Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on July 20, 2022, with Mr. Chair presiding over the session. The board addressed eight Certificate of Appropriateness applications for various properties throughout the city, with all eight applications receiving approval. The meeting included three public comments from community members and resulted in eight formal votes by the board members. The session focused entirely on reviewing and approving architectural modifications and improvements to properties located on Central Avenue, Sayre Avenue, North Broadway, West Third Street, Nicholasville Road, Constitution Street, and West High Street, demonstrating the board's active role in preserving the architectural character of the community while allowing for appropriate property improvements.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on July 20, 2022:

Present: • Mr. Chair • Darren Taylor • Jason • Daniel Thornberry • Chaz Lenz • Carol Martin • Chad Needham • Steve Graves • Adrienne • Jessica Winters

All expected attendees were present for the meeting. No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included eight Certificate of Appropriateness approvals, all passed by voice vote. Specific vote counts and individual member positions were not recorded for these voice votes.

Certificates of Appropriateness Approved:

• 519 Central Avenue - Motion passed with standard two conditions

• 624 Sayre Avenue - Motion passed with standard two conditions

• 426 North Broadway - Motion passed with standard two conditions

• 444 West Third Street - Motion passed with standard two conditions

• 1801-1803 Nicholasville Road - Motion passed with standard two conditions plus an additional curbing condition

• 584 West Third Street - Motion passed with standard two conditions

• 109 Constitution Street - Motion passed with standard two conditions

• 120 West High Street - Motion passed subject to design development details being submitted and approved

All motions were conducted as voice votes rather than roll call votes, so individual member voting positions were not recorded. The names of the members who made the motions and provided seconds were not documented in the available records.

Most approvals included what were referred to as "standard two conditions," though the specific details of these conditions were not specified in the extracted data. The 1801-1803 Nicholasville Road project received an additional curbing-related condition beyond the standard requirements. The 120 West High Street approval was conditional upon the submission and approval of design development details.

Transcript timestamps were not available for any of the votes in the provided data.

Public Comment

Three residents spoke during the public comment period, all expressing opposition to proposed changes at 109 Constitution Street.

Braxton Crenshaw addressed the board regarding the proposed changes at 109 Constitution Street. Crenshaw voiced opposition to the project, citing concerns about maintaining the historic integrity of the neighborhood.

Mary Jen Knock Yo also spoke in opposition to the changes at 109 Constitution Street. Knock Yo emphasized the importance of preserving the historic character of the neighborhood and expressed concerns about the potential impact of the proposed modifications.

Debra Heard similarly opposed the changes at 109 Constitution Street. Heard argued that the proposed changes would negatively impact the historic district and urged the board to consider the broader implications for the area's historic preservation.

All three speakers focused specifically on the same property at 109 Constitution Street, with their comments centered on historic preservation concerns and the potential impact on the neighborhood's character. The unified opposition from residents highlighted community concerns about maintaining the historic integrity of the district.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for these public comments.*

Contested Items

Two items generated significant debate during the meeting, drawing community opposition and dividing board members on key decisions.

Changes at 109 Constitution Street

The proposed changes at 109 Constitution Street faced strong community opposition from several residents who attended the meeting. Community members voiced concerns about maintaining the historic integrity of the neighborhood, arguing that the proposed modifications would compromise the area's historical character. The opposition centered on preserving the authentic historic nature of the district and ensuring that any changes align with established preservation standards.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 120 West High Street

The board found itself divided when considering the Certificate of Appropriateness application for 120 West High Street. The split vote reflected disagreement among board members regarding whether the proposed work met the required guidelines for historic preservation. Key concerns focused on how the proposed changes would affect the building's historic character and whether the application adequately addressed adherence to established preservation standards.

The division among board members highlighted the complexity of balancing property owners' needs with historic preservation requirements. Some members expressed reservations about approving the certificate without stronger assurances that the work would maintain the building's historical significance, while others may have been more receptive to the proposed modifications.

Both contested items underscore the ongoing challenges faced by historic preservation boards in weighing community concerns, property rights, and preservation standards when making decisions about changes to historically significant properties and districts.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 519 Central Avenue

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for modifications at 519 Central Avenue during the meeting. Darren Taylor served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item.

