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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
February 7, 2012
Chairperson J. Hilt called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Hilt, L. Spataro, S. Radtke, L. Wood, D. Mayville, K. Panozzo
MEMBERS ABSENT: S. Kroes, excused
STAFF PRESENT: C. Brubaker-Clarke, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: J. Schultz, Schultz Landscaping; D. Cook, Schultz Landscaping; B.
Young, City Parks Maintenance Supervisor; B. Chapla, Community
Foundation; K. Zimmerman, Community EnCompass; D. Erickson,
1347 4th St; S. Ferguson, City CNS Department
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of January 10, 2012 was made by L. Spataro,
supported by J. Hilt and unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Case 2012-01 – Hackley Park. Applicant: Community Foundation for Muskegon County. District:
National Register. Current Function: Park. The Community Foundation for Muskegon County has
received a large donation from Norma Horan that she would like to be used for landscaping
enhancements and maintenance at Hackley Park. This case was tabled from last month’s meeting to
allow the applicant to draw up further details for the landscaping plan.
B. Chapla discussed updates to the landscaping plan. D. Cook stated that he had read through the
Master Plan for the park again, and discussed the recommendations listed in the plan. He stated that
they would need to prune several of the trees in order to provide enough sun for the grass and
flowers. Flower beds were discussed, as well as ways to help keep them from being trampled. L.
Spataro suggested raising the beds a few inches. L. Spataro suggested separating the items being
discussed into three separate issues for voting: 1) tree pruning, 2) tree removal, and 3)
planting/landscaping. B. Young stated that she had obtained a report from an arborist regarding
some of the park trees, including the one that was suggested for removal at the last meeting. The
arborist stated that the tree was healthy, and estimated it to be about 200 years old, pre-dating the
park. B. Young stated that the City’s Forestry Department would do the tree trimming.
A motion to approve the landscaping as proposed was made by L. Wood and supported by K.
Panozzo. L. Spataro requested more clarification on what was approved. An amended motion was
made and seconded, to approve the flower beds and tree pruning as proposed. An additional motion
to approve the removal of the large oak tree, was made by L. Spataro and supported by S. Radtke
and failed, with all members voting nay. The large oak tree will not be removed. A motion to
approve the transplant of two of the three improperly planted trees by the memorial located at the
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southwest corner of the park was made by L. Spataro, supported by L. Wood and unanimously
approved. It was decided that Planning staff would contact Mrs. Stewart regarding the relocation of
the trees.
Schultz Landscaping personnel, board members, and staff also discussed placing a memorial to the
Horan’s in Hackley Park. The tentative plan was to use a large boulder, which Schultz Landscaping
had. C. Brubaker-Clarke stated that staff would work with the landscapers to make sure the
memorial was appropriate to the park and pleasing to the donor.
Case 2012-02 – 1347 Fourth Street. Applicant: David Erickson. District: Houston. Current
Function: Residential. C. Brubaker-Clarke presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking
approval to replace the wood windows with vinyl windows. A case involving re-siding this house
with vinyl siding was presented and approved at a previous HDC meeting. At that time, the HDC
had requested that the applicant get an estimate for repairing the wooden windows. The applicant
has compared the prices of buying new vinyl windows versus refurbishing the old wood windows,
and found that fixing the wood windows was cost prohibitive.
K. Zimmerman worked for Community EnCompass, which was assisting with funds for rehabbing
this house. She stated that Community EnCompass had decided not to do the windows after finding
out the cost, but that the homeowner would still like to install vinyl windows. The estimate for
repairing the wood windows was over $24,000, which was nearly the entire amount of funds
available for all rehab work to be done ($25,000). D. Erickson was the homeowner. He stated that
his income had been cut due to the economy and he could not afford to maintain the house as it was,
nor was he able to sell it. The condition of the windows made the house very expensive to heat. He
brought in a sample vinyl window and stated that he had gotten a good price on them, and wanted to
replace the old wood windows for better heating efficiency. L. Spataro stated that a general HDC
requirement when replacing windows was that all window openings and configurations are retained.
K. Zimmerman stated that they planned to comply with that, as they wanted to retain as much of the
historical look of the house as possible.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to replace the wood windows with vinyl windows as
proposed, as long as all window openings and configurations are retained, all zoning requirements
are met, and any necessary permits are obtained, was made by L. Spataro, supported by K. Panozzo
and approved, with S. Radtke voting nay.
Case 2012-03 – 25 Merrill Avenue. Applicant: City of Muskegon Community & Neighborhood
Services Department. District: McLaughlin. Current Function: Residential. C. Brubaker-Clarke
presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking approval to replace the current wood siding with
vinyl siding with funds acquired through the City of Muskegon’s Community and Neighborhood
Services Vinyl Siding Program.
S. Ferguson of the City’s Community and Neighborhood Services Department described the work
to be done and provided a color sample for the new siding. It was similar to the color currently on
the house. Board members discussed the style of the house, and concurred that the house had been
previously modified from its original condition.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to replace the wood siding with vinyl siding as long as
all architectural features are retained, the work meets all zoning requirements, and the necessary
permits are obtained, was made by L. Spataro, supported by K. Panozzo and unanimously approved.
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OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER
None
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:56 p.m.
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