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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
June 6, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chairperson J. Hilt.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Hilt, A. Brown, T. Russo, T. Bosma, S. Kroes, L. Spataro
MEMBERS ABSENT: S. Thompson, excused
STAFF PRESENT: J. Fitzpatrick, D. Leafers
OTHERS PRESENT: C. Strandberg, 1243 Ransom; E. Pizunski, 16149 Baird Cir.; H.
Sytsema, 1604 Jefferson
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of May 2, 2006 was made by A. Brown,
supported by T. Bosma and unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS/PUBLIC HEARINGS
Case 2006-18 – 1243 Ransom Request to install vinyl siding. Applicant: Christopher Strandberg.
District: McLaughlin. J. Fitzpatrick presented the staff report. The applicant wishes to install four
double hung vinyl clad windows and install vinyl siding on the house at 1243 Ransom. HDC
guidelines for siding and primary windows were provided. The HDC has previously allowed vinyl
siding in Class A districts and HDC guidelines permit such residing. Staff recommends approving
the request with the following provisions: existing cornice or building trim elements shall not be
covered or replaced; the wall siding material shall not extend over the existing trim members such
as window and door trim, sills, fascias, soffits, frieze members and boards, brackets, trim boards,
skirt boards, or any other characteristic moldings or architectural features; if the above-mentioned
trim members are to be clad, they shall be covered with custom formed cladding which shall closely
approximate the shapes and contours of the existing moldings or trim. Distinctive or unusual trim
or architectural elements shall not be clad without prior consideration and Commission approval; no
building trim elements or architectural features are to be removed or altered, the eaves are to be
wrapped and not boxed, and the replacement windows are to be of the same size and pattern as the
existing windows.
L. Spataro arrived at 4:04 p.m.
T. Bosma asked C. Strandberg if he was aware of the conditions that were attached to the approval.
C. Strandberg stated that he had talked to J. Fitzpatrick about it.
HDC Minutes 06/06/06 1
A motion that the HDC approve the request to install vinyl siding on the home located at 1243
Ransom with the following conditions: 1) existing cornice or building trim elements shall not be
covered or replaced, 2) the wall siding material shall not extend over the existing trim members
such as window and door trim, sills, fascias, soffits, frieze members and boards, brackets, trim
boards, skirt boards, or any other characteristic moldings or architectural features, 3) if the above-
mentioned trim members are to be clad, they shall be covered with custom-formed cladding which
shall closely approximate the shapes and contours of the existing moldings or trim. Distinctive or
unusual trim or architectural elements shall not be clad without prior consideration and Commission
approval, 4) no building trim elements or architectural features are to be removed or altered, 5) the
eaves are to be wrapped and not boxed, and 6) the replacement windows are to be of the same size
and pattern as the existing windows, was made by S. Kroes, supported by T. Bosma and
unanimously approved.
Case 2006-19 – 609 W. Western Ave. Request to install rooftop bar and an exterior staircase to
the building at 609 W. Western Ave. Applicant: Ed Pizunski. District: Clay Western. J. Fitzpatrick
presented the staff report and distributed a revised drawing from the applicant. The applicant
wishes to install a rooftop bar and an exterior staircase to the building at 609 W. Western Ave.
HDC standards for alterations/additions were provided. Staff recommends approval of the
installation of the rooftop bar and new staircase.
E. Pizunski provided a sample of the deck rail and stated that the front facade would be glass, due to
the wind off the nearby lake. L. Spataro asked if the railing would be white. E. Pizunski stated that
he was trying to get it in black, but it appeared that it only came in white. L. Spataro asked about
the other structures that would be visible from the street and what material they would be made of.
T. Bosma, architect for the project, stated that there would be a tin roof over the outer stairway. The
bar would be set back from the front elevation and would probably be wood siding at this point.
Not much of it would be visible from the street.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to construct the rooftop bar and staircase as shown in
the submitted plans at 609 W. Western Ave. was made by A. Brown, supported by L. Spataro and
approved, with T. Bosma abstaining.
E. Pizunski asked board members to approve the repainting of the side of the building facing the
alley. He stated that he planned to paint it to match the Waterstone building. This side of the
building was painted in the past and that paint was peeling.
A motion that the HDC authorize the repainting of the alley façade was made by L. Spataro,
supported by A. Brown and unanimously approved.
Case 2006-20 – 487 W. Clay Ave. Request to remove small brick chimney. Applicant: Mr.
Victor Sieradzki. District: National Register. J. Fitzpatrick presented the staff report. The
applicant wishes to remove a brick chimney from the home located at 487 W. Clay Ave. Applicable
HDC guidelines were reviewed. City standards do not address the issue; however, removal of
features is normally discouraged if they can be repaired. Staff recommends approval of the removal
of the chimney. Ideally it should be repaired but at this point it is probably too deteriorated.
L. Spataro stated that there appeared to be some work taking place on the property and asked if they
were pulling permits and doing the work that they had earlier stated they would do. J. Fitzpatrick
stated that he had checked with the Inspection Department last week and was told that permits had
HDC Minutes 06/06/06 2
not been pulled. J. Hilt stated that she had heard that the old permits had been reinstated. J.
Fitzpatrick stated that he would check into it.
A motion that the HDC approve the request for the removal of the small chimney located toward the
rear of the house at 487 W. Clay was made by L. Spataro supported by T. Russo and unanimously
approved.
Case 2006-21 – 1604 Jefferson Street Request for changes to the rear exterior of the home
located at 1604 Jefferson Street. Applicant: Martin and Heidi Sytsema. District: Jefferson. J.
Fitzpatrick presented the staff report. Applicant is requesting approval to undertake a number of
changes to the rear exterior of the home located at 1604 Jefferson Street. Proposed changes were
detailed in information provided by the applicant. HDC standards for alterations/additions were
provided. Staff recommends approval of the exterior changes to the rear of the home at 1604
Jefferson.
L. Spataro stated that his only concern was the loss of two windows. He would like to have the
replacement windows match the rest of the house. H. Sytsema stated that they would use the old
windows in their remodeling if possible, but she wasn’t sure yet if they’d be able to. She also stated
that they may not need to remove the first bump-out because the back door which is currently
blocked by it would be moved.
A motion that the HDC approve the request for the proposed changes to the rear exterior of the
home located at 1604 Jefferson Street, with removal of the garage bump-out at the discretion of the
homeowner and the reuse of the two windows encouraged, was made by L. Spataro, supported by
T. Russo and unanimously approved.
OTHER
None
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
dml
6/06/06
HDC Minutes 06/06/06 3
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