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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Tuesday, March 1, 2016
TIME OF MEETING: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING: City Commission Chambers, City Hall
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Elections (Chair and Vice-chair)
III. Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of February 2, 2016
IV. Old Business
None
V. New Business
Case 2016-03 – 38 Diana Ave – Siding/Fence
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjourn
“We admire that which is old not because it is old, but because it is beautiful.” Winston
Churchill
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CITY COMMISSION AND ANY OF ITS COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEES
The City of Muskegon will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired
and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities who want to attend the
meeting, upon twenty-four hour notice to the City of Muskegon. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or ser-
vices should contact the City of Muskegon by writing or calling the following:
Ann Marie Cummings, City Clerk
933 Terrace Street
Muskegon, MI 49440
(231) 724-6705
TTY/TDD: Dial 7-1-1 and request that representative dial 231-724-6705
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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
February 2, 2016
Chairperson J. Hilt called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Hilt, S. Kroes, L. Wood, A. Riegler, S. Radtke
MEMBERS ABSENT: K. Panozzo, D. Warren
STAFF PRESENT: M. Franzak, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: W. Barnhart, MSI Construction, 4420 W Bard Rd, Whitehall
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of January 5, 2016 was made by L. Wood, sup-
ported by J. Hilt and unanimously approved.
OLD BUSINESS
Case 2016-02 – 621 W Western Avenue. Applicant: Muskegon Eagles. District: Clay-Western.
Current Function: Recreational. This case was tabled from the January meeting, as the board need-
ed more information before making a decision. The applicant is seeking approval to replace the
metal and glass entry door to the bowling alley on Western Ave. They are also proposing modifica-
tions to the entryway including removal of the sidelights and transom windows around the door, and
replacement of those with vinyl siding, similar to the door located to the right of the main door
shown in photos provided. Staff does not recommend approval of the door and entryway replace-
ment as proposed, as it does not meet the Historic District Commission Standards.
W. Barnhart stated that the Eagles wished to replace the entry door, as the metal was rusting and it
was an eyesore. They proposed to eliminate the sidelights and replace them with brown board and
batten siding, to match the other entryway. The replacement glass in the door would be half-view,
not full-view. He stated that the elimination of the glass in and around the door would alleviate
some security concerns. Board members discussed project details with the applicant. A. Riegler
was concerned that the proposed changes did not meet HDC standards. S. Radtke stated that the
configuration of the door and windows should remain the same. J. Hilt explained the board’s con-
cerns to W. Barnhart. He stated that he would go back and work with the people at the Eagles to
come up with an acceptable proposal. A. Riegler suggested that he look at the other historic build-
ings downtown for ideas, and asked that he submit a drawing of the proposed new entryway when
he returned before the board.
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A motion to table this case until the March meeting to have the applicant submit a new proposal that
met HDC standards, was made by J. Hilt, supported by S. Radtke and unanimously approved, with
J. Hilt, S. Kroes, L. Wood, A. Riegler, and S. Radtke voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
OTHER BUSINESS
Legislation regarding Historic District Commissions. Board members and staff discussed pending
legislation to eliminate historic district commissions in Michigan. S. Radtke stated that he had been
in Lansing earlier in the day to oppose the measure.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
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Case 2016-03 – 38 Diana Ave
Applicant: Bethany Housing Ministries
District: McLaughlin
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to cover the wood siding on the lower portion of the house with
vinyl siding and to wrap the soffit and fascia with aluminum. Please note that the upper portion of
the house has vinyl shake.
They are also requesting to add a vinyl privacy fence in the back yard.
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Standards
RESIDING AND TRIM CLADDING GUIDELINES
(Adopted December 6,1994 - Effective January 1, 1995)
General
The Muskegon Historic District Commission does not endorse the residing of structures within the
Historic districts. It is the policy of this Commission that the original fabric of the building should
be repaired or replaced where necessary with the original building material. Therefore, residing and
trim cladding in Class AA districts shall not be approved.
In cases in Class A districts where the repair or replacement with like materials is impractical or
where it can be demonstrated that the original materials will no longer hold paint or that the original
materials are so badly deteriorated that they can no longer be reasonably repaired, the residing
standards below shall strictly be adhered to.
Definitions
For the purpose of this statement, the terms "residing materials" and "trim cladding" shall be under-
stood to encompass the use of any residing materials such as aluminum, vinyl, steel, hardboard,
wood, masonry, or molded urethane which is designed to replace or cover all, or any part, of an ex-
terior wall, trim work or other building element or a structure within a designated historic district.
Purpose
The Commission shall review all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness proposing the in-
stallation of residing materials or trim cladding as individual cases. Each application shall be de-
cided on its own merit. No person should interpret any Commission approval for residing or trim
cladding as being precedent setting. Unrestricted use of residing materials or trim cladding will not
be allowed.
In any case where residing materials or trim cladding are proposed for use by a property owner or
siding contractor, the property owner shall be required to submit a signed letter stating in detail the
intent and scope of the proposed residing or trim cladding installation. Such a letter is to also in-
clude the identification of any deterioration or problems occurring relative to the existing siding or
exterior building fabric. If known, the cause and extent of this deterioration must be clearly stated.
The following conditions of installation shall be met by all proposals for residing or trim cladding:
1. All existing deterioration shall be made structurally sound and its causes, insofar as
possible, shall be corrected prior to the installation of residing materials or trim clad-
ding.
2. Any installation of residing materials shall simulate the appearance of the original
building material that it is intended to cover. This simulation shall take into account
the size, shape or profile, texture, and linear direction of the original building materi-
al.
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(a) The residing material shall be similar in appearance and dimension to the
original siding. The exposure to the weather of the new siding shall range within one
inch of the nominal dimension of the original siding. The Historic District Commis-
sion shall have the authority to waive this requirement in the event that they believe a
different design or dimension siding would be more appropriate to the architectural
character of the Historic District.
(b) A proposed color shall be appropriate as determined by the Commission.
(c) Generally, wood grain textures are not approved by the Commission. How-
ever, the appropriateness of a specific siding texture shall be determined on an indi-
vidual case basis.
3. Any installation of trim cladding shall adhere to the following guidelines for the
treatment for architectural trim elements.
(a) Existing cornice or building trim elements shall not be covered or replaced
without Commission approval. Commission approval will depend upon how closely
the trim cladding or new trim elements duplicate the appearance of the existing
building trim elements.
(b) The wall siding material shall not extend over the existing trim members such
as window and door trim, sills, fascias, soffits, frieze members and boards, brackets,
aprons, corner boards, trim boards, skirt boards, or any other characteristic moldings
or architectural features (see attached illustration).
(c) If the above mentioned trim members are to be clad, they shall be covered
with custom formed cladding which shall closely approximate the shapes and con-
tours of the existing moldings or trim. Distinctive or unusual trim or architectural el-
ements shall not be clad without prior consideration and Commission approval.
(d) No building trim elements or architectural features are to be removed or al-
tered to facilitate the installation of the new siding or trim cladding without approval
of the Historic District Commission.
(e) In most cases the soffit cladding material shall run parallel and not perpen-
dicular to the plane of the wall.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to install the vinyl fence, to cover the wood siding
with vinyl, and to wrap the soffit and fascia with aluminum as proposed, with the conditions that 1)
all architectural features are retained, 2) all zoning requirements are met, and 3) any necessary per-
mits are obtained.
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