Landmark Commission Minutes - 03/22/2022 LANDMARK COMMISSION
MINUTES
March 22nd, 2022
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Michele Derr • Chairperson
John Dickinson • Member
Christy Graham • Member
Joel Hartmangruber • Member
Andy Lee ■ Member
Marcela Medellin ■ Member
Janel Ponder Smith ■ Member
Tim Brewer ■ Council Liaison
Terry Floyd, Development Services Director ■ City Staff
Karen Gagne, Principal Planner ■ City Staff
Christal Ashcraft, Development Services Admin. Asst. ■ City Staff
ABSENT:
Nadine McKown ■ Vice-Chairperson
Noros Martin ■ P&Z Liaison
GUESTS:
Brenda Burgett, 1410 Grant Street ■ Applicant
Sandra Eaton, 1410 Grant Street • Applicant
Carolyn Looney, 1500 Hayes Street ■ WFHHD
Kim Tigrett, 1301 Grant Street ■ WFHHD
Cary McNew, 1100 Travis Street ■ Applicant
Robert & Charis Rhoades, 1408 Buchanan • Applicant
I. Call to Order, Introductions and Administer Oath of Office
Chairperson Michele Derr called the meeting to order at 11:59 a.m. Ms. Derr had
Commission members, staff and guests, introduce themselves.
II. Review & Approval of Minutes from: February 22"d 2022
Chairperson Derr called for review and approval of the February 22nd 2022 Landmark
Commission meeting minutes. Ms. Janet Ponder Smith advised the name of Ms. Tigrett
on page four of the minutes should read Kim and not Amy. Mr. Joel Hartmangruber made
a motion to approve the amended minutes, Ms. Christy Graham seconded the motion.
Minutes were unanimously approved 7-0.
Regular Agenda Item
III. Action Item: Design Review— 1410 Grant Street: West Floral Heights Historic District
Request design review approval for various exterior repairs;
a) Roof Replacement & Rafter Tail Repairs on Rear Detached Garage Apartment
b) Porch Railings — Replace
c) Fencing — Install New 6ft. Wood Privacy Fence in the North Side of the Yard
Landmark Commission 2 March 22, 2022
Ms. Gagne stated staff had worked closely with the property owners over the past year
regarding various interior system upgrades and improvements along with the current
request for various exterior repairs. The subject property is located in the 1400 block of
Grant Street on the corner or Grant Street and Avenue E. The Colonial Revival home was
built in 1928 and is a contributing structure in the district.
Ms. Gagne advised the property had essentially been unchanged since it's designation in
January 2005 with the exception of the removal of some landscaping. Current photos
clearly illustrated the deteriorated and damaged areas on the detached 2-story garage as
visible from the alley and Avenue E. Staff noted the contractor will replace the entire roofing
materials and repair/replace, where necessary, the rafter tails with wood. The owner would
like to replace the original steel-shingle roof with an alternate material using architectural
Class A shingles on the rear, detached structure.
Ms. Gagne stated when rehabilitating a historic home, there may be valid reasons for
replacing the roof with a material other than the original, in this case the rear detached
building not the primary structure, referencing the Technical Preservation Briefs from the
National Park Service (#4 — Roofing for Historic Buildings) that "...asphalt shingles or
ceramic tiles are common substitute materials intended to duplicate the appearance of
wood shingles, slates or tiles..." The practical problems should be weighed against the
historical consideration of scale, texture and color. On roofs with a high degree of visibility
and patterning or texture, the substitution may seriously alter the architectural character of
the building. The decision to use an alternative material falls to the Commission, and should
be considered on a case-by-case basis and carefully weighed against the primary concern
to keep the historic character of the building.
For the second request (porch railings), current photos of the porch railing include sections
proposed for replacement installed by a previous home owner and have an initial "C"
section that will be replaced with spindle balusters matching existing railing sections. Ms.
Gagne stated the porch railing system currently is not safe due to the deterioration over the
decades.
The last item the home owners are requesting is to install a 6ft. wooden privacy fence along
the north property line and cut south toward the driveway behind the row of shrubs. The
proposed fence will be approximately 40ft. from the front property line and limited to the
interior side yard.
Ms. Gagne introduced the home owner, Brenda Burgett and stated she was present for
any questions. Ms. Christy Graham made a motion to separate the petition into three
separate items for consideration, Ms. Ponder Smith seconded. Some discussion among
the Commission about styles and colors of the existing and proposed materials. The first
item for consideration, the roof on the rear, detached building, Mr. Andy Lee made a motion
to approve the request as presented. Ms. Ponder Smith seconded and the motion which
passed unanimously with a 7-0 vote. The second item, porch railing system replacement,
Ms. Ponder Smith made a motion to approve the petition as presented in accordance with
the Wichita Falls Design Guidelines. Mr. Hartmangruber seconded and the motion passed
unanimously 7-0. For the last item of new privacy fencing, Ms. Christy Graham made a
motion to approve the request as presented which follows the recommendations outlined
in the Wichita Falls Design Review Guidelines that there shall be no new fences in the front
Landmark Commission 3 March 22, 2022
yard setback in the West Floral Heights Historic District. Ms. Ponder Smith seconded and
the motion passed with a vote of 7-0 in favor.
