Historic Commission Minutes

1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Swigart called the Historic District Commission meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

2. ROLL CALL:

Present: Culp, Coponen, Cryderman, Holleman, Kennedy, Swigart.

Absent: None

3. MINUTES: Motion by Culp, supported by Holleman to approve the March 21, 2001 minutes as submitted. Motion unanimously carried – Voice Vote.

4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: None.

CITY ADMINISTRATION: None.

CITY COUNCIL: None.

PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: None.

OTHER COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENTAL LAISONS: None.

Across The Street/Graphic Visions Sign

102 East Main Street

Northville, Michigan 48167

Sue Dillon from Graphic Visions and representing the shop, Across the Street, described the signage plans for the clothing store. The whimsical lettering will be copper and black metal laminate and pin mounted. The "O" in across, relates to the Dancing Eye, which is the parent shop across the street. Total square footage will be 25 sq.ft. which meets Northville’s Sign Ordinance. Vinyl window graphics will repeat Northville’s downtown building scape and will be at pedestrian level; placed on the inside of the window. The existing lilac colored door will be changed to a copper metallic or burnt orange color.

Motion by Kennedy, supported by Coponen to approve the application as submitted.

Motion carried unanimously. Voice Vote.

Big Ike’s Roofing New Roof

440 Dubuar

Northville, Michigan 48167

The representative from Big Ike’s described the plans for a complete tear off and a re-shingle on the home at 440 Dubuar. The existing shingles are black. The new architect shingle is by New Horizon – Blue with Black shadow. The house is white with black shutters.

Motion by Kennedy, supported by Holleman to accept the application as presented.

Motion unanimously carried. Voice Vote.

Sizzling Sticks/Carey Beal Sign

144 Mary Alexander Court

Northville. Michigan 48167

No one was present to represent the application. Cary Beale stated in the application that the existing plywood sign (at the rear balcony) has been used for the last 9-10 months. The purpose of the sign is to hide the visibility of the smokers (Sizzling Sticks employees) from the children who are being dropped off for dance class, which is held in the lower level of the same building.

Building Official, Richard Starling stated that a sign could be permitted if it adhered to the Sign Ordinance.

Motion by Kennedy, supported by Culp to deny the application as presented on the basis that the submitted sign is aesthetically disadvantaged and not a "real" sign. Materials and the design of the sign need to be presented. Northville Design Standards Section 4-24 was then referenced. Motion unanimously carried to deny the application. Voice Vote.

Utopia

180 Main-Long’s Building

Northville, Michigan 48167

Sue Dillon representing Graphic Visions stated that the sign for Utopia (previously approved) wishes to change from the approved bracket sign to a wall mounted sign. Colors and dimensions remain the same

Motion by Culp, supported by Cryderman to approve the amendment for Utopia.

7: 30 P.M. Because of his involvement in Case #4 Commissioner Holleman excused himself from the discussion.

Bob Warner/Jane Murphy New Garage/Roof

304 West Dunlap

Northville, Michigan 48167

Tom Holleman, the architect for the project and representing Bob Warner and Jane Murphy, described plans for the new attached garage with room above for storage. Existing dormer details and window details of the house will be added to the new garage. The roof shingle will match the existing house shingle. A new porch will replace the old decrepit porch on the south west side and will have four simple ionic columns. Colors for the garage will match the home. Main color –Weston Flax. Accents colors are Crème Fraiche, Waterbury Crème, and Cushing Green. The Columns will also be painted Crème Fraiche.

Motion by Culp, supported by Coponen to accept the application for a new porch, garage, and roof with the conditions that the garage shingles match the home and that a wood paneled garage door be used that is ecstatically consistent and compatible with the home. Motion unanimously carried. Voice Vote.

7:40 P.M. Tom Holleman rejoined fellow Commissioners for the remainder of the meeting.

The Commissioners commended Tom Holleman for the work and details of the Guideline Memo. The guideline explicitly states the conditions for demolishing an historic home. The burden lies on the applicant to convince the board why a house should be demolished. The intent is to preserve rather than to demolish. If a house is approved for demolition, than the applicant also needs to provide the research for its contribution to Northville’s history.

Chairman Swigart will approach Manager Word for the process involved in drafting a section regarding demolition to be added to the Historic Design Standards.

Motion by Holleman, supported by Cryderman to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

P. S. Howard

Recording Secretary