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CITY OF MUSKEGON
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Tuesday, September 6, 2022
TIME OF MEETING: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING: Conference Room 204, City Hall
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of July 12, 2022.
III. Old Business
Case 2022-29 – 1586 Peck – Siding and Trim Cladding
IV. New Business
Case 2022-30 – 116 E. Isabella – Siding and Windows
Case 2022-31 – 1541 Clinton – Windows
V. Other Business
Election of Vice Chairperson
CLG Application Update
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 calling (231) 724-6705 or TTY/TDD: Dial 7-1-1 and request that
representative dial 231-724-6705
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II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of July 12, 2022.
III. OLD BUSINESS
Case 2022-29 – 1586 Peck – Siding and Trim Cladding
Applicant: Danny Rodas
District: Clinton-Peck
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to install vinyl siding and trim and wrap the columns on the
house’s porches to make them square rather than round. This is a continuation of the discussion
started at the July meeting where the HDC approved the request to replace all windows with vinyl
replacement windows matching the size, shape, and appearance of the original windows and with
the condition that all leaded glass windows are retained.
View of west (front) and south elevations from Peck Street, looking northeast. Unapproved
replacement windows visible on first-story.
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View of north and west elevations from Peck Street. Unapproved replacement window visible on
front porch.
Standards
RESIDING AND TRIM CLADDING GUIDELINES
General
The Muskegon Historic District Commission does not endorse the residing of structures within the
Historic districts. It is the policy of this Commission that the original fabric of the building should be
repaired or replaced where necessary with the original building material.
In cases where the repair or replacement with like materials is impractical or where it can be
demonstrated that the original materials will no longer hold paint or that the original materials are so
badly deteriorated that they can no longer be reasonably repaired, the residing standards below shall
strictly be adhered to.
Definitions
For the purpose of this statement, the terms “residing materials” and “trim cladding” shall be
understood to encompass the use of any residing materials such as aluminum, vinyl, steel, hardboard,
wood, masonry, or molded urethane which is designed to replace or cover all, or any part, of an
exterior wall, trim work or other building element or a structure within a designated historic district.
Purpose
The Commission shall review all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness proposing the
installation of residing materials or trim cladding as individual cases. Each application shall be
decided on its own merit. No person should interpret any Commission approval for residing or trim
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cladding as being precedent setting. Unrestricted use of residing materials or trim cladding will not be
allowed.
In any case where residing materials or trim cladding are proposed for use by a property owner or
siding contractor, the property owner shall be required to submit a signed letter stating in detail the
intent and scope of the proposed residing or trim cladding installation. Such a letter is to also include
the identification of any deterioration or problems occurring relative to the existing siding or exterior
building fabric. If known, the cause and extent of this deterioration must be clearly stated.
The following conditions of installation shall be met by all proposals for residing or trim cladding:
1. All existing deterioration shall be made structurally sound and its causes, insofar as possible, shall
be corrected prior to the installation of residing materials or trim cladding.
2. Any installation of residing materials shall simulate the appearance of the original building
material that it is intended to cover. This simulation shall take into account the size, shape or
profile, texture, and linear direction of the original building material.
a. The residing material shall be similar in appearance and dimension to the original siding.
The exposure to the weather of the new siding shall range within one inch of the nominal
dimension of the original siding. The Historic District Commission shall have the
authority to waive this requirement in the event that they believe a different design or
dimension siding would be more appropriate to the architectural character of the Historic
District.
b. A proposed color shall be appropriate as determined by the Commission.
c. Generally, wood grain textures are not approved by the Commission. However, the
appropriateness of a specific siding texture shall be determined on an individual case
basis.
3. Any installation of trim cladding shall adhere to the following guidelines for the treatment for
architectural trim elements.
a. Existing cornice or building trim elements shall not be covered or replaced without
Commission approval. Commission approval will depend upon how closely the trim cladding
or new trim elements duplicate the appearance of the existing building trim elements.
b. The wall siding material shall not extend over the existing trim members such as window and
door trim, sills, facias, soffits, frieze members and boards, brackets, aprons, corner boards,
trim boards, skirt boards, or any other characteristic moldings or architectural features.
c. 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.
d. No building trim elements or architectural features are to be removed or altered to facilitate
the installation of the new siding or trim cladding without approval of the Historic District
Commission.
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In most cases the soffit cladding material shall run parallel and not perpendicular to the plane of the
wall.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to install vinyl siding and trim, and wrap the
columns on the house’s porches as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the
necessary permits are obtained.
