View the PDF version Google Docs PDF Viewer
CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Tuesday, May 1, 2018
TIME OF MEETING: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING: City Commission Chambers, City Hall
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of April 3, 2018
III. New Business
IV. Old Business
V. Other Business
Case 2015-10 – 316 W. Webster Avenue – Doors
Certified Local Government
MHPN Hackley and Hume Plaster Workshop
VI. Adjourn
“We admire that which is old not because it is old, but because it is beautiful.” Winston Churchill
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT POLICY FOR ACCESS TO OPEN MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION AND ANY OF ITS COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEES
The City of Muskegon will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio
tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities who want to attend the meeting, upon twenty-
four hour notice to the City of Muskegon. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of
Muskegon by writing or calling the following: Ann Marie Cummings, City Clerk at 933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI 49440 or by call-
ing (231) 724-6705 or TTY/TDD: Dial 7-1-1 and request that representative dial 231-724-6705
1
II. MINUTES
CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
April 3, 2018
Chairperson J. Hilt called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Hilt, S. Kroes, L. Wood, K. Panozzo
MEMBERS ABSENT: A. Riegler, excused; D. Warren, excused; S. Radtke
STAFF PRESENT: J. Pesch, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: M. Dickinson, 475 W. Webster; S. Pulos-Porter, 487 W. Webster; D. Pintoski,
1181 Peck St; S. Zimmerman, Port City Signs, 771 Access Hwy; B. Gilbert; M.
Irwin
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of March 6, 2018 was made by J. Hilt, supported by S.
Kroes and unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Case 2018-09 – 475 W. Webster Avenue – Fence. Applicant: Matthew Dickinson. District: Houston. Cur-
rent Function: Residential. J. Pesch presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking approval to reconfig-
ure part of the existing fence and install some new fencing in the side yard according to the site plan presented.
This case was discussed along with the following case at 487 W. Webster, since the properties were adjacent
to each other. The same type of fence will be used at both locations.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to relocate portions of the existing fence and gate and install the
new 4-foot fence as proposed at 475 W. Webster Avenue, and to install the same type of fence along the side
yard at 487 W. Webster Avenue as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits
are obtained was made by K. Panozzo, supported by L. Wood and unanimously approved with J. Hilt, S.
Kroes, L. Wood, and K. Panozzo voting aye.
Case 2018-10 – 487 W. Webster Avenue – Fence. Applicant: Samantha Pulos-Porter. District: Houston.
Current Function: Residential. The applicant is seeking approval to install approximately four feet of new
fencing and a gate in the side yard. The proposed fencing and gate will match that at 475 W. Webster (present-
ed in the previous case). See the previous case for the motion to approve the request.
Case 2018-11 – 1181 Peck Street – Windows & Fascia/Soffit. Applicant: Dennis Pintoski. District:
McLaughlin. Current Function: Residential. J. Pesch presented the staff report. The applicant is seeking ap-
proval to replace 13 windows (29 ¼” x 78 ¼”) with vinyl windows of the same size. Similar work was ap-
proved by the HDC in 1999, but the work was never started. Additionally, the applicant is proposing to cover
the existing roof eaves with a new vinyl and aluminum fascia and soffit.
2
D. Pintoski explained that the new windows would be the same size as the existing ones but rather than having
4 panes, they would be a double hung-style. A photo of the proposed window style was provided. K. Panozzo
asked if he was replacing the larger window on the side of the house. D. Pintoski stated that he was not re-
placing that one at this time; the windows being replaced were all the same size. A photo of a damaged eave
and the proposed vinyl and aluminum replacement coverings were provided in the staff report.
A motion that the HDC approve the request to replace 13 windows and install a new vinyl and aluminum
fascia and soffit as proposed as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits
are obtained, was made by L. Wood, supported by K. Panozzo and unanimously approved with J. Hilt, S.
Kroes, L. Wood, and K. Panozzo voting aye.
Staff had two walk-on cases where the applications were received after the deadline date. Both cases were for
signs, with S. Zimmerman of Port City Signs being present to answer questions.
