HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Commission Action Form dated November 17, 2010 t
ITEM #: 6
DATE: 11-17-10
COMMISSION ACTION FORM
DATE PREPARED: November 12, 2010
REQUEST: Ordinance to Amend Section 31 .13 of the Municipal Code to
Establish Design Criteria for a Local Historic Landmark Located at
1013 and 1025 Adams Street
PROPERTY City of Ames
OWNER: 515 Clark Avenue
Ames, Iowa 50010
APPLICANT: Ames Historical Society
LOCATION: 1013 and 1025 Adams Street
(A subdivision plat is being processed that divides the property
into two lots. Presently there is only one address (1013 Adams
Street). Once the Final Plat is approved for the subdivision, Lot 1
will include the existing house and retain the address of 1013
Adams Street. Lot 2 (Adams Memorial Greenway) will be
addressed as 1025 Adams Street.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
City staff is bringing an item previously considered by the Commission back for further
consideration. This item, Design Criteria for the proposed local historic landmark at 1013
and 1025 Adams Street, was previously considered by the Planning and Zoning
Commission on June 16, and September 1 , 2010, as described below. At this time, the
Commission is being asked to make a recommendation to the City Council on the revised
Design Criteria in Attachment D.
Planning and Zoning Commission Action. On September 1 , 2010, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of Design Criteria (see Attachment C) and
rezoning to apply the "O-H" (Historic Preservation) overlay and designate the property at
1013 and 1025 Adams Street as a local historic landmark with the condition that, "the
historic overlay maintain the openness as designated by the architect and the intent
of the donor, and that those statements be attached to the 1025 Adams Street
historic preservation overlay document, and that Criteria #2, which references
substitute material, be deleted."
Initially, on June 16, 2010, the Planning and Zoning Commission considered the Design
Criteria, as shown on Attachment C, and recommended that the City Council approve the
guidelines (with the stipulation that Criteria #2, which references substitute material, be
deleted).
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City Council Action. On September 28, 2010,the City Council considered the adoption of
Design Criteria (see Attachment C)for the proposed local historic landmark on the Adams
Street property, and referred this item back to staff "to look at the design criteria for the
landmark designation, particularly as it pertains to landscaping of an historic
landmark and the site as a whole." There was much discussion that focused on criteria
for the "landscape." The Council was concerned that the proposed criteria were too broad
and did not provide enough information to potential buyers on what types of vegetation
would be acceptable. In an attempt to provide more specificity to the landscape criteria,
concerns were expressed that there was now perhaps too much focus on landscaping, and
that the criteria went beyond any interests the Adams may have had on landscaping.
Accordingly, the Ames Historical Society, in a letter dated November 1, 2010 (see
Attachment E), concluded that the house and the topography(knoll)where the house sits
are of primary importance. The topography enhances the house's setting. They believe it
is not important to dictate further landscape details to future owners, and support the
passage of the application with design criteria for the house and landscape criteria
protecting the topography of the entire 5 acres.
Historic Preservation Commission Action. On October 11, and again on November 8,
2010, the Historic Preservation Commission discussed possible revisions to the Design
Criteria, and considered revisions proposed by staff. The Commission then made the
revisions, as shown on Attachment D, and recommends adoption by the City Council.
Summary of Revisions by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The HPC
removed any reference to "substitute materials", since this is already addressed in Chapter
31 of the Municipal Code. Design Criteria that apply to the landscape of the site were
revised to address the "knoll" upon which the Adams house sits. This is the key element of
the landscape that enhances the setting for the Adams house. All reference to the grassy,
open site, small shrubs near the house, and preservation of the daylighting of central
rooms has been removed from the previous draft of the Design Criteria. There are no
special restrictions on the removal of existing plants, or on the planting of new trees,
shrubs, and other plant materials. However, alterations or changes that reflect the historic,
visual or spatial relationship of the house to its grounds are encouraged, but not
required. Other provisions of the proposed Design Criteria were changed to clarify the
previous draft. For example, the Design Criteria for "Dormers" was changed to "Roof
Projections," since no dormers exist on the Adams house. Also, the format used for the
Design Criteria was changed to be consistent with the format used elsewhere in the
Municipal Code.