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IV. NEW BUSINESS
Case 2022-30 – 116 E. Isabella – Siding and Windows
Applicant: City of Muskegon Community and Neighborhood Services (CNS)
District: McLaughlin
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to install vinyl siding with the same exposure dimension as the
original siding and a smooth finish, and to remove and replace 17 existing wood windows with new
windows of the same size, design, proportions, profile, and materials.
View of south and east elevations of house from E. Isabella Avenue, looking west.
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View of west and south elevations of house from E. Isabella Avenue, looking north.
Standards
WINDOW, DOOR, AND EXTERIOR WOODWORK STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
(Abbreviated)
General
These guidelines pertain only to proposed changes to the structure and do not affect existing
construction.
These guidelines are primarily directed toward the front and side elevations of the structure. Greater
variances and more leniency may be extended toward proposed changes to the rear elevation of the
building by the Commission. All desired or proposed changes should be referred to the Historic
District Commission for consideration. Extenuating circumstances, the effect upon the architecture of
the particular structure together with the general effect upon the surrounding structures, variables in
architectural design, or the effect upon usage and viability of the structure could dictate a variance
from these guidelines.
No exterior doors, windows, or exterior woodwork shall be altered, removed, relocated, or added
without Historic District Commission approval.
…
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Primary Windows
Existing damaged or deteriorating window frames and sash shall be repaired as a first course of action.
When repair is not possible, elements shall be replaced with matching wood members. Metal or vinyl
replacement windows may be acceptable provided they match the original windows in design and
type and that they consist of or are painted an appropriate color. Bare metal finishes generally will not
be acceptable.
The size of glass lites and muntin arrangements shall not be altered without Commission approval.
Special glazing, such as stained or leaded art glass, shall not be removed without Commission
approval. Unusual decorative windows such as Palladian windows, oriels, bays, Gothic arch or
segment tops, etc. shall not be removed or altered.
Also see Residing and Trim Cladding Guidelines in Case 2022-29, above.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to install vinyl siding with the same exposure
dimension as the original siding and a smooth finish, and to remove and replace 17 existing wood
windows with new windows of the same size, design, proportions, profile, and materials as long as
the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are obtained.
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Case 2022-31 – 1541 Clinton – Windows
Applicant: Dan Rikkers
District: Clinton-Peck
Current Function: Residential
Discussion
The applicant is seeking approval to replace a total of nine wood windows with eight wood or vinyl
replacement windows of the same size, design, proportions, and profile except for a pair of adjacent
double-hung windows on the first-story of the north elevation which would be replaced with a single
window filling the windows’ original openings. Some of the original windows have been missing
for a number of years.
View of south and east (front) elevations from Clinton Street. Two second-story, double-hung
windows on front elevation are proposed to be replaced.
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View of west (rear) and south elevations from E. Southern Avenue. Boarded-up first-story window
is missing and proposed to be replaced. Two double-hung windows and one picture window on the
second-story south elevation is proposed to be replaced.
View of east and north elevations from Clinton Street. Larger second-story window on north
elevation (currently only a storm window) is proposed to be replaced. The pair of adjacent, first-
story windows on the north elevation are proposed to be replaced with a single window filling the
windows’ original openings.
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Standards
See Window, Door, and Exterior Woodwork Standards and Guidelines in Case 2022-30, above.
Deliberation
I move that the HDC (approve/deny) the request to replace a total of nine wood windows with eight
(wood/vinyl) replacement windows of the same size, design, proportions, and profile except for a pair
of adjacent double-hung windows on the first-story of the north elevation which would be replaced
with a single window filling the windows’ original openings as presented in the September 6, 2022
HDC staff report as long as the work meets all zoning requirements and the necessary permits are
obtained.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
Election of Vice Chairperson – The HDC’s Vice Chairperson resigned a few months ago and they
have not been replaced. Election of a new Vice Chairperson will be considered by the board at this
meeting.
CLG Application Update – In early August, Staff submitted Muskegon’s application to the Certified
Local Government program and is expecting a response as to its status soon. As previously discussed,
certification through the program would make Muskegon eligible for annual CLG grant opportunities.
Applications for the FY23 grant cycle open October 3, 2022, and at the May meeting, the HDC
supported applying for funding to assist with conservation work for the monuments in Hackley Park.
VII. ADJOURN
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