1708-Aug 24Planning & Development Department
102 West Main Street Prattville, A l abama 36067 334- 595- 0500 334-361-3677 Facsimile
p l anning.prattvilleal.gov
C I T Y O F PRATTVILLE
H I S T ORIC PRESERVATION C OMMISSION
AGENDA
August 24, 2017
5:00 p.m.
Call to Order:
Roll Call:
Chairman Langley, Vice-Chairman Price, Mr. Barrett, Mrs. Davis, Ms. Kirkpatrick, Ms. Musgrove, and Mr. Smith.
Election of Officers:
Minutes:
June 27, 2017 (Special Meeting)
Old Business:
None
New Business:
1. 1708-01 Certificate of Appropriateness
Alteration-Door, Awning, gate, light fixtures
243 South Court Street
Lia Muier & Kimberly Powell, Petitioners
Public Hearing
2. 1708-02 Certificate of Appropriateness
Alteration-Driveway
244 East Main Street
Ed & Kelley Rouze, Petitioners
Public Hearing
3. 1708-03 Certificate of Appropriateness
Addition-Front Porch
220 First Street
Jason & Thea Langley, Petitioners
Public Hearing
Miscellaneous:
Adjourn:
Approved 9/28/17
Prattville Historic Preservation Commission
August 24, 2017 Minutes
Page 1 of 3
CITY OF PRATTVILLE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
August 24, 2017
Call to order:
The regular meeting of the Prattville Historic Preservation Commission was called to order on Thursday,
August 24, 2017 at 4:41 p.m.
Roll Call:
The secretary called the roll. Members present were Chairman Thea Langley, Vice-Chairman Gray Price,
Mrs. Jean Davis, Ms. Lenore Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Kate Musgrove and Mr. Larry Smith. Members absent:
Mr. Will Barrett.
Quorum present
Also present were Mr. Joel Duke, City Planner and Ms. Alisa Morgan, Secretary.
Minutes:
Mrs. Davis moved to approve the minutes of the June 27, 2017 special meeting. Mr. Price seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Certificate of Appropriateness
Alteration-Door, Awning, gate, light fixtures
243 South Court Street
Lia Muir & Kimberly Powell, Petitioners
Lia Muir and Kimberly Powell, petitioners, presented the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to
make alterations on property at 243 South Court Street. The requested proposed changes are to open a
previously bricked-up window for a fire door as required by fire and building codes for the proposed
restaurant use; add metal gate at the alley between subject building and 235 S. Court Street; and add new
lighting over both Court Street side doors. Ms. Muir stated that they initially wanted to add an awning (in
the alley) over a side storefront door but is no longer desiring to make that change. She also stated that
they are no longer requesting to add new lighting over both Court Street side doors.
Mr. Duke provided the staff report for the Certificate of Appropriateness at 243 South Court Street. He
stated that the property was formally listed as 176 West Main Street and the structure is a contributing
structure erected in 1855. He stated that the applicant proposes to add a new doorway to the alley along
the north face of the building. The propose doorway will modify a previously closed historic opening. He
stated that the bricked-up window will be open and extended to ground level. The opening is necessary to
meet fire code for the proposed restaurant use. The proposed door will be metal with single pane
covering ¾ of length. He stated that the door essentially meets the Commission’s guidelines. He
recommended approval. He stated that the guidelines do not specifically address fencing. The proposed
fence will match the design used in Heritage Park and other locations in the downtown district.
Mr. Duke stated that the awning on the Court Street side is included in the request although it was
installed prior to approval. He stated that it meets the guidelines in appearance.
Approved 9/28/17
Prattville Historic Preservation Commission
August 24, 2017 Minutes
Page 2 of 3
The vote was called. Mrs. Davis moved to strike the request to add new lighting over both Court Street
side doors. Ms. Musgrove seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Price moved to approve the request as presented. Mrs. Davis seconded the motion.
The motion to approve passed unanimously.
Certificate of Appropriateness
Alteration-Driveway
244 East Main Street
Ed & Kelley Rouze, Petitioners
The Certificate of Appropriateness for 224 East Main Street was reviewed and approved under the Design
Review Policy Section III, Subsection F.
Certificate of Appropriateness
Addition-Front Porch
220 First Street
Jason & Thea Langley, Petitioners
Chair Langley recused herself as Chair and turned the meeting over to Vice-Chairman Price.
Thea Langley, petitioner, presented the request for Certificate of Appropriateness to extend the front
porch on property at 220 First Street. She stated that she wants to extend the front porch from corner to
corner, add a pergola, replace iron posts with wooden or permacast posts and widen the front stairs and
capstone to the full width of the front porch.
