City of Charleston Historic Preservation Commission met April 20.
Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:
1. Call to Order: Chair Bob Bertrand called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m.
2. Roll Call: Present were Commissioners Bob Bertrand, Giuliana Dongu, Merry Lichtenberger, Blair Lord, Kit Morice, Peter Quinn and ex-officio members Matt Madigan and Nora Pat Small. Also present were City Clerk Deborah Muller, City Planner Steve Pamperin, City Inspector Alex Winkler, City Attorney Steve Mahrt and Intern Logan Klepzig.
3. Introduction of Guests: Present were Jeff Knezovich and Marty Morgan, representing the Central Illinois Alumni Association. Also present were Historic District neighborhood and Charleston residents Sallie & Dan Cougill; Jeanette Baer; Kirsten Bays; Ray Carr; Annette Reichart; Julie Campbell; Lori Conwell; Judy Drake; Brenda Taber; Ann W. Hinrichs; Mary & Dick Droste; Rob Smith; Jonelle DePetro; Richard G. Jones, Jr.; Jarad Jarmon, (JG-TC); Carol Harper; Mary Helen Mertz; Donna M. Witmer & Stephen A. Witmer; Robert Whittenbarger & Luz Whittenbarger; Bob Inyart; Terry Coulton; and Richard Wise.
4. Approval of the March 23, 2018 Regular Meeting Minutes and April 13, 2018 Special Meeting Minutes: Continued to the May Regular Meeting with Lord making the motion and Morice seconding.
New Business
1. Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)—956 & 964 6th Street/Sigma Pi Fraternity House, submitted by the Central Illinois Alumni Association
Jeff Knezovich, Treasurer, Central Illinois Alumni Association, was once again in attendance to discuss a revised plan for the 956 6th Street. The plan would include removing the back porch and adding a two-story addition to the west, extending the footprint an additional 24 feet; although it is possible that the size of the addition may be smaller depending upon cost. The roofline would extend straight back from the upper hipped roof, or “squared off” as described by Knezovich. He explained they had taken into consideration the comments from neighborhood residents and other community members. The plan also includes fencing in between 956 and 964 6th Street. The garage, that Knezovich said was erected in 1966, would be demolished. The vinyl siding on 956 6th would be removed. Fire escapes would be housed within the addition.
Small asked what the commission was to vote on since the COA application was not complete. Knezovich said they were just asking for consideration of the plan. The HPC then looked at photos of the existing rear of 956 for clarification about how the addition would tie into the existing house.
Quinn noted there weren’t any plans for the second floor; Knezovich replied they had not had enough time to complete those.
Madigan asked how many additional square feet would there be, to which Knezovich replied about 400.
Morice asked about changes to the roofline, which is currently intersecting hip and gables.
Small noted that while it is difficult to make a final determination from the drawings presented, the addition appears to be mostly not visible from the front of the house. She also commented on the “false historicity” of the rear of the addition, which looked more Georgian in style and not in harmony with the existing structure. Knezovich replied that the addition would not be visible from the front of the house.
Quinn then stated that the drawings were too vague and more information was needed. Knezovich said their goals were to meet firs safety codes and ADA requirements. Quinn said perhaps the style of the addition is too grand? The issue of fencing was also briefly discussed, which was not included in the plans on view.
City Attorney Mahrt asked for clarification about which set of plans Sigma Pi was pursuing, with the additional square footage or not; Knezovich replied the it would depend upon costs.
At this point, Bertrand opened the meeting to audience questions and statements.
Roscoe M. Cougill, 935 6th Street, said the neighbors aren’t opposed to a fraternity in the neighborhood. He is confused about if they are adding on to the existing house. He then suggested that a meeting/workshop be held with Sigma Pi representatives, their architect, 6th and 7th Street residents and other interested community members, and the HPC.
Morice asked City Planner Pamperin for clarification about R-1 zoning; does the use revert back to R-1 if the property is sold? Pamperin replied it does not, unless the use goes back to a single family home.
Ray Carr, 1001 6th Street, said he has concerns about the size of the addition. He has no problem with the simplification of the roof form. He asked for careful oversight from the City during the renovations. He stated that moving the fire escapers to an interior space is a good idea and has concerns about the safety of exterior fire escapes. He expressed concerns about the placement of the fencing and unknown factors that may occur during construction.
Donna Witmer, 840 6th Street, asked what the current square footage of the house? Knezovich replied 3,640 square feet. She and her husband are 40 year residents of the neighborhood and have been involved in many restoration projects on their home. She also spear-headed the work done on the Presbyterian Church on 7th Street several years ago. Witmer asked if the HPC had read the letter she submitted to the City on April 18. Bertrand asked what HPC’s role in matters involving the City’s Unified Development Code was, which was cited throughout the letter from the Witmers. City Attorney Mahrt reminded those in attendance that the HPC’s role was to consider COAs on aesthetic and historic merits. Witmer continued that the excessive time spent on the fraternity’s proposed renovations was costly to taxpayers; the current plan is not complete and does not include cost estimates. She stated the revised plan is identical to an earlier plan submitted in 1992. The porch addition isn’t being considered as part of the footprint of the house and the square footage isn’t accurately represented in the drawings. How have the needs of the fraternity necessitated an additional 38% in square footage? She said they supported the fraternity but did not support the enlargement of the house. Knezovich replied they wanted to maintain the historic integrity of the house and were not expanding the number of residents, which was currently 20.
Kirsten Bays, 1003 6th Street, said she would like clarification about the actual square footage.
Quinn then stated perhaps the Sigma Pi representatives and neighborhood residents could meet without the HPC. Morice replied that the HPC should be included. Knezovich supported the idea of scheduling a meeting open to all.
Steve Witmer, 840 6th Street, said he was a Sigma Pi and didn’t know about the previous meeting to consider the earlier COA and that the fraternity had failed to notify the neighbors about their submission of the application. Donna Witmer reiterated these concerns. They opposed any plan that added square footage to the existing house.
Old Business
1. Continued Discussion—Tour of 6th & 7th Streets District—Coles County Genealogical Society—September 22, 2018 (EIU Family Weekend): Kit was working with CCGS folks to finalize houses on the tour. The CCGS would also like to publish a pamphlet and EIU’s Academy of Lifelong Learning is now a partner and will help promote the event.
New Business, continued
2. Gary Henigman asked if anyone knew the origin of the plaque on the Sherer Block building on the northeast corner of the Square. Could it be moved to be more visible?
3. Alex Winkler, City Inspector, reported on TIF projects around the square. The Body Club needed façade work including lintels and Champs was having tuck-pointing work done. The interior work on Mike and Stan’s had begun after damage from the February arson fire that destroyed Mother’s bar and the apartments above.
Meeting Adjournment: Dongu made the motion to adjourn the meeting and Lichtenberger seconded. The meeting adjourned at 9:03 a.m.
https://www.charlestonillinois.org/vertical/sites/%7B48D19AF4-26A9-444F-A5B9-99631D71D5F2%7D/uploads/HPC_Minutes_4-20-2018.pdf
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