Case 2018-12 - 280 W. Muskegon Avenue. Signage. Applicant: The Corner Church. District: National
Register. Current Function: Institutional. J. Pesch provided renderings from S. Zimmerman of Port City
Signs for a proposed ground sign to be erected on the lawn of the church, rather than having signs at-
tached to the building. J. Hilt asked if the signs met the guidelines. J. Pesch stated that the dimensions of
the sign came closer to the HDC requirements, and it was smaller than the signs that had originally been
proposed. He stated that HDC guidelines did not generally allow lighted motion signs but the Eagles
building had been given permission for that style in the past. He stated that the issue was something to be
addressed when revising the HDC standards, as those types of signs were seldom used when the standards
were originally adopted. The board discussed scrolling signs versus static signs and concurred that a
scrolling sign would not be appropriate. K. Panozzo stated that she wouldn’t have a problem with the
proposed sign as long as it met size and zoning requirements. J. Pesch stated that he would check into the
sign ordinance to make sure the proposal met the requirements.
A motion to approve the ground sign as proposed as long as the the dimensions meet the ordinance re-
quirements, only static messages are displayed, and the necessary permits are obtained was made by K.
Panozzo, supported by L. Wood and unanimously approved, with J. Hilt, S. Kroes, L. Wood, and K. Panoz-
zo voting aye.
Case 2018-13 - 550 W. Western Avenue. Signage. Applicant: Amazon. District: Clay-Western. Cur-
rent Function: Apartments/Condominiums. J. Pesch stated that the Amazon was requesting to replace
the large signs on the exterior of their building due to repeated damage and repair costs. S. Zimmerman
stated that he had had received several service calls to the Amazon for sign repairs, with the neon needing
to be replaced. They needed more durable signs with protection from the winds coming off Muskegon
Lake. The size of the new signs would be the same as the current ones. He was proposing to replace the
neon letters with LED lighting, with a Lexan cover over the new signs.
A motion to approve the update to the Amazon signs by replacing the neon letters with LED lighting and
installing a Lexan cover over the signs with the conditions that 1) the sign size remains the same and 2)
any necessary permits are obtained, was made by L. Wood, supported by S. Kroes and unanimously ap-
proved, with J. Hilt, S. Kroes, L. Wood, and K. Panozzo voting aye.
OLD BUSINESS
None
3
OTHER
B. Gilbert was looking for HDC input on a building project he was working on which was located just outside
one of the city’s established historic districts. He explained that he wished to keep the historic wooden doors
and windows in the building but there was concern that they may not meet current energy code. The wooden
windows had previously been restored with a grant from MSHDA. The HDC board was supportive of main-
taining the wooden windows and doors.
Certified Local Government - M. Irwin addressed the board regarding her interest in historic preservation. She
was part of a group formed to ensure that the Muskegon Public Schools administration building located at 349
W. Webster Ave. remained as a historic structure. She stated that she would also like to see the City of Mus-
kegon become a Certified Local Government, and had contacted the State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO) for requirements. J. Pesch stated that the city had begun to purse certification in the past, the last time
being in 2011. At that time, the City Commission had approved the idea but staff did not have the time to pur-
sue it further; he thought it would be worthwhile to do so now. M. Irwin stated that it would give the city na-
tional recognition and open the door to grant assistance available to certified local governments. J. Pesch dis-
tributed some written material on the program from the SHPO, and asked the board members to review it prior
to the next meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 PM.
4
III. NEW BUSINESS
None
IV. OLD BUSINESS
None
V. OTHER BUSINESS
Case 2015-10 – 316 W. Webster Avenue – Doors
The response letter from the Hackley Public Library will be available for Commission review and discus-
sion.
Certified Local Government
Staff shared the certification manual for the Certified Local Government program at the April meeting.
Since then, Staff has contacted the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to discuss the program and
the HDC’s previous efforts to become certified.
MHPN Hackley and Hume Plaster Workshop
The Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) in partnership with the Hackley & Hume Historic
Site and the Lakeshore Museum Center is offering a two-day, hands-on plaster workshop on May 8th and
9th. Those interested can RSVP at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hackley-hume-plaster-
workshop-tickets-45112422470
VI. ADJOURN
5