Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review met on March 15, 2023, at 101 East Brian Street, Room 220, with an acting chair presiding over the session. The board reviewed 10 agenda items, all of which were informational in nature and covered various renovation, replacement, and installation projects throughout the city. The meeting included 7 motions and votes on the presented items, while no public comments were heard during the session. The agenda focused primarily on residential and commercial property modifications, including structure renovations, tree replacements, step replacements, re-roofing projects, fencing installations, and window replacements across multiple locations in the city.

Attendance

Present: - Acting chair - Back Marquette

Absent: - Jim

Late: - None

The meeting proceeded with two members present and one absent member.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included seven Certificate of Appropriateness applications, all of which were approved by voice vote with varying conditions.

Certificate 0550 - 105 Desha Road 12:00 The application to demolish a garage was approved with standard two conditions. The motion passed by voice vote with 1 aye and 0 nays.

Certificate 12520262-g - 262 Market Street 15:00 This Certificate of Appropriateness was approved with standard two conditions. The motion passed by voice vote with 1 aye and 0 nays.

Certificate 11660367-d - 367 North Limestone 18:00 The application was approved with standard two conditions plus a third condition requiring the applicant to return to staff for review. The motion passed by voice vote with 1 aye and 0 nays.

Certificate 08730360-k - 360 Hampton Court 21:00 This Certificate of Appropriateness was approved with standard two conditions. The motion passed by voice vote with 1 aye and 0 nays.

Certificate 10950130-a - 130 Lackawanna Road 24:00 The application received mixed approval: the request to paint brick was denied, while the dormer proposal was approved with conditions. The motion passed by voice vote with 1 aye and 0 nays.

Certificate 131-5051-l - 515 South Mill Street 27:00 The application was approved with conditions requiring the fence height to be reduced to six feet and final details to be reviewed by staff. The motion passed by voice vote with 1 aye and 0 nays.

Certificate 006-1222-8 - 222 Arlington 30:00 This application received partial approval: the greenhouse was approved while the eight-foot fence was disapproved. The motion passed by voice vote with 1 aye and 0 nays.

All votes were conducted by voice vote rather than roll call, with unanimous approval for each motion as presented with their respective conditions.

Appointments

The meeting included one appointment action during the proceedings.

back marquette was appointed to the Board of Architectural Review.

The Board of Architectural Review is responsible for reviewing proposed architectural changes and developments to ensure they comply with local design standards and preservation guidelines. This appointment fills a position on the board that helps maintain the community's architectural character and oversees development projects within the jurisdiction.

No additional details were provided regarding the appointment process, term length, or background qualifications of the appointee during this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

Two fence height requests generated heated discussions during the February 15, 2023 meeting, with both applicants seeking variances from standard height guidelines.

222 Arlington Street Fence Height

The applicant at 222 Arlington Street requested approval for an eight-foot fence, citing privacy concerns as justification for exceeding the standard height requirements. The request sparked significant debate among board members regarding the appropriateness of granting variances to established guidelines. After extensive discussion, the board ultimately disapproved the eight-foot fence request, determining that the applicant must adhere to the existing six-foot height guideline. The decision reinforced the board's commitment to maintaining consistent standards across the community.

515 South Mill Street Fence Height

Similarly, the applicant at 515 South Mill Street also requested an eight-foot fence for privacy purposes, leading to another heated discussion about fence height standards. Unlike the Arlington Street case, this application resulted in a different outcome. While the board did not approve the requested eight-foot height, they reached a compromise by approving a six-foot fence with additional conditions. The specific conditions attached to this approval were not detailed in the available materials, but the decision demonstrates the board's willingness to work with applicants while maintaining adherence to established guidelines.

Both cases highlight ongoing tensions between property owners' desires for enhanced privacy and the board's responsibility to maintain consistent community standards. The contrasting outcomes suggest that individual circumstances and site-specific factors may influence the board's decision-making process, even when dealing with similar requests.

236 S Hanover Avenue: Renovate structure and site

The meeting included a discussion regarding renovation plans for the structure and site located at 236 S Hanover Avenue. This agenda item was listed as item number 1 on the meeting agenda.

