Board of Architectural Review (Part 1)

December 10, 2014 · 15,671 words

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Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review met on December 10, 2014, to consider 31 agenda items. The board took 9 votes during the meeting and heard 2 public comments. Of the items reviewed, 26 were approved, 2 were denied, and 3 were deferred to a future meeting. The approved projects included a range of architectural and site work, such as structure renovations at multiple addresses, tree removals, masonry work, window replacements, and various modifications to existing buildings. The two denied items were a vinyl fencing installation at 137 South Hanover Avenue and vents installation at 981 Fincastle Road. Two items were deferred for further consideration: paving work at 104 Dantzler Drive and a demolition and construction project at 125 Ransom Avenue.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on December 10, 2014:

Maureen Peters
Mike Mitchell
Marshall Osborne
Mike Warner
Allison Rohr
Nancy Stengel
Alex Donahue
Leonard Gilliam
Shawna Gilliam

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included nine votes on Certificates of Appropriateness and related matters, all conducted by voice vote.

Approvals with Conditions:

210-214 North Broadway 7:50 — Approved. Conditions require submission of final handrail details, stoop dimension changes, and any changes reviewed by other LFUCG divisions to staff for review prior to work start.

600 Sayre Avenue 18:34 — Approved. Conditions specify that attic windows must have predominantly vertical subdivisions with a preferred configuration of four subdivisions per sash. Details must be submitted to staff prior to work start, and all changes reviewed by other LFUCG divisions must be submitted for approval.

667 Elsmere Park 25:59 — Approved. Conditions require submission of final window and door specification sheet to staff. Paint stripping and tuck pointing must follow Secretary of the Interior's Standards. All changes reviewed by other LFUCG divisions must be submitted for approval, and final elevation with trim details must be provided prior to siding work.

316 West High Street 29:48 — Approved with no conditions.

2852 Cadentown Road 1:17:12 — Approved. Conditions require submission of final dormer details and scale to staff, and all changes reviewed by other LFUCG divisions must be submitted for approval.

200 East Bell Court 1:41:01 — Approved. Conditions include removal of dental molding from addition, retention of windows on rear and side of existing addition, 4-inch reveal for garden room siding, and submission of final details, overhead door details, and chimney element revisions to staff. All changes reviewed by other LFUCG divisions must be submitted for approval.

Disapprovals:

137 South Hanover Avenue (vinyl fence) 50:46 — Disapproved. One abstention was recorded.

981 Fincastle Road 1:47:11 — Disapproved. One abstention was recorded.

Continuance:

104 Dantzler Drive 1:11:11 — Continued to January 21, 2015 meeting. The applicant must submit developed edge details or landscaping plan for the parking area by the next meeting.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the meeting with concerns regarding specific properties.

Nancy Stengel spoke at 1:00:15 regarding the parking area at 104 Dantzler Drive. She expressed concern that allowing paved parking in the backyard could lead to flooding issues and encourage additional vehicles to park in the yard, which could damage the neighborhood. Stengel emphasized the need for a permanent barrier to prevent vehicles from driving beyond the paved area.

Alex Donahue spoke at 1:58:00 regarding vent systems at 981 Fincastle Road. Donahue explained that the vents were installed due to code restrictions on duct length and the number of elbows allowed, which made routing to the rear of the house impossible. Donahue acknowledged that the work was completed without a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) due to a permitting oversight, and stated an intent to clean up the building's exterior.

Contested Items

137 South Hanover Avenue Vinyl Fence

The board considered an application to install a vinyl fence in a historic district. The applicant explained that the fence installation resulted from an honest mistake. Despite the applicant's explanation and arguments regarding the fence's aesthetic appeal, the board faced strong community opposition to the proposal. The board ultimately denied the application in order to preserve the integrity of the historic district.

981 Fincastle Road Vent Systems

A procedural dispute arose regarding vent systems at this property. The board debated whether the vents had been installed without the required Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), despite the applicant holding a mechanical permit. The applicant argued that code constraints made rear venting impossible, presenting this as justification for the installation method used. However, the board disapproved the application due to procedural non-compliance with COA requirements.