Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review met on November 14, 2012. During the meeting, the board considered 26 agenda items, took 16 motions and votes, and heard 4 public comments. The majority of items addressed were property improvement requests, including fencing installations, deck expansions, dormer additions, porch renovations, and various demolition and construction projects across multiple addresses in the community. Of the 26 agenda items, 20 were approved, 4 were postponed, and 2 were administrative items (review of the 2013 meeting schedule and approval of September 12, 2012 meeting minutes, both approved). Notable postponed items included roof construction over a rear deck at 160-162 Woodland Avenue, site renovation work at 141 Forest Avenue, garage and site work at 321-323 Arcadia Park, and retaining wall and landscape installation at 216 East Bell Court.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on November 14, 2012:

• David Lafferty
• Greg Martelli
• Wendy McAllister
• Scott Campbell
• Alan Goins
• Anthony Humphress
• Clayton Lewis
• Mary Jane Amick
• Chad Needham
• Charlotte Lundergan
• Gary Wise
• Greg Urie
• Beverly Miller
• William Kevin Murphy
• Rob King
• Martin
• Amelia
• Graham
• Betty

No attendees were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included sixteen motions, all of which passed. Fourteen were decided by voice vote, and one was decided by roll call vote.

Certificates of Appropriateness Approved:

• 325 Park Avenue 7:12 – Approved with conditions requiring all exposed wood of the picket fence in the front yard be painted; final details of rear entry door stoop and steps be submitted to staff for review and approval prior to purchase of materials; and all exposed wood of entry stoop and steps be painted except for the stoop flooring and treads.

• 852 West High Street 8:50 – Approved with conditions that final details of the fence and gate be submitted and all exposed wood be painted or stained.

• 359 North Limestone 12:15 – Approved with the plan submitted by applicant labeled as option B.

• 165 Woodland Avenue 15:54 – Approved with three conditions: a mullion four inches in width be inserted between coupled windows with revised window detail sheet submitted; windows be of wood construction with aluminum wrap permitted and simulated or true light design; and all window details be submitted for staff review prior to purchase.

• 370 Marino Street 17:36 – Approved with the condition that door details come back to staff.

• 137 West Bell Court 1:41:07 – Approved with the condition that the deck's band board be painted.

• 645 Ellesmere Park 3:06:57 – Approved by roll call vote with 2 ayes and 1 nay. Mr. Chair and Rob voted in favor; Rob voted against. Conditions require the garage be oriented with vehicular doors facing the alley and final details be submitted to staff after review by other LFUCG divisions.

• 155 East 3rd Street 3:36:44 – Approved with conditions disapproving replacement of wood porch with concrete, approving replacement with tongue-and-groove wood flooring and band board, and requiring final details to come back to staff.

• 625 West Short Street 3:43:32 – Approved with a revised plan featuring lower roof pitch and newly designed windows.

• 159 East 3rd Street 3:48:02 – Motion reopened to allow wood flooring option, with conditions that wood flooring (tongue and groove) be considered as an option, concrete porch may be removed to facilitate installation, and all details come back to staff.

Administrative Approvals:

• BOAR meeting schedule for 2013 3:49:48 – Approved.

• Minutes from September 12, 2012 3:50:50 – Approved.

Postponements to December 12, 2012:

• 141 Forest Avenue 54:18
• 321-323 Arcadia Park 54:48
• 216 East Bell Court 55:21
• 160-162 Woodland Avenue 2:16:16

Public Comment

Four speakers addressed the board with concerns regarding proposed property modifications and historic preservation issues.

Charlotte Lundergan 43:20 spoke about historic restoration of the porch at 155 East 3rd Street. She requested approval to replace the wood porch with concrete to match the twin house at 159, emphasizing the need for visual consistency and structural integrity.

Beverly Miller 1:03:16 expressed concerns about the community impact of a deck expansion at 137 West Bell Court. She raised issues regarding privacy invasion, noise from air conditioning units, and the lack of historical landscape requirements despite prior agreements. Miller argued that the proposed deck expansion would further diminish quality of life and community harmony.

