Board of Architecture Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on February 15, 2023, at 4:00 PM at 101 East Vine Street, with Alison Church presiding as the meeting officer. The board addressed four agenda items during the session, all of which received approval, including renovations, tree replacements, demolition, and new commercial construction projects across various locations in the community. The meeting included active public participation with five public comments heard throughout the proceedings. Board members conducted nine motions and votes during the course of the meeting, demonstrating thorough deliberation on the architectural and development matters before them. All four projects under consideration—ranging from residential renovations on S Hanover Avenue to commercial development on Cadentown Road—ultimately received the board's approval to proceed.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the February 15, 2023 meeting:

• Alison Church
• Cade Pence
• Amelia Armstrong
• Vincent Thompson
• Chris (applicant for Cadentown Road)

No absences or late arrivals were recorded for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The board considered nine applications during the February 15, 2023 meeting, approving all items with various conditions attached.

Application Approvals:

• 08760137-j (137 South Hanover Avenue): Approved by voice vote with standard two conditions 0:00

• 0415-d (260 Clay Avenue): Approved by voice vote with standard two conditions and confirmation of tree diameter 0:00

• 121364-d (364 Transylvania Park): Approved by voice vote with standard two conditions, with one abstention recorded 0:00

• 13961831-b (1831 Nicholasville Road): Approved by voice vote with standard two conditions 0:00

• 13971835-a (1835 Nicholasville Road): Approved by voice vote with standard two conditions and requirement that front yard paving remain brick 0:00

• 03630720-I (720 Central Avenue): Approved by voice vote with conditions to step dormer down, provide solar panel details, and standard two conditions 0:00

• 13020341-g (341 Merino Street): Approved by voice vote with standard two conditions 0:00

• 12680716-g (716 West Maxwell Street): Approved by voice vote with standard two conditions 0:00

• 43732986-a (2986 Cadentown Road): Approved by voice vote despite one dissenting vote from member Irwin. Conditions included fence information, tree and lighting review, berm details, additional landscaping, and standard two conditions 0:00

All votes were conducted by voice vote rather than formal roll call. The 2986 Cadentown Road application was the only item to receive opposition, with member Irwin voting against approval. The 364 Transylvania Park application had one abstention, though the abstaining member was not identified in the records.

Public Comment

Five community members spoke during the public comment period, all addressing concerns about the Cadentown Road project and its potential impact on the historic neighborhood 0:00.

Kimberly Robinson opened the public comment session by expressing opposition to the Cadentown Road project. She raised concerns about traffic flow issues, building design elements, and the potential negative impact on the historic character of the neighborhood 0:00.

Teresa Kelly followed with additional concerns about the same project, specifically questioning the proposed size of the building and the number of businesses that would be accommodated. She also raised environmental concerns about the impact on existing trees and potential drainage issues 0:00.

Alvin Seals urged the board to prioritize protecting Cadentown's historic nature and to prevent what he characterized as commercial encroachment into the area. His comments focused on preservation efforts for the community 0:00.

Leon Schlatter called for consistency in how the board applies historic preservation guidelines across different projects. He expressed concerns about the broader impact of the proposed development and emphasized the need for uniform standards in preservation decisions 0:00.

Alvin Seals Jr. concluded the public comment period by discussing the generational significance of preserving Cadentown for future residents. He spoke about the long-term negative impacts that commercial development could have on the community's character and heritage 0:00.

All speakers focused exclusively on the Cadentown Road project, presenting a unified voice of concern about commercial development in what they characterized as a historic neighborhood. The comments addressed various aspects including traffic, environmental impact, building scale, and the importance of consistent historic preservation policies.

Contested Items

The February 15, 2023 meeting featured one primary contested item that generated significant community discussion and opposition.

2986 Cadentown Road Project

The proposed development at 2986 Cadentown Road faced substantial community opposition during the meeting. Residents and community members raised multiple concerns about the project's potential impact on the surrounding area.

The primary areas of opposition included:

• Traffic concerns - Community members expressed worry about increased vehicular traffic that the commercial development would bring to the area
• Historic preservation issues - Residents raised concerns about the project's potential impact on the historic character of the neighborhood
• Commercial development impact - Opposition centered on concerns about how the commercial nature of the project would affect the existing residential neighborhood character

The community opposition appeared to be organized and significant, with multiple residents voicing their concerns about the various aspects of the proposed development. The nature of the opposition suggested that community members viewed the project as incompatible with the existing residential character of the Cadentown Road area.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps, speaker names, and the final outcome of this contested item are not available in the provided meeting data. Readers seeking more detailed information about the discussion and resolution should refer to the complete meeting video or official meeting minutes.*

236 S Hanover Avenue: Renovate structure and site

0:00

The board reviewed a staff-approved renovation project for the property located at 236 S Hanover Avenue. Alison Church presented the item, which involved both structural renovations and site improvements to the existing property.

The project received staff approval for the proposed renovations to the structure and surrounding site. The discussion focused on the scope of work planned for both the building itself and the property grounds.

The agenda item was approved without recorded opposition or significant concerns raised during the meeting. The renovation project will proceed under the staff approval that was granted for the 236 S Hanover Avenue property.

431 East High Street: Replace trees

0:00

Staff presented a request for tree replacement at 431 East High Street during this agenda item. Alison Church served as the key speaker for this discussion.

The item involved staff approval for replacing trees at the specified address. This appears to have been a routine administrative matter handled through the city's tree management processes.

The discussion resulted in approval of the tree replacement request. No significant concerns or debate were noted during the consideration of this item.

The approval allows for the replacement of trees at 431 East High Street to proceed as requested by staff.

364 Transylvania Park: Demolish outbuilding

0:00

The committee reviewed an application to demolish an outbuilding at 364 Transylvania Park. Alison Church served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item.

The application requested permission to remove an existing outbuilding structure on the property. Based on the available information, this appears to have been a straightforward demolition request that did not generate significant debate or controversy during the meeting discussion.

The committee approved the demolition application for 364 Transylvania Park, allowing the property owner to proceed with removing the outbuilding as requested.

*Note: Limited transcript details were available for this agenda item, which may have resulted in a brief discussion or routine approval process.*

2986 Cadentown Road: Re-issue COA to build new commercial structure and parking

0:00

The board considered a re-issue of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a new commercial structure and parking facility at 2986 Cadentown Road.

Key speakers during the discussion included Chris and Alison Church, who presented details regarding the proposed commercial development project. The agenda item involved revisiting a previously issued Certificate of Appropriateness, suggesting that modifications or updates to the original approval were necessary.

The discussion focused on the plans for the new commercial structure and associated parking arrangements at the Cadentown Road location. While specific details of the architectural plans, building specifications, or parking capacity were not detailed in the available materials, the re-issue indicates that the project had undergone revisions since its initial approval.

The board ultimately approved the re-issue of the Certificate of Appropriateness for this commercial development project, allowing the applicant to proceed with the construction of the new commercial structure and parking facilities as presented.

This approval enables the development to move forward at 2986 Cadentown Road under the updated Certificate of Appropriateness terms.