Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on September 11, 2019, with the Chair presiding over the session. The Board reviewed six agenda items, all involving properties within various historic districts throughout the city, including applications from the Bell Court Historic District, Aylesford Historic District, Woodward Heights Historic District, and Ashland Park Historic District.

During the meeting, the Board took six votes on the applications before them. Four properties received approval for their proposed projects: 605 Boonesboro Avenue in the Bell Court Historic District, 317 Park Avenue in the Aylesford Historic District, 321 Madison Place in the Woodward Heights Historic District, and 247 North Mill Street. One application at 203 Arlington Avenue in the Aylesford Historic District was denied by the Board. The final item concerning 1012-1014 Fincastle Road in the Ashland Park Historic District was postponed for future consideration.

No public comments were recorded during this meeting, allowing the Board to focus entirely on the technical review of the architectural applications. The session demonstrated the Board's ongoing role in preserving the historic character of the city's designated historic districts while evaluating contemporary development and renovation proposals.

Attendance

All board members were present for the September 11, 2019 meeting.

Present: • Amelia • John Cox • Scott Book • Michelle Costello-Clark • Rob Deal • Chico Nichols • Brad Risco • Jill Farfan

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The Board took action on six Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) applications during the September 11, 2019 meeting. All votes were conducted by voice vote with specific vote counts and individual member positions not recorded in the available data.

Approved Applications:

• 16-840-445-J (605 Boonesboro Avenue): The Chair motioned for approval with conditions, which passed. Standard conditions were applied requiring changes and review by LFUCG divisions.

• 14600317 (317 Park Avenue): The Chairman motioned for approval with standard conditions, which passed.

• 09300321 (321 Madison Place): The Chair motioned for approval without conditions, which passed.

• 13140247-I (247 North Mill Street): The Chair motioned for approval with specific conditions, which passed. The conditions require the applicant to provide doors and windows without muntins and submit final details for staff review.

Denied Application:

• 00610203-6 (203 Arlington Avenue): The Chair motioned for disapproval of the COA application, which passed.

Postponed Application:

• 1012-1014 Fincastle Road: The Chairman motioned to postpone this application, which passed. No application identifier was recorded for this item.

All motions were made by either "Chair," "Mr. Chair," or "Mr. Chairman" with seconds from unidentified board members. The voice vote format used throughout the meeting means individual member voting positions were not recorded, though all motions carried successfully. Transcript timestamps were not available in the source materials for any of the voting actions.

The Board's decisions reflect their authority to approve, deny, or postpone COA applications for properties within historic districts, with the ability to attach conditions to approvals as deemed necessary for historic preservation compliance.

Contested Items

The Board meeting on September 11, 2019, featured one contested item that generated heated discussion among participants.

203 Arlington Avenue Window Change

The primary point of contention involved a proposal to modify a window opening at 203 Arlington Avenue. The applicant had requested consideration for changes to the existing window configuration, but the proposal faced significant opposition during the review process.

The disagreement centered on whether the proposed window modifications met the established guidelines for the property. Board members engaged in heated discussion regarding the merits of the application and the interpretation of relevant standards. Despite the applicant's efforts to present their case and request special consideration for the project, the Board ultimately determined that the proposal did not satisfy the required guidelines.

The outcome was a denial of the window change request. The Board's decision was based on their assessment that the proposed modifications failed to meet the applicable standards, regardless of the applicant's arguments for approval.

This contested item demonstrated the Board's commitment to maintaining established guidelines while also highlighting the challenges that can arise when property owners seek modifications that may not align with existing requirements. The heated nature of the discussion suggests there were differing viewpoints among participants about how strictly the guidelines should be applied in this particular case.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available in the provided data for this contested item.*

605 Boonesboro Avenue (Bell Court Historic District)

The Board reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for 605 Boonesboro Avenue, located within the Bell Court Historic District. The proposal involved paving an existing gravel driveway at the property.

