Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on November 14, 2018, to review applications for modifications to properties within the city's historic districts. The board considered four agenda items, all involving proposed changes to residential and commercial properties located in various historic districts throughout the city.

During the meeting, the board took five votes and heard no public comments. All four applications presented to the board were approved, demonstrating unanimous support for the proposed modifications. The approved projects included signage installation at a commercial property on West High Street in the South Hill Historic District, a backyard fence installation on Dantzler Drive in the Seven Park Historic District, paving expansion at a Fontaine Road property in the Ashland Park Historic District, and a rear dormer enlargement on East Maxwell Street in the Aylesford Historic District.

The meeting proceeded efficiently with all proposed modifications receiving board approval, allowing property owners to move forward with their planned improvements while maintaining compliance with historic district preservation standards.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on November 14, 2018:

• Graham Paul
• Josh
• Sarah
• Ms. Tate

No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting. All expected attendees were present at the start of the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The board considered five applications during the November 14, 2018 meeting, with mixed outcomes across the agenda items.

302 West High Street Signage Application 0:00 The Chair motioned to approve the application for signage installation at 302 West High Street. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote with 4 ayes and 0 nays. Graham Paul, Josh, Sarah, and Ms. Tate all voted in favor. The approval was subject to standard conditions.

106 Dantzler Drive Chain Link Fence Applications 0:00 This property generated two separate votes. Josh first motioned to deny the application for installing a backyard chain link fence, seconded by Sarah. This denial motion failed in a 2-2 tie vote, with Josh and Sarah voting for denial while Graham Paul and Ms. Tate voted against denial.

Following the failed denial, Graham Paul motioned to approve the chain link fence installation, seconded by Ms. Tate. This approval motion passed 3-1, with Graham Paul, Ms. Tate, and Josh voting in favor and Sarah voting against. The approval included the condition that the fence was grandfathered due to existing posts and neighborhood character.

1047 Fontaine Road Application 0:00 Graham Paul motioned to approve this application, seconded by Sarah. The motion passed unanimously 4-0 by voice vote, with all members (Graham Paul, Josh, Sarah, and Ms. Tate) voting in favor. The approval included the condition that the owner must work with staff to modify existing paving.

303 East Maxwell Street Dormer Application 0:00 Graham Paul motioned to approve the application to enlarge the rear dormer, seconded by Josh. The motion passed 3-1, with Graham Paul, Josh, and Ms. Tate voting in favor and Sarah voting against. The approval was subject to standard conditions.

Appointments

The meeting included one appointment action during the proceedings.

Graham Paul was appointed to the Planning Commission.

The appointment was processed as part of the meeting's regular business items. No additional details about the appointment process, term length, or background information were provided in the available meeting materials.

Contested Items

The board faced two contentious issues during the November 14, 2018 meeting that generated significant discussion and disagreement among members.

Chain Link Fence at 106 Dantzler Drive

The installation of a chain link fence at 106 Dantzler Drive resulted in a split vote among board members. The primary point of contention centered on the presence of existing posts on the property and concerns about how the proposed fence would affect the overall character of the neighborhood. Board members were divided on whether the fence installation met the district's standards and guidelines. The disagreement reflected broader tensions about balancing property owners' practical needs with historic preservation requirements.

Paving Expansion at 1047 Fontaine Road

The proposal to expand paving at 1047 Fontaine Road sparked heated discussion among board members regarding its appropriateness within the historic district context. The debate focused on the potential impact such expansion would have on the historic character and integrity of the area. Board members expressed varying opinions on whether the paving expansion aligned with preservation standards and district guidelines. Despite the contentious nature of the discussion, the board ultimately reached a conditional approval for the project, suggesting that specific requirements or modifications were imposed to address the concerns raised during deliberations.

Both items highlight the ongoing challenge historic preservation boards face in balancing property owners' desires for modifications with the mandate to protect historic district character and integrity.

302 West High Street (South Hill Historic District): Install signage

0:00

The commission reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for installing signage at 302 West High Street, located within the South Hill Historic District. Vlaun Connors served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

The application requested approval to install new signage at the property. During the review process, the applicant agreed to comply with standard conditions typically required for signage installations within the historic district.

The commission approved the certificate of appropriateness for the signage installation project. The approval was granted with the understanding that the applicant would adhere to the standard conditions that were agreed upon during the meeting.

This agenda item was processed as the first item of business during the meeting, indicating it was likely a straightforward application that met the district's historic preservation guidelines for appropriate signage.

106 Dantzler Drive (Seven Park Historic District): Install backyard chain link fence

0:00

The Historic Preservation Commission reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for installing a backyard chain link fence at 106 Dantzler Drive in the Seven Park Historic District.

Catherine Pemberthy served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The application initially faced denial, but the commission's decision changed during the course of the meeting.

The approval was ultimately granted based on two primary factors that emerged during the review process. First, the commission noted that existing fence posts were already present on the property, which influenced their consideration of the proposal. Second, the character of the surrounding neighborhood was determined to be compatible with the proposed chain link fencing installation.

The commission's initial hesitation followed by approval suggests there was substantive discussion about the appropriateness of chain link fencing within the historic district context. However, the presence of existing infrastructure and the assessment that such fencing aligned with the established neighborhood character ultimately swayed the decision in favor of the applicant.

The final outcome was approval of the certificate of appropriateness, allowing the property owner to proceed with installing the backyard chain link fence at 106 Dantzler Drive.

1047 Fontaine Road (Ashland Park Historic District): Expand paving

0:00

The commission reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for expanding paving at 1047 Fontaine Road, located within the Ashland Park Historic District. Mr. Wilson served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item.

The application sought approval to expand existing paving on the property. While the specific details of the proposed paving expansion were not elaborated in the available materials, the request was considered within the context of the historic district's preservation guidelines and standards.

Following discussion of the proposal, the commission approved the certificate of appropriateness with conditions. The approval was contingent upon the applicant working with staff on modifications to the proposed paving expansion. This collaborative approach allows for refinements to ensure the project meets the historic district's requirements while accommodating the property owner's needs.

The conditional approval demonstrates the commission's standard practice of working with applicants to achieve outcomes that balance property improvements with historic preservation standards. By requiring coordination with staff on modifications, the commission ensures that the final paving design will be appropriate for the historic character of the Ashland Park Historic District.

The item was resolved as agenda item 3 during the meeting, with the applicant now able to proceed with the paving expansion project once the required staff coordination and any necessary modifications are completed.

303 East Maxwell Street (Aylesford Historic District): Enlarge rear dormer

0:00

The commission reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for 303 East Maxwell Street, located within the Aylesford Historic District, to enlarge an existing rear dormer on the property.

Bob Marshall presented the application to the commission. The proposal involved expanding the size of a dormer located on the rear portion of the historic structure.

The commission approved the application with standard conditions. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with enlarging the rear dormer as proposed in the submitted plans.

Since the dormer is located on the rear of the building, the modification would not significantly impact the street-facing facade or the overall historic character of the structure as viewed from East Maxwell Street. Rear alterations in historic districts are typically given more flexibility than front-facing changes, as they are less visible from public viewways and have reduced impact on the historic streetscape.

The standard conditions attached to the approval likely include requirements for proper permits, adherence to the submitted plans, and compliance with applicable building codes and historic preservation guidelines.