The Proposed Design Criteria for the topography of the landscape are intended to
apply to the entire Adams property, since the knoll extends into the Adams Memorial
Greenway(Lot 2). The Design Criteria that address the architectural elements of the
house are to apply to the Adams House, only.
Design Guidelines in Chapter 31 of the Municipal Code will be applicable to any new
construction of buildings on the Adams house lot (Lot 1). Design Criteria and
Design Guidelines will apply to any alterations and additions to the existing Adams
house.
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ALTERNATIVES:
1 . The Planning and Zoning Commission can recommend that the City Council approve
the revised Design Criteria for the proposed Local Historic Landmark at 1013 and 1025
Adams Street.
2. The Planning and Zoning Commission can recommend that the City Council not adopt
the revised Design Criteria for the proposed Local Historic Landmark at 1013 and 1025
Adams Street
3. The Planning and Zoning Commission can recommend that the City Council approve
the revised Design Criteria forthe proposed Local Historic Landmark at 1013 and 1025
Adams Street, with modifications deemed appropriate.
4. Action on this request can be postponed and referred back to City staff and/or the
applicant for additional information.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is staff's recommendation that the Planning and Zoning Commission act in accordance
with Alternative 1 , which is a recommendation that the City Council approve the revised
Design Criteria for the proposed Local Historic Landmark at 1013 and 1025 Adams Street.
S:\Council Boards Commissions\PZ\Commission Action Forms\Design Criteria\1013&1025 Adams Street Rezone-11-17-10.doc
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Attachment A
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Attachment B
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September22,2010 2008 Color-Aerial Imagery
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Attachment C
Previous Draft of Design Criteria
Reviewed by the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission
September, 2010
1 . The Adams House is a mixture of late Prairie School and Postwar Modern styles of
architecture. Details of design and dimensions of distinct architectural elements of
the building, as shown on the building plans prepared by the builder, Bertrand
Adams, shall be followed and conformed to for all alterations or new construction of
additions to the building.
2. Substitute materials may be allowed if they are consistent with the historic materials in
size, design and texture. Proposals for substitute materials must be expressed with
specificity in the application for Certificate of Appropriateness.
Staff Comments: Regulations and restrictions for the use of substitute
materials are covered by Section 31.10(6). This section of the Design
Criteria should be deleted.
3. The Adams' House relationship to its grassy, open site is an essential aspect of its
Landmark status. Alterations or changes in use that alter the visual or spatial
relationship of the house to its grounds shall be discouraged.
4. All alterations and newly constructed additions shall conform to the following
characteristics of the building:
- Building Height: One-and-a-half stories, not including the basement.
- Roof Type & Pitch: Nominally flat with a slight slope to the clerestory that opens
up toward the south.
Dormers: None, however the central clerestory is an integral element in
the building's massing and primary elevation.
Entry: Via a porch on the south side, with alternate entry toward
driveway on east.
Exterior Materials: Brick and concrete masonry walls. Built-up roofing with metal
edge/parapet. Concrete paving to front porch, walkway and
driveway. Steel pipe columns support roof over porch.
Alterations and/or repairs should match color and pattern of
existing brick.
Windows: Narrow sash steel windows with predominantly horizontal
muntin pattern and metallic finish. Cornerwindows should be
restored, as possible, to their original, more open
configuration.
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- Solid/Void Ratio: Maintain position and size of all large-scale openings (doors,
windows, etc.) Additional openings as required for
accessibility or egress improvements should coordinate with
the existing rhythm and pattern of voids.
Plan/Footprints: Generally open plan with service areas (kitchen and bath)
along the north edge. Predominantly east-west orientation
with windows along the south side.
Landscape: Generally open with small shrubs near house. Provision for
daylighting of central rooms is key to the house's aesthetic
concept and should be preserved.
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Attachment D
Proposed Draft of Design Criteria
(Showing Revisions by the Historic Preservation Commission)
11-08-10
1 . The Adams House is a mixture of late Prairie School and Postwar Modern styles of
architecture. Details of design and dimensions of distinct architectural elements of
the building as shown on the building plans prepared bythe builder, Bertrand Adams,
shall be followed and conformed to for all alterations or new construction of additions
to the building.
