Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Signed Minutes - September 21, 2020

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CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: September 8, 2020 Application Number: 2020-0910A Property Location: 305 West North Shore Drive Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Colonial Revival/1922/Dalton House Property Owner: Paul Cholis Landmark or District Designation: West North Shore Drive Local Historic District, #6512-78 Rating: Outstanding DESCRI PTION OF STRUCTURE) SITE: Two story brick house with brick foundation on a slightly elevated lot. One story wings on both sides feature cast iron balustrades. The roof is side gable and is covered in slate with three dormers punctuating. Dentilated cornice above entryway and roof. Two side chimneys. Windows are mainly 6/1 double hung with shutters; two 4/1 double hung are centered above entrance; dormer windows are round arch 8/1 double hung; windows in wings are divided light casement or fixed. Front door is centered with sidelights and transom. Porch features columns and pilasters with Doric capitals. A garage in rear is also of brick material with slate roof. Original copper downspouts and gutters. ALTERATIONS: COA #2017-0329 allowed for pointing on main house and carriage house. COA #2012-0403 allowed for the removal of one dead/dying/hollow red maple tree per City Forester Brent Thompson. COA #2011-0909 allowed for pointing of sunroom east exterior wall, as well as repair and replacement of the damaged pavers, wing walls, and front and side steps. COA #2003-1023 allowed for the reconstruction of the existing driveway and brick paver curbing. APPLICATION ITEMS: "Rentove dead, diseased, and dying blue spruce at north east ally of property and n/e corner. Est. 19 dead and dying trees. " DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The contractor has requested approval to: m. Trim large deciduous tree at northeast comer; n. Remove 21 blue spruce trees, including stumps; o. Remove 2 dogwood trees, including stumps The trees are clustered in the northwest corner of the property, which is the side fronting Lafayette Boulevard and rear on an alley. The blue spruce trees are large and dense but many of the needles are shed. City Forester, Brent Thompson, has noted that these evergreens have a lot of dieback and suggested that they are diseased with Rhizosphaera needle cast that can spread in overcrowded tree plantings like this one. The disease can get expensive and is hard to get poor condition trees to come back to a healthier condition. Removing these trees will open the lawn. There are no new trees proposed to be planted at this time. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: WEST NORTH SHORE DRIVE I. THE ENVIRONMENT C. LAWNS The Current or historic landscaping character of lawns should be preserved. Paving and blacktopping of existing lawns so as to transform them essentially into parking lots or spaces rather than residential lawns must be prohibited. Front yard areas, trees, and lawns must remain open. Fencing in front yards is prohibited. A fence on the Michigan Street side of lots 12 and 13 may be permitted if done in a distinctive way and is compatible with the character of the structures on these lots, with considerations being made for the high density and speed of the traffic on Michigan Street. Trees contribute greatly to the beauty and charm and indeed the historic character of the North Shore Drive neighborhood. Street widening or other public developments calling for widespread destruction of large, healthy trees must be prohibited. Replacement of trees must be compatible in variety with those presently growing. The vacant lots must be kept as landscaped or appropriated recreational, or other similar residential development. This is not intended to prohibit the sale of such lots, nor new construction on these lots. SITE VISIT REPORT: On August 13, 2020, Specialist Toering and Inspector Van Overberghe conducted a site visit to the property from the right-of-way to document/photograph the condition of the trees per the contractors description. Pictures from that site visit are attached to this staff report. Staff are not arborists and cannot speak to the health of the trees. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval.