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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
May 3, 2016
Chairperson J. Hilt called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Hilt, L. Wood, A. Riegler, D. Warren, S. Kroes, K. Panozzo
MEMBERS ABSENT: S. Radtke, excused
STAFF PRESENT: M. Franzak, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: K. George, Community EnCompass; Rev. M. Miller, Central United
Methodist Church/The Corner Church, 1011 2nd St; D. Kendall, PO
Box 4384; R. Miller, 408 W Muskegon Ave; W. Miller, 408 W
Muskegon Ave.; C. Sherrill, 3440 Brooklyn Ave SE, Grand Rapids
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
A motion to retain J. Hilt as Chairperson and S. Radtke as Vice-Chairperson was made by S. Kroes,
supported by D. Warren and unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of March 1, 2016 was made by K. Panozzo
supported by J. Hilt and unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Case 2016-04 – 610 W Western Avenue. Applicant: Muskegon County Convention & Visitors
Bureau. District: Clay/Western. Current Function: Governmental. M. Franzak presented the staff
report. The applicant is seeking approval for the following changes to the Union Depot: 1) Replace
the steel gutters with copper gutters, 2) Replace the steel apron with a copper apron, and 3) Replace
the existing shingles with either a 3 tab shingle or a 4 tab shingle (if there is evidence that the roof
was slate).
A. Riegler was the architect for the project and described the work to be done. She requested
approval for both 3- and 4-tab shingles, and they would determine which one to use when they
discovered what the original roofing material was. J. Hilt asked if the roof would remain the same
color. A. Riegler stated that was the plan at this point, as it may not be possible to determine what
the original color was. J. Hilt asked why they proposed to use copper gutters. A. Riegler stated that
they had considered longevity and low maintenance.
A motion that the HDC approve the request for the roof repairs as proposed, including the use of
copper gutters and apron, and the use of either 3- or 4-tab shingles, as long as all zoning
requirements are met and the necessary permits are obtained, was made by D. Warren, supported by
HDC Minutes 5/3/16 1
S. Kroes and unanimously approved, with J. Hilt, L. Wood, A. Riegler, D. Warren, S. Kroes, and K.
Panozzo voting aye.
Case 2016-05 – 1312 Ransom Street. Applicant: Community EnCompass. District: McLaughlin.
Current Function: Residential. M. Franzak presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking
approval for the following changes to the house: 1) Cover existing 6” wood lap siding with vinyl
siding (all architectural details to remain wood – sunburst, front gable, etc), 2) Wrap exterior trim
with aluminum, and 3) Add gutters to prevent further decay of wood components.
J. Hilt asked why they wanted to cover up the wood siding. K. Zimmerman stated that there was a
lot of deterioration, dry rot, and buckling in the current wood siding, and it had been neglected for a
long time. They will retain the architectural details, but the siding was not salvageable. K. Panozzo
asked what condition he foundation was in. K. Zimmerman stated that they had already shored up
the foundation and installed I-beams in the basement.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to 1) cover the existing 6-inch wood lap siding with
vinyl siding 2) wrap the exterior trim with aluminum and 3) add gutters to prevent further decay of
wood components with the conditions that as all architectural details to remain wood, all zoning
requirements are met, and the necessary permits are obtained, was made by S. Kroes, supported by
D. Warren and unanimously approved, with J. Hilt, L. Wood, A. Riegler, D. Warren, S. Kroes, and
K. Panozzo voting aye.
Case 2016-06 – 280 W Muskegon Avenue. Applicant: Central The Corner/United Methodist
Church. District: National Register. Current Function: Institutional. M. Franzak presented the staff
report. The applicant is seeking approval to construct a new entryway on the east side of the
building with the addition of a drive up cover held by pillars patterned after the existing pillars at
main entrance. They are also seeking approval for new signage on the front of the building. A
banner and a fixed decorative sign on the east side of the building and a banner covering the “First
Church of Christian Scientist” engraving that reads “The Corner Auditorium.” M. Franzak stated
that the HDC had approved a similar sign for this church a few years ago under different ownership.
M. Mills stated that they needed the side entrance to install an accessible entryway and elevator.
They chose the pillars in keeping with the look of the main entrance. The board discussed the shape
of the pillars and the material to be used for the elements of the new entryway. M. Mills stated that
he did not have all those details, but he had an architect working on the project. D. Warren asked if
he could expand on the proposed uses for the building. M. Mills stated that they planned to have an
auditorium and event spaces that would be available to the public, in addition to the church.
A motion to approve the request to construct a new entryway and add signage was made by S.
Kroes and supported by D. Warren, with discussion continuing.
The proposed signage was discussed. M. Mills stated that the banner would be plastic and the other
signs were backlit metal to match the stained glass windows. M. Franzak stated that the banners
would have to be boxed in. M. Mills asked if they could put up a banner temporarily, as there was
no way to identify what the building was at this point. M. Franzak stated that was acceptable.
