Historic District Minutes 01-06-2015

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                                 CITY OF MUSKEGON
                           HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
                                 REGULAR MEETING
                                      MINUTES

                                         January 6, 2015

Chairperson J. Hilt called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. and roll was taken.

MEMBERS PRESENT:              J. Hilt, L. Spataro, L. Wood, S. Kroes, S. Radtke

MEMBERS ABSENT:               Excused: K. Panozzo, L. Wood, D. Mayville

STAFF PRESENT:                M. Franzak, D. Renkenberger

OTHERS PRESENT:               A. Steinman, Lakeshore Museum Center Assistant Director; B.
                              Chapla, Community Foundation for Muskegon County (CFFMC);
                              H. Sytsema, CFFMC

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of December 2, 2014 was made by, L. Spataro,
supported by S. Kroes and unanimously approved.

NEW BUSINESS

Case 2015-01– Hackley Park. Applicant: Parties in the Park, Inc. District: National Register.
Current Function: Public Park. The applicants are proposing a permanent stage at Hackley Park.
They had presented ideas to the board at the December meeting and had revised their plans based
on that input. Updated renderings of the revised stage were provided, which included a
decorative fence to match the fence around the park’s main monument.

A motion that the HDC approve the request for the permanent stage as proposed, as long as all
zoning requirements are met and the necessary permits are obtained, was made by S. Radtke,
supported by L. Spataro and unanimously approved.

M. Franzak suggested that the removal of the tree be addressed also, if board members were in
favor of that. J. Silvis stated that the tree was not healthy.

A motion to allow removal of the tree as shown in the plans for the stage was made by L.
Spataro, supported by S. Kroes and unanimously approved.

Case 2015-02 430 West Clay Avenue. Applicant: Lakeshore Museum Center. District: National
Register. Current Function: Public Museum. The applicants are proposing to replace the
columns at the main entrance of the museum with new columns that are constructed of cedar
exterior with a fiberglass plinth. This is to avoid rapid deterioration of metal plinths from salt
used during the winter.

Board members discussed the colors and materials to be used for the replacement columns. A
motion that the HDC approve the request to replace the columns as proposed, as long all zoning
HDC Minutes 1/06/15                                                                          1
requirements are met and the necessary permits are obtained, was made by L. Spataro, supported
by S. Kroes and unanimously approved.

Case 2015-03 1727 Jefferson Street. Applicant: Darren Rogers/Kimberly Preston. District:
Jefferson. Current Function: Residential. The applicants are proposing to replace the wood
shake and slate tile shingles with an asphalt shingle from IKO Royal Estate. The garage was
recently approved for a similar request at the October 2014 meeting.

A motion that the HDC approve the request to replace the shingles as proposed, as long all
zoning requirements are met and the necessary permits are obtained, was made by L. Spataro,
supported by S. Kroes and unanimously approved.

Case 2015-04– Hackley Park. Applicant: Historic District Commission. District: National
Register. Current Function: Public Park. HDC board members had discussed the ornamental
grass surrounding the statues on the perimeter of Hackley Park. They had requested that the
grass be removed because it grows taller than what was proposed in the original request. They
felt that the tall grass blocked part of the monuments, which were supposed to be the focus of the
park.

L. Spataro stated that the board would like to see shorter plantings used around the park
art/statues. S. Radtke stated that the plantings shown on the drawings submitted when the
landscaping plan for the park was approved were shorter that what was currently there. B.
Chapla stated that the idea with the ornamental grasses was to draw the eye in to the monuments.
He stated that they have had much positive feedback regarding the new park landscaping, and
although the view of the bases of the statues was impeded, the statues themselves were not
blocked in any way. Board members and CFFMC members discussed the landscaping and made
suggestions on how to remedy the situation. It was agreed that the taller grass could be removed
and reused in another area of the park, such as around the new stage, and shorter plantings would
be used around the statues. It was decided that the case would be revisited in March when the
park landscaper was available and plans would be finalized at that time.

ELECTIONS

Chairperson A motion to retain Jackie Hilt as Chairperson was made by S. Kroes, supported by
L. Spataro and unanimously approved.

Vice-Chairperson A motion to retain Steve Radtke as Vice-Chairperson was made by J. Hilt,
supported by L. Spataro and unanimously approved.



There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.




HDC Minutes 1/06/15                                                                             2

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