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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
April 3, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chairperson J. Hilt.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Hilt, T. Bosma , S. Kroes, S. Thompson, L. Spataro, K. Panozzo, L.
Wood
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: H. Mitchell, D. Leafers, A. Becker
OTHERS PRESENT: K. Murar, City Inspection Department; K. Davis, 136 E. Isabella; R.
Swanson, 1011 2nd St.; D. Brondyke, 280 W. Webster; M. Swiftney,
Muskegon Hotel.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of March 6, 2007 was made by S. Thompson,
supported by S. Kroes and unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS/PUBLIC HEARINGS
Case 2007-6 1235 Ransom – Request to concur with the Housing Board of Appeals and
recommend approval to demolish the structure. Applicant: City of Muskegon Inspection
Department (Don LaBrenz). District: McLaughlin. Class: A. Current Function: Vacant Multi-
Family Residential. Constructed: 1895. H. Mitchell presented the staff report. The applicant is
asking that the HDC concur with the Housing Board of Appeals (HBA) and recommend approval to
demolish the structure due to the building having been deemed a hazard to the public safety, and
retention of the structure would not be in the best interest of the community as a whole. The home
is currently up for sale and there have been people looking at it, but there have been no offers or
sales. The home currently has around 7 apartments. Staff provided the Inspection Department’s
pictures of the structure to board members for their review. The staff report was mailed to the
property owner of record, but there was no response. Applicable HDC demolition guidelines were
reviewed. Although the building does have historic value, because it has been deemed a hazard to
public safety and retention of the structure would not be in the best interest of the community as a
whole, staff recommends approval of the request.
L. Spataro asked who owned the property. H. Mitchell stated that the County Treasurer showed that
the previous owners had gotten it back from the bank. T. Bosma asked how long it had been since
the home was occupied. K. Murar stated that he wasn’t sure, because City personnel had not been
inside the house since the time of the August 2005 inspection report. L. Spataro suggested that the
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HDC concur with the HBA’s ruling to get things moving, and hopefully that would spur the owner
to act.
L. Wood arrived at 4:07 p.m.
S. Thompson stated that the structure should not be demolished. T. Bosma stated that the home
continues to deteriorate and is unsafe. S. Kroes stated that as a City board, they also had a
responsibility to the community. L. Wood asked if the home could go back to a 7-unit if purchased
by a new owner. L. Spataro stated that it could not, because it was zoned R-1 and had been vacant
over 2 years, thus losing its grandfather status. S. Thompson asked what could be done to get the
City to intervene before houses were able to deteriorate this far. The City’s options for inspecting
properties were discussed. T. Bosma asked what the timeline for demolition was, if this request was
approved. L. Spataro explained the process and stated that it could be 6 to 12 months before
demolition actually occurred. Board members discussed other cases where homes slated for
demolition had been fixed up.
A motion that the HDC concur with the HBA and recommend approval of the request to demolish
the structure at 1235 Ransom because the building has been deemed a hazard to the public safety,
and retention of the structure would not be in the best interest of the community as a whole, was
made by L. Spataro, supported by T. Bosma and approved, with S. Thompson voting nay.
Case 2007-7 136 E. Isabella – Request to replace garage door, front and rear doors to the home,
and the front deck. Applicant: Ken Davis. District: McLaughlin. Class: A. Current Function:
Single family. H. Mitchell presented the staff report. The applicant has been in contact with
Housing Inspections and the Code Coordinator regarding the front steps and porch/deck area. Both
approve of the applicant’s proposal to encase the current concrete steps and porch/deck area with
treated wood, pending HDC approval. Due to the height, building code requirements would require
railings. The attached pictures show how the porch/deck area has a sag in it, and the bricks missing
around the step area. If this were removed, it would not be allowed to be rebuilt as it currently
exists, due to zoning requirements. The applicant would also like to replace the garage door with a
vinyl door. The current wooden garage door is rotting around the bottom. There are other garages
in this neighborhood that have vinyl doors and some that have wood. The applicant would also like
to replace the two doors on the home, which do not currently match. It appears that the front door is
wood, and the side door may be wood with a metal screening. Staff recommends approval of the
request, as this home is not a contributing historical factor for this neighborhood. Staff provided
color pictures to the members at the meeting.
