Round Top, Texas

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING 

March 5, 2005

     The meeting was called to order by Chairman Barnell Albers at 4:40 p.m. in the Town Hall.

     Board members present were: Chairman Barnell Albers, Bill Zeltwanger, Charlie Anderson, and Billy Howk. Member Jacquelyn Ditsler was absent.

     City Secretary, Linda Suggs, read the minutes of the February 27, 2005 meeting. Motion by Anderson to approve the minutes as corrected; second by Howk. Motion passed with all in favor.

     The Board considered the following item:

•1.     Two buildings moved onto Moore's Fort block: Albers explained that the normal procedure for getting approval from the Architectural Review Board is to submit a Building Permit Application before making changes to the property. He also told the citizens in attendance that their comments were welcome. He presented a chalkboard with a drawing of the layout of the property to be used for demonstration purposes. He stated that the following items from the Land Use Ordinance apply to this property:

• a. The property is in the Business/Historic (B/H) District.
• b. The property is made up of four quarter-acre lots.
• c. The houses fit the model.
• d. The minimum lot size in the B/H District is one-quarter acre; except those bordering Hwy. 237 can be 6000 square feet. Based on these numbers, the block may have as many as five buildings.
• e. The block now contains a restaurant, the white building, a shed, an office building, and Moore's Fort. These seem appropriate to the block.
• f. The setbacks in B/H District are:

          Front yard                                 20'

          Side yard bordering a street      15'

          Side yard                                  10'

          Rear yard                                 25'

     He stated that parking is also an issue.

     While waiting for the survey to arrive, Albers explained the situation, using the drawing on the chalkboard. He then asked the Board what they thought should be considered the front of the property. A discussion ensued, and Zeltwanger made a motion that the four lots be considered as one property; second by Anderson. Motion passed with all in favor.

     At this time, Katherine Druckman arrived with a copy of the survey.

     Discussion continued on whether Bauer-Rummel Road or Hwy. 237 is the front of the property. Frank Johnston stated that the address of the property is Bauer-Rummel Road. Motion by Anderson that Bauer-Rummel Road be established as the front of the property for the purposes of setbacks; second by Albers. Motion passed with all in favor. Albers stated that the result of this decision is that the new building on White Street encroaches 5' into the side yard setback and 1' into the rear yard setback, and the new building on Hwy 237 encroaches 7½' into the side yard setback and 3' into the rear yard set back.

     Mrs. Druckman asked whether the deck on the restaurant is a problem. Albers stated that the deck was not a part of this consideration and that it would not be a problem as long as the building is not moved.

     In response to a question as to whether there is a minimum distance requirement between buildings, Albers stated that there is no minimum distance between buildings on the same property; however, the Board would take aesthetics into account in considering the position of the buildings. A discussion ensued on the distance between the buildings.

     Jeanette Burger voiced an objection to seeing the back of the buildings as you drive south on Hwy 237. A discussion ensued on the aesthetics of the orientation of the buildings.

     Albers recommended that the new owners consider painting the newly moved buildings a darker color to blend with the others on the site. Mrs. Druckman stated that the paint color is still to be determined, but that it would not be white.

     Albers asked why the buildings were elevated so far off the ground. Scotty Lynch replied that they must be elevated to run the wiring and to let them settle, then they will be dropped onto stone foundations.

     Mrs. Burger asked whether the owners would consider moving the building on Hwy. 237 to behind the restaurant building. She wondered whether TxDOT will someday want more land to widen the highway. A discussion ensued on the location of the buildings on the site. Motion by Anderson that the building located on Hwy. 237 be moved into setback compliance at the present location or onto White Street, allowing a view of the fort; second by Howk. Motion passed with all in favor.

     Motion by Anderson that the white house at the corner of White and Wantke Streets be moved into setback compliance; second by Zeltwanger. Motion passed with all in favor.

     A discussion of the parking requirements was tabled to give the owners time to work with the church to acquire more parking. Geri Druckman asked what would happen if they could not get a parking agreement with the church. Albers stated that the Board would work with them on the parking, and Zeltwanger said that they could apply for a variance. Further discussion ensued on the parking situation.

     Motion by Zeltwanger that, based on the Business/Historic District requirements for lot size in the Land Use Ordinance, the property be declared full; second by Anderson. Motion passed with all in favor.

     Motion by Howk that the property owner be required to submit a building permit application, along with the minimum $25 fee, for moving the buildings onto the site; second by Anderson. Motion passed with all in favor.

     Meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,                      Approved,

___________________                       ______________________

Linda Suggs                                       Barnell Albers

City Secretary                                    Chairman