The board considered the proposed modifications to the property located at 519 Central Avenue, evaluating whether the changes would be appropriate for the historic district or area under the board's jurisdiction. The application underwent review to ensure compliance with applicable design standards and preservation guidelines.

Following their deliberation, the board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for 519 Central Avenue, allowing the proposed modifications to proceed as submitted.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, as the meeting time information was not provided in the source materials.*

Certificate of Appropriateness for 624 Sayre Avenue

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for modifications at 624 Sayre Avenue during the meeting. Daniel Thornberry served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item.

The board considered the proposed modifications to the property located at 624 Sayre Avenue as part of the standard Certificate of Appropriateness review process. This type of application typically involves evaluating proposed changes to ensure they comply with local historic preservation guidelines and zoning requirements.

Following their review and discussion of the application materials, the board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for 624 Sayre Avenue. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the proposed modifications as submitted in their application.

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

Certificate of Appropriateness for 426 North Broadway

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for proposed modifications at 426 North Broadway. Chaz Lenz served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item.

The board considered the application for alterations to the property located at 426 North Broadway, evaluating the proposed changes against applicable historic preservation standards and guidelines. The discussion focused on ensuring that any modifications would be appropriate for the historic character of the area and comply with relevant preservation requirements.

Following their review and discussion of the application materials and proposed modifications, the board voted to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for 426 North Broadway. The approval allows the applicant to proceed with the proposed work as presented to the board.

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

Certificate of Appropriateness for 444 West Third Street

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for modifications at 444 West Third Street during the July 20, 2022 meeting.

Carol Martin served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The board examined the proposed modifications to the property, though specific details about the nature of the changes were not provided in the available meeting materials.

Following their review and discussion, the board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness application for 444 West Third Street.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, and additional details about the presentation, concerns raised, or debate that may have occurred during the discussion were not captured in the available meeting documentation.*

Certificate of Appropriateness for 1801-1803 Nicholasville Road

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for modifications at 1801-1803 Nicholasville Road during the July 20, 2022 meeting.

The discussion centered on proposed changes to the property located at 1801-1803 Nicholasville Road. While specific details of the modifications were not captured in the available meeting data, the board evaluated the application according to established appropriateness standards for the area.

The board ultimately approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed modifications at 1801-1803 Nicholasville Road.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and detailed discussion points were not available in the source materials for this agenda item.*

Certificate of Appropriateness for 584 West Third Street

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for modifications at 584 West Third Street during the July 20, 2022 meeting.

The application sought approval for proposed changes to the property, though specific details about the nature of the modifications were not provided in the available meeting materials. The board conducted a discussion regarding the appropriateness of the requested changes in accordance with local historic preservation or design review standards.

Following their review and discussion of the application, the board voted to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for 584 West Third Street. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the proposed modifications as submitted.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, and detailed information about the speakers, specific modifications proposed, or points of discussion were not included in the source materials.*

Certificate of Appropriateness for 109 Constitution Street

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for modifications at 109 Constitution Street. Chad Needham served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item.

The board considered the proposed modifications to the property, evaluating whether the changes would be appropriate for the historic character of the area. While specific details of the proposed modifications were not detailed in the available materials, the discussion focused on the standard criteria used for Certificate of Appropriateness applications, which typically include considerations of architectural compatibility, historical significance, and visual impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

Following their review and discussion of the application materials, the board voted to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for 109 Constitution Street. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the proposed modifications as submitted in their application.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, as the meeting time information was not provided in the source materials.*

Certificate of Appropriateness for 120 West High Street

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for modifications at 120 West High Street during this meeting. The discussion involved key speakers Adrienne and Steve Graves, who presented details about the proposed changes to the property.

While specific details of the modifications and the nature of the discussion were not captured in the available meeting records, the board engaged in deliberations regarding the appropriateness of the proposed alterations to this historic property. The Certificate of Appropriateness process is designed to ensure that any changes to properties within historic districts maintain the architectural and historical integrity of the area.

Following their review and discussion of the application materials, the board ultimately approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for 120 West High Street. This approval allows the property owner to proceed with the proposed modifications as presented to the board.

The specific timestamp for this agenda item was not available in the meeting records, making it difficult for the public to locate this discussion within the full meeting video or audio recording.