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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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 July 2, August 13, and September 10, 2024 regular meetings
III. Old Business
Case 2024-15 – 1148 Terrace – Siding
IV. New Business
Case 2024-18 – 523 W. Clay – Pergolas/Gazebo
Case 2024-21 – 448 W. Muskegon – Siding, Trim, Soffit, and Fascia
V. Other Business
Staff Approval Form Update
Local Standards Update
VI. Adjourn
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT POLICY FOR ACCESS TO OPEN MEETINGS OF THE CITY OF MUSKEGON
AND ANY OF ITS COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEES
To give comment on a live-streamed meeting the city will provide a call-in telephone number to the public to be able to
call and give comment. For a public meeting that is not live-streamed, and which a citizen would like to watch and give
comment, they must contact the City Clerk’s Office with at least a two-business day notice. The participant will then
receive a zoom link which will allow them to watch live and give comment. Contact information is below. For more
details, please visit: www.shorelinecity.com
The City of Muskegon will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing im-
paired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities who want to
attend the meeting with twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to the City of Muskegon. Individuals with disabilities requiring
auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Muskegon by writing or by calling the following: Ann Marie Meisch,
MMC, City Clerk at 933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI 49440 or by calling 231-724-6705 or emailing clerk@shoreline-
city.com
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II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes of the regular meetings of July 2, August 13, and September 10, 2024.
III. OLD BUSINESS
Case 2024-15 – 1148 Terrace – Siding
Applicant: Steven Roberts
District: McLaughlin
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to replace the siding with a double 4 vinyl siding. More information
will be provided prior to the meeting.
View of building from Terrace Street, looking north.
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View from Terrace Street, looking east.
Detail view of front porch with section of original wood siding visible above front door.
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Standards
RESIDING AND TRIM CLADDING GUIDELINES
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.
In cases 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
understood 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
exterior 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
installation of residing materials or trim cladding as individual cases. Each application shall be
decided 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 include
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 cladding.
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 material.
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 Commission shall have the
authority to waive this requirement in the event that they believe a different design or
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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. However, the
appropriateness of a specific siding texture shall be determined on an individual 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, facias, soffits, frieze members and boards, brackets, aprons, corner boards,
trim boards, skirt boards, or any other characteristic moldings or architectural features.
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 contours of the existing moldings or
trim. Distinctive or unusual trim or architectural elements shall not be clad without prior
consideration and Commission approval.
d. No building trim elements or architectural features are to be removed or altered to facilitate
the installation of the new siding or trim cladding without approval of the Historic District
Commission.
In most cases the soffit cladding material shall run parallel and not perpendicular to the plane of the
wall.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to replace the siding with a double 4 vinyl siding as
long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained.
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IV. NEW BUSINESS
Case 2024-18 – 523 W. Clay – Pergolas/Gazebo
Applicant: Steven Gibbons and Idalmis Marina Vidal-Gibbons
District: National Register
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to install two 12’x8’-5” pergolas and an approximately 17’ x 22’
gazebo.
View of building from W. Clay Avenue, looking south. Area of one proposed pergola visible in
foreground at top of stairs. Proposed gazebo would be to the left of the house behind the fence.
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Rendering of proposed pergolas on W. Clay Avenue (above) and 6th Street (below).
Front and side elevation drawings of proposed pergolas.
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Front and side elevation drawings of proposed gazebo.
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Standards
No specific standards apply.
DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION (Abbreviated)
General design guidelines for sheds include seven-foot-tall walls, a gable roof with a minimum of a
6/12 pitch, and double doors with each door being 3’-6” wide. Sheds shall be as neutral as possible
and shall not be a focal point of the property. All sheds must receive a Development Permit prior to
construction and must follow the requirements of the City of Muskegon Zoning Ordinance with the
added stipulation prohibiting sheds from being located in the front or side yard(s) of a property.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to install two 12’x8’-5” pergolas and an approxi-
mately 17’ x 22’ gazebo as depicted in the October 1, 2024 HDC staff report as long as the work
meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained.
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Case 2024-19 – 448 W. Muskegon – Siding, Trim, Soffit, and Fascia
Applicant: Hugo Laranja
District: Houston
Current Function: Vacant
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to replace the existing wood fascia and soffit with aluminum fascia
and soffit and replace the existing wood trim and siding with wood composite trim and siding with a
four-inch reveal. This work is part of a larger rehabilitation project that will include additional work
reviewed at upcoming meetings.
View from 6th Street, looking north.
View from 6th Street, looking east.
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Standards
See Residing and Trim Cladding Guidelines in Case 2024-15, above.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to replace the existing wood fascia and soffit with
aluminum fascia and soffit and replace the existing wood trim and siding with wood composite trim
and siding with a four-inch reveal as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the neces-
sary permits are obtained.
V. OTHER BUSINESS
Staff Approval Form Update – Staff will present an updated HDC Staff Approval Form that permits
staff to approve the construction of sheds that meet the design requirements outlined in the Local
Standards’ Design Guidelines for New Construction as well as porches or decks that follow the Local
Standards’ Porch and Deck Standards and Guidelines’ Decking, Sample Ballustrade Construction,
and Railing Detail drawings.
Local Standards Update – The HDC will discuss creation of a guide for shutter designs appropriate
to various architectural styles and consider incorporating the guide into their Local Standards.
VI. ADJOURN
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