Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on September 20, 2023, at 101 East Maybe Street. The meeting addressed two primary agenda items, with the board taking a total of 8 votes throughout the proceedings.

The board heard 3 public comments during the session and considered multiple matters related to architectural review and historic preservation. The meeting resulted in mixed outcomes, with Certificate of Appropriateness Applications receiving approval while the 380 South Mill Street Project was tabled for future consideration. The board's deliberations encompassed various aspects of architectural compliance and community development standards within their jurisdiction.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included eight votes on Certificate of Appropriateness applications and one procedural motion, all conducted by voice vote.

Certificate of Appropriateness Approvals:

• 451 East Maxwell Street 45:00 - Motion by Brad to approve with conditions passed. The approval required that paving behind the middle historic structure not be continued to connect to the property line to 453 East Maxwell, and a final plan must be submitted prior to the COA being issued.

• 365 Transylvania Park 55:00 - Approved with standard two conditions. One member abstained from voting.

• 176 North Broadway 1:00:00 - Approved with standard two conditions.

• 182 North Broadway 1:05:00 - Approved with standard two conditions.

• 429 North Broadway 1:10:00 - Approved with standard two conditions.

• 332 Arcadia Park 1:15:00 - Approved with the condition that vinyl siding be changed to a guideline compatible material and the siding selection be submitted to staff for review.

Certificate of Appropriateness Denial:

• 453 East Maxwell Street 50:00 - The Certificate of Appropriateness application was disapproved.

Procedural Motion:

• 380 South Mill Street Continuance 2:30:00 - Motion passed to continue the case to the October 18 meeting.

All votes were conducted by voice vote with no recorded individual vote tallies. The specific members who made motions and seconds were not consistently recorded in the available data, except for Brad making the motion for 451 East Maxwell Street.

Public Comment

Three community members spoke during the public comment period, all expressing support for a Dudley Square project.

Eric Campbell 2:00:00 spoke first, expressing his support for the maintenance and enhancement of the Dudley Square building. Campbell highlighted the positive impact the project would have on the surrounding neighborhood.

Jean Scott 2:05:00 followed with her support for the project, emphasizing that the improvements would enhance the neighborhood. Scott characterized the building as an anchor for the community, underscoring its importance to the local area.

Joanne Hilliard 2:10:00 concluded the public comment period by echoing the previous speakers' sentiments. Hilliard voiced her support for the project and specifically praised the building owner's vision for the property.

All three speakers were aligned in their support for the Dudley Square project, with no opposition or concerns raised during the public comment period. The comments focused on the project's potential benefits to the neighborhood and the building's role as a community anchor.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated heated discussion among participants.

380 South Mill Street Project

The proposed project at 380 South Mill Street became the subject of intense debate during the meeting. The primary source of contention centered on concerns about the potential impact of a proposed deck on the property's historic trees and the structural integrity of the existing building.

Multiple participants raised objections to aspects of the deck proposal, expressing worry that the construction could damage or compromise the historic trees on the site. Additional concerns were voiced regarding how the proposed deck might affect the building's overall integrity and historical character.

The discussion became sufficiently heated that the body was unable to reach a resolution during the meeting. Rather than forcing a decision amid the contentious atmosphere, participants agreed to continue the discussion at a future meeting date.

This continuation allows for additional time to address the various concerns raised about the project's impact on both the natural and built historic elements of the property. The decision to postpone suggests recognition that the issues raised require more thorough consideration before moving forward with any approval or denial of the proposed deck construction.

The 380 South Mill Street project represents the only item that generated significant controversy during this meeting, highlighting the importance of balancing development proposals with historic preservation concerns in the community.

Certificate of Appropriateness Applications

0:00

The board reviewed several Certificate of Appropriateness applications for renovations and additions within historic districts during this agenda item.

Key participants in the discussion included Amelia, Mr. Dickinson, and Jimmy Hamilton, who presented details about various proposed projects requiring historic preservation approval.

The applications under consideration involved renovations and additions to properties located in designated historic districts, requiring board review to ensure compliance with historic preservation standards and guidelines. The discussion focused on evaluating whether the proposed changes would be appropriate for the historic character of the affected areas.

Following their review and discussion of the submitted applications, the board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness requests. The approval indicates that the proposed renovations and additions met the necessary criteria for maintaining the historic integrity of the districts while allowing property owners to proceed with their planned improvements.

The outcome allows the applicants to move forward with their renovation and addition projects in accordance with the approved plans and historic preservation requirements.

380 South Mill Street Project

1:30:00

The Planning Commission discussed a proposed addition and deck project at 380 South Mill Street during agenda item 2. The discussion centered on the potential impact of the proposed construction on existing historic trees and the building itself.

Key speakers included Matt Burton and Heather Wilson, who presented details about the project and addressed concerns raised by commissioners. The proposed work involves adding new construction to the existing structure along with deck improvements at the South Mill Street property.

The primary focus of the discussion was the preservation of historic trees on the property and how the proposed addition and deck construction would affect these significant landscape features. Commissioners also examined the potential impact on the historic character of the building itself.

After reviewing the project details and considering the various concerns about tree preservation and building impacts, the Planning Commission decided to table the item rather than move forward with a decision at this meeting. This outcome suggests that additional information, revisions, or further review may be needed before the commission can make a final determination on the 380 South Mill Street project.

The tabling of this agenda item indicates that the commission requires more time to evaluate the balance between the proposed improvements and the preservation of the property's historic elements, particularly the significant trees that contribute to the site's character.