Mr. Duke provided the staff report for the property at 220 First Street. He stated that the structure is a
contributing structure. The petitioner is requesting to replace non-original, non-historic wrought iron
posts with wooden or permacast posts matching the existing half columns on either side of the front door;
extend the front porch floor from front corner to corner maintaining a consistent concrete surface –
matching the existing porch; add a pergola, as shown in an application attachment, on each side of the
original portico and covering the new extended front porch floor. Pergola will be supported by new
columns and half columns at the corners of the new porch floor. Columns will match new columns
proposed to replace the existing wrought iron; and widen the front stairs and capstone to the full width of
the portico. He stated that the proposed replacement of the wrought iron columns with wood or concrete
columns is appropriate. The other proposed additions to the porch area will be visible from the street and
change the appearance of the historic structure, but will not destroy or alter the underlying historic
structure. He also stated that the proposed porch floor extensions, steps, and pergola appear to be
designed to be separate from the historic structure and may be removed at a later date.
The vote was called. Mrs. Davis moved to approve the request as submitted. Mr. Smith seconded the
motion.
The motion to approve passed unanimously.
Mrs. Langley resumed her seat as chair and resumed the meeting.
Miscellaneous:
Mr. Duke informed the Commission of a workshop being offered in Opelika on September 7, 2017. He
extended an invitation for the Commission to attend.
Adjourn:
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:21 p.m.
Approved 9/28/17
Prattville Historic Preservation Commission
August 24, 2017 Minutes
Page 3 of 3
Respectfully submitted,
Alisa Morgan, Secretary
Historic Preservation Commission
CITY OF PRATTVILLE
Historic Preservation Commission
Planning Department Staff Report
CERTIFICATE OF
APPROPRIATENESS
176 West Main Street/243 S. Court Street –
CA1708-01
DATE August 24, 2017
PROPOSED DEVLOPMENT
Petitioner: Lia Muir and Kimberly Powell
Property Owner: Lia Muir and Kimberly Powell
Agent: N/A
Location: 176 West Main Street/243 S. Court Street
Review Status and History
Submission Status: First submission for this address.
Previous Approvals: N/A
Conditions of Previous
Approvals:
None
1984/2007 Historic
Properties Inventory
Details
176 West Main Street, former Prattville Mercantile
Company (circa 1855, contributing) Daniel Pratt has
this rectangular, two-story brick building with a shallow
hipped roof constructed as a commissary for mill
operatives. Historic details include a corbelled brick
cornice, original upper twelve-over-twelve windows,
and a corbelled belt course with dentils above the
second story. The current storefront dates from circa
1960. (Source: Thomason and Associates, 2007
Inventory of Daniel Pratt Historic District)
Proposed Alteration, Renovation or Addition
The following changes have been requested by the applicant. See the application
included as Attachment A for the owner’s description of each item.
Page 2 of 4
1. Open a previously bricked-up window for a door – required by fire and building
codes for the proposed restaurant use.
2. Add appropriate awning over a side storefront door
3. Add metal gate at the alley between subject building and 235 S. Court Street
4. Add new lighting over both Court Street side doors.
PLANNING STAFF EVALUATION
Reviewed by: Joel T. Duke, AICP
Site Visits Conducted: August 2017
Recommendation: Item 1: Approval – Uses existing opening and has limited
visibility from street.
Item 2: Approval meet guidelines and matches other awning
installations on the building.
Item 3: Approval
Item 4: Per conversation with applicant, request will be
delayed at this time.
Evaluation:
The requested alterations were reviewed against the standards contained in the Prattville
Commercial Design Review Guidelines Manual. The relevant sections of manual are
included. Staff comments/evaluation follow the relevant sections.
Item 1. Open a previously bricked-up window for a door – required by fire and building
codes for the proposed restaurant use.
Doors and Entrances (page 18)
Doors are often buildings’ central visual elements, so are particularly important features.
Historic entrances and doors should be retained, visible, maintained, and, if needed,
repaired. Missing or severely deteriorated doors should be replaced with historically
appropriate doors. Screen, storm, and security doors should not detract from the historic
appearance of their building.
1. Historic doors should be retained and maintained.
Page 3 of 4
2. Primary entrances to commercial buildings should be universally accessible. If this
is not possible, alternative entrances should be available, clearly marked, and
maintained to the same standards as the primary entrance.
3. If historic doors do not allow for universal access, they should be retrofitted to provide
it.
4. Deteriorated or damaged historic doors should be repaired using methods that allow
them to retain their historic appearance and as much of their historic fabric as
possible. Epoxy is helpful in strengthening and replacing deteriorated wood.
5. Owners are encouraged to replace missing or severely damaged historic doors with
new doors that replicate the originals or other historic examples.
6. Clear-glass single-light painted wood doors with or without paneling are most
appropriate for replacing primary doors in the district’s commercial buildings. The
opening in secondary entrances may be smaller or doors may be solid wood. Dark
or bronze anodized metal, though less appropriate, may be substituted for wood.
Analysis: The applicant proposes to add a new doorway to the alley along the north face of
the building. The propose doorway will modify a previously closed historic opening. The
bricked-up window will be open and extended to ground level. The proposed door will be
metal with single pane covering ¾ of length. The modification will not be readily visible from
the public faces of the structure and the door essentially meets the Commission’s guidelines.