The discussion was informational in nature, with no formal action taken during this portion of the meeting. The item focused on proposed renovations to both the existing structure and the surrounding site at the specified address.

No specific transcript timestamps were available for this agenda item, and no key speakers were identified in the meeting records for this particular discussion. The renovation project appears to have been presented for informational purposes, allowing meeting participants to review and discuss the proposed changes to the property.

The outcome of this agenda item was classified as informational, indicating that the discussion served to provide details about the renovation plans rather than to seek formal approval or make binding decisions at this time.

431 East High Street: Replace trees

This agenda item involved a discussion regarding the replacement of trees at 431 East High Street. The item was presented for informational purposes during the February 15, 2023 meeting.

Based on the available meeting records, this was classified as a discussion item rather than an action item requiring a formal vote. The matter appears to have been brought before the body to inform members about tree replacement activities planned or underway at the specified address.

No specific transcript timestamps were available for this agenda item, and detailed speaker information was not recorded in the meeting documentation. The outcome was noted as informational, indicating that no formal action was taken by the governing body during this discussion.

The lack of detailed discussion points or specific concerns raised suggests this may have been a brief informational update rather than an extensive deliberation. Without access to the full meeting transcript or additional documentation, the specific details of what types of trees were being replaced, the reasons for replacement, or any associated costs or timelines were not captured in the available meeting records.

This item represents routine municipal business related to urban forestry management and property maintenance at the designated East High Street location.

138 Ransom Avenue: Replace steps

The meeting included a discussion regarding the replacement of steps at 138 Ransom Avenue. This agenda item was listed as item 3 on the meeting agenda for February 15, 2023.

The discussion focused on the need to replace existing steps at the Ransom Avenue property. Based on the available information, this was treated as an informational item rather than requiring formal action by the board or committee.

No specific details were provided regarding the scope of the step replacement project, estimated costs, timeline for completion, or the current condition of the existing steps that necessitated replacement. The discussion appears to have been preliminary in nature, potentially serving to inform attendees about the upcoming work or to gather initial input on the project.

No formal vote or decision was recorded for this agenda item, consistent with its classification as an informational discussion. The outcome was noted as informational, suggesting this may have been an update on planned maintenance work or a notification to the governing body about necessary repairs.

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

340 Transylvania Park: Renovate structure

The meeting included a discussion regarding the renovation of a structure located at 340 Transylvania Park. This agenda item was presented for informational purposes to update attendees on the project status.

Based on the available meeting records, this item served as a discussion point about the planned renovations at the Transylvania Park property. The agenda designated this as item 4 for the February 15, 2023 meeting.

No specific transcript timestamps, detailed presentation materials, or speaker information were available in the meeting documentation for this agenda item. The discussion appears to have been informational in nature, providing updates on the renovation project rather than requiring formal action or voting by the governing body.

The outcome was recorded as informational, indicating that no formal decisions or resolutions were made regarding the 340 Transylvania Park renovation during this portion of the meeting. This suggests the item may have been included to keep meeting participants informed about the project's progress or to provide background information for future decision-making.

Without additional meeting materials or transcript details, the specific scope of renovations, timeline, budget considerations, or other project details discussed during this agenda item are not available in the public record for this meeting.

135 Forest Avenue: Re-roof structure

The meeting included a discussion regarding the re-roofing of the structure located at 135 Forest Avenue. This agenda item was listed as item number 5 on the meeting agenda.

The discussion focused on the proposed re-roofing project for the property at 135 Forest Avenue. However, specific details about the nature of the discussion, including the scope of the roofing work, project timeline, costs, or any technical specifications, were not captured in the available meeting documentation.

No specific speakers were identified as participating in this discussion, and no transcript timestamps were available to reference the exact timing of when this item was addressed during the meeting.

The agenda item was categorized as informational in nature, indicating that the discussion served to provide information to meeting participants rather than requiring a formal vote or decision. No specific outcome or action items were recorded as resulting from this discussion.

The limited documentation available does not provide insight into any concerns that may have been raised about the re-roofing project, the current condition of the existing roof structure, or any regulatory or permitting considerations that may have been discussed.