William Kevin Murphy 1:10:15 also addressed the proposed deck at 137 West Bell Court, presenting photographs and arguments showing how the expansion would intrude on privacy and disrupt the existing landscape buffer. He requested a design compromise to preserve privacy and historical integrity of the property.

Greg Urie 2:36:49 raised safety and access concerns regarding garage orientation at 645 Ellesmere Park. He argued that orienting the garage toward Spence Alley would violate site triangle requirements and create safety hazards due to obstructed visibility, despite the historic district's pattern of alley access.

Contested Items

The November 14, 2012 meeting included three items that generated significant disagreement among participants.

Deck expansion at 137 West Bell Court

Neighbors opposed the proposed deck expansion, raising concerns about privacy, noise, and loss of historical landscape. Public comments were detailed and emotional, with multiple photographs presented to illustrate the impact on the surrounding community.

Garage orientation at 645 Ellesmere Park

A procedural dispute arose over garage orientation at this property. The applicant argued that site triangle requirements prevented alley access, while staff and board members emphasized the importance of maintaining historic district patterns. The debate centered on how to balance safety requirements with the need to preserve historic integrity.

Concrete porch at 155 East 3rd Street

Board members were divided on whether to approve a concrete porch despite a staff recommendation for wood. The discussion highlighted a tension between historic authenticity and practical considerations, resulting in a split vote among board members.

325 Park Avenue: Install front yard fencing and change opening

6:02

Staff presented a recommendation for approval of a proposal to install front yard fencing and change the opening at 325 Park Avenue, subject to conditions regarding paint and submission of final details.

The applicant was not present at the meeting but had agreed to the staff recommendations in advance. Mr. Chair led the discussion on this agenda item.

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommended approval with the following conditions:

• Paint specifications for the fence must be submitted and approved
• Final details for both the fence and entry door must be submitted for review

Outcome

The proposal was approved with the conditions specified by staff.

852 West High Street: Install fencing in the front yard

7:44

The applicant for 852 West High Street appeared before the board to present a proposal to install fencing in the front yard. Jimmy Emmons was the key speaker on this agenda item.

The applicant agreed to the staff recommendations presented during the meeting. Following this agreement, a motion was made and passed to approve the fencing installation.

The approval included specific conditions regarding fence details and paint specifications that the applicant must follow. These conditions were incorporated into the final decision to ensure the fencing meets the required standards for the property and neighborhood.

The outcome of this agenda item was approval.

359 North Limestone: Construct sitework

9:59

The applicant presented a revised plan for sitework construction at 359 North Limestone. The revision involved reducing the limestone area from the original proposal.

Presentation and Recommendation

Wendy McAllister presented the revised plan to the board. Staff reviewed the modifications and recommended approval of the project based on the revised design.

Outcome

The revised plan was accepted and the project received approval.

165 Woodland Avenue: Change window design

13:46

Staff presented a recommendation for approval of a window design change at 165 Woodland Avenue, subject to three conditions. Mr. Chair led the discussion on this agenda item.

The motion to approve the window design change passed. In addition to the three staff-recommended conditions, the body added an additional condition requiring submission of all window details.

The proposal was approved with a total of four conditions.

370 Merino Street: Restore opening

17:01

The applicant for 370 Merino Street presented a proposal to restore the opening at the property. Captain Rob King was the key speaker during this agenda item.

The applicant appeared before the body and agreed to the staff recommendation regarding the project. Following the presentation and discussion, a motion was made and passed. The approval included a condition related to door details for the restoration work.

The outcome of this agenda item was approval.

137 West Bell Court: Expand deck

18:40

The board considered an application to expand the rear deck at 137 West Bell Court. Scott Campbell, Beverly Miller, and William Kevin Murphy participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The applicant requested approval for the deck expansion project. During the public comment period, concerns were raised regarding privacy and landscaping issues related to the proposed expansion.

