Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review held a meeting on December 14, 2016. The meeting addressed two main agenda items and resulted in seven recorded votes, with no public comments received during the session.

The board accomplished its primary business by reviewing and approving the minutes from their previous meeting held on November 9, 2016. The majority of the meeting focused on Certificate of Appropriateness Applications, which were also approved by the board. These applications typically involve requests for modifications or improvements to properties within the board's jurisdiction that require architectural review to ensure compliance with local design standards and historic preservation guidelines.

The meeting proceeded efficiently through its agenda items, with all matters receiving approval from the board members. The absence of public comments suggests either limited community interest in the specific applications under review or general satisfaction with the proposed projects. The seven votes taken during the meeting indicate thorough deliberation on the various Certificate of Appropriateness Applications presented to the board.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting resulted in seven Certificate of Appropriateness approvals, all passed by voice vote with no recorded individual vote counts.

717 Central Avenue - The board approved a Certificate of Appropriateness with conditions requiring a barrier retention element to be installed, resubmission of any changes, and review by other divisions.

120 South Hanover Avenue (08760120-b) - Approved with standard conditions requiring resubmission of any changes and review by other divisions.

241 South Ashland Avenue (05450251a) - Approved with standard conditions requiring resubmission of any changes and review by other divisions.

385 Oldham Avenue (14300385) - Approved with specific conditions requiring modifications to elevations showing two chimneys, differentiation of the new stem wall, and provision of final door and window specifications.

194 North Limestone Street Storage Sheds (11660194-cc) - Approved the moving and construction of storage sheds with standard conditions requiring resubmission of any changes and review by other divisions.

194 North Limestone Street Reapproval (11660194-bb) - Due to an error in the legal notice, the board reapproved a previous application for this property. Conditions include retaining trees greater than ten inches in diameter, resubmitting any changes, and review by other divisions.

784 Caden Lane (02960784-a) - Approved construction of a single-family residence with detailed conditions including adding vertical trim and banding at corners, installing a window in the north side, supporting the bay with foundation, submitting final window details, and using smooth hardy plank siding.

All motions passed unanimously by voice vote. The meeting records do not indicate who made the motions or provided seconds, nor do they include specific vote tallies or individual member positions on any of the items.

Contested Items

The December 14, 2016 meeting featured significant community opposition regarding the removal of legacy trees at the Sayer School site.

Removal of Legacy Trees at Sayer School

Community members raised strong objections to plans for removing large, established trees at the Sayer School location. The primary concern centered on preserving the historic character of the surrounding neighborhood, with residents arguing that these legacy trees were integral to the area's identity and aesthetic value.

The disagreement highlighted tensions between development or renovation needs at the school site and community preservation priorities. Residents expressed worry that removing these mature trees would fundamentally alter the neighborhood's historic atmosphere and visual appeal.

The extracted data does not specify the final outcome of this dispute or detail the specific parties involved beyond noting the community opposition to the tree removal plans.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this contested item discussion.*

Review of minutes from November 9, 2016

The board conducted a review of the minutes from their previous meeting held on November 9, 2016. This agenda item involved examining the official record of proceedings, discussions, and decisions made during the earlier session.

The minutes were presented to the board for their consideration and approval. Board members had the opportunity to review the documented proceedings and verify the accuracy of the recorded information from the November 9th meeting.

Following their review, the board approved the minutes from November 9, 2016, indicating that the members found the documentation to be accurate and complete. This approval formally establishes the minutes as the official record of that meeting's proceedings.

The approval of meeting minutes is a standard procedural item that ensures proper documentation and transparency of board activities and decisions.

Certificate of Appropriateness Applications

The board reviewed several applications for certificates of appropriateness during this meeting, which are required for modifications and construction projects within designated historic districts. These applications ensure that proposed changes to properties maintain the historic character and architectural integrity of the districts.

The board examined various requests for property modifications and new construction projects. Each application was evaluated based on established historic preservation guidelines and standards that govern alterations to buildings and structures within the historic districts.

During the review process, board members assessed whether the proposed changes would be compatible with the historic character of the surrounding area and would not negatively impact the architectural or historical significance of the district. The applications likely included details such as proposed materials, design elements, and construction methods.

The board ultimately approved the certificate of appropriateness applications that were presented. This approval indicates that the proposed projects met the necessary criteria for historic preservation compliance and were deemed appropriate for implementation within the historic districts.

The approval of these certificates allows property owners to proceed with their planned modifications or construction projects while ensuring that the work will be conducted in accordance with historic preservation standards. This process helps maintain the historic integrity of the districts while allowing for necessary improvements and appropriate development.

*Note: Specific details about individual applications, property addresses, and project descriptions were not available in the provided meeting materials.*