Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review met on June 27, 2012, under the direction of Mr. Chairman. During the meeting, the board considered seven agenda items related to residential architectural modifications and improvements across multiple properties. The board took six motions and votes and heard two public comments.

Of the seven projects reviewed, the board approved four applications: the installation of an entry stoop at 253 Market Street, construction of a gate and arbor at 158 East Bell Court, enlargement and construction of a shed and deck at 128 Ransom Avenue, and construction of dormers at 112 Arcadia Park. One application—the installation of a fence and gate at 347 South Mill Street—was tabled for further consideration. The proposed construction of a garage structure and paved area at 321/323 Arcadia Park was withdrawn from consideration. A final application for garage construction at 441 West Second Street was deferred.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on June 27, 2012:

• Foster Pettit
• Greg Gunther
• Tara Sinkowitz
• John Sinkowitz
• Stan Markham
• Tom Holder
• Mrs. Tom Holder
• Ryan Kinnamer
• John Scott Durbin

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The following motions were voted on during the meeting:

Certificate of Appropriateness for entry stoop at 253 Market Street 6:07 Motion by Mr. Chair. Approved by voice vote with no abstentions.

Certificate of Appropriateness for gate and arbor at 158 East Belcourt 7:51 Motion by Mr. Chair. Approved by voice vote with no abstentions.

Certificate of Appropriateness for enlargement of shed, construction of shed and deck at 128 Ransom Avenue 9:35 Motion by Mr. Chair. Approved by voice vote with no abstentions. The approval includes the following conditions: final details of foundation material to be submitted to staff; all exposed wood to be painted or stained; all final details to be reviewed by staff.

Certificate of Appropriateness for fence and gate at 347 South Mill Street 24:27 Motion by Mr. Chair. The application was tabled by voice vote.

Certificate of Appropriateness for construction of dormers at 112 Arcadia Park 52:23 Motion by Mr. Chair. Approved by voice vote with no abstentions. The approval includes the following conditions: windows must be full light, one-over-one aluminum-clad wood or wood; final revised drawings to be submitted to board or staff; any changes required by other LFUCG agencies to be reviewed by staff.

Application for garage and site work at 321/323 Arcadia Park 1:23:42 Motion by Ryan Kinnamer. The application was withdrawn by voice vote.

Public Comment

Two neighbors provided public comment on proposed construction projects in the area.

Support for Dormer Construction

Dino Constantine spoke in support of dormer construction at 112 Arcadia Park 48:25. He expressed strong approval of the applicant's improvements, noting that the dormer is well-scaled and fits appropriately within the neighborhood character. Constantine confirmed that the applicant was upfront about the permitting process and stated his approval of the work.

Opposition to Garage Construction

John Scott Durbin spoke in opposition to proposed garage construction at 321/323 Arcadia Park 1:13:13. He raised concerns that the proposed two-story garage would be out of scale with the neighborhood and would dwarf his home. Durbin emphasized that the structure is too large and noted that no other garages in the area feature exterior stairs, suggesting the proposal is inconsistent with neighborhood standards.

Contested Items

Garage Construction at 321/323 Arcadia Park

A proposed two-story garage at this address faced significant community opposition. Neighbor John Scott Durbin expressed strong concerns about the project, arguing that the structure's scale was disproportionate to the surrounding area. He stated that the garage would visually dominate neighboring homes and dwarf his own property, ultimately disrupting the established character of the neighborhood.

Fence and Gate at 347 South Mill Street

A procedural dispute arose regarding a fence and gate proposal at this location. The applicant initially disagreed with staff recommendations concerning the fence height and design specifications. Following a staff presentation and subsequent discussion, the applicant chose to request additional time to reconsider the staff's recommendations. As a result, the case was tabled to allow for further review and potential modifications.

253 Market Street: Install entry stoop

2:48

An application was presented to install an entry stoop at 253 Market Street in the Gratz Park Historic District. This was a certificate of appropriateness request.

Applicant Presentation

Foster Pettit explained the proposal, noting that the entry stoop installation was needed for safety improvements and to ensure compliance with code requirements.

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommended approval of the application as submitted.

Outcome

The application was approved.

158 East Bell Court: Construct gate and arbor

An application was presented to construct a gate and arbor at 158 East Bell Court. 6:43

The applicant was not present at the meeting. Staff recommended approval of the application as submitted. No comments or questions were raised during the discussion.

The application was approved.

128 Ransom Avenue: Enlarge shed, construct shed and deck

8:28

An application was presented to enlarge an existing shed, construct a new shed, and build a deck at 128 Ransom Avenue. Greg Gunther addressed the item during the meeting.

Staff recommended approval of the project with conditions. The conditions required that the applicant provide foundation details, specify wood treatment for the structures, and submit final details for staff review prior to construction.

The application was approved.

347 South Mill Street: Install fence and gate

10:07

This agenda item addressed an application for a certificate of appropriateness to install a fence and gate between 347 and 339 South Mill Street.

Presentation and Staff Recommendation

Staff recommended approval of the fence and gate installation with specific conditions regarding height, material, and the removal of a paved area.

Applicants

Tara Sinkowitz and John Sinkowitz presented the application.

Outcome

The applicants requested additional time to reconsider the proposal in light of the staff-recommended conditions. In response, the case was tabled, allowing the applicants to further develop their plans before returning for consideration.

112 Arcadia Park: Construct dormers

25:02

The board considered an application for a certificate of appropriateness to construct front and rear dormers at 112 Arcadia Park.

Presentation and Staff Recommendation

Staff recommended approval of the project with a condition to lower the rear roof line.

Applicant Position

The applicants, Tom Holder and Mrs. Tom Holder, presented arguments for maintaining the dormers as built. They cited both structural and visual reasons for keeping the rear roof line at its current height, disagreeing with the staff recommendation to lower it.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Stan Markham, Tom Holder, Mrs. Tom Holder, and Dino Constantine.

Board Decision

The board approved the application with conditions regarding:

• Windows
• Drawings
• Agency changes

Outcome

The certificate of appropriateness was approved, allowing the construction of the front and rear dormers at 112 Arcadia Park, subject to the board's specified conditions.

321/323 Arcadia Park: Construct garage structure and paved area

This agenda item addressed an application for a certificate of appropriateness to construct a two-story garage structure and paved area at 321/323 Arcadia Park. 53:24

Key Speakers

The discussion involved Ryan Kinnamer and John Scott Durbin.

Staff Recommendation and Applicant Response

Staff recommended disapproval of the application, citing concerns about the scale and design of the proposed garage structure. The applicant disagreed with this recommendation and engaged in discussion regarding potential design modifications to address the staff's concerns.

Outcome

Following the discussion, the applicant chose to withdraw the application rather than proceed with the review process.

441 West Second Street: Construct a garage

A conceptual review was scheduled for the construction of a garage at 441 West Second Street. The discussion was initiated but not completed, as the meeting concluded following the withdrawal of the final application on the agenda.

The outcome of this agenda item was deferred, meaning the conceptual review was not finalized during this meeting. The review was anticipated to occur at approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes into the meeting.