Historic Commission Minutes

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Commissioner Tom Swigart called the Historic District Commission meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Present: Culp, Swigart, Bayly, and Holleman.

Excused: Gudritz, Cryderman

Also Present: Chief Building Official, Richard Starling, Councilwoman, Carolann Ayers.

3. MINUTES: December 17, 2003

Motion by Holleman, supported by Bayly, to approve the December17, 2003 minutes as submitted. Voice Vote: Motion Unanimously Carried.

5. REPORTS:

A. City Administration: None.

B. City Council: Council Member Ayers reported that Council is in the process of reviewing the appointments and term expirations of the members on the Historic District Commission. Currently, two terms expire in 2004 and five expire in 2005. There is a discrepancy in the terms and Council is in the process of resolving the problem.

C. Historic District Commission: None.

D. Other Community / Governmental Liaisons: None.

6. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN: Deferred to the end of the meeting.

Motion by Culp supported by Bayly to nominate Holleman as the Vice Chairman.

Voice Vote: Motion Unanimously Carried. Commissioner Holleman graciously accepted the nomination and position.

CASE #1
Novi Fence/Robert & Sally Dixon                           FENCE
549 W. Dunlap Street
Northville, Michigan 48167

This case is one held over from the December 17, 2003 HDC meeting. At that time

the Commissioners suggested that the applicant be present to resolve the problems with the fence which had already been installed and to explain the details to the Commissioners.

Jim Kokshire, owner of Novi Fence and John Dixon, the homeowner were present to present the case. A formal building permit application and plan examination were submitted. The permit stated that the permit is used to replace the existing fence with a new fence of the same style, height and design. The fence will be a 4’ high concave style, picket, western red cedar, wood fence.

Mr. Dixson submitted a paint sample and stated that once the cedar dries, the fence will be painted to match the trim of the house. The color is Sherman William #2447 – Devon Cream. The fence posts will have ball caps and examples were submitted. The previous fence had the same ball caps.

Motion by Culp, supported by Holleman to approve the application as submitted contingent on a color swatch be submitted to the Building Department and handled administratively. Voice Vote: Ayes: All. Motion unanimously carried.

CASE #2                                                        SIGN
Graphic Vision/Fine Threads & Preferences
102/103 East Main Street
Northville, Michigan 48167

Sue Dillon representing Graphic Visions presented plans for both Fine Threads and Preferences. She stated that the building (Morrison’s Antiques) recently sold. The new owner will move his Fine Threads into Morrison’s and will improve the lease space that currently has Preferences.

1. New fabric awnings for both retail spaces, including the upper window awnings are planned. Fine Threads will have a menswear striped dark blue Sunbrella fabric. The upper windows awnings will be a solid dark blue navy – Captain’s Way #4646. Preferences will have a rich black #4608 with painted beige details Sunbrella fabric.
2. In the spring the exterior building will be repainted (Sherwin-Williams SW6119 -Antique White) replacing existing MDO panels and moldings, refacing the area above the lower retail windows to cover the various types of block and brick. Included are two decorative sign panels between the upper windows. The upper sign panels and the moving of the existing sign from Fine Threads on the south side of Main Street to its new location will be done by Graphic Visions.
3. Depending on the budget, the addition of more extensive molding and refacing of the building will be done in the same colors as detailed above.

Moldings: FyponXpress – Fascia Molding #306700

Sign panels between the two upper windows: 49" high x 38 ¼" wide

Awning (Mansard) - Preferences will be 2’ at one point and 3’6" at the highest point.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND CONCERNS: The awnings will have one contiguous look, while at the same time visually giving each store their own identity.

Motion by Holleman supported by Culp to approve the application for the signage, paint color, awning design and the molding for both Fine Threads and Preferences 102 and 103 E. Main Street. Voice Vote: Ayes: All. Motion Unanimously Carried.

LONDECO
120 W. Main Street
Northville, Michigan 48167

Jim Long business owner and developer submitted new drawings for the proposed retail/ office development at the northeast corner of Main and Wing Streets. He asked the Commissioners for their review and comments. He stated that the new version combines the look of three distinct facades with a vintage flavor. It is a two and a half story building which incorporates the grade change from Wing to Center St.

Greg Presley, part of the Design team for John Stewart and Associates discussed the Mass and Scale of the building:

• The 20,000 sq’ mixed use project will be 162’ long and will have seven bays approximately 22’ wide.
• The center bay will contain the public-entry portion and be recessed 30’ from the street.
• Average height is less than 33 feet. Presley explained the reasoning:

1. The calculations of the average height of the block are 28’.4" (These include The N’Vlle Record Building, Bloom Building, Coney Island, MGM and MainCentre.)
2. Long’s is currently 15% over the average height of the block.
3. If the MGM building would at some time add one story, than Long’s would be at the average height for the block.
4. Using the calculations of the 300’ radius (includes Wing St residents, Garden View, StampPeddlar, and City Hall) and the 5% rule, Long’s ht figure drops to being just over 11%.
5. Most importantly Presley provided a sketch or artist’s rendering of the view from the Northville Record Building looking west on Main Street which best illustrates the use of the grade elevation and how it relates to the height issue.

Carmine discussed the Rhythm and Harmony of the building (esthetic approach):

• Proportions and Materials are sympathetic to the Historic district but don’t mimic.
• Variations of the details work together to create a look of three separate buildings.
• Three different colors of brick will be used, lessening the mass of the building.
• Windows framed in green, marble granite sills, and metal cornices will be used.
• Rear of the building treated like a front, but with details simplified.
• East side will use lots of glass.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND CONCERNS: The Commissioners unanimously spoke in favor and praise of the new drawings. The new design respects the scale of the older downtown structures. They liked the use of the brick and glass, variety of brick and an architectural style that "fits." The Commissioners liked the prospective sketch, looking from the east to the west and were in agreement that the prospective "perceived height" of the building looked good. They asked if there could be another sketch looking from the west to the east and commended the architect as the first to intentionally use this process (the sketch.)

The question was asked how the height of the building is measured. In previously submitted cases two different people can have different ways in which the numbers are calculated.

The Building Official responded that it is the average mean height of the roof and this is obtained by the architectural "sealed" drawings which are submitted. In essence the drawings are swearing that the numbers are accurate.

Motion by Bayly supported by Culp, to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

P. S. Howard
Recording Secretary