Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review met on March 12, 2014. The meeting was presided over by the Chairman. During the meeting, the Board considered 10 agenda items, took 3 motions and votes, and heard 1 public comment.

The Board approved nine architectural applications. These included renovation projects at 281 South Ashland Avenue, 603 East Main Street, and 371 North Limestone; a re-roofing project at 348 Aylesford Place; stone wall and foundation re-pointing work at 530 East High Street; driveway and storage building replacement at 621 Boonesboro; modifications to rear additions at 611 Russell Avenue and 371 North Limestone; reissuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition and reconstruction of a garage at 408 West Sixth Street; and creation of a parking area at 230 Arlington Avenue. One item—a proposal to change the roof and demolish a side addition while constructing a stairs addition at 520 Sayre Avenue—was deferred.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on March 12, 2014:

• Suzanne Irwin
• Jim Clark
• Kathy Sudkamp
• David Bottom
• Amelia
• Randy
• Jason

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included three Certificates of Appropriateness that were voted on and approved.

611 Russell Avenue 6:42

A Certificate of Appropriateness for 611 Russell Avenue was approved by voice vote. The motion was made by Jim. The condition requires that either a 2-over-2 window or the existing paired window must be used, with the final decision returning to staff.

408 West 6th Street 8:26

A Certificate of Appropriateness for 408 West 6th Street was approved by voice vote. The motion was made by Jim. The condition specifies that the area around dry-laid brick pads must be grass rather than pebbles.

230 Arlington Avenue 33:03

A Certificate of Appropriateness for 230 Arlington Avenue was approved by voice vote. The motion was made by Jim. This approval included multiple conditions: the east leg must be reduced to 10 by 12 feet; the west leg must be extended to 36 feet to accommodate four cars; shrubbery edging must be used to prevent vehicle encroachment; final paving details must be submitted to staff; and the parking area must be maintained to prevent backyard parking.

All three motions passed by voice vote with no abstentions recorded.

Public Comment

David Bottom addressed the board regarding drainage concerns at 238 Arlington Avenue 22:46. He expressed concern that paving work at 230 Arlington Avenue could exacerbate existing runoff issues affecting his property.

Bottom noted that his property has become a retention basin due to adjacent concrete parking lots. He reported that during heavy rains, flooding on his property reaches depths of 18 inches, indicating a significant drainage problem in the area.

Contested Items

Drainage and Runoff Concerns at 230 Arlington Avenue

A neighbor, David Bottom, raised concerns about drainage and runoff issues affecting his property in relation to developments at 230 Arlington Avenue. Bottom stated that his property has become a retention basin following adjacent developments, and he expressed worry about increased runoff and flooding caused by paving work. He urged the board to consider the drainage impacts of the proposed project on surrounding properties.

This matter represented community opposition to the project as proposed, with Bottom advocating for the board to address stormwater management and its effects on neighboring land before approval.

281 South Ashland Avenue: Renovate structure

2:45

Staff approved the renovation of the structure located at 281 South Ashland Avenue in the Ashland Park Central Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

348 Aylesford Place: Re-roof structure

Staff approved the re-roofing of the structure at 348 Aylesford Place in the Aylesford Historic District without requiring a board hearing 2:45.

The project received staff approval as a matter of administrative action, proceeding without the need for formal board consideration or public hearing.

Outcome: Approved

530 East High Street: Re-point stone walls and foundation

2:45

Staff approved the repointing of stone walls and foundation at 530 East High Street in the Belcourt Historic District. The project was approved without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

621 Boonesboro: Replace driveway and storage building

2:45

Staff approved the replacement of a driveway and storage building at 621 Boonesboro in the Belcourt Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

603 East Main Street: Renovate structure

2:45

Staff approved the renovation of the structure located at 603 East Main Street in the Mulberry Hill Historic District. The approval was granted without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

371 North Limestone: Renovate rear addition

2:45

Staff approved the renovation of the rear addition at 371 North Limestone in the Mulberry Hill Historic District. The project proceeded without requiring a board hearing.

Outcome: Approved

611 Russell Avenue: Change openings in rear addition

3:23

The board reviewed an application for a certificate of appropriateness regarding changes to openings in the rear addition of the property at 611 Russell Avenue.

Presentation and Discussion

Suzanne Irwin presented the application to the board.

Board Decision

The board approved the application with conditions. The approval requires that the final window selection for the rear addition be either a 2-over-2 window or the existing paired window. The final decision on which option to use was returned to staff for determination.

Outcome

The application was approved.

408 West Sixth Street: Reissue a COA to demolish garage and construct garage

7:18

The board considered a request to reissue a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for the demolition of an existing garage and construction of a new garage at 408 West Sixth Street.

Jim Clark presented the item to the board. The discussion resulted in the board's approval of the reissue of the Certificate of Appropriateness, contingent upon a specific modification to the site design.

The board imposed one condition on the approval: the area surrounding the dry-laid brick pads must be finished with grass rather than pebbles. This landscaping requirement was established as a condition of the certificate's reissuance.

The item was approved with this condition in place.

230 Arlington Avenue: Create parking area

9:03

The board reviewed an application for a certificate of appropriateness to create a parking area at 230 Arlington Avenue.

Key Speakers

The discussion involved Kathy Sudkamp, David Bottom, and Amelia.

Outcome

The board approved the application with revised conditions. The approval requires the following modifications to the proposed parking area:

• Reduce the east leg to 10x12 feet
• Extend the west leg to 36 feet to accommodate four cars
• Use shrubbery edging around the parking area
• Submit final paving details to staff for review

520 Sayre Avenue: Change roof; demolition side addition and construct stairs addition

The board conducted a conceptual review for proposed modifications to the property at 520 Sayre Avenue 34:42. The project involves three main components: changing the roof, demolishing a side addition, and constructing a stairs addition.

The board began discussion on this item but did not reach a final decision during the meeting. The conceptual review was deferred, indicating that further consideration or additional information would be needed before the board could proceed with approval or denial of the proposal.