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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
October 22, 2025 @ 4:00 PM
MUSKEGON CITY HALL, ROOM 204
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
☐ CALL TO ORDER:
☐ ROLL CALL:
☐ APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A. Approval of Meeting minutes of the September 2, 2025 regular meeting.
Planning
☐ OLD BUSINESS:
☐ NEW BUSINESS:
A. Case 2025-28: 74 Delaware Planning
☐ ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
☐ PUBLIC COMMENT:
☐ ADJOURNMENT:
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 impaired 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
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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. 933 Terrace St. Muskegon, MI 49440. (231)724-6705.
clerk@shorelinecity.com
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Historic District Commission
Approval of Meeting minutes of the September Description of Work:
2, 2025 regular meeting.
Applicant: District:
Current Use: Date of Construction:
Discussion:
Standards:
Deliberation:
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the minutes of the September 2, 2025 regular meeting.
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Historic District Commission
Case 2025-28: 74 Delaware Description of Work: Siding, Windows, and Porch
Applicant: AJ Ademovic District: McLaughlin
Current Use: Vacant Date of Construction: 1/1/1916
Discussion:
The applicant is seeking approval to replace the wood siding with vinyl siding with a 4" reveal,
replicating the original window and door trim including the crown moldings above the windows;
replace damaged or missing windows within the same rough openings with vinyl windows with some
changes to the size and appearance of some windows; and reconstruct the damaged portion of the
brick front porch with new brick to match the remaining portion of the porch. The work has already
been started without building permits. More information on the proposed changes to the size and
appearance of some windows will be presented at the meeting.
Standards:
See attached Window, Door, and Exterior Woodwork Standards and Guidelines and Residing and
Trim Cladding Guidelines.
Deliberation:
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to replace the wood siding with vinyl siding with a
4" reveal, replicating the original window and door trim including the crown moldings above the
windows, replace damaged or missing windows within the same rough openings with vinyl windows
including the changes to the size and appearance of the selection of windows presented at the
October 22, 2025 HDC special meeting, and reconstruct the damaged portion of the brick front
porch with new brick to match the remaining portion of the porch as long as the work meets all
zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained.
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View of east (side) and south (front) elevations from Delaware (photo from November 2022).
View of east (side) and south (front) elevations from Delaware (photo from October 2025).
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View of south (front) and west (side) elevations from Delaware (photo from November 2022).
View of south (front) and west (side) elevations from Delaware (photo from October 2025).
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View of south (front) elevation and damaged porch (photo from November 2022).
View of south (front) elevation and partially reconstructed porch (photo from October 2025).
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View of west (side) elevation (photo from November 2022).
View of west (side) and north (rear) elevation (photo from November 2022).
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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
WINDOW, DOOR, AND EXTERIOR WOODWORK
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
(Adopted December 6, 1994 - Effective January 1, 1995)
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.
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
approval. Unusual decorative windows such as Palladian windows, oriels, bays, Gothic arch or
segment tops, etc. shall not be removed or altered.
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Storm Windows
Wood storm and screen windows are the most appropriate for use in the historic district. Other
types of storm, screen, or combination windows will be approved provided that the new storm
window mullions align with the mullions of the primary windows. Blind stop storm and screen
windows (where such windows are placed inside the existing window frames rather than affixed to
the exterior of the frames) are preferable and may be required in some instances. Bare metal storm
and screen windows must be painted to match or complement the trim. Interior storm windows
may be acceptable as long as they do not detract from the appearance of the primary windows.
Care should be taken, however, when using interior storm windows because condensation tends to
form on the inside surface of the primary window and could cause damage to the wood and paint
if not properly ventilated.
Primary Doors
Every effort should be made to preserve or repair the original doors where damage has occurred.
When repair is not possible, a new wood door may be used. Such new door shall match the original
in detail and finish.
The Commission may approve new wood doors that may slightly differ from the original in cases
where replicating the original may not be feasible, as long as such doors generally conform to the
ones illustrated on the attached sheet. Under certain circumstances, the Commission may approve
doors made of material other than wood provided they conform to the same design requirements.
Storm Doors
Wooden storm and screen doors are preferred and will generally be the required option especially
on the front of the structure. Aluminum or metal storm and screen doors may be used so long
as they are not mill finished or anodized aluminum. Baked enamel or other applicable paints or
finishes will be acceptable. In general, storm and screen doors shall conform to those illustrated on
the attached sheet. The door stiles and rails should be a minimum of 4” wide and one lite doors,
where practical, are preferred in order not to detract from the existing primary door. Jalousie doors
are not acceptable for use as storm doors in the historic districts. Ornamental iron work safety
doors are also generally inappropriate in the historic districts.
Exterior Woodwork
Existing decorative woodwork such as railings, moldings, eave, and gable cornice trim, tracery,
columns, observatories, scrolls, bargeboards, lattice, and other carved or sawn wood ornament
shall not be removed or altered without Commission approval. Existing deteriorated ornamental
woodwork shall not be removed but shall be repaired or replaced with matching materials where
possible.
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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
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.
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.
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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 dimension
siding would be more appropriate to the architectural character of the Historic District.
b. 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 (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 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.
e. In most cases the soffit cladding material shall run parallel and not perpendicular to the
plane of the wall.
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