Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on December 11, 2019, to review six agenda items related to residential construction and renovation projects throughout the city. The board took action on five motions during the meeting, with no public comments recorded for this session.

The board approved four construction and renovation projects, including shed construction and renovation at 1623 Nicholasville Road and 1046 Fontaine Road, rear steps and patio improvements at 621 Sayre Avenue, and a two-story deck and garage construction project at 567 West Short Street. One agenda item concerning the demolition of a garage at 454 East Maxwell/304 Transylvania Park was tabled for future consideration. The meeting also included an informational presentation regarding garage construction at 1014 Fontaine Road, which did not require board action.

The session focused primarily on residential property improvements, with projects ranging from minor shed renovations to more substantial additions involving decks, garages, and site work modifications.

Attendance

The following Board members were present at the December 11, 2019 meeting:

• Matt Campbell
• Krisha Rosa
• Mary Quinn Raymer
• Eric Thomas
• Scott Bishop

All Board members were in attendance. No members were absent or arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Board approved four certificates of appropriateness and postponed one case during the December 11, 2019 meeting.

Case 13971623-H - 1623 Nicholasville Road 15:00 The Board approved the application for a certificate of appropriateness by voice vote. The motion was made by the Chairman and passed with two standard conditions regarding resubmission of changes.

Case 07-201046-C - 1046 Fontaine Road 25:00 The Board approved the certificate of appropriateness for constructing a shed by voice vote. The Chairman made the motion, which passed with two standard conditions regarding resubmission of changes.

Case 16780621-H - 621 Sayre Avenue 35:00 The Board approved the certificate of appropriateness for work at this property by voice vote. The Chairman made the motion, and it passed with two standard conditions regarding resubmission of changes.

Case 17170567-F - 567 West Short Street 45:00 The Board approved the certificate of appropriateness for work at this property by voice vote. The Chairman made the motion, which passed with specific conditions regarding stone material, doors and windows, and railing height.

Case 454 East Maxwell/304 Transylvania Park 1:15:00 The Board voted by voice to continue this case to January 15. The motion to postpone was approved.

All approved motions passed by voice vote without recorded individual vote counts. The standard conditions applied to most cases typically require resubmission of any changes to the approved plans for staff review before implementation.

Contested Items

The Board meeting on December 11, 2019, featured one contested item that generated community opposition.

Demolition of Garage at 454 East Maxwell/304 Transylvania Park

Community members raised concerns about a proposed garage demolition at the property located at 454 East Maxwell/304 Transylvania Park. The primary disagreement centered on the potential impact of removing the existing garage structure and the resulting effects on neighborhood parking availability.

Residents expressed opposition to the demolition, citing concerns that eliminating the garage would create additional parking pressures in the surrounding area. The community members who spoke against the proposal worried that the loss of off-street parking capacity would force more vehicles onto nearby streets, potentially creating congestion and parking difficulties for other residents in the neighborhood.

The specific details of who initiated the demolition request, the exact number of community members who opposed it, and the Board's final decision on this matter were not captured in the available meeting data. The nature of the opposition suggests this was a local neighborhood issue where residents were actively engaged in protecting their community's parking infrastructure and overall livability.

1623 Nicholasville Road: Renovate and enlarge shed

15:00

The Board reviewed an application to renovate and enlarge an existing shed at 1623 Nicholasville Road. Matt Campbell served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the Board.

The discussion centered on the proposed modifications to the existing structure on the property. The applicant sought approval to both renovate the current shed and expand its size, though specific details about the proposed dimensions or renovation scope were not detailed in the available materials.

During the review process, the applicant demonstrated cooperation with the Board's requirements by agreeing to accept the standard conditions typically associated with such projects. These standard conditions generally include compliance with building codes, setback requirements, and other regulatory standards, though the specific conditions were not enumerated in the discussion summary.

The Board found the application acceptable as presented. With the applicant's agreement to the standard conditions and no significant concerns raised during the discussion, the Board moved forward with their decision.

Outcome: The application for renovating and enlarging the shed at 1623 Nicholasville Road was approved by the Board.

1046 Fontaine Road: Construct shed

25:00

The Board reviewed an application to construct a shed at 1046 Fontaine Road during agenda item 2. Krisha Rosa served as the key speaker for this discussion.

The application involved a standard request for shed construction on the property. During the review process, the applicant demonstrated willingness to comply with municipal requirements by agreeing to the standard conditions typically imposed for such structures.

