Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on May 8, 2019, at 101 East Vine Street, Room 220. The board reviewed eight agenda items consisting of various architectural and development proposals throughout the city. During the meeting, the board took eight votes and heard one public comment from community members.

The board achieved significant progress on pending applications, approving six of the eight proposals under consideration. The approved projects included developments at 192 North Broadway, 137 Woodland Avenue, 317 South Mill Street, 621 Sayre Avenue, 141 Forest Avenue, and 210 Bell Place. However, the board denied the application for 342-344 Desha Road and tabled the proposal for 591 West Short Street for future consideration.

The meeting demonstrated the board's active role in reviewing architectural proposals and ensuring compliance with local design standards and regulations. With six approvals out of eight total applications, the session reflected a productive review process for most of the submitted projects.

Votes and Decisions

The board considered eight applications during the May 8, 2019 meeting, approving six, denying one, and continuing one to a future meeting. All votes were conducted by voice vote with motions made by the Chairman or Chair.

Approved Applications:

• Application 02500190-c for 192 North Broadway to install signage was approved 0:00. The motion was made by Mr. Chairman and passed with the condition that professional signage be installed with mounting through mortar joints.

• Application 05550342-b for 137 Woodland Avenue to screen mechanical unit and install guardrails was approved 0:00. Mr. Chair made the motion, which passed with the condition that revised updated drawings be provided to staff.

• Application 13150317-d for 317 South Mill Street to replace and widen driveway was approved 0:00. Mr. Chairman made the motion, which passed with the condition that final details of brick be provided prior to issuance of COA.

• Application 16780621-f for 621 Sayre Avenue to replace lattice with windows and doors was approved 0:00. The motion by Mr. Chair passed with standard conditions 1 and 2.

• Application 072801-41-u for 141 Forest Avenue to construct garage shed roof addition was approved 0:00. Mr. Chairman's motion passed with standard conditions 1 and 2.

• Application 32930210-f for 210 Bell Place to construct garage was approved 0:00. The motion passed with conditions that windows and doors be one over one, with reveal size six instead of eight.

Denied Application:

• Application 05550342-b for 342-344 Desha Road to remove chimney was denied 0:00. Mr. Chair's motion to deny the application passed.

Continued Application:

• The application for 591 West Short Street to construct shed was continued to June 12 0:00.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the board with concerns about local development impacts.

David Craw spoke regarding traffic concerns 0:00. Craw expressed worries about potential traffic issues that could arise from future construction activities at the Wagon Bones site. He raised these concerns as part of the public input process, highlighting community awareness of how development projects may affect local transportation patterns and road usage.

The public comment period provided an opportunity for residents to voice their perspectives on matters of local interest before the board's formal proceedings.

Contested Items

The board addressed two applications that generated significant discussion and opposition during the May 8, 2019 meeting.

Chimney Removal at 342-344 Desha Road

The most contentious issue involved a request to remove a chimney at 342-344 Desha Road due to persistent water leaks. The application sparked heated discussion among board members, who weighed the practical concerns of ongoing structural damage against the historical significance of the chimney feature. Despite acknowledging the legitimate maintenance issues presented by the applicant, the board ultimately denied the removal application, determining that the chimney's historical value to the property outweighed the practical considerations of the leak problems.

Shed Construction at 591 West Short Street

The second contested item concerned a proposal to construct a shed at 591 West Short Street, which faced community opposition. The discussion centered on two primary concerns: the proposed placement and appearance of the structure, and its potential impact on available parking in the area. Board members and community members raised questions about whether the shed design would conform to established guidelines and how the structure might affect the neighborhood's character and functionality. The opposition highlighted broader concerns about maintaining appropriate standards for accessory structures while addressing residents' storage needs.

Both applications demonstrated the ongoing challenge the board faces in balancing property owners' practical needs with preservation standards and community concerns. The discussions reflected the careful consideration required when evaluating modifications to historic properties and new construction in established neighborhoods.

192 North Broadway

0:00

The board reviewed an application for signage installation at 192 North Broadway. The discussion was brief, as the applicant was not present at the meeting but had previously indicated agreement with the staff report recommendations.

The board proceeded to consider the signage proposal based on the staff analysis and documentation provided. No concerns were raised during the discussion, and no debate occurred regarding the application details or compliance requirements.

The board approved the signage application for 192 North Broadway without opposition.

137 Woodland Avenue

0:00

The board reviewed an application for 137 Woodland Avenue involving the screening of a mechanical unit and installation of guardrails. This item was listed as agenda item 2 during the meeting discussion.

