Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review met on April 25, 2012, to consider 24 agenda items. The board took 6 motions and votes during the meeting and heard 3 public comments. Of the items considered, 20 proposals were approved, including requests to replace siding at 453 East High Street, remove trees at 237 Delmar Avenue, renovate structures at multiple locations, install a gate at 609 Elsmere Park, renovate a roof at 632 Elsmere Park, install a fence and walkways at 194 North Limestone, replace storm windows at 328 Arcadia Park, renovate a front porch at 110 Dantzler Drive, renovate a fire escape at 426 South Broadway, install a barbershop pole at 275 South Limestone #110, renovate a storefront at 289 South Limestone, renovate a site at 325 South Mill Street, install a new utility box at 333 South Upper Street, renovate masonry at 642 West Main Street, re-grade a front yard and replace a sidewalk at 716 West Short Street, and cut a masonry opening with decking, pergola, and guardrails at 507 North Broadway. Two items were deferred: a request to replace a column base at 201 North Mill Street and a proposal to enlarge a parking area at 123 Dantzler Drive. One item was postponed: a request to install a parking lot and lighting at 333 South Upper Street.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 25, 2012:

• Anton Giovanetto
• Jason Sloan
• John Hackworth
• Bill Johnston
• Bob McMahon
• John Snyder
• Martin
• Amelia
• Ms. Kerr

No attendees were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

507 North Broadway - Masonry Opening, Wood Deck, and Pergola 58:40

A motion to approve the masonry opening, wood deck, and pergola at 507 North Broadway passed by voice vote. The approval includes the following conditions: cut masonry wall in wing wall; approve wood deck on two-story addition with 10-foot setback from front wall; approve wrought iron guardrail with staff approval; approve pergola above sun porch extending 12 feet toward front; and ensure all exposed wood is painted and colored to match the house.

201 North Mill Street - Motion to Deny 1:26:27

A motion to deny the application at 201 North Mill Street per staff recommendation failed on a roll call vote, 2-2. Mr. Chair and Mr. Magrish voted in favor of denial. Mr. Sloan and Mr. Hackworth voted against denial.

201 North Mill Street - Motion to Approve 1:27:28

A subsequent motion to approve the application at 201 North Mill Street citing guideline 114C failed on a roll call vote, 2-2. Mr. Chair and Mr. Sloan voted in favor of approval. Mr. Magrish and Mr. Hackworth voted against approval.

201 North Mill Street - Continuance 1:35:32

A motion to continue the hearing at 201 North Mill Street until May 9, 2012 passed by voice vote.

123 Dantzler Drive - Continuance 2:14:21

A motion to continue the hearing at 123 Dantzler Drive to acquire additional information passed by voice vote. The continuance allows for review of grass pavers, visual sight lines, and parking issues before a decision is made.

333 South Upper Street - Postponement 2:17:25

A motion to postpone the hearing at 333 South Upper Street until May 9, 2012 passed by voice vote.

Public Comment

Three speakers addressed the board during the public comment period.

Bob McMahon 1:41:16 spoke regarding a parking expansion at 123 Dantzler Drive. McMahon apologized for not seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) before expanding the driveway. He argued that the proposed 450 square foot addition represents less than 5% of the lot size and is screened by hedges, making it visually unobtrusive. McMahon contended that the expansion is consistent with historic district guidelines.

John Snyder 2:01:50 raised neighborhood concerns about the parking expansion. Snyder expressed worry that expanding paved parking contributes to the transformation of residential neighborhoods into rental-heavy areas. He suggested exploring street parking permits as an alternative to the proposed driveway expansion.

Bill Johnston 1:36:07 raised questions about material durability and design flaws. Johnston questioned the wisdom of preserving an original design that may be flawed, noting that wood bases on concrete are prone to rot. He suggested that modern materials such as fiberglass may offer greater durability and be more appropriate than preserving the original design.

Contested Items

The board addressed three contentious matters during this meeting:

Approval of wood deck and pergola at 507 North Broadway

This proposal generated heated discussion among board members regarding the visual impact of the proposed deck and pergola on the front elevation of the property. The debate centered on concerns that the construction would violate guidelines governing placement of such structures. An additional complication was the applicant's history of prior unauthorized construction at the site, which factored into the board's deliberations.

Replacement of column bases at 201 North Mill Street

The board was evenly split on this proposal to replace column bases with polyurethane materials. The disagreement reflected a fundamental tension between competing priorities: some members advocated for material authenticity in keeping with historic preservation standards, while others emphasized the practical advantages of polyurethane in terms of durability and cost-effectiveness. The split vote indicated the board could not reach consensus on how to balance these considerations.

Parking expansion at 123 Dantzler Drive

This proposal drew community opposition, with neighbors voicing concerns about the project's implications for the neighborhood. Specifically, residents expressed worry about increased rental housing and the loss of green space that would result from the expansion. In response, board members underscored the importance of preserving the historic character of the neighborhood as a guiding principle in their evaluation of the proposal.

453 East High Street: Replace siding

Staff approved the replacement of siding at 453 East High Street in the Aylesford Historic District without requiring a board hearing. 1:37

237 Delmar Avenue: Remove trees

1:37

Staff approved the removal of trees at 237 Delmar Avenue in the Bell Court Historic District without requiring a board hearing.