Item 2. Add appropriate awning over a side storefront door
Awnings (Page 16)
Historically, shopkeepers commonly used awnings on their stores. As air
conditioning became more common after the 1940s, awning use declined.
Awnings can add historic character to late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century
buildings, advertise, and conserve energy. Their use is encouraged in both
commercial and residential settings.
1. Awnings with appropriate materials and colors may be added to buildings.
2. Awning installation should not damage the building or its architectural features.
3. Awnings should be constructed of canvas or acrylic or be vinyl coated.
4. Awning materials should have traditional patterns such as solid colors or stripes.
Colors may vary but should complement the overall building color and be similar to
Page 4 of 4
accent storefront or window accent colors. Loud or garishly colored awnings are
discouraged.
Analysis: The proposed awning meets the Commission’s guidelines.
Item 3. Add metal gate at the alley between subject building and 235 S. Court Street
The Commission’s commercial guidelines do not specifically address fencing. The proposed
fence is a single gate separating the public sidewalk from the private alley on the north end
of the structure. The proposed fence will match the design used in Heritage Park and other
locations in the downtown district.
Item 4. Add new lighting over both Court Street side doors.
Withdrawn by petitioner
CITY OF PRATTVILLE
Historic Preservation Commission
Planning Department Staff Report
CERTIFICATE OF
APPROPRIATENESS
220 First Street – CA1708-03
DATE August 24, 2017
PROPOSED DEVLOPMENT
Petitioner: Jason and Thea Langley
Property Owner: Same as Petitioner
Agent: N/A
Location: 220 First Street
Review Status and History
Submission Status: Initial request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for this
address.
Previous Approvals: N/A
Conditions of Previous
Approvals:
N/A
1984/2007 Historic
Properties Inventory
Details
220 East First Street (circa 1850, contributing)
This one-and-a-half-story gable-roofed central-hall
frame building has two interior chimneys located just
beyond the ridgeline. A central vernacular Greek-
Revival portico with a pediment remains, though
wrought-iron supports now replace the two original box
columns.
Proposed Alteration, Renovation or Addition
The following changes have been requested by the applicant. See the application
included as Attachment A for the owner’s description of each item.
1. Replace non-original, non-historic wrought iron posts with wooden or permacast
posts matching the existing half columns on either side of the front door.
2. Extend the front porch floor from front corner to corner maintaining a consistent
concrete surface – matching the existing porch.
3. Add a pergola, as shown in an application attachment, on each side of the original
portico and covering the new extended front porch floor. Pergola will be
Page 2 of 3
supported by new columns and half columns at the corners of the new porch
floor. Columns will match new columns proposed to replace the existing wrought
iron.
4. Widen the front stairs and capstone to the full width of the portico.
PLANNING STAFF EVALUATION
Reviewed by: Joel T. Duke, AICP
Site Visits Conducted: August 2017
Recommendation: Item 1: Approval
Item 2: Approval
Item 3: Approval after determining how pergola will be
attached to existing portico
Item 4: Approval
Evaluation:
The requested alterations were reviewed against the standards contained in the Prattville
Residential Design Review Guidelines Manual. The relevant sections of manual are
included. Staff comments/evaluations are summarized at the end of each section.
1. Replace non-original, non-historic wrought iron posts with wooden or permacast
posts matching the existing half columns on either side of the front door.
2. Extend the front porch floor from front corner to corner maintaining a consistent
concrete surface – matching the existing porch.
3. Add a pergola, as shown in an application attachment, on each side of the original
portico and covering the new extended front porch floor. Pergola will be supported
by new columns and half columns at the corners of the new porch floor. Columns will
match new columns proposed to replace the existing wrought iron.
4. Widen the front stairs and capstone to the full width of the portico.
Porches (Page 27)
Porches are one of the most defining characteristics of historic houses. Historic porches
should be retained, maintained, and, if needed, repaired. New porches should be
sympathetic to the historic appearance of building to which they are attached.
1. Historic porches visible from the street should be retained and maintained.
Page 3 of 3
2. Deteriorated or damaged porches should be repaired and missing elements
replaced. The materials used in repairs should allow the porch to maintain its historic
appearance.
3. If the historic porch is missing, it is appropriate to replace it. Replacement porches
should use materials and styles that are compatible with the building to which they
are attached.
Analysis:
With alterations that impact the front of a contributing structure, the Commission’s goal
should be preserving and enhancing as much of the historic character as possible. The
proposed replacement of the wrought iron columns with wood or concrete columns is
appropriate. The other proposed additions to the porch area will be visible from the street
and change the appearance of the historic structure, but will not destroy or alter the
underlying historic structure. The proposed porch floor extensions, steps, and pergola
appear to be designed to be separate from the historic structure and may be removed at a
later date. The Commission should ask for details on how the pergola will tie to the existing
portico.