SUBJECT
title
Public Hearing and consideration of a motion regarding the replacement, relocation, and installation of new HVAC units on the roof of the structure on Lots 3, 4, and 5, Block 150, Western Division, located at 1502 Hidalgo Street. This property is within Saint Peter’s Historic District.
HD-009-2026
District VIII
body
BACKGROUND
Initiated by: Tomas Cantu, Owner; Chart Construction, LLC, Applicant.
Proposed Scope of Work: The applicant is requesting approval from the Historic District Landmark Board for the replacement, relocation, and the installation of new HVAC units on the roof of the structure.
Site: The property is an H-B-3 (Historic Community Business District) zoning district.
Letters sent to the surrounding property owners: 35
For: 0
Against: 0
Granting or Denying an Application:
- As per the Laredo Land Development Code, Section 24.1.2.2(2), the Historic District Landmark Board shall utilize the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings; and the City of Laredo, Texas, Historic Urban Design Guidelines
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards:
1. A property will be used as it was historically or be given a new use that requires minimal change to its distinctive materials, features, spaces and spatial relationships.
2. The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features, spaces and spatial relationships that characterize a property will be avoided.
3. Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken.
4. Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserved.
5. Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved.
6. Deteriorated historic features will be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features will be substantiated by documentary and physical evidence.
7. Chemical or physical treatments, if appropriate, will be undertaken using the gentlest means possible. Treatments that cause damage to historic materials will not be used.
8. Archeological resources will be protected and preserved in place. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures will be undertaken.
9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment.
10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction will be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Planning Staff supports the proposed scope of work, subject to the proposed HVAC units being relocated and/or screened to minimize their visibility from the public right-of-way, for the following reasons:
1. Minimize the Visual Impact of Mechanical Equipment
The City of Laredo Historic Urban Design Guidelines recommend minimizing the visual impact of mechanical equipment and using low-profile rooftop units that are not visible from street level.
Staff supports replacing the existing HVAC system to maintain the building and support its continued use. However, the proposed units near the corner of the building and street intersection should be pushed farther back and/or relocated to minimize their visibility. Screening may also be considered if appropriate.
2. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation - Standards 2, 5, and 9
Standard 2 - Historic Character: Retain and preserve the historic character of the property.
Standard 5 - Historic Materials and Features: Avoid unnecessary damage or alteration to historic roof materials and features.
Standard 9 - New Exterior Alterations: New exterior alterations should not negatively affect historic materials, features, or spatial relationships.
Based on the above, Staff supports the replacement of the existing HVAC system, provided that the rooftop units are relocated and/or appropriately screened to minimize their visibility from the public right-of-way and avoid unnecessary impacts to the historic character of the property.
Staff General Comments:
1. Any improvements which are approved by the Historic District Landmark Board shall also comply with all Building Code requirements and other regulations as provided in the Laredo Land Development Code.
2. Approval by the Historic District Landmark Board does not guarantee approval of a building permit or any other permit which may be required.
3. It is recommended that all existed improvements utilize the following resources as a guide:
- The Secretary of the Interiors' Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
- City of Laredo Historic Urban Design Guidelines
- City of Laredo Historic Preservation Plan
4. No other improvements, changes to the building, site or new construction on the property shall be permitted without prior review and approval by staff and/or Historic District Landmark Board, to meet compliance.
5. As per the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, all proposed scope of work should be physically and visually compatible to the original materials and features of the historical structure.end