Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on October 18, 2023, at 101 East Vine Street, Room 220, with Susan Hill presiding as the meeting officer. The board addressed nine agenda items during the session, all of which involved architectural review applications for various construction and modification projects throughout the community. The meeting resulted in nine motions and votes, with all proposed projects receiving approval from the board. No public comments were recorded during the proceedings, indicating the session focused primarily on board deliberations and decision-making regarding the submitted architectural applications.

Attendance

Present