HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Packet 11-16-2021HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Agenda for the November 16, 2021
Regular business at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Volunteer Room
I. Call to Order and Quorum
II. Minutes:
A. September 21, 2021
III. Certificate of Approval Review
A. 103 2nd Street East – New sign
IV. Business and Information
V. Adjourn
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on December 21, 2021 at Hastings City Hall
HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes of the Meeting of September 21, 2021
Held at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
I. Quorum: Toppin, Smith, Youngren, Simacek and Sovik-Siemens
Absent: Borchardt
Staff Present: Justin Fortney, City Planner
Chair Toppin called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
II. Minutes: July 27, 2021
Motion by Youngren for approval, seconded by Smith - motion approved 5-0.
III. Certificate of Approval Review
A. 208 Sibley Street – New sign
Fortney presented the staff report. Lynn Hoeschen, applicant, said the sign is made out of spruce
and was crafted with a chainsaw. She added that it will hang from the wall of the building.
Motion by Sovik-Siemens for approval of the sign as presented, seconded by Simacek-
motion approved 5-0.
B. 209 Sibley Street – maintenance/ repair issue
Fortney presented the staff report and explained that staff had concerns the contractor may not
perform the work as they indicated on the building permit application and in discussions. The
building owner said she wishes she had known that city staff had concerns with the contractor.
Commissioner Simacek asked if the city can tell people that a contractor is not trustworthy or rate
their work. Fortney said the city could not outright make those claims.
Fortney explained the work was inspected just hours after their expected start time and a stop
work order was issued as it was not in line with the permitted work, Design Guidelines, or
industry standards. He said the Building Official has concerns that the completed work would
have required a professional engineer’s approval.
Commissioner Toppin asked what recourse the owner and city have to correct the damage. The
owner said she has already paid for most of the work. Fortney said staff may be able to compel
the contractor to correct the work by threat of having their contractor license revoked. Fortney
added that the contractor likely is not qualified to repair the damage they caused. Fortney said
another option may be to have their contractors bond or insurance policy pay for the repairs. He
added that city staff will review all options after the HPC determines if the work approved by
staff and work completed, were in line with the Design Guidelines.
Fortney said he will keep the building owner informed of the discussions to resolved the issue.
Motion by Commissioner Smith to affirm that staff’s approval was in line with the Design
Guidelines, but the repairs performed were not, seconded by Youngren - motion approved
5-0.
C. 119 8th Street E – New fence
Fortney presented the staff report. He added that the landscaping plan includes a couple walkways
and patio. Fortney said those proposed improvements are not visible from the rights-of-way and at
grade.
Commissioner Simacek commented that the western portion of the fence is not as labeled in the
staff report. He said it looks as though it runs along the western property line. Fortney agreed with
that observation. Chair Toppin said that the fence is appropriately placed and is of a style
recommended in the Design Guidelines.
Motion by Simacek for approval of the fence, landscaping, patio, and walkways as
presented, seconded by Sovik-Siemens - motion approved 5-0.
IV. Business
A. Discuss Preservation Awards
Chair Toppin reviewed the nominations of the preservation awards committee. The Commission
discussed the three categories that include general upkeep and rehabilitation, mid-century modern,
and Stewardship.
Chair Toppin suggested that rather than giving away century plaques to homes turning 100, the
HPC gives a wood plaque and century home plaque to three of the five award recipients.
The Commissioners further discussed the properties to be awarded.
Motion by Simacek for approval of the following award recipients, seconded by Smith -
motion approved 5-0.
General upkeep and rehabilitation: 623 Tyler Street, 320 7th Street West, 705 3rd Street West
Mid-century modern: 1120 Tyler Street
Stewardship: 307 Sibley Street
V. Adjourn
Motion by Sovik-Siemens to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 pm, seconded by Youngren;
motion approved 5-0.
Respectfully Submitted - Justin Fortney
CERTIFICATE APPLICATION 7-2021
103 2nd Street E – Katrin Lindberg/ Farmers Insurance
New sign
Ca. 1876 , East 2nd Street Historic District- Contributing
Request:
The applicant is seeking approval of a new sign on the front of the building. The non-
illuminated sign is made from aluminum painted white with applied graphics. The sign
will be 2’ 8” X 18’, for a total of 21.3 square feet.
Ordinance, Guidelines
1. Sign
Design Guidelines (Page 39) 5: Historic Commercial Buildings: General Guidelines
8. Signs, Awnings, and Lighting
• a. Signs and awnings should follow regulations subject to provisions of the
• city’s zoning ordinance.
• Wherever possible, signs should be placed in traditional sign locations…
• Signs should be appropriately sized… traditional materials such as wood and metal.
• Signs should not conceal architectural details or features and materials should be
compatible with the materials of the building to which they are attached.
• No part of the historic facade should be irreversibly damaged or altered in the installation
of signs and awnings. Limit drilling new holes into masonry. Sign hardware should be
attached to the building with holes drilled into mortar joints, if possible.
Staff findings:
The proposed sign is appropriately sized and located on the building. The Zoning
ordinance allows 2 Sf of signage per linier feet of street frontage which allows for 44 Sf
on this building. The proposed sign is 21.3 Sf. The sign is proposed at a normal sign
elevation and does not cover any architectural features. The sign plans note that the sign
is to be mounted in the mortar joints.