The board voted to approve the application with a condition requiring that the band board be painted. The motion passed with this requirement in place.

611 Russell Avenue: Replace deck, patio and landscaping

20:22

Staff presented a proposal to replace the deck, patio, and landscaping at 611 Russell Avenue. The staff recommendation was for approval with conditions regarding lattice infill and paint specifications.

The motion to approve the project passed without opposition.

341 Madison Place: Construct second floor balcony and change door design on the garage

22:38

This agenda item concerned a proposal to construct a second floor balcony and change the door design on the garage at 341 Madison Place.

The applicant was not present at the meeting but had agreed to staff recommendations in advance. Mr. Chair presided over the discussion of this item.

The motion to approve the project passed. The approval was granted subject to four conditions:

• Rail design requirements
• Construction details specifications
• Height restrictions
• Interdivisional review

The project was approved as presented.

160-162 Woodland Avenue: Construct roof over rear deck

26:04

This agenda item addressed a proposal to construct a roof over a rear deck at 160-162 Woodland Avenue.

Key Speakers

The discussion involved David Lafferty and the Chair.

Staff Recommendation and Applicant Response

Staff recommended against the proposed roof construction. The applicant objected to the staff recommendation, indicating disagreement with the staff's position on the project.

Concerns Raised

Staff identified two primary concerns with the proposal:

• The proposed roof was located too close to the property line
• The design was deemed inappropriate for the location

Outcome

A motion to continue the item until December 12 was passed. The discussion was postponed rather than resolved, allowing for further review and potential modifications to the proposal before the next scheduled consideration.

522 Arcadia Park: Install front and rear dormers

26:39

The applicant for 522 Arcadia Park presented a proposal to install front and rear dormers on the property. Alan Goins was the key speaker on this agenda item.

The applicant agreed to the staff recommendations presented during the discussion. A motion was made to approve the project, which passed. The approval included a clarification regarding chimney removal that referenced a prior meeting, ensuring consistency with previous decisions on the property.

The project was approved.

332 Lafayette Avenue: Install dormers

30:32

The applicant for 332 Lafayette Avenue presented a proposal to install dormers on the property. Anthony Humphress was the key speaker on this agenda item.

The applicant agreed to the staff recommendation regarding the project. Following this agreement, a motion was brought before the body and passed. The approval was granted with a condition requiring an interdivisional review to be completed.

The project was approved.

645 Elsmere Park: Demolish outbuilding and construct garage and sitework

2:25:30

This agenda item addressed a proposal to demolish an outbuilding and construct a garage and sitework at 645 Elsmere Park.

Presentation and Concerns

Greg Urie presented the staff recommendation, which advised disapproval of the driveway off Ellesmere Park. The recommendation cited safety concerns and a historic pattern of issues related to the proposed driveway location.

Outcome

The motion to approve the project passed, with conditions imposed regarding the alley orientation and final details. These conditions were established to address the concerns raised during staff review while allowing the project to proceed.

3017 Old Todd's Road: Re-gravel parking area

33:46

This agenda item addressed a proposal to re-gravel the parking area at 3017 Old Todd's Road. Clayton Lewis presented the matter to the board.

Staff recommended approval of the project with a condition regarding gravel containment. The recommendation reflected concern about managing gravel materials to prevent them from dispersing beyond the intended parking area.

The board considered the staff recommendation and voted to approve the project. However, the board added an additional condition to the approval: the applicant must submit a containment method for the gravel before proceeding. This condition ensured that a plan for controlling gravel dispersal would be in place and reviewed prior to the start of work.

The motion passed with this added requirement in place.

462-464 West Second Street: Pave parking area

36:33

Staff presented a proposal to pave the parking area at 462-464 West Second Street. Mary Jane Amick was the key speaker on this agenda item.

