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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MEETING
October 7, 2025 @ 4:00 PM
MUSKEGON CITY HALL, ROOM 204
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
S. Radtke called the meeting to order at 04:00 PM and roll was taken.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steven Radtke, Dave Gregersen, Jackie Huss, Greg
Borgman, Corbin Davis
MEMBERS ABSENT: Katrina Kochin
MEMBERS EXCUSED:
STAFF PRESENT: J. Pesch, W. Webster
OTHERS PRESENT: D. Melinn (1011 2nd), D. Cihacc, J. Delong (1378 5th), H.
Laranja (448 W. Muskegon), J. Lusk and J. Sieblink (390 W. Muskegon), N.
Williams
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approval of Minutes of the July 17, 2025 special meeting, August 5, 2025
regular meeting, and September 2, 2025 regular meeting. Planning
A motion that the HDC approve the minutes of the July 17, 2025 special
meeting and August 5, 2025 regular meeting, and table approval of the minutes
of the September 2, 2025 regular meeting was made by J. Huss, supported by
G. Borgman with S. Radtke, D. Gregersen, J. Huss, G. Borgman, and C. Davis
voting aye.
OLD BUSINESS
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NEW BUSINESS
A. Case 2025-25: 448 W. Muskegon Planning
The applicant was seeking approval to remove two windows and two doors on
the east elevation and side over the existing openings to match the rest of the
house, remove two windows on the north elevation and side over the existing
openings to match the rest of the house, replace an existing window with one
36"x80" door, construct exterior steps and a landing, and install one 30"x72"
window, remove two doors on the front porch along W. Muskegon Avenue and
side over the existing openings to match the rest of the house, replace the
existing 32"x90" front door with a new 36"x96" fiberglass door with 3/4 glass
exposure, and replace the existing wood double-hung windows in the house
with new black fiberglass composite windows of the same size, but shortening
the 84"-tall windows to 77".
J. Pesch reviewed each part of the proposed work noting the location of the
work on photos. H. Laranja explained the door options that he had considered
and asked that the HDC approve a series of options as he had not settled on
which he preferred. He noted that the largest windows he could get would be
seven inches shorter than the existing windows. The HDC asked if the shortened
windows would be centered within the existing rough openings, and H. Laranja
stated that the bottom of the windows would be raised and the space beneath
them filled-in. The HDC specified that the new landing to be built on the north
side of the house should be simple and match the example shown in the HDC
local standards.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to remove two windows and two
doors on the east elevation and side over the existing openings to match the
rest of the house; remove two windows on the north elevation and side over the
existing openings to match the rest of the house, replace an existing window
with one 36"x80" door, construct exterior steps and a landing that meet the
recommended style illustrated in the HDC local standards, and install one
30"x72" window in the location presented at the October 7, 2025 HDC meeting;
remove two doors on the front porch along W. Muskegon Avenue and side over
the existing openings to match the rest of the house; replace the existing 32"x90"
front door with a new 36"x96" fiberglass door with 3/4 glass exposure in one of
the three styles presented at the October 7, 2025 HDC meeting and; replace
the existing wood double-hung windows in the house with new black fiberglass
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composite windows of the same size, but shortening the 84"-tall windows to 77"
by raising the bottom of the window as long as the work meets all zoning
requirements and the necessary permits are obtained was made by J. Huss,
supported by G. Borgman with S. Radtke, D. Gregersen, J. Huss, G. Borgman, C.
Davis voting aye.
B. Case 2025-26: 1378 5th Planning
The applicant was seeking approval to install vinyl siding and trim on the house,
remove and replace existing wood windows with vinyl windows within the same
rough openings with elimination of some windows, replace exterior doors with
six-lite craftsman doors, replace the front porch skirt lattice with a stone veneer,
and install vented aluminum soffit and fascia. J. Pesch shared that much of the
work had already been started.
J. DeLong, contractor for the project, explained that an honest oversight led to
the work starting without a building permit and answered the HDC's questions
about what hd been done so far and what was left to do. The board was not in
favor of the porch windows remaining as slider windows. S. Radtke suggested
casement windows or one-over-one double-hung windows in the same
configuration as the previous windows. G. Borgman and D. Gregersen stated
that retaining a divide and mullion pattern similar to the previous porch
windows would be in keeping with the house's design. J. Huss asked about the
leaded glass window that was covered on the side elevation and J. DeLong
stated that the window was retained, but the frame was rotted. He said that a
new frame could be built, the window reinstalled, and the siding opened up on
the outside.
The HDC was generally ok with much of the work that had been completed on
the main body of the house, and discussion centered on the design of the front
porch. The HDC settled on the following items that would need to be approved
at a future meeting: match the previous design of the fascia board and water
course on the front porch; duplicate the sizing of the former porch windows
either as casements or double-hung, but not sliders; replicate the former
columns with wide square trim boards; alter the stone veneer foundation to
include stone only below the porch columns to accent the bases of the
columns; between the columns, the porch skirting could use a recessed board
painted a dark color to appear open with framed lattice panels on top of that
and; add a vertical trim board at the connection between porch and the main
body of house. J. DeLong agreed to work with staff to submit a drawing prior to
the November meeting, and he asked whether he could continue with the
siding that he had started on the porch if he agreed to ultimately undo that
work and comply with the future HDC motion. J. Pesch stated that he could
approve the work with that included as a condition of approval.