2950 Cadentown Road: Install fencing

The meeting included a discussion regarding the installation of fencing at 2950 Cadentown Road. This item was listed as agenda item 6 and was categorized as an informational discussion.

No specific transcript timestamps or detailed speaker information were available for this agenda item. The discussion focused on fencing installation plans for the property located at 2950 Cadentown Road, though the specific details of what was presented, any concerns raised by participants, or the scope of the proposed fencing project were not captured in the available meeting documentation.

The item concluded as informational, indicating that no formal action was taken during this discussion. The lack of detailed transcript information suggests this may have been a brief agenda item or preliminary discussion about the fencing installation project.

448 North Broadway: Renovate structure

The meeting included a discussion regarding the renovation of the structure located at 448 North Broadway. This item was listed as agenda item 7 and served as an informational discussion for the board.

No specific transcript timestamps or detailed speaker information were available for this agenda item. The discussion focused on renovation plans for the property at 448 North Broadway, though the specific details of the proposed renovations, project scope, timeline, or budget were not captured in the available meeting materials.

The item was categorized as informational, indicating that no formal action or vote was required at this time. The discussion likely provided background information or updates on the renovation project to keep board members informed of the project's status or upcoming considerations.

Without additional transcript details or supporting documentation, the specific nature of the renovations, any concerns raised by board members, or the current status of the project could not be determined from the available meeting materials.

153 Penmoken Park: Renovate structure

The meeting included a discussion regarding the renovation of the structure located at 153 Penmoken Park. This agenda item was presented for informational purposes to update attendees on the proposed renovation project.

Based on the available meeting records, this item served as a discussion point about the planned structural improvements at the Penmoken Park property. The agenda item was designated as item number 8 on the meeting schedule.

The discussion was categorized as informational, indicating that no formal action or vote was required at this time. The item appears to have been included to keep meeting participants informed about the ongoing planning or progress of the renovation project at this specific address.

No specific transcript timing information was available for this agenda item, and no key speakers were identified in the meeting documentation for this particular discussion point.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, suggesting that the renovation project at 153 Penmoken Park remains in the planning or early implementation phases, with further details and potential action items likely to be addressed in future meetings as the project develops.

501 West Short Street: Replace replacement windows

This agenda item involved a discussion regarding the replacement of windows at 501 West Short Street. The item was listed as agenda item 9 and was categorized as an informational discussion.

Based on the available meeting records, this item focused on plans to replace existing replacement windows at the property located at 501 West Short Street. However, the specific details of the discussion, including the rationale for the window replacement, the scope of work proposed, and any technical specifications, were not captured in the available documentation.

No key speakers were identified in the meeting records for this particular agenda item, and no transcript timestamps were available to reference specific portions of the discussion. The item was noted as informational in nature, suggesting that it may have been presented for the board's awareness rather than requiring immediate action or approval.

The outcome of this agenda item was recorded as informational, indicating that no formal vote or decision was required at this time. This suggests the discussion may have been preliminary in nature, potentially setting the stage for future consideration or action regarding the window replacement project at 501 West Short Street.

Without additional meeting documentation or transcript details, the specific concerns raised, technical requirements discussed, or timeline for the proposed window replacement work could not be determined from the available records.

501 West Short Street: Replace storm windows

The meeting included a discussion regarding the replacement of storm windows at 501 West Short Street. This item was listed as agenda item 10 and served as an informational discussion for the board.

Based on the available meeting records, this agenda item focused on the need to replace existing storm windows at the property located at 501 West Short Street. The discussion was categorized as informational, indicating that the item was presented for the board's awareness and consideration rather than requiring immediate action.

No specific speakers were identified in the meeting documentation for this particular agenda item, and no transcript timestamps were available to reference the exact timing of the discussion within the meeting proceedings.

The outcome of this agenda item was recorded as informational, suggesting that the board received details about the storm window replacement project but did not take formal action during this meeting. This type of discussion typically serves to inform board members about upcoming maintenance needs, project scope, or budget considerations related to the property improvement.

The storm window replacement at 501 West Short Street represents a maintenance item that likely requires further planning, cost analysis, or approval processes before implementation can proceed.