View the PDF version Google Docs PDF Viewer
CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
May 12, 2022 (Rescheduled from May 3, 2022)
S. Radtke called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: S. Radtke, D. Gregersen, E. Trejo, J. Huss
MEMBERS ABSENT: K. George
STAFF PRESENT: J. Pesch, L. Evans
OTHERS PRESENT: S. Thompson and V. Thompson (461 W. Webster), E. Trejo (486 W. Clay), J.
Huss (561 W. Western, also noted above)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of April 5, 2022 was made by D. Gregersen, supported by T.
Emory and approved with S. Radtke, J. Huss, T. Emory, and D. Gregersen voting aye.
OTHER BUSINESS
Potential Hackley Park Conservation Work – The second item of Other Business was moved to the start of
the meeting as L. Evans, Director of Public Works, had to leave the meeting by 4:30pm. The City of Muskegon
was seeking to complete needed conservation work to the monuments at Hackley Park. In seeking funding
sources for the project, Staff was directed to the CLG program and annual grant opportunities presented by the
program. Staff was seeking support for the Hackley Park conservation work as a grant priority should the City
become certified through the program.
Staff provided a quote for the conservation work that had been obtained by the City, and L. Evans explained
that the quote also included the McKinley Monument across W. Webster Avenue from Hackley Park, the
Kearny Statue at Terrace and Peck Streets, and a cannon at the Mona Lake Cemetery in Muskegon Heights. J.
Pesch explained that the City would need to become certified through the State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO) Certified Local Government Program (CLG) in order to be eligible for grant funding, and that if the
grant amount requested were to match the amount quoted for the work, this would likely be the City’s only
application for funding this year.
L. Evans stated that this was the first phase of a larger effort to maintain and conserve the various pieces of
public art in the city, and that Hackley Park was the highest priority as the sculptures had not seen any
substantial work since the 1990s. The HDC was supportive of pursuing the CLG grant opportunity for the
proposed Hackley Park conservation work.
NEW BUSINESS
Case 2022-15 – 461 W. Webster Ave. – Solar Panels
Applicant: Victoria Thompson - District: Houston - Current Function: Residential
J. Pesch presented the staff report. The applicant was seeking approval to install a 12-panel roof-mounted solar
array on the southeast-facing roof surface of the detached garage (along the rear alley).
The board reviewed the drawings providing the specific locations of the solar panels and the installation method
and agreed that the proposed placement of the solar array met the local standards.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to install a 12-panel roof-mounted solar array on the southeast-
facing roof surface of the detached garage to the location and installation specifications provided in the May
12th, 2022 HDC staff report as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are
obtained was made by J. Huss, supported by T. Emory and approved with S. Radtke, J. Huss, T. Emory, and D.
Gregersen voting aye.
Case 2022-16 – 390 W. Muskegon Ave. – Patio
Applicant: William Smith - District: Houston - Current Function: Residential
J. Pesch presented the staff report. The applicant was seeking approval to construct an unattached, 16’x16’
wooden patio in the side yard of the property. The patio was proposed to be flush with ground, and painted black
to match the house.
J. Pesch stated that the applicant was not available to attend the rescheduled meeting, but that he would attempt
to answer any questions that the board had. The board noted that the proposed patio was not permanent and not
attached to the house. J. Pesch explained that the drawings provided were not clear as to whether the patio would
be flush with the ground or raised slightly above grade, but that it was anticipated to be flush with the ground.
The board agreed to word their motion in a way that could allow for both options.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to construct an unattached, 16’x16’ wooden patio in the side yard of
the property, flush with or five inches above the ground, and painted black to match the house as long as the
work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained was made by T. Emory, supported
by J. Huss and approved with S. Radtke, J. Huss, T. Emory, and D. Gregersen voting aye.
Case 2022-17 – 486 W. Clay Ave. – Gutters
Applicant: Emilio Trejo - District: Clay-Western - Current Function: Residential
E. Trejo explained that there were existing white gutters on the house but that this project called for additional
gutters to get water away from the stone foundation of the house. The new gutters would be black in color, and
installed along the front of the house along the second-story roofline, sloping toward the inside corners of the
bump-out to downspouts that would continue to the porch roof then pitch out to another pair of downspouts at the
corners where the porch connects to the house. The front porch would have a gutter along the roofline as well,
diverting water to downspouts at both corners of the porch. Another gutter would run along the second-story
roofline of the side porch on 5th Street, around the back corner of the house, sloping toward the rear of the house
to a downspout on the back of the house.
T. Emory stated concern with the appearance of the black gutters in the locations proposed on the front of the
house. S. Radtke asked if it would be possible to slope the gutters on the second-story to the corners of the house
to two-story downspouts. E. Trejo said that he was open to the idea, but would need to discuss it with his contractor
to determine if it was feasible. D. Gregersen suggested that the HDC approve both options, with one being
preferred to avoid having the applicant return for a second meeting.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to install gutters on the front roofline of the house preferred to slope
to downspouts on the outer corners of the house, install a gutter along the front of the porch, sloping toward the
corners of the porch, and install a gutter along the roofline of the side porch, wrapping around to the rear elevation
and down the rear elevation of the house. If the contractor deems the preferred gutter setup on the front elevation
of the house infeasible, then the HDC approves the original request to install gutters on the front roofline of the
house sloping toward downspouts running along the corner of the gable in the center of the house, then along
the top of the porch roof to downspouts at the back corners of the front porch as long as the work meets all zoning
requirements and the necessary permits are obtained was made by J. Huss, supported by T. Emory and approved
with S. Radtke, J. Huss, T. Emory, and D. Gregersen voting aye.
Case 2022-18 – 561 W. Western Ave. – Window Sign
Applicant: Lakeshore Museum Center - District: Clay-Western - Current Function: Institutional
Case 2022-18 listed on the meeting agenda at 585 W. Clay was withdrawn, and the case number was reassigned
to 561 W. Western (listed as 2022-19 on the agenda). J. Pesch presented the staff report. The applicant was seeking
approval to replace the window sign in the storefront window. The work had already been completed.
J. Huss explained that the new sign would match the signage found at the museum’s various other sites. J. Pesch
provided photos of the previous window sign’s appearance, noting that there was no record of its approval from
the HDC. J. Huss explained that the previous sign was an applied vinyl window sign that spanned both the left
and right storefront windows, but the new applied vinyl sign would only be installed on the right storefront
window; the sign was green, as each museum site had its own color scheme under a recent rebranding project.
J. Pesch provided past and present photos of the other museum signs at 430 W. Clay, 504 W. Clay, 510 W. Clay,
and 484 W. Webster, noting that because the sign faces had been updated, the HDC would also need to include
them in the final motion. The board acknowledged that all the signs now matched, and as ground signs, were not
directly affixed to the buildings.
J. Huss stated that if the sign at 561 W. Western were to be redone in the same format as the other museum signs,
the final dimensions would be 13”x48”. J. Pesch added that the signage requirements in the downtown area leaned
heavily toward pedestrian-scale signage, and that it was likely more limiting, in terms of overall dimensions, than
the HDC’s local standards. The board and staff discussed the various signage regulations typically used in zoning
ordinances, ultimately agreeing that staff could verify the standards used locally and convey the maximum
window sign dimensions to the applicant.
The board stated general reasons that they were not in favor of approving the window sign that was installed. S.
Radtke recommended that a window sign with individual letters would be preferable to the large block of
background color of the current sign. J. Huss said that their marketing consultant could recreate the logo without
the background.
D. Gregersen asked if the green entrance sign on the left door was also included in the request and J. Huss
explained that it was also new, but it conveyed the same information as the previous sign on that door. D.
Gregersen noted that the sign on the inoperable door drew more attention to it than the door to its right that people
used to enter the museum. The board agreed that the sign on the left, inoperable door should be made less
prominent. D. Gregersen offered a possible design that could achieve this goal.
A motion that the HDC deny the request to replace the window sign in the storefront window as proposed in the
May 12th, 2022 HDC staff report was made by D. Gregersen supported by T. Emory and approved with S.
Radtke, T. Emory, and D. Gregersen voting aye, and J. Huss abstaining.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to replace the main window sign in the storefront window with
individual letters and logo in the suggested green color applied to the glass with no background as long as the
work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained was made by T. Emory, supported
by D. Gregersen and approved with S. Radtke, T. Emory, and D. Gregersen voting aye, and J. Huss abstaining.
J. Pesch reiterated that the maximum dimensions as outlined in the zoning ordinance would be shared with the
applicant along with the HDC’s approval motion following the meeting.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to install four museum site signs as installed at 430 W. Clay, 504
W. Clay, 510 W. Clay, and 484 W. Webster as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the
necessary permits are obtained was made by T. Emory, supported by S. Radtke and approved with S. Radtke, T.
Emory, and D. Gregersen voting aye, and J. Huss abstaining.
OTHER BUSINESS
Certified Local Government (CLG) – J. Pesch explained that he was preparing an application for the City of
Muskegon to become certified through the CLG Program. As discussed under the first item of other business,
certification would make the city eligible for annual, historic preservation grant opportunities available only to
CLG communities. While this topic had been discussed by the HDC a number of times throughout the past few
years, many changes on the board had also occurred during that time which led to a revisiting of the
expectations, requirements, and opportunities associated with the certification. The board was in agreement that
Staff should continue with pursuing certification through the CLG program. J. Pesch stated that he would finish
the application and submit it.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
JP
Sign up for City of Muskegon Emails