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A motion that the HDC approve the request to install vinyl siding on the main
portion of the house, replace existing wood windows with vinyl windows within
the same rough openings excluding the leaded glass window which will be put
into a new frame and reinstalled in its original location, replace exterior doors
with six-lite craftsman doors, and install vented aluminum soffit and fascia was
made by J. Huss, supported by G. Borgman, with S. Radtke, D. Gregersen, J.
Huss, G. Borgman, and C. Davis voting aye. The HDC specified that review for
the final design of the front porch would take place at a future meeting.
C. Case 2025-27: 390 W. Muskegon Planning
The applicant was seeking approval to widen the stairs on the front porch
facing W. Muskegon Avenue to 48" and replace the existing chain link fence
with a six-foot tall white vinyl fence in the same location. J. Pesch clarified that
the porch stairs would be widened to match the width of the porch landing
and J. Lusk added that the new width of the front porch stairs would be 83".
The HDC discussed the proposed changes to the stairs. J. Pesch shared past
photos of the house noting that all but the front porch roof appeared to be new
construction. S. Radtke stated that the porch may have originally been
supported by brackets instead of columns. J. Lusk explained that the front porch
stairs were the only ones on the house that were not boxed in and asked what
he could do to replace the lattice that was used as porch skirting. The HDC
suggested a few options, including mimicking the example shown in the local
standards, and settled on a solid panel design with a framed center, similar to
the panels on the house's bay window. J. Lusk, J. Sieblink, and the HDC
discussed possible handrail designs that would meet building code. J. Lusk
stated that he hoped to eventually reconstruct all railings on the house, but was
only requesting approval for the railing on the front porch.
J. Pesch explained that the existing fence was unintentionally approved without
HDC review a few years prior and did not meet the HDC local standards. He
added that the proposed replacement fence also did not meet the HDC local
standards, which is why it was being formally reviewed rather than staff
approved. S. Radtke mentioned that the local standards called for wood
fencing and J. Huss responded that the proposed vinyl fence attempted to
mimic the look of a wood fence. D. Gregersen suggested that the fence be set
back slightly from the front wall of the house by about two feet.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to widen the stairs on the front
porch facing W. Muskegon Avenue to the full width of the porch (83”) with the
final porch railing and step design to mimic the railing detail drawing in the HDC
local standards adjusted to meet building code requirements and to be
approved by staff, replace the lattice under the front porch with a solid panel
design with a framed center, and replace the existing chain link fence with a
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six-foot tall white vinyl fence in the same location as the existing fence but with
an 18”-24” setback from the front corner of the house as long as the work meets
all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained was made by J.
Huss, supported by C. Davis, with S. Radtke, D. Gregersen, J. Huss, G. Borgman,
and C. Davis voting aye.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
A. Temporary Accessible Ramps Planning
J. Pesch explained that the HDC did not have a policy for the installation of
temporary accessible ramps, noting that a few had been constructed in the
historic districts and sharing example photos. He added that these are typically
aluminum, not attached to the house, and can be in use for a range of
timeframes. There were area programs that assisted residents with mobility
challenges, recovering from surgery, etc. with installation of ramps and J. Pesch
noted that he received a few recent requests. The HDC discussed formalizing
an approval process for installing temporary accessible ramps to make review
of such features more predictable for applicants and City staff. The board
agreed that the temporary ramps, while often unsightly, were preferable to
properties that designed elaborate, more permanent, ramps. D. Gregersen
suggested that any sort of policy encourage placement of ramps on the side or
rear of the house, if possible. The HDC agreed that ramp requests could be
reviewed and approved by staff rather than formally reviewed by the full
board. J. Pesch noted that he would draft an addition to the HDC Staff
Approval Form for review at the November meeting.
B. Historic District Boundary Adjustments Planning
J. Pesch stated that, as adopted, the Historical Preservation Ordinance that
established the historic districts was very specific in its description of their
boundaries and uses block and lot numbers – basically legal descriptions – to
define those boundaries. Staff discovered that the historic district boundaries
shown on maps had long been incorrect in select areas on the periphery of the
Jefferson and McLaughlin Historic Districts.
At some point, there were some liberties taken in drawing the historic district
boundaries to include the entirety of some parcels when only a portion was
officially located within a district. The HDC reviewed a few examples in the
Jefferson and McLaughlin Historic Districts where these descriptions did not align
with current property lines. J. Pesch added that the incorrect Block number was
used for the Boilerworks Historic District, and that it appeared to have been a
typo. He noted that corrections to the City Ordinance would be needed in
cases where the boundary description was incorrect, and reviewed the process
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of making those revisions.
PUBLIC COMMENT
N. Williams attended to ask questions about the Nelson House and general
questions about the HDC's role. HDC members explained the role of the HDC
and the historic districts, and J. Pesch provided information on the Nelson
House.
D. Cihacc attended to discuss a railing that he had in his possession that was
said to have once been part of a storefront on Western Avenue downtown. He
was looking for a place to potentially donate it so that it would be preserved
and thought he would start with the HDC. He was advised to contact the
Lakeshore Musuem Center, and J. Pesch said that he would put him in contact
with the right person at the museum.
ADJOURNMENT
Respectfully Submitted,
Jamie Pesch, Planner
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