HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - FMSAutoLoad: 7/24/2014 10:51:04 AM ITEM
DATE: 05/26/98
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING REVISIONS TO
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 31.13(26), "DESIGN CRITERIA FOR
THE `OLD TOWN' DISTRICT", AND THE ADDITION OF A DEFINITION FOR "HISTORIC
SIDING MATERIAL" IN SECTION 31.2(18)(a), "DEFINTIONS AND RULES OF
CONSTRUCTION".
ACTION FORM SUMMARY: City staff is proposing revisions to proposed ordinance amendments
to Section 31.2(18)(a) and Section 31.13(26) of the Historic Preservation District regulations.
These revised amendments would allow additions to an existing structure to have siding material
of the same composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the composition and
width of the siding material on the existing structure is the original or historic siding material.
Historic siding material is: "siding material added to the structure within the period of significance
for the historic district".
City staff recommends approval of the revisions to the proposed ordinance amendments proposed
for Section 31.2(18)(a) and Section 31.13(26).
BACKGROUND:
Recently, the Historic Preservation Commission considered a request by a property owner, in the
Old Town Historic District, for an addition to his existing house. The property owner proposed
siding for the addition that matched the width of the existing six-inch siding on the house. The
proposed six-inch siding was not consistent with the required design criteria for the architectural
style of the house. The property owner was required by the design criteria to use siding on the
addition that was much more narrow than the siding on the existing house. Siding on the addition
was required to have a width in the range of 2-'/2 inches to 4 inches wide. Therefore, the
dimensions of siding on the addition did not match the dimensions of siding on the existing house.
The Historic Preservation Commission then requested that staff prepare an ordinance amendment
to allow the dimensions of siding on additions to match the dimensions of siding on existing
structures.
On April 13, 1998, the Ames Historic Preservation Commission recommended approval of
amendments to the Historic Preservation District regulations, as described in this report. The
proposed ordinance amendments would allow the siding on building additions to have the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the composition and width of the
siding material on the existing structure is the original or historic siding material.
Since the City of Ames is a Certified Local Government (CLG), the State Historical Society of Iowa
must approve any changes to the historic preservation district regulations. State staff have
reviewed the proposed ordinance change, and it is staff's understanding that the State has
approved the ordinance changes.
ANALYSIS:
Section 31.2(18)(a), "Definitions and Rules of Construction". This section of the Municipal
Code would be changed to add the following definition:
(18)(a): Historic Siding Material: Siding material added to a structure within the "Period of
Significance" for the historic district.
Section 31.13(26), "Design Criteria for the `Old Town' District". This section of the Municipal
Code would be changed as follows:
(Note: Proposed amendments to the current regulations are shown in "bold type".)
(26) Design Criteria for the `Old Town' District.
(a) Italianate Design Criteria.
Siding. Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
(b) Queen Anne Design Criteria.
Siding. Avoid smooth walled appearance with patterned shingles, cutaway bay
windows, and other devices. Narrow/medium clapboard 2-1/2" to 6". Decorative siding
shingles, especially in gables. Corner boards 4"to 6".
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
(c) Colonial Revival Design Criteria.
Siding. Medium clapboard 4" to 6" with 4" to 6" corner boards. Stucco. Shingled.
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
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(d) Tudor Design Criteria.
Siding. Decorative half-timbering. Stucco. Decorative chimney.
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
(e) Prairie School/Craftsman/Bungalow Design Criteria.
Siding. Narrow clapboard 2-1/2" to 4" with corner boards 4" to 6". Shingled. Stucco.
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
(f) Hipped Cottage(Type 1) Design Criteria.
Siding. Narrow clapboard 2-1/2 to 4". Corner boards 4" to 6". Often with Prairie
School/Craftsman and/or Colonial details.
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
(g) Gabled Cottage (Type II) Design Criteria.
Siding. Narrow clapboard 2-1/2" to 4" is principle cladding with brick or stucco as
secondary. May have Craftsman detailing such as brackets, exposed rafter tails,
window bands, fish-scale shingles.
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
(h) Gabled-Ell Cottage (Type III) Design Criteria.
Siding. Narrow clapboard 2-1/2" to 4".
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
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(i) Colonial Cottage (Type IV) Design Criteria.
Siding. Narrow clapboard 2-1/2" to 4".
Additions to an existing structure may have siding material of the same
composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the
composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the
original or historic siding material.
STAFF COMMENTS:
The proposed amendments will allow property owners to use siding materials on building additions
that match the siding materials on the existing building, provided the materials proposed matched
the original or the historic materials. This amendment would apply regardless of when the original
part of the structure was constructed. For instance, if an apartment building were constructed in
1975, the property owner would be allowed to use siding on the addition that matched the original
siding. This is true even if the original siding is a composed of a material, or has a width dimension
that is not the same as what would be allowed on an "historically significant" structure. This
amendment will provide a greater degree of consistency between siding that is approved for
building additions and siding that is used on existing structures.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION•
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed this proposed ordinance amendment at their
meeting of May 6, 1998 and recommended that it be approved.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve the amendments to Section 31.2(19) and Section 31.13(26).
These amendments would allow additions to an existing structure to have siding material of
the same composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the composition
and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the original or historic siding
material.
2. The City Council can deny the amendments to Section 31.2(19) and Section 31.13(26).
These amendments would allow additions to an existing structure to have siding material of
the same composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if the composition
and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the original or historic siding
material.
3. The City Council can approve a modification of the amendments to Section 31.2(19) and
Section 31.13(26). These amendments would allow additions to an existing structure to have
siding material of the same composition and width as the siding on the existing structure, if
the composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure is the original or
historic siding material.
4. The City Council can refer this request back to the City staff for additional information.
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended that Alternative #1 be adopted, which is a recommendation to approve the
amendments to Section 31.2(19) and Section 31.13(26). These amendments would allow additions
to an existing structure to have siding material of the same composition and width as the siding on
the existing structure, if the composition and width of the siding material on the existing structure
is the original or historic siding material.
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