Wednesday, April 9, 2008
6:30 PM
Kirkwood City Hall
Main Level Conference Room

Present:  Commissioners Dave Brown, Steve Emer, Pat Jones, Phyllis Ravensberg, Tom Riggs and Staff Liaison Alan Lamberg.

Guests: Anthony Balota of 113 N Kirkwood; Veta Fitzgerald of 124 Dickson; June Pellarin of 110 Dickson; Lisa Hautly of 345 E Argonne; Randy & Chris Beckner of 534 E Jefferson; Sandie Kirkbride of 522 N Kirkwood #1B; Tad Skelton of 341 E Argonne; Eric Gjeluik of 520 E Jefferson; Nick Ohlman of 329 E Argonne; William Bay of
4 Denny Lane (Downtown Kirkwood); Nancy L. Price of PO Box 31402.

1. Approval of minutes.  Minutes approved as read with spelling changes and corrections noted. Motion for approval by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Riggs.  Minutes approved unanimously.

2.  Citizens comments.  None

3.  Certificate of Appropriateness

a. Continuance of Case 08-04 – 526 E Jefferson Ave., Infill:  new construction of single-family residence.  It was noted that developer Lewis Homes recognizes concern from neighbors for infill to fit characteristically in the neighborhood.  To that end, Lewis is working with architect Kim Spurgeon who specializes in historic preservation and is a former landmarks commissioner. The commission had to remind the public that their purview is limited to historic preservation; aesthetics of historic character.  Other issues, such as water drainage, are under the purview of the building commissioner, and the mass, scale, setbacks of a house are subject to zoning regulations.  On that note, it is possible for the commission to inform and advise planning & zoning through design guidelines.  COA approved with conditions: Reasonably reduce size of front elevation shutters, and create more distance between two second-floor windows.

b. Continuance of Case 08-05 – 139 S Kirkwood Road, Landmark # 94 City Hall.  Installation of replacement windows.   Kevin Herdler, director of fleet maintenance for the City of Kirkwood, requested that Commissioner Tom Riggs consult and advise on scenarios for window replacement.  Riggs brought in sample materials.  Wood windows manufactured by Pella, would be 7 inch glazed simulated light with 7/8 muntin, glued on with spacer in-between.  Existing exterior brick mold would be covered with white aluminum, which would minimize maintenance.  Without aluminum cover, the brick mold would need to be stripped down and re-painted with 3 coats, and then repeated in 10 years.  Some of the brick mold is rotting through. The vinyl windows are solid colors, either white/white or brown/brown.  All have screens on the outside with the mutton strip in-between two panes of glass.  Generally, these vinyl windows cost half as much as the wood.  Current windows are wood with exterior storm panels that obscure window muttons.  City Hall has 59 windows that need replacing.  Rough estimates of window scenarios are as follows: All wood $75-80K; Wood on Council Chamber, Judge Chamber, Mayor's office and main level conference room, $67K.  Wood only on Council Chamber, $55K.  Costs include pre-finishing.  Commissioner Riggs recommends that the City Council choose the $67K option, where wood windows are placed on highly visible frontage of the building, also visible in formal meeting rooms. 

Please note that Herdler is not part of dept public works but dept of purchasing.  Also, Tom Riggs was not hired—he is doing pro-bono consulting and recommendation.  After Commissioner Riggs makes his recommendation to the Council, the project will go out for bid.  The above discussion was purely advisory – no COA issued.

4.  Old Business.

a. Case 08-02 – 217 S Woodlawn Ave, Landmark # 29 Sutherland-Mitchell-Shallcross House.  Demolition of outbuilding.  The demolition stay is still in order until the end of the month.  Press releases were issued to the Webster-Kirkwood Times by the City Public Communications Officer Claire Budd for study/salvage issue.  Liaison Lamberg to forward press release to the Kirkwood Historical Society and the Kirkwood Parks Department for salvage options through their organizations.

b. Jefferson-Argonne local historic district – The Landmark Commission subcommittee for Design Guidelines is scheduled to meet on April 26, 2008 at the Kirkwood Missouri Pacific Depot to begin development of the guidelines.  This committee is being chaired by Commissioner David Meyers.  Since there are 2 districts needing guidelines, it will be best to divide the commissioners between them.  Jefferson-Argonne should have 4 commissioners (a quorum).

c. Savoy local historic district – Commissioner Emer, chair of this design guideline committee, has spoken with neighbors of the district expressing a desire to meet with them to begin the development process.  Liaison Lamberg to identify interested neighbors.  The Savoy design committee should also have four commissioners (a quorum).  

d. Favorite Building Award candidates – The choices made by the commission were reviewed and finalized.  Awards will be presented to property owners on May 14, 2008 at the Kirkwood Missouri Pacific Depot.  Liaison Lamberg to notify owners and take pictures of the awarded properties.

e. Development of 4-year plan for historic preservation in Kirkwood.  Several ideas were discussed.  Commissioner Jones expressed concern over the method in which new property owners are notified of the possible landmark status of their newly purchased properties.  There is not a consistent method of notifying new owners when their property is included in a landmark district.  It is believed to come up in the title search, but is the information communicated properly to the owner.

Commissioner Meyers suggested the idea of developing a brochure.  This could be given to landmark district property owners and individual landmark property owners.  This information would also be useful in the hands of the area real estate agents.

f. Ordinance and regulations:  Several residents from the Jefferson-Argonne district were present and inquired about the impact of the Architectural Review Board’s (ARB) review of single-family infill.  Liaison Lamberg suggested the best course would be for Landmarks to advise the ARB via a liaison or subcommittee.  The Design Guidelines would be utilized by ARB for defensible decision-making.   Mrs. Hautly stated that it isn’t necessary to reinvent the wheel; follow up on research done by Council member Lynch for FAR, and other formulas for infill regulation.  City Attorney Hessel may be familiar with the research by now.

5. New Business

a.      Citizens seeking advice to preserve their historic properties – none.

b.      Downtown Kirkwood historic district, potential –

i.        Information session was on April 2, 2008; minutes available.

ii.      What next?  Outreach to property owners.  Two owners were present.  Chairperson Jones summarized the information session from the previous week.  Staff provided an information packet.  Questions were answered.  Prime concern was assuring the difference between local and national districts. 

c. Staff observations, suggestions – none

6. Motion to adjourn.  Motion was made to adjourn by Comm. Emers, seconded by Comm. Riggs.  Approved unanimously.  Meeting adjourned 8:45 pm.