112 Constitution Street: Renovate structure

Staff approved the renovation of the structure at 112 Constitution Street in the Constitution Historic District without requiring a board hearing. 1:37

The renovation project was approved through the staff approval process, allowing the work to proceed without necessitating a full board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

145 Constitution Street: Renovate structure

Staff approved the renovation of the structure at 145 Constitution Street in the Constitution Historic District without requiring a board hearing. 1:37

The item was approved as presented.

609 Elsmere Park: Install gate

1:37

Staff approved the installation of a gate at 609 Elsmere Park in the Ellesmore Park Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

632 Elsmere Park: Renovate roof

1:37

Staff approved the roof renovation project at 632 Elsmere Park, located in the Ellesmore Park Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

194 North Limestone: Install fence, garden and walkways

1:37

Staff approved the installation of a fence, garden, and walkways at 194 North Limestone in the Mulberry Hill Historic District. The project was approved without requiring a board hearing.

353 North Limestone: Renovate structure

1:37

Staff approved the renovation of the structure located at 353 North Limestone in the Mulberry Hill Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

429 North Broadway: Renovate structure

Staff approved the renovation of the structure at 429 North Broadway in the Northside Historic District without requiring a board hearing. 1:37

The renovation project was processed as a staff approval matter, meaning it did not necessitate a full board hearing for authorization to proceed.

Outcome: Approved

475 West Second Street: Renovate structure

1:37

Staff approved the renovation of the structure at 475 West Second Street in the Northside Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

328 Arcadia Park: Replace storm windows

1:37

Staff approved the replacement of storm windows at 328 Arcadia Park, located in the Seven Parks Historic District. The project was approved without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

110 Dantzler Drive: Renovate front porch

1:37

Staff approved the front porch renovation project at 110 Dantzler Drive, located in the South Hill Historic District. The project proceeded without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

426 South Broadway: Renovate fire escape

1:37

Staff approved the fire escape renovation project at 426 South Broadway, located in the South Hill Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

275 South Limestone #110: Install barbershop pole

Staff approved the installation of a barbershop pole at 275 South Limestone #110 in the South Hill Historic District without requiring a board hearing. 1:37

The approval was granted through the staff approval process, allowing the installation to proceed without the need for a full board review.

289 South Limestone: Renovate storefront

1:37

Staff approved the storefront renovation at 289 South Limestone in the South Hill Historic District without requiring a board hearing.

325 South Mill Street: Renovate site

Staff approved the site renovation at 325 South Mill Street in the South Hill Historic District without requiring a board hearing. 1:37

The project received staff approval as a routine matter, proceeding without the need for additional board review or public hearing.

Outcome: Approved

333 South Upper Street: Install new utility box

1:37

Staff approved the installation of a new utility box at 333 South Upper Street in the South Hill Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

365 South Upper Street: Renovate structure

1:37

Staff approved the structure renovation at 365 South Upper Street in the South Hill Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

642 West Main Street: Renovate masonry

1:37

Staff approved the masonry renovation project at 642 West Main Street, located in the Western Suburbs Historic District. The project was approved without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

716 West Short Street: Re-grade front yard and replace sidewalk

1:37

Staff approved the re-grading of the front yard and replacement of the sidewalk at 716 West Short Street, located in the Western Suburbs Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

507 North Broadway: Cut masonry opening; install decking, install pergola and guardrails

3:11

The board reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application for 507 North Broadway involving modifications to create an outdoor space. The proposed work included cutting a masonry opening, installing decking, a pergola, and guardrails.

Key Speakers

The discussion involved Anton Giovanetto, Martin, and Mr. Magrish.

Conditions for Approval

The board approved the application with specific conditions to ensure the modifications met design standards:

• The deck must be set back 10 feet from the front wall of the building
• A wrought iron guardrail is required
• The pergola is limited to 12 feet in depth toward the front
• All wood elements must be painted to match the house

Outcome

The application was approved with these conditions in place.

201 North Mill Street: Replace column base

58:40

The board considered a certificate of appropriateness application for the replacement of column bases at 201 North Mill Street. Key speakers on this item included Jason Sloan, John Hackworth, and Bill Johnston.

The proposal involved replacing existing column bases with polyurethane materials. However, the board was unable to reach consensus on the application. Two separate motions were made during the discussion, but neither achieved the majority support necessary for approval.

Due to the lack of a decisive outcome, the board voted to defer the matter. The case was continued to May 9, 2012, to allow additional time for further review and consideration of the proposal before a final decision could be made.

123 Dantzler Drive: Enlarge parking area

The board considered a certificate of appropriateness application for a parking area enlargement at 123 Dantzler Drive 1:37:56.

Key Speakers

Bob McMahon and John Snyder participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

Action Taken

The board deferred action on the parking expansion. The hearing was continued to May 9, 2012, to allow for the gathering of additional information before a final decision could be made.

Issues for Further Review

The board identified three specific areas requiring additional information:

• Grass pavers
• Sight lines
• Neighborhood parking concerns

333 South Upper Street: Install parking lot and lighting

2:17:25

This agenda item concerned a certificate of appropriateness application for installing a parking lot and lighting at 333 South Upper Street.

The applicant requested a postponement of the hearing to May 9, 2012. The board granted this postponement request.