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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Tuesday, March 1, 2022
TIME OF MEETING: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING: Conference Room 204, City Hall
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of February 1, 2022.
III. Old Business
IV. New Business
Case 2022-08 – 1516 Clinton – Windows
Case 2022-09 – 126 Delaware – Fence
Case 2022-10 – 234 Houston – Windows
V. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
VI. Other Business
Updating/Expanding Muskegon Homeowners’ and Citizens’ Guide for Historic Preservation
2022 HDC Goal Setting
VII. Adjourn
“We admire that which is old not because it is old, but because it is beautiful.” Winston Churchill
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT POLICY FOR ACCESS TO OPEN MEETING OF THE 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 services should contact the City of Muskegon by writing or calling the following: Ann
Marie Cummings, City Clerk at 933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI 49440 or by calling (231) 724-6705 or TTY/TDD: Dial 7-1-1 and request that repre-
sentative dial 231-724-6705
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II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of February 1, 2022.
III. OLD BUSINESS
None
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IV. NEW BUSINESS
Case 2022-08 – 1516 Clinton – Windows
Applicant: Samuel Ames (1-800-Hansons)
District: Clinton-Peck
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to remove and replace four wood windows with vinyl windows of
the same size (two on the north elevation, one on the west elevation, and one on the south elevation).
View of house from Clinton Street showing two windows on the north elevation and one on the west
elevation proposed to be replaced.
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View of house from Clinton Street showing the single window on the south elevation to be replaced.
Standards
WINDOW, DOOR, AND EXTERIOR WOODWORK STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES (Ab-
breviated)
General
These guidelines pertain only to proposed changes to the structure and do not affect existing
construction.
These guidelines are primarily directed toward the front and side elevations of the structure. Greater
variances and more leniency may be extended toward proposed changes to the rear elevation of the
building by the Commission. All desired or proposed changes should be referred to the Historic
District Commission for consideration. Extenuating circumstances, the effect upon the architecture of
the particular structure together with the general effect upon the surrounding structures, variables in
architectural design, or the effect upon usage and viability of the structure could dictate a variance
from these guidelines.
No exterior doors, windows, or exterior woodwork shall be altered, removed, relocated, or added
without Historic District Commission approval.
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Existing exterior window or door casings, sills, and caps shall not be altered from the original design
or appearance. Damaged or deteriorated wood shall be repaired as a first course of action. When repair
is not possible, elements shall be replaced with matching wood members. Damaged or deteriorated
wood elements may be replaced or covered with formed aluminum or vinyl, subject to Commission
approval and provided that the original profile of the woodwork is not altered or changed.
Primary Windows
Existing damaged or deteriorating window frames and sash shall be repaired as a first course of action.
When repair is not possible, elements shall be replaced with matching wood members. Metal or vinyl
replacement windows may be acceptable provided they match the original windows in design and
type and that they consist of or are painted an appropriate color. Bare metal finishes generally will not
be acceptable.
The size of glass lites and muntin arrangements shall not be altered without Commission approval.
Special glazing, such as stained or leaded art glass, shall not be removed without Commission ap-
proval. Unusual decorative windows such as Palladian windows, oriels, bays, Gothic arch or segment
tops, etc. shall not be removed or altered.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to remove and replace four wood windows – two on
the west elevation, one on the north elevation, and one on the south elevation – with vinyl windows
of the same size as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are
obtained.
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Case 2022-09 – 126 Delaware – Fence
Applicant: Ernesto Rodriguez
District: McLaughlin
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to construct a six-foot-tall wood privacy fence along a portion of
the north property line and along the east property line extending to the front wall of the house.
Because the HDC local standards limit privacy fences to no more than four-feet in height beyond the
midway point of the front and rear of the house, the final section of fencing, closest to the street cannot
be approved by Staff as it does not conform with the local standards at the proposed height.
View of house from Delaware Avenue, looking north.
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View of proposed fence location along east property line.
Proposed location and style of 6’-tall privacy fence.
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Standards
FENCE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES (Abbreviated)
General
Fences and gates are an extension of the architecture of a home. They should be compatible in style
and material. They should be appropriate to the size and scale of the structure. They, therefore, require
review and approval by the Historic District Commission.
Sometimes it is necessary to use fencing for other than decorative purposes, such as marking bound-
aries, privacy, screening unsightly areas, or security. Fencing for utilitarian purposes sometimes re-
quires fencing materials which are not of the period or character of the house. Nonconforming fencing
materials may be considered for use in the back of the structure.
…
Fence Standards
LAYOUT REQUIREMENTS: (Please see the attached Supplementary Graphics sheets)
Conforming open fences not over four (4) feet and conforming solid fences not over three (3) feet in
height are permitted between the property line and halfway between the front and rear setback lines.
…
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Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to construct a six-foot-tall wood privacy fence along
a portion of the north property line and along the east property line extending to the front wall of the
house as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained.
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Case 2022-10 – 234 Houston – Windows
Applicant: City of Muskegon CNS
District: Houston
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to remove and replace all remaining wood windows with vinyl
windows of the same size and configuration. The proposed work is tied to a lead abatement project
through the City of Muskegon’s Community and Neighborhood Services Department. More
information will be provided at the meeting.
View of house from Houston Avenue.
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View of west elevation.
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View of east elevation.
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View of north elevation.
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Detail of window on west elevation.
Standards
See Window, Door, and Exterior Woodwork Standards and Guidelines in Case 2022-08, above.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to remove and replace all remaining wood windows
with vinyl windows of the same size as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the
necessary permits are obtained.
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V. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
Updating/Expanding Muskegon Homeowners’ and Citizens’ Guide for Historic Preservation –
This is a continuation of the discussion from the February meeting. The document is outdated or
incorrect in a number of areas, and could be expanded in others. Staff has suggested adding details
such as appropriate door designs to the architectural styles section of the document as well as other
common topics.
2022 HDC Goal Setting – Staff has identified items from the HDC’s previous goal setting
discussions. As a follow up to the conversation at the February meeting, the next steps will focus on:
- Mailings to property owners within the historic districts containing information on the historic
districts and HDC procedures. A draft letter will be provided for review at the meeting.
- Review of the Historic Districts chapter from the 1997 City of Muskegon Master Land Use
Plan in anticipation of the Planning Department’s ongoing update of the full Master Land Use
Plan.
VII. ADJOURN
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