will discuss and take action regarding a Certificate of Appropriateness to complete exterior renovations to Pilgrim House, First Parish Congregational Church, located at 9 Cleaveland Street (Map U08, Lot 112). Anna Breinich introduced the application and reviewed the project summary dated July 18, Anna stated that this was originally proposed in 1955 in the original construction plans, but was constructed as a window instead. Kayla Karen, applicant representative from Scott Simons Architect, reviewed the location of the existing window and original construction plans. Kayla reviewed the existing conditions and proposed doorway and gabled covering for the doorway. Kayla reviewed the proposed materials. Gary Massanek asked for more information regarding the columns. Kayla replied that they are looking to do an eight inch poly classic column and are looking to keep both the top and bottom bases as small as possible. Annee Tara asked where the walkway goes. Kayla replied that the walkway would follow the property line along the back. Gary asked where they plan on moving the drain. Kayla replied that they are looking into possibly window wells. Gary asked if they have considered raising the elevation a bit and then capping it with a precast piece to mimic the water table going along the whole building. This would mean that they wouldn t need a free standing hand rail. Kayla said that they hadn t thought of this as they were trying to minimize the height and appearance for the retaining wall. Karen Topp asked Anna Breinich why this application was before the Board as it is not visible from public way. Anna replied that you can see it slightly from Park Row. Rebekah Beaulieu stated that it was difficult to even find the location of the proposed door and she was hard pressed to see how this will impact the architectural structure of the building. Annee Tara pointed out that this is one of those mid-century modern buildings. Rebekah asked if they knew why the doorway wasn t constructed in the first place. Kayla Karen replied that there are no notes in the construction drawings, but they were told it was because the construction company ran out of money. Laura Lienert stated that this is a great pace for the door. Laura asked if there is a transon below the brick work. Kayla replied that it is just trim. Laura asked what was going to happen to the electric handicapped door. Kayla replied that it is currently not working and will be taken out at a later date. Connie Lundquist asked if there were columns in any other part of the building. Gary Massanek referred to the packet materials and the plaster columns on the front of the building. Connie asked if there were any other doorways with columns. Laura replied that she didn t think that there were. Members looked at a street view and the pilasters that were on the building. Gary opened the meeting to public comment. Margo Knight, resident of 22 Page Street and immediate past chair of the Council at the First Parish Church, said that they are looking at other accessibility options in the future, such as the electric chair lift that broke and they will be coming back to the VRB at a later date. Margo stated that the Deputy Fire Chief / Life Safety Officer and the Codes 4

5 Enforcement Officer agreed that adding this egress will make a difference even if they choose not to go forward with any other additions. Chair Gary Massanek closed the meeting to public comment. Connie Lundquist asked what the other doors in the building are made of. Margo Knight replied that they look like wood to her, but she is not sure. Gary Massanek clarified his suggestion per Karen Topps request. Rebekah Beaulieu said that she is comfortable with this application. MOTION BY ANNEE TARA THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATION IS DEEMED COMPLETE. MOTION SECONDED BY KAREN TOP, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Connie stated that she supports this motion, but noted that she does not want the fiberglass portion of this construction to effect other portions of the building that may be renovated that are visible from the street or any of the other entry ways. Laura Lienert agreed. MOTION BY ANNEE TARA THAT THE BOARD APPROVES THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR STRUCTURAL ALTERATION TO INSTALL A NEW REAR SIDE ENTRYWAY, LOCATED AT 9 CLEAVELAND STREET WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION: 1. That the Board s review and approval does hereby refer to these findings of fact, the plans and materials submitted by the applicant and the written and oral comments of the applicant, his representatives, reviewing officials, and members of the public as reflected in the public record. Any changes to the approved plan not called for in these conditions of approval or otherwise approved by the Director of Planning and Development as a minor modification, shall require further review and approval in accordance with the Brunswick Zoning Ordinance. MOTION SECONDED BY CONNIE LUNDQUIST, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. Other Business: Workshop for Monday, July 24 th at 5:00 P.M. 6. Approval of Minutes: MOTION BY CONNIE LUNDQUIST TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 21, MOTION SECONDED BY REBEKAH BEAULIEU, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 5

6 MOTION BY CONNIE LUNDQUIST TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 28, MOTION SECONDED BY KAREN TOP, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 7. Staff Approvals: 13 Franklin Street - Shed This Agenda revised 7/13/17 to remove items #1 and #2, which have been postponed until the August 15th VRB meeting. This meeting was adjourned at 9:48 P.M. Respectfully Submitted Tonya Jenusaitis, Recording Secretary 6