2. Substitute MateFialS may be allowed Of they are GensisteRt with the hiSter!G materials
size-, design and texture. Preposals fer substitute materials must be expressed with
3- 2. The Adams' House relationship to its grassy, epen site knoll is an essential aspect
of its Landmark status. Alterations or changes +n use that after reflect the historic,
visual or spatial relationship of the house to its grounds shall be d+seeuraged
encouraged, but not required.
4. 3. All alterations and newly constructed additions shall conform to the following
characteristics of the building:
- Building Height: The building height shall be limited to one-and-a-half
stories, not including the basement.
- Roof Type & Pitch: The roof line of the building shall be nominally flat with a
slight slope to the clerestory that opens up toward the south.
- eFs:
- Roof Projections: NGRe, "ter The central clerestory is an integral element iR
of the building's massing and primary elevation, and shall be
retained.
- Entry: The primary entrance to the building is under Via a porch
on the south side, with an alternate entry toward driveway on
east. These entry features shall be retained.
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Exterior Materials: Acceptable building materials are as follows:
i. Brick and/or concrete masonry walls.
Alterations and/or repairs should match color and
pattern of existing brick.
ii. Built-up roofing with metal edge/parapet.
iii. Concrete paving to front porch, walkway and driveway.
iv. Steel pipe columns supporting roof over porch.
V. Alterations and/or repairs should match color and
pattern of existing brick.
Windows: Windows shall be narrow sash steel windows with
predominantly horizontal muntin pattern and metallic finish. If
window replacements are necessary, corner windows
should be restored, as possible, to their original, more open
configuration.
SolidNoid Ratio: Maintain position and size of all large-scale openings (doors,
windows, etc.) Additional openings as required for
accessibility or egress improvements should coordinate with
the existing rhythm and pattern of voids.
Plan/Footprints: Generally open pl withs r„i„e areas (kitGheR and bat4)
along the north edge Rooms have a predominantly east-
west orientation with windows along the south side.
Retention of these features is encouraged, but not
required.
Landscape: Generally epenwith small shrubs + the Rear
+� � house's
house. ore„isie far
day�'�}g Of to entral reems is key ho" e'�. aest#etiG
oenGept and should he „reser„ed. Topography to be
maintained.
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Attachment E
Ames Historical Society Letter
11-01-10
ki�qoclejy
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toried
AME.S•IOWA
November 1, 2010
Historic Preservation Commission
515 Clark Avenue,
Ames, Iowa 50010
Dear Commission Members,
The Ames Historical Society wishes to comment on the pending application for Local
Landmark Status for the Mary and Bertrand Adams home in north Ames. Recently,
the Ames City Council directed the application back to the Historic Preservation
Commission (HPC) to reconsider the landscape design criteria.
We understand the concerns expressed by the Council regarding the proposed
criteria as being overly restrictive. We have looked further at the documentation
and the background relating to this issue, such as how the grounds were treated by
the Adams's. Our conclusion is that what is historically important is the house and
the topography and the knoll where the house sits. The topography enhances the
house's setting. We do not feel it is important to dictate further landscape details
to future owners.
The house has been vacant for 5 years, and every year more deterioration occurs.
We urge the HPC to proceed with revising the landscape design criteria as soon as
possible, and to direct the application back to the City Council for immediate action.
We encourage the City Council to act quickly on the application. We support the
passage of the application with design criteria for the house and landscape criteria
protecting the topography of the entire 5 acres. It is our hope that this transaction
can be brought to an end, after this very lengthy and complex process.
Please advise me if there is anything we can do to assist this process to completion.
Sincerely,
l- RECEIVED
' � >`�U�l0 22010
Peggy B er, resident, on behalf of the CITY 0tAMES,IOWA
Ames Historical Society Board of Directors DGF,r, OF N Arty ING&I•IOUSING
P.O.Box 821,Ames,10WA 5001 0
515-232-2148 MAILIPAMESHISTORICALSOCIETY.ORG
WW W.AMESHISTORICALSOCIETY.ORG
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