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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Packet 10-21-2025HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Agenda for Meeting of October 21, 2025 Regular business at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Volunteer Room I. Call to Order and Quorum II. Minutes: A. September 16, 2025 III. Certificate of Approval Review A. 221 Sibley Street – New windows IV. OHDS – Original Hastings Design Standards Review V. Business and Information VI. Adjourn The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on November 18, 2025 at Hastings City Hall HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of the Meeting of September 16, 2025 Held at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, Volunteer Room I. Call to Order and Quorum Commissioners present: Bremer, Simacek, Toppin, Peterson, and McCoy Absent: Alitz Edell, Smith, Schilts-Johnson, and Borchardt Staff: Fortney Chair Bremer called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm. II. Minutes: A. August 19, 2025 Approved by Chair Bremer III. Certificate of Approval Review A. 315 7th St W – New home Construction Fortney presented the staff report. He added that replacement windows of a historic house should reflect the original grid pattern. He said a new house would not have to replicate window details from a previous house. Commissioners commented that the scale of the scale of the building was appropriate for the size of the site. The commissioners were concerned that aluminum railings don’t replicate the appearance of wood like other alternate materials. Since the house is new construction and not contributing to the district, the commissioners were accepting if the railing components were thicker like typical wood railings. Motion by Commissioner McCoy to approve the request with the following conditions, seconded by Commissioner Simacek. Approved 5-0 • Window grinds must at least be on the outside of the glass. • Railing components must be close to the thickness of typical wood railing components. IV. OHDS – Original Hastings Design Standards Review A. 516 & 520 7th Street E – New twin home Commissioners commented that the proposed twin home is not a traditional design that the OHDS district was designed to achieve. However, they commented that this area was not contiguous to the rest of the district and unique. They added that this block is across the spur railroad track and Bailey St, which serves as the district boundary to the north and there are many modern infill homes like East Hastings. Commissioner Toppin cited a modern home built in 2000 across the street with the same design but with a three-car garage and a 2010 duplex next door with a low sloped roof. Commissioner McCoy said the biggest issue is the front garages. Fortney said the only mention of garage location in the ordinance is the requirement that garages access an alley when present. He added there isn’t an alley present. Jeffrey Kuhn, applicant, said the only way of altering the prominent garages would be to change the blueprints completely. Fortney said the guidelines suggest the porches be raised from the ground, which are proposed at grade. Kuhn said that would be difficult because the lot slopes down in the back and fill must already be added. He said that the entries are proposed at grade to exclude steps for health considerations. Kuhn suggested he add railings which would be an alternate way of making the porches look traditional. The Commissioners were accepting of the compromise. Chair Bremer said the windows facing the street are fewer than the guidelines suggest and that area homes have. She asked if the current ones can be enlarged. Kuhn said the front windows are in the kitchens and extend from the sink to the header and between the cabinets. He suggested adding windows to the sides of the garages which will be visible from the street. Commissioner Toppin asked if a window or something could be added to the large front gable. Kuhn said it is attic space that is divided with a fire break so no opening could be added. Fortney suggested a decorative vent or detail could be added to break up the expanse. Kuhn said he was proposing vinyl board and batten, or vinyl shakes on the gables, but he now thinks horizontal siding would be a more traditional look with less potential for future leaks. The commissioners thought that was appropriate. Motion by Commissioner Peterson to recommend approval of the request to the City Council for consideration on October 6, 2025 with the following conditions, seconded by Commissioner McCoy. Approved 5-0 • A decorative gable feature is added to at least the largest front gable. • Porch railings are included on the porches. • Windows are added to the sides of the garages. • The gables have horizontal lap siding. V. Business and Information A. Recap of State Preservation Conference Commissioner Toppin and Fortney summarized what they learned from the state preservation conference in New Ulm. Toppin said the most impressive session she attended was regarding New Ulm tourism. She said there is incredible coordination between the New Ulm Tourism Board, HPC, local historical society, downtown businesses, and local businesses that depend on tourism like August Schell Brewing Co. She said they meet regularly and piggyback on each other’s events to take advantage of the incoming tourists. Commissioners said they would like to learn more about the Hastings Tourism Board in the future. Toppin added that there could be a partnership opportunity for a new digital walking tour that other historic cities have been showcasing at recent conferences. VI. Adjourn Motion by Commissioner Peterson to adjourn at 8:51 pm, seconded by Commissioner Simacek. Approved 5-0 Respectfully Submitted - Justin Fortney CERTIFICATE APPLICATION 10-2025 221 Sibley Street. Luke Hafstad, Hafstad Real Estate LLC– Replace windows Ca. 1881, East 2nd Street Historic District, National Register Background: The applicant received approval from the HPC for window replacements in 2023 and 2024. There were a few in the rear that were historic but in poor and altered states. All the remaining windows aside from a rear door transom window are modern windows. Some of the modern windows have a transom window that was not the original design. Request: The applicant is proposing to replace two side windows on the second floor. They are currently double-hung with a transom above. The proposed replacements are wood double-hung with a combination storm window over them. They will not include transom windows. Future window replacements are intended to match the new windows. Ordinance, Guidelines Design Guidelines (Page 21) 4: Windows 1. Maintain and Conserve Wherever feasible, historic windows and sash should be repaired rather than replaced, especially on principal elevations. 3. New Sash: Glazing The size and number of panes of glass in each sash should not be altered. New sash, if installed, should duplicate the existing or other appropriate historic models. Artificial muntins or grids should at the least be located on the exterior of the window and match the original window design. Crank-out units should not replace double-hung sash. 5. Storm Windows Repair or replicate historic wood storms wherever possible. Storm windows should not have vertical or horizontal divisions that conflict with the divisions of the historic sash and should be flush with existing trim. If combination metal storms must be installed, they should have a baked enamel factory finish. Staff Findings The original window configuration of the building is not known. There is some evidence to suggest the windows in the 1930 photo were replacements. The one over one configuration at that time has likely developed significance of its own. The proposed replacement windows match that 1930’s configuration. This is consistent with past HPC window approvals on the side (third floor) and rear of the building. Proposed window and combination storm windows to be used above Pre 1985 photo 1930’s photo To be replaced Example