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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
February 6, 2018
Chairperson J. Hilt called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: S. Kroes, L. Wood, K. Panozzo, J. Hilt, D. Warren, A. Riegler
MEMBERS ABSENT: S. Radtke, excused
STAFF PRESENT: J. Pesch, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: T. Beebe, Jacks Wholesale Windows for J. Piggee; R. Panozzo, 1641
Jefferson St; K. O’Brien, Wilk and Sons
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of January 10, 2018 was made by J. Hilt, supported
by K. Panozzo and unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Case 2018-05 – 164 Catherine Avenue – Windows. Applicant: Joyce Piggee. District: McLaughlin.
Current Function: Residential. J. Pesch presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking approval
to install new white vinyl windows to replace deteriorating wood windows. The dining room
windows would be replaced with one 3-lite sliding window and the bedroom window would be
replaced with one double hung window. White PVC-coated aluminum capping is proposed to be
installed on the outside of the replacement windows.
T. Beebe showed pictures of the current windows, which were in poor condition and could not be
opened. He also provided a picture of the proposed replacement windows and explained the process
of installing them. K. Panozzo asked if they intended to change the size of the windows. T. Beebe
stated that they did not. D. Warren asked if wooden replacement windows were considered. T.
Beebe stated that vinyl was more durable and his windows came with a lifetime guarantee. He
explained that wooden windows were difficult to find now, although there were wood composites.
A. Riegler arrived at 4:08 p.m.
K. Panozzo asked if replacement of any of the wood around the windows would be necessary. T.
Beebe stated that a thin piece of wood would be removed and replaced with vinyl. K. Panozzo asked
if he had any windows that more closely matched the look of the current windows. T. Beebe stated
that he did, but he was looking at the most economical option for the homeowner. A. Riegler stated
that the HDC was tasked with upholding the historic district standards, which discouraged vinyl
replacement windows. T. Beebe stated that wooden windows would increase the cost, there would be
no major aesthetic difference, and the vinyl windows had more functionality.
A motion that the HDC deny the request to replace the wood dining room and bedroom windows
with vinyl as proposed was made by K. Panozzo, supported by D. Warren and approved, with L.
Wood, K. Panozzo, J. Hilt, D. Warren, and A. Riegler voting aye, and S. Kroes voting nay.
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A second motion was made by A. Riegler and supported by J. Hilt to approve the installation of vinyl
replacement windows as long as they are configured as three side-by-side double hung windows,
matching what was currently there within ¼ inch and to approve a vinyl replacement bedroom
window as long as the configuration matched what was there. The motion was voted on and
unanimously approved, with S. Kroes, L. Wood, K. Panozzo, J. Hilt, D. Warren, and A. Riegler
voting aye.
OLD BUSINESS
Case 2018-01 was moved to the end of the agenda, as the applicant was unable to be present.
Case 2018-02 – 1641 Jefferson Street – Railing. Applicant: Ray Panozzo. District: Jefferson.
Current Function: Residential. J. Pesch presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking approval
to install a railing around the second-story porch on the back of the house. The railing will replicate
what was once in place on the porch.
A. Riegler asked if that type of railing would be allowed by the building inspector. R. Panozzo stated
that he was informed that it would be up to the HDC, as they were replacing exactly what had been
there previously.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to install the railing as proposed, as long as the work
meets all zoning and building code requirements, and the necessary permits are obtained was made
by A. Riegler, supported by D. Warren and unanimously approved, with S. Kroes, L. Wood, K.
Panozzo, J. Hilt, D. Warren, and A. Riegler voting aye.
Case 2018-03 – 1163 4th Street – Windows and Garage Door. Applicant: Greg Wilkinson/D.
Wilkinson Insurance Agency, Inc. District: Houston. Current Function: Residential. This case was
tabled from the January meeting so that the applicant could be present to answer questions. They
were seeking approval to replace all windows in the house as well as install a new garage door. The
house was damaged in a fire; staff has already approved repairs to damaged siding.
J. Pesch stated that, since the last meeting, the request had been updated. He had approved the
request to replace the garage door, as it would match what was formerly there. There would be no
other exterior changes other than the windows. The applicant was going to try to restore the existing
casement windows, but most of the bottom windows were broken. A. Riegler stated that the house
was already vinyl-sided. J. Hilt asked if the replacement windows would be the same size and
configuration as the current ones. K. O’Brien affirmed that the new windows would look the same as
the old ones.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to replace the damaged windows as proposed with the
conditions that 1) the new window size and configuration matches the old ones, 2) the work meets all
zoning requirements, and 3) the necessary permits are obtained, was made by J. Hilt, supported by D.
Warren and unanimously approved, with S. Kroes, L. Wood, K. Panozzo, J. Hilt, D. Warren, and A.
Riegler voting aye.
Case 2018-01 – 1669 Peck – Stairs. Applicant: Steven Radtke. District: Clinton-Peck. Current
Function: Residential. The applicant is seeking approval to temporarily cover the deteriorating
cement steps with wood. The wood steps are a temporary fix until full restoration of the cement steps
can be undertaken. Board members had questions on which portions of the porch would be restored
and when the restoration work would take place. Since the applicant was unable to be present to
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answer questions, a motion to table this case until the next meeting was made by J. Hilt, supported by
D. Warren and unanimously approved, with S. Kroes, L. Wood, K. Panozzo, J. Hilt, D. Warren, and
A. Riegler voting aye.
S. Kroes left at 5:00 pm.
OTHER
Case 2017-16 – 189 Strong (Demolition). This house had a fire on August 14, 2017 and received
HDC approval for demolition at our September 2017 meeting. The State Historic Preservation Office
concurred that the house was not a contributing factor to the district and could be demolished.
Case 2015-10 – 316 W. Webster (Doors). Staff and board members discussed the front doors at
Hackley Public Library. The consensus was that the doors had been replaced during renovations
without receiving HDC approval. D. Warren stated that she would craft a letter to the library board
and bring it to the next meeting.
HDC Officer Elections -- A motion to nominate J. Hilt as Chairperson and S. Radtke as Vice Chair
was made by D. Warren, supported by L. Wood and unanimously approved, with L. Wood, K.
Panozzo, J. Hilt, D. Warren, and A. Riegler voting aye. J. Hilt stated that she would accept the
position for the next year, and S. Radtke had previously indicated that he would accept the Vice Chair
position.
Standards Review Workshop – J. Pesch had reached out to Amanda Reintjes from the Michigan
Historic Preservation Network to invite her to the workshop but she had a prior engagement and
could not attend. She did state that she was interested in attending any additional workshops that may
fall on another date and mentioned a possible West Michigan regional HDC training opportunity in
the near future.
Staff and board members moved to conference room 103 to discuss changes to the historic district
standards. J. Pesch stated that he would make the changes to the standards that had been agreed on to
date, including removing references to Class A and Class AA districts and reintroducing missing
illustrations. He will present the revised standards at the next meeting. Staff and board members will
continue to work on updating the standards.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM.
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