IV. Action Item: Design Review — 1100 Travis Street (Hodges Hardy Chambers House):
West Floral Heights Historic District— Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) & City
of Wichita Falls Landmark #7
Request design review approval for Roof Replacement: Cedar Shakes to Architectural
Laminated Asphalt Composite Shingles (vents, limited wood decking/felt underlayment)
Ms. Gagne stated the subject property at 1100 Travis is commonly known as the Hodges
Hardy Chambers House and has a triple designation with National Register of Historic
Places (NRHP), Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) and is City of Wichita Falls
Landmark #7. The structure, built circa 1893-1895 by builders Moore & Richolt, is located
downtown across the street from First United Methodist Church and is considered the most
significant surviving local example of the Eastlake style (late Victorian period) of the late
19th/early 20th centuries structures.
Roof damage was not visible from street view as inventory photos showed from 2012 &
2013. In March 2019, when owners were converting from commercial to a private
residence, inventory photos show cedar shakes in poor condition, with buckling and splitting
visible from the right-of-way. In current photos, the existing roof conditions show the entire
roof contains areas in need of repair/replacement with missing and/or curled cedar shakes.
Ms. Gagne advised the damage is severe enough that the owners must check the attic for
water leaks during and after rain events. The home is currently insured, however, the policy
has an exclusion for the roof due to the cedar shakes and their age. The average life for a
cedar shake roof is up to 50-years, however, in our north Texas climate with severe winds,
storms (hail/sleet) combined with strong sun exposure contribute to a shortening life of the
shingles.
The homeowner has been in contact with Texas Historic Commission (THC) and received
a letter stating they had determined that no further consultation was required and have
opted to not remove the RTHL designation and waive any remaining review waiting period.
However, THC did state the following expectations to be addressed by the contractor/owner
for the project: 1) that only fully deteriorated wood plank decking be replaced; 2) consider
passive ridgeline and soffit vents or alternatively have the selected wind turbines or pop-up
vents on the rear side of the roof; and, 3) thoroughly photograph the existing cedar shake
roof before removal for the purposes of documentation and potential future restoration.
Ms. Gagne introduced the owner, Ms. Cary McNew who provided a shingle replacement
example for Commission review noted was available for questions. Brief discussion
between staff and Commission members on cedar shake roofs and current damage to roof.
Ms. Christy Graham stated she was happy with the owners' efforts to maintain the historic
integrity of the home. Ms. Graham introduced a motion to approve the petition for a
replacement roof with the alternate materials as presented. Ms. Ponder Smith seconded
and the motion passed unanimously with a 7-0 vote.
Landmark Commission 4 March 22, 2022
V. Action Item: Design Review — 1408 Buchanan Street: West Floral Heights Historic
District
Request design review approval for fencing;
a) Replacement of Side Yard Sections, Board on Board with Concrete Footer.
b) Increase Height from 6ft. to 8ft.
c) Replace Rear Yard Chain Link Fencing with 8ft. Wood Privacy Fence.
Ms. Gagne stated the staff had been working with the current property owner on replacing
damaged fence on the east, south and west side of the property. The home is located in
the 1400 block of Buchanan Street between Avenue D and Avenue E and received its
district designation in 2005. The home was built circa 1925-1930 in the craftsman/prairie
style with a detached 2-story garage apartment and is a contributing structure to the district.
Ms. Gagne advised inventory photos show the property had essentially remained
unchanged since its district designation. Current photos showed the deteriorated wood
fence in detail and shattered pickets from a recent wind storm. Photos were provided by
the homeowner taken from inside the yard and show little privacy and views from multiple
neighbor's windows that can be seen from the deck of the pool. The existing 6ft privacy
fence is lower than the elevation inside the rear yard.
The petition requested replacement of the 6ft. privacy fence along with increased height to
have an 8ft. board on board, concrete footer fence and to replace the damaged chain link
fence located at the rear of the property (alley) with the matching 8ft. board on board fence,
concrete footer and metal support poles. The fencing location will be south (side yard), east
(side yard) and west (rear yard) of the home for safety and privacy. Ms. Ponder Smith made
a motion to approve the petition for replacement privacy fencing as presented based on
compliance with the Wichita Falls Design Review Guidelines regarding placement of new
fencing outside the front yard setback. Mr. John Dickinson seconded the motion, the design
review case passed unanimously with a 7-0 vote.
VI. Other Business:
a) Monthly Reports
Depot Square:
Ms. Derr gave the following updates:
• Now— Apr. 2nd —Wichita Theater— Tarzan the Musical
• Apr. 7th — First Art Walk of the Season
• Apr. 9th — Prohibition Party at the Kell House
• Apr. 3rd - May 8th —Wichita Theater — Frozen Jr.
• Farmer's Market open every Saturday 9am — 1pm
Kell House Restoration/Rehab Project:
Staff provided brief status report
West Floral Heights:
Ms. Ponder-Smith gave the following updates:
• New West Floral Heights Neighborhood Association President, Kim Tigrett
b) Updates
• FY2021 Annual CLG Report
• Section 106 Review - 2001-G Southwest Pkwy; cellular tower extension
Landmark Commission 5 March 22, 2022
c) Resources Articles/Periodicals — THC:
• The Medallion - winter 2022
• Membership NAPC — National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
Allows staff and preservation board members free access to webinars/resources
d) Design Review — Staff Authorized — Minor Alteration/Repairs
• 900 8th Street (Hamilton Building) — elevator replacement
VII. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
Next regularly scheduled meeting April 26, 2022 - 12p.m.
Michele Derr, Chairperson Date