The application centered on two main components: providing appropriate screening for mechanical equipment and adding necessary guardrails to the property. These types of modifications typically require board review to ensure compliance with local design standards and safety requirements.

During the discussion, the applicant committed to providing revised drawings to address any concerns or specifications raised by the board. This agreement to submit updated plans suggests the board may have requested modifications or clarifications to the original proposal.

The board ultimately approved the application. The approval indicates that the proposed screening and guardrail installations were deemed acceptable, either as originally submitted or with the understanding that the revised drawings would address any outstanding issues.

The relatively straightforward nature of this agenda item - involving mechanical screening and safety railings rather than major structural changes - likely contributed to the positive outcome. Such improvements generally align with municipal goals of maintaining property safety standards while ensuring mechanical equipment is appropriately concealed from public view.

317 South Mill Street

0:00

The board reviewed an application for property improvements at 317 South Mill Street during agenda item 3. The proposed work involved replacing and widening the existing driveway at the property.

During the discussion, the applicant presented their plans for the driveway modifications. The board expressed interest in obtaining additional information about the materials to be used in the project, specifically requesting final details regarding the brick components of the proposed work.

The applicant agreed to provide the requested specifications for the brick materials as part of their submission. No significant concerns or objections were raised during the review process.

Following the discussion and the applicant's commitment to supply the final brick details, the board approved the application for the driveway replacement and widening project at 317 South Mill Street.

621 Sayre Avenue

0:00

The board reviewed an application for 621 Sayre Avenue involving the replacement of existing lattice work with windows and doors. The discussion focused on the proposed modifications to the property's exterior elements.

During the review process, the applicant demonstrated willingness to work with the board's requirements by agreeing to the standard conditions typically imposed for such modifications. The nature of these standard conditions was not detailed in the available materials, but they likely relate to design compatibility, materials specifications, or other regulatory requirements common to such applications.

The application appears to have proceeded smoothly without significant debate or concerns raised by board members. No specific speakers were identified as leading the discussion or raising particular issues with the proposed changes.

The board ultimately approved the application for 621 Sayre Avenue, allowing the applicant to proceed with replacing the lattice with the proposed windows and doors, subject to the agreed-upon standard conditions.

141 Forest Avenue

0:00

The board reviewed an application for a construction project at 141 Forest Avenue involving a garage shed roof addition. The discussion was brief, with the applicant demonstrating agreement to comply with the standard conditions typically required for such projects.

No significant concerns or objections were raised during the review process. The applicant's willingness to accept the standard conditions appeared to satisfy the board's requirements for approval.

The application was approved by the board.

210 Bell Place

0:00

The board reviewed an application for construction of a garage at 210 Bell Place during agenda item 6. The discussion centered on the proposed garage construction and specific conditions that would need to be met for approval.

During the review process, the applicant agreed to comply with conditions related to windows and doors for the proposed garage structure. The specific details of these conditions were not elaborated upon in the available materials, but they appeared to be standard requirements for this type of construction project.

The application proceeded without significant debate or opposition from board members. No major concerns were raised regarding the proposed garage construction, and the discussion appeared to be straightforward and procedural in nature.

Outcome: The application for the garage construction at 210 Bell Place was approved by the board, with the applicant's agreement to the specified conditions regarding windows and doors.

342-344 Desha Road

0:00

The board reviewed agenda item 7, an application for 342-344 Desha Road requesting permission to remove a chimney from the property.

Staff presented their analysis of the proposal and recommended denial of the application. The recommendation was based on the historical significance of the chimney structure, which staff determined was an important architectural feature that should be preserved.

The board ultimately voted to deny the application to remove the chimney at 342-344 Desha Road, following the staff recommendation to maintain the historical integrity of the property.

591 West Short Street

0:00

The board reviewed agenda item 8, an application to construct a shed at 591 West Short Street. The discussion centered on the proposed shed construction project at this location.

During the meeting, the board examined the details of the application and identified issues that needed to be addressed before the project could move forward. Rather than making a final decision on the application, the board determined that additional work was needed to resolve outstanding concerns.

The board advised the applicant to collaborate with city staff to develop a solution that would address the identified issues with the proposed shed construction. This approach would allow for further refinement of the project details and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and requirements.

The agenda item was ultimately tabled, meaning no final action was taken at this meeting. The tabling allows time for the applicant to work with staff on resolving the concerns raised during the discussion before the application returns to the board for further consideration.

The decision to table the item reflects the board's preference for collaborative problem-solving rather than outright denial, giving the applicant an opportunity to address the issues and potentially move forward with the shed construction project at 591 West Short Street.