HPC Meeting Date: May 7, 2025
To: Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission
From: Mathias Hughey, Associate City Planner
Title
Consideration of HPC Resolution 2025-004 Amending HPC Resolution 2024-010 and the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Bridge Square Rehabilitation.
Body
Action Requested:
The HPC will approve HPC Resolution 2025-003, amending the COA for the Bridge Square Rehabilitation Project to include conditions related to the site furnishings and light fixtures.
Summary Report:
At the February 5, 2025, HPC meeting, Commissioners developed a list of draft conditions to amend the Certificate of Appropriateness issued for the Bridge Square Rehabilitation. The conditions addressed certain elements of the plan that the HPC had been erroneously instructed not to consider in their determination, including the light fixtures and site furnishings. Those draft conditions were:
1. Furnishings:
a. That the selection of the free-standing and top-of-wall benches, bins, bike racks, and bollards be from the Landscape Forms Palette in the Northport style, and that the bollards feature a bronze powder coat finish to match the other fixtures.
2. Lighting
a. That the four easternmost light fixtures on the exterior of the plaza be of the city-standard variety, matching the existing, historical-style Division Street light fixtures.
b. That the pole-mounted light fixtures located on the interior of the plaza (labeled as SC1, SC2, and SC3 on the provided plans) be a design which is differentiated and compatible with the downtown historic district including other light fixtures by selecting a single-head fixture in a dark color metal or metallic material.
The design team is willing to revise the proposal to include the furnishings preferred by the HPC, but requests final direction. The HPC is asked to reaffirm their preferred furnishings. Additionally, the design team is cautioning that a final selection may be subject to change based on economic and supply factors. Staff is recommending additional conditions to clarify that such a change would constitute a major change according to city code, and would need to be approved by the HPC. This condition is included in the attached HPC Resolution 2025-003.
The design team did not identify a preferred alternative to the pole-mounted light fixtures and stands by their original recommendation. They have provided additional information, including lighting diagrams, to show the difference in lighting levels provided by several alternate scenarios. They have also identified several alternative fixtures so that the HPC may consider an alternative. If the HPC reaches consensus about a preferred alternative fixture, the included condition(s) should read as follows:
1. Lighting:
a. That the four easternmost light fixtures on the exterior of the plaza be of the city-standard variety, matching the existing, historical-style Division Street light fixtures.
b. That the pole-mounted light fixtures located on the interior of the plaza (labeled as SC1, SC2, and SC3 on the provided plans) be the [preferred make and model name] in a finish and color consistent with other site furnishings.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends conditional approval of the COA, subject to the following conditions:
1. Furnishings:
a. That the top-of-wall benches are amended from the original proposal to be the Landscape Forms Link style as shown in Exhibit A.
b. That the free-standing benches, bins, bike racks, and bollards are amended from the original proposal to be the Landscape Forms Northport style as shown in Exhibit A.
c. That the bollards, bins, bike racks, and metal portions of the benches feature a consistent dark bronze-colored coating or dark finish, matching as closely as possible the other site furnishings.
2. That the pole-mounted light fixtures located throughout the plaza (labeled as SC1, SC2, and SC3 on the provided plans) be the Landscape Forms Moment Area Light in a finish and color consistent with other site furnishings.
3. That a change to the final selection of pole-mounted site lighting fixtures or site furnishings, except the lawn chairs and bistro table and chairs, and the integrated lighting, will constitute a major change to the proposed scope of work and must be approved by the Heritage Preservation Commission.
Staff recommends that all the fixtures within the plaza be consistent, differentiating the new space from the context of the adjacent streets which will retain the city’s standard historic-style fixtures.
Staff recommends the Moment Area Light fixture because the capability to incorporate multiple heads provides some flexibility in improving the lighting throughout the plaza over top-of-pole options, while the design is sufficiently differentiated without adversely impacting the character of the district.
Staff’s recommended version of HPC Resolution 2025-004 is included as an attachment.
Alternative Options:
The HPC may approve the COA without conditions or with alternative conditions.
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
May 2025 - HPC Final Approval
June 2025 - City Council Approves Final Plans
2026 - Bridge Square Reconstruction Begins