Board members requested that the architect attend the meeting to provide more details on the
entryway and signs, since this was an important structure. M. Mills stated that he would do that.
HDC Minutes 5/3/16 2
S. Kroes withdrew the previous motion to approve, and D. Warren concurred. A motion to table
this case until the architect can be present to answer questions was made by S. Kroes, supported by
D. Warren and unanimously approved, with J. Hilt, L. Wood, A. Riegler, D. Warren, S. Kroes, and
K. Panozzo voting aye.
Case 2016-07 – 540 W. Webster Avenue. Applicant: Jerald Clausen & Bruce Walters. District:
Clay-Western. Current Function: Residential. M. Franzak presented the staff report. The applicant
is seeking approval to reconstruct the existing enclosed porch on the back side of the house
(enclosed in 2010). They are also proposing the addition of a second story above the porch. The
clapboard siding would match the existing siding and the new roof line would coordinate with the
existing roofline.
A. Riegler was the project architect and distributed renderings of the addition to the board members.
D. Warren clarified that the enclosed porch in question was not original to the house. Board
members reviewed the drawings and were given the opportunity to ask questions.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to reconstruct the existing enclosed porch on the back
side of the house and to add a second story as proposed, as long as all zoning requirements are met
and the necessary permits are obtained, was made by K. Panozzo, supported by L. Wood and
unanimously approved, with J. Hilt, L. Wood, A. Riegler, D. Warren, S. Kroes, and K. Panozzo
voting aye.
Case 2016-08 – 275 Houston Avenue. Applicant: David Kendall. District: Houston. Current
Function: Residential. M. Franzak presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking approval for
the following changes to the house: 1) Add a 6’ tall chain link fence to the rear of the property and
a 4’ tall chain link fence to the side yard, 2) Replace damaged wooden front door and wood garage
doors to match other existing steel doors, and 3) Replace damaged front wooden windows to match
other existing windows (exterior casings to remain the same).
M. Franzak stated that the board had approved some vinyl replacement windows on this house a
few years ago. D. Kendall stated that he planned to replace the front door with a six-panel steel
door, as the front door was an interior hollow-core door that was falling apart. He was also going to
install a steel garage door and add a proper headed to the side entry door, also to be steel. The fence
to be installed would tie in with existing 4- and 6-foot fencing already there.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to 1) install the chain link fences as proposed 2) replace
damaged wooden front door and wood garage doors with steel doors as proposed, and to 3) replace
damaged front wooden windows to match other existing windows with exterior casings to remain
the same with the conditions that all zoning requirements are met and the necessary permits are
obtained, was made by K. Panozzo, supported by L. Wood and unanimously approved, with J. Hilt,
L. Wood, A. Riegler, D. Warren, S. Kroes, and K. Panozzo voting aye.
Case 2016-09 – 408 W Muskegon Avenue. Applicant: Rebecca & William Miller. District:
Houston. Current Function: Residential. The applicant is seeking approval to install a 12’ x 14’
wooden shed (considering metal roof or shingle roof), a wooden picket fence along the side yard, a
6’ x 6’ deck in the front and steps measuring 2’ x 6’ on the side of the house.
The applicants stated that they had not decided on specific items yet, but wanted input on what the
HDC was looking for. Various building materials were discussed for a shed. R. Miller stated that
HDC Minutes 5/3/16 3
the cement steps were chipping and pulling away from the house, so they wished to build a wooden
deck over the steps for more stability. Staff and the board advised the applicants to submit
drawings showing the work to be done, and to return to the HDC when they decided on a shed or
garage.
A motion to table this case until additional information was received from the applicants was made
by J. Hilt, supported by L. Wood and unanimously approved, with J. Hilt, L. Wood, A. Riegler, D.
Warren, S. Kroes, and K. Panozzo voting aye.
Case 2016-10 – 20-22 East Southern Avenue. Applicant: Christopher Sherrill. District: Clinton-
Peck. Current Function: Residential. This case was not included on the agenda but an application
had been submitted prior to the deadline. The applicant is working with the County’s lead
abatement program. He would like to replace the windows on the home with vinyl, and replace the
rear door with a steel door.
J. Hilt asked if there were currently any vinyl windows on the house. C. Sherrill stated that they
were all wood, and they had lead paint. He wanted to replace them all with vinyl if the board
approved. A. Riegler stated that, due the lead issue and the fact that the windows were not a very
prominent feature of the home, she thought the vinyl replacement windows were acceptable. J. Hilt
stated that she would approve as long as the replacement windows had the same look as the original
windows and the window openings remained the same.
A motion to approve the replacement of all of the windows with vinyl as long as the window
openings and configurations remain the same, and to replace the back door with a steel door, was
made by L. Wood, supported by S. Kroes and approved, with J. Hilt, L. Wood, A. Riegler, D.
Warren, S. Kroes, and K. Panozzo voting aye. A. Riegler suggested that they consider using a
fiberglass door instead of steel, as it would match the grain of the wood better.
OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
HDC Minutes 5/3/16 4
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