Amelia presented the application to the Board, noting that while the applicant was not present at the meeting, they had agreed with the staff findings and recommendations regarding the proposed work.

The application requested approval to pave the current gravel driveway, which would change the surface material from gravel to a paved surface. Staff had reviewed the proposal for compliance with the historic district guidelines and standards.

The Board approved the certificate of appropriateness with standard conditions. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with paving the gravel driveway while ensuring the work meets the established preservation standards for the Bell Court Historic District.

The straightforward nature of the application and the applicant's agreement with staff recommendations facilitated a smooth review process, with no significant concerns or debate raised during the discussion.

317 Park Avenue (Aylesford Historic District)

The Board reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for 317 Park Avenue, located within the Aylesford Historic District. The request involved the construction of a shed on the property.

The applicant was not present at the meeting to present the proposal or answer questions from Board members. Despite the applicant's absence, the Board proceeded with their review of the submitted materials.

Mr. Chairman led the discussion of this agenda item. The Board determined that the proposed shed construction was appropriate for the historic district and would not negatively impact the historic character of the area.

The Board voted to approve the certificate of appropriateness with standard conditions. These standard conditions typically include requirements for materials, construction methods, and other specifications that ensure compatibility with the historic district's character and guidelines.

The approval allows the property owner to proceed with constructing the shed in accordance with the submitted plans and any applicable standard conditions established by the Board for projects within the Aylesford Historic District.

321 Madison Place (Woodward Heights Historic District)

The Board reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for 321 Madison Place, located within the Woodward Heights Historic District. The proposal involved demolishing an addition to the existing structure.

Applicant John Cox was present to represent the project during the Board's consideration of the application.

The Board approved the certificate of appropriateness with no conditions attached to the approval.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, as the approximate discussion time was not recorded in the meeting documentation.*

247 North Mill Street

The Board reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for the construction of a garage at 247 North Mill Street. The applicant, Scott Book, was present to discuss the proposal.

The application involved plans to construct a new garage on the property. During the review process, the Board evaluated the proposed design for its compatibility with the historic character of the area and adherence to preservation guidelines.

Following discussion of the project details, the Board approved the certificate of appropriateness with specific conditions. The approval included requirements regarding the doors and windows to be used in the garage construction, ensuring they would be appropriate for the historic district.

Outcome: Approved with conditions regarding doors and windows

Key Participants: - Scott Book (applicant)

The conditional approval allows the project to proceed while maintaining standards consistent with the historic preservation requirements for the district.

203 Arlington Avenue (Aylesford Historic District)

The Board reviewed a certificate of appropriateness application for 203 Arlington Avenue, located within the Aylesford Historic District. The application involved a proposed change to an opening on the property.

Applicant Michelle Costello-Clark was present to discuss the proposal with the Board. Staff had reviewed the application and recommended disapproval, citing that the proposed changes did not meet the established historic district guidelines.

The Board ultimately denied the certificate of appropriateness application, following the staff recommendation that the proposal was not in compliance with the historic district's preservation standards and guidelines.

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

1012-1014 Fincastle Road (Ashland Park Historic District)

The Board considered a certificate of appropriateness application for 1012-1014 Fincastle Road, located within the Ashland Park Historic District. The proposed project involved multiple exterior modifications including the construction of a rear deck, stairs, greenhouse, and patio. Additional changes included alterations to existing openings, modifications to a side canopy, and updates to porch steps.

Amelia served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item, though the specific details of her presentation and any concerns raised during the deliberation were not captured in the available meeting materials.

Following the Board's review and discussion, the application was postponed until the September 25th meeting. The decision to postpone suggests that additional information, revisions, or further consideration may have been needed before the Board could make a final determination on the certificate of appropriateness.

The postponement allows the applicant additional time to address any issues that may have been identified during the initial review, or provides the Board with more time to thoroughly evaluate the proposed changes within the context of the Ashland Park Historic District's preservation guidelines and standards.