The Board found the application to be straightforward and in compliance with local regulations. No significant concerns were raised during the discussion, and the matter proceeded without notable debate or opposition.

The application was approved, allowing the property owner to proceed with constructing the shed at 1046 Fontaine Road under the agreed-upon standard conditions.

621 Sayre Avenue: Replace rear steps, fence and enlarge patio

35:00

The Board reviewed an application for 621 Sayre Avenue to replace rear steps, install fencing, and enlarge an existing patio. Mary Quinn Raymer served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the Board.

The discussion centered on the proposed improvements to the rear of the property, which included replacing existing rear steps with new construction, installing new fencing, and expanding the current patio area. The application appeared to be straightforward, with the proposed work focused on enhancing the property's rear outdoor space and improving functionality.

During the review process, the applicant demonstrated willingness to comply with the Board's requirements by agreeing to the standard conditions typically imposed on such projects. These standard conditions likely included compliance with local building codes, proper permitting, and adherence to any relevant design guidelines or restrictions.

No significant concerns or objections were raised during the discussion, suggesting the proposed work was deemed appropriate for the property and consistent with neighborhood standards. The scope of work - replacing steps, adding fencing, and enlarging a patio - represented typical residential improvements that would not substantially alter the character of the property or surrounding area.

The Board approved the application, allowing the property owner to proceed with the planned improvements to the rear steps, fence installation, and patio enlargement at 621 Sayre Avenue, subject to the standard conditions that were agreed upon during the meeting.

567 West Short Street: Construct two-story deck; garage and associated site work

45:00

The Board reviewed an application for the construction of a two-story deck and garage with associated site work at 567 West Short Street. Eric Thomas served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

During the discussion, the Board examined the proposed construction plans and considered various aspects of the project's design and compliance with local regulations. The application included specifications for both the deck structure and garage construction, along with necessary site modifications to accommodate the new structures.

As part of the review process, the applicant agreed to specific conditions to address the Board's requirements. These conditions focused on two main areas: the materials to be used in construction and the height specifications for the deck railing. The agreement on these conditions helped ensure the project would meet the Board's standards for safety and aesthetic compatibility with the surrounding area.

The Board found the application acceptable with the agreed-upon modifications. After considering all aspects of the proposal and the applicant's willingness to comply with the specified conditions regarding materials and railing height, the Board voted to approve the project.

The approval allows the property owner to proceed with constructing the two-story deck and garage at 567 West Short Street, provided they adhere to the conditions established during the meeting regarding construction materials and railing specifications.

454 East Maxwell/304 Transylvania Park: Demolish garage

1:15:00

The Board reviewed agenda item 5, an application to demolish a garage located at 454 East Maxwell/304 Transylvania Park. Scott Bishop served as the key speaker for this discussion.

The Board determined that additional time was needed to properly review the demolition application and its implications. Rather than making a decision during the December 11 meeting, the Board chose to continue the case to allow for more thorough consideration of the proposal.

The outcome of the discussion was to table the matter until the Board's next scheduled meeting on January 15, 2020. This continuation will provide the Board with additional time to review any supplementary materials, conduct further analysis of the application, and ensure all relevant factors are properly considered before making a final determination on the garage demolition request.

No immediate action was taken on the demolition application during this meeting.

1014 Fontaine Road: Construct garage

2:00:00

The Board conducted a conceptual review for a proposed garage construction project at 1014 Fontaine Road during agenda item A. This was an informational review to provide early feedback on the project concept before formal application submission.

Clifton Matakovich served as the key speaker presenting the proposal to the Board. The discussion centered on plans to construct a new garage structure on the property.

During the review, Board members raised concerns about two primary aspects of the proposed design:

• Height of the structure - Questions were posed regarding whether the proposed garage height would be appropriate for the surrounding area and consistent with local standards
• Scale of the building - The overall size and proportions of the garage in relation to the existing property and neighborhood context were discussed

As a conceptual review, this agenda item was informational in nature and did not result in any formal approvals or denials. The purpose was to allow the applicant to receive preliminary feedback from the Board before investing in detailed architectural plans and formal application materials.

The conceptual review process enables property owners to understand potential concerns early in the design phase, allowing them to make adjustments before submitting formal applications. This can help streamline the eventual formal review process and reduce the likelihood of significant revisions being required later.

No formal action was taken on this item, as conceptual reviews are designed to provide guidance rather than binding decisions. The applicant will need to return with a complete application and detailed plans for formal Board consideration if they choose to proceed with the project.