Special Meeting
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Special Meeting Meeting No. 10-2018: Thursday, December 6, 2018 CITY OF ROCKVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION AGENDA Rockville City Hall (Blue Crab Conference Room) 7:00 p.m. Matthew Goguen, Chair Emily Correll, Laurie Kawa, Anita Neal Powell Staff Liaison: Sheila Bashiri Deputy City Attorney: Cynthia Walters Administration: Punam Thukral Times shown are approximate 7:00 pm I. CONVENE II. CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL A. HDC2019-00924 Applicant: Mayor and Council of Rockville, c/o Paige Janzen, Civic Center Manager Address: 603 Edmonston Drive Request: Amendment to previously approved Certificate Approval HDC2017- 00867, to demolish underground concrete structure to allow continued construction of the approved retaining wall. 8:00 pm III. ADJOURN The HDC adjourns by 10:00 pm, unless extended by the Chair. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING CALENDAR FOR 2018 2018 MEETING DATE APPLICATION DUE DATE December 20, 2018 November 16, 2018 Historic District Commission Staff Report: Certificate of Approval HDC2019-00924, 603 Edmonston Drive, Glenview Mansion MEETING DATE: 12/6/18 REPORT DATE: 12/4/18 FROM: Sheila Bashiri, Preservation Planner 240.314.8236 [email protected] APPLICATION: Amendment to previously approved Certificate Approval HDC2017-00867, to demolish underground concrete structure to allow continued construction of the approved retaining wall. APPLICANT: Mayor and Council of Rockville, c/o Paige Janzen, Civic Center Manager 111 Maryland Avenue Rockville, Maryland 20850 FILING DATE: 11/30/18 RECOMMENDATION: The proposal meets Section 8-305, (d) 1, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Land Use Article, Title 8- Historic Preservation, because the structure is a deterrent to a major improvement program that will be of substantial benefit to the City of Rockville. The Glenview Mansion ADA parking lot project is in the community’s best interest because Glenview Mansion, is the site of a multitude of public, private and city events. The property has inadequate ADA HDC2019-00924 12/4/18 parking and this project is required to provide accessible parking and easy access to the building. The proposal meets Section 8-305, (d) 2, ii, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Land Use Article, Title 8- Historic Preservation, because the retention of the structure would not be in the best interests of a majority of persons in the community. Demolition of the underground structure will ensure the structural integrity of the retaining wall, by providing a solid foundation on which to build it. Additionally, the concrete underground structure is a public hazard. There a chamber with a 7’ drop, and no stairs, and no light, resulting in a lack of visibility for those who might unknowingly enter it. While the structure can be secured to a certain degree, it will likely be breached, creating a danger that could result in serious injury, or worse. Finding that the proposal to demolish the concrete underground structure meets Section 8-305, (d) 1, and 2, ii, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Land Use Article, Title 8-Historic Preservation, staff recommends approval. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The applicant was previously granted approval on Certificate of Approval HDC2017-00867, to construct an accessible parking lot at Glenview Mansion. During excavation for the retaining wall, the project encountered a concrete underground structure. The applicant is proposing to demolish the underground structure, to allow continued construction of the approved retaining wall. Aerial of Glenview Mansion and existing parking lot 2 HDC2019-00924 12/4/18 Table of Contents SITE DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................................................... 4 DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT and MATERIALS ............................................................ 6 Analysis and Recommendation ............................................................................................................... 14 COMMUNITY OUTREACH ......................................................................................................................... 16 FINDINGS ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Exhibits ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 1. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR’S STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION ............... 1-1 2. AERIAL MAP ................................................................................................................... 2-1 3. ZONING ........................................................................................................................... 3-1 4. APPLICATION ................................................................................................................. 4-1 3 HDC2019-00924 12/4/18 RECOMMENDATION The proposal meets Section 8-305, (d) 1, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Land Use Article, Title 8- Historic Preservation, because the structure is a deterrent to a major improvement program that will be of substantial benefit to the City of Rockville. The Glenview Mansion ADA parking lot project is in the community’s best interest because Glenview Mansion, is the site of a multitude of public, private and city events. The property has inadequate ADA parking and this project is required to provide accessible parking and easy access to the building. The proposal meets Section 8-305, (d) 2, ii, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Land Use Article, Title 8- Historic Preservation, because the retention of the structure would not be in the best interests of a majority of persons in the community. Demolition of the underground structure will ensure the structural integrity of the retaining wall, by providing a solid foundation on which to build it. Additionally, the concrete underground structure is a public hazard. There a chamber with a 7’ drop, and no stairs, and no light, resulting in a lack of visibility for those who might unknowingly enter it. While the structure can be secured to a certain degree, it will likely be breached, creating a danger that could result in serious injury, or worse. Finding that the proposal to demolish the concrete underground structure meets Section 8-305, (d) 1, and 2, ii, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Land Use Article, Title 8-Historic Preservation, staff recommends approval. SITE DESCRIPTION Location: 603 Edmonston Drive, Glenview Mansion Mayor and Council of Rockville, Applicant: c/o Paige Janzen, Civic Center Manager Land Use Public Park and Open Space Designation: Zoning District: Park Existing Use: Rockville Civic Center Park Parcel Area: 64.28 acres 4 HDC2019-00924 12/4/18 Glenview Mansion Site Analysis The Rockville Civic Center is the City’s premier recreation center, with five public facilities, a yearly schedule of cultural and recreational events, and with trails through forests and fields. The core of the property is the Glenview Mansion and Cottage, which is a Rockville Historic District and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as an excellent example of an early 20th century Country Estate, home to the Washington “society” family, Dr. James and Mrs. Irene Lyon. Glenview Mansion, the Cottage, the grounds and landscape features and structures; and the front gate are identified as contributing resources; and the additional buildings (Theater, Nature Center, Rec Services Building) are identified as non-contributing resources within the general environmental setting of 64.28 acres. Aerial of Site 5 HDC2019-00924 12/4/18 Illustration 2: City staff surveyed the location and measurements of the concrete structure DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT and MATERIALS The applicant was previously granted approval at the September 28, 2017 HDC meeting, (HDC2017- 00867), to construct an accessible parking lot at Glenview Mansion, including enhancements to pedestrian and vehicular access to the facility, and changing the stone on the rear entrance stairs, ramp and landing. This also included realignment of the existing access road, a stormwater management retention pond, and construction of a retaining wall (See Attached Plans). 6 HDC2019-00924 12/4/18 On November 14, 2018, during excavation for the construction of the Glenview Mansion ADA parking lot improvements, the applicant’s contractor discovered an underground concrete structure/vault (Photo 1). The project is managed by the City’s Recreation and Parks Department (R&P), and excavation was discontinued in this area, and the R&P staff contacted staff from the Historic Preservation division. Staff in turn contacted Peerless Rockville. R&P staff also contacted former City employees, historians, etc. (See list of interviewed and/or visited the site) to help the City identify the structure and help understand its previous use and the role it may have served on the property. At the request of CPDS and Peerless Rockville, the City had the contractor continue to gently excavate around three sides of the structure (Photos 2 and 3). The previously approved stone-faced retaining wall is a required element of the current project that will provide ADA compliant access to the Glenview Mansion. The applicant proposes to demolish the underground concrete structure, to allow construction of the retaining wall. The underground concrete structure extends to a depth of approximately 14 feet and lies in a location directly underneath the proposed