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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250715 - HPC Minutes HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of the Meeting of July 15, 2025 Held at 7:04 p.m. at City Hall, Volunteer Room I. Call to Order and Quorum Commissioners present: Bremer, Schilts-Johnson, Peterson, Simacek, and McCoy Absent: Toppin, Smith, Alitz Edell, and Borchardt Staff: Fortney Chair Bremer called the meeting to order. II. Minutes: A. June 17, 2025 Approved by Chair Bremer III. Certificate of Approval Review A. 322 2nd Street W – New windows – Tabled Motion by Commissioner Simacek to remove the item from the table, seconded by Commissioner Peterson. Approved 5-0 Fortney presented the staff report. Chair Bremer asked if the applicant provided any documentation of damage for the existing windows as requested at the June meeting. Staff said no additional information was submitted. Staff added that he offered to visit the property and take pictures but did not receive a response. Aaron Lewicki, with Renewal by Anderson explained the issues with the windows and said there are pictures of the windows included in the information. Commissioner Peterson said the pictures were taken from far away and do not show damage and they are not clear. Lewicki said the pictures were not taken close. Lewicki said that the homeowner has tried some repairs himself, but the windows still have problems. Chair Bremer said the commission must determine that it is not feasible to repair the windows. She added to do that, the commission must be presented with proof of significant damage or a statement or quote from a window restorer explaining or showing that repair is not feasible. She added that just because a homeowner cannot make the proper window repair, it doesn’t mean repair is not feasible. Bremer said the homeowner is not intending to replace the windows themselves. Commissioner McCoy asked staff if they can table it again for the documentation. Fortney responded that staff and the Commission has asked multiple times and have not received anything additional. He added that the application should receive a final vote tonight due to the time it has been pending without requested information. He added they can reapply next month if it is not approved. Motion by Commissioner Bremer to deny the request based on the following findings of fact, seconded by Commissioner Peterson. Approved 5-0 - The Hastings Design Guidelines state that wherever feasible, historic windows should be repaired rather than replaced. Residential Guideline 4: Windows 1. Maintain and Conserve o No information was provided to the HPC on the feasibility of repair, despite requests from staff and the HPC at its June 17, 2025 meeting. o No close pictures or other evidence was submitted as requested by staff on multiple occasions and by the HPC at its June 17, 2025 meeting. - Without the requested information, the HPC could not determine findings for replacement of historic windows. B. 114 6th Street E – New windows Fortney presented the staff report and added that the applicant emailed photos of the damage to the windows shortly before the meeting. Eric Perkins, the applicant, said the pictures show some micro cracks in some windows, broken window stools, and missing stops. He added that some locks are missing, and the rope and pulleys do not operate. He also mentioned that the two upper front windows are new replacements from the 1950s. Perkins stated that they chose Pella because they would best maintain the historic window appearance, even with full screens on the outside. Commissioner Simacek said the issues can be repaired and noted that nearly all the windows at the Confluence are original and have been repaired and upgraded with weather stripping and storm windows to vastly improve efficiency. Perkins said he has contacted Hayes Window Restoration but has not yet received a quote. He added that they will obtain a quote but are concerned that some windows may be feasible to repair while others are not. Perkins stated they want all their windows to match. Motion by Commissioner McCoy to table the request until the applicant receives a restoration quote, seconded by Commissioner Peterson. Approved 5-0 IV. OHDS – Original Hastings Design Standards Review V. Business and Information A. 315 Pine Street update Fortney presented the approved plans along with restoration progress photos. The commissioners were excited to see the progress. VI. Adjourn Motion by Commissioner McCoy to adjourn at 8:34 pm, seconded by Commissioner Schilts- Johnson. Approved 5-0 Respectfully Submitted - Justin Fortney