K. Davis stated that he would like to replace the garage door with a steel one instead of vinyl. He
provided brochures showing the doors and garage door he planned to install. L. Spataro asked
which way the garage door faced and if it would have windows, like the current one. K. Davis
stated he hadn’t planned to have windows. The garage faced the street, but it was set back from the
front of the home. L. Spataro asked what the porch railings would look like. K. Davis stated that
he planned to use 2x2 slats. Board members discussed the appearance of front porches. L. Spataro
asked if he would be willing to paint or stain the railings to match the home. K. Davis stated that he
would.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to encase the current steps and porch/deck with wood,
with the railings being 2x2 slats that are painted or stained to match the house, replace the garage
door with a steel one as shown in the example submitted, and to replace the two doors to the home
HDC Minutes 04/03/07 2
so they match as shown in the example submitted, with the conditions that all appropriate permits
are obtained, all codes are met, and that if any historic feature is removed while these items are
replaced, they will be reinstalled, was made by T. Bosma, supported by L. Spataro and unanimously
approved.
Case 2007-8 1011 Second – Request to install a new ADA-compliant ramp at the Narthex entrance
at the parking lot. Applicant: Richard Swanson. District: Downtown Structures. Class: A. Current
Function: Church. H. Mitchell presented the staff report. The applicant is requesting to install a
barrier-free, ADA-compliant ramp with railings at the Narthex entrance of the church. The ramp
will be constructed of new wolmanized wood starting at the edge of the existing landing. There will
also be indoor/outdoor carpeting installed on the ramp to match the existing finish. Applicable
HDC guidelines were reviewed. Staff recommends approval of the request.
R. Swanson stated that their current ramp was starting to deteriorate and needed to be replaced. T.
Bosma asked if there would be wood railings and if they would be painted or stained. R. Swanson
stated that he hadn’t planned that far ahead yet. He wasn’t sure if they would go with the black
wrought iron like what is currently there, but he is not opposed to painting or staining if the railing
is wood.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to install the ADA-compliant ramp at the Narthex
entrance of the church, with the conditions that any necessary building permits are obtained and all
building code requirements are met, was made by S. Thompson, supported by S. Kroes and
unanimously approved.
Case 2007-9 280 W. Webster – Request to replace back door to the Greater Muskegon Woman’s
Club. Applicant: Dolores Brondyke. District: Downtown Structures. Class: A. Current Function:
Club. H. Mitchell presented the staff report. The applicant would like to replace the back door of
the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club. This door is of an odd size (8 feet tall and 35 inches wide)
and would require special ordering. The applicant would like to replace the door with a metal door
that would look like wood. She has proposed two scenarios in replacing the door and either way
would require a special order. Due to the height of the door, they could go with a shorter door and
create a wooden area above the door that would be permanent. Otherwise, they are willing to order
a door with the current dimensions. Staff recommends approval of the request due to the unique
size of the door and that the HDC may exercise greater leniency in an A district when the change is
to the rear elevation. Staff provided members with the applicant’s pictures of the current door.
D. Brondyke stated that they were now leaning toward the 8-foot door, rather than a shorter one. T.
Bosma encouraged her to retain the original size, as it was a unique feature of the building.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to replace the rear door at the Greater Muskegon
Woman’s Club with an 8-foot door of wood or steel, with the conditions that any necessary building
permits are obtained and codes are met, and that any historic elements removed for installation are
replaced, was made by L. Spataro, supported by K. Panozzo and unanimously approved.
OTHER
V. Sieradzki’s house at 5th & Clay – H. Mitchell updated board members on the latest
correspondence from the City Attorney regarding this structure.
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Robert’s Rules Presentation – City Clerk, Ann Marie Becker, did a presentation for the members
regarding Robert’s Rules of Order for conducting meetings. The members were able to ask
questions and could contact her if they had questions later.
S. Kroes left at 5 p.m.
Muskegon Hotel Property – M. Swiftney purchased the hotel property. He gave an overview of his
project.
J. Hilt left at 5:44 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:47 p.m.
dl
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