The staff recommendation was for approval of the project with an exposed pea gravel finish and wheel stops. The motion to approve the project passed, with conditions attached and acknowledgment of a public letter received regarding the matter.

The project was approved as presented.

158 Constitution Street: Demolish stairs, change openings

Chad Needham presented this agenda item regarding proposed work at 158 Constitution Street to demolish stairs and change openings 41:45.

The applicant agreed to staff recommendations for the project. The motion to approve passed with three conditions:

• Deck material specifications
• Window details requirements
• Interdivisional review

The project was approved as presented.

155 East Third Street: Renovate front porch

43:20

This agenda item addressed a proposal to renovate the front porch at 155 East Third Street. The applicant requested a concrete porch to match the twin house on the adjacent property.

Presentation and Recommendation

Staff reviewed the proposal and recommended a wood porch instead of the concrete option requested by the applicant.

Key Speakers

• Charlotte Lundergan
• Gary Wise

Outcome

The motion passed with the staff recommendation for a wood porch approved.

159 East Third Street: Renovate front porch and demolish addition

45:59

Charlotte Lundergan presented this agenda item regarding proposed renovations to the front porch and demolition of an addition at 159 East Third Street.

The applicant agreed to staff recommendations for the project. Following discussion, a motion to approve the project passed with two conditions attached to the approval.

The project was approved.

163 East Third Street: Demolish addition

45:59

Charlotte Lundergan presented this agenda item regarding the demolition of an addition at 163 East Third Street. The applicant agreed to staff recommendations presented during the meeting.

Following the presentation and discussion, a motion was made and passed to approve the demolition of the addition.

Outcome: Approved

625 West Short Street: Construct addition and sitework

51:30

Greg Martelli presented a revised plan for the construction of an addition and sitework at 625 West Short Street. The revised design incorporated two key modifications to the original proposal:

• Vertical window proportions
• Lower roof pitch

The revised plan was presented for consideration and discussion. Following the presentation and deliberation, a motion was made regarding the project.

Outcome: The motion passed with approval of the revised plan.

141 Forest Avenue: Renovate site; construct site work

The applicant requested a postponement of this agenda item. A motion to postpone the discussion until December 12 was made and passed. 54:18

321-323 Arcadia Park: Construct garage and site work

54:48

The applicant requested a postponement of this agenda item regarding the construction of a garage and site work at 321-323 Arcadia Park. Following the applicant's request, a motion was made to postpone consideration of the matter.

The motion to postpone passed. The item has been rescheduled for discussion at the December 12 meeting.

216 East Bell Court: Install retaining wall and landscape

55:21

The applicant for the retaining wall and landscape installation project at 216 East Bell Court requested a postponement of the agenda item. Following this request, a motion was made to postpone consideration of the matter until December 12. The motion passed.

Outcome: Postponed to December 12

501 West Short Street: Install roof vents

55:53

This agenda item concerning the installation of roof vents at 501 West Short Street was presented to the body. The project had been previously approved by staff as part of an earlier staff approvals process.

No motion was required for this item, as it had already received staff approval. Mr. Chair addressed the matter during the meeting.

The item was approved.

432 North Broadway: Construct gate and fencing

This agenda item concerning the construction of a gate and fencing at 432 North Broadway was presented at the meeting 55:53.

The item was approved as part of earlier staff approvals, and no motion was required for this agenda item. Mr. Chair presided over this portion of the meeting.

The proposal was approved.

Review BOAR meeting schedule for 2013

The Board reviewed the proposed meeting schedule for 2013. Mr. Chair led the discussion on this agenda item 3:49:48.

Following the review, a motion was brought forward to accept the schedule as proposed. The motion passed, and the 2013 BOAR meeting schedule was approved.

Review Minutes for September 12, 2012

3:50:50

The meeting minutes from September 12, 2012 were presented for review. Mr. Chair led the discussion on this agenda item.

The minutes were reviewed as written, and a motion was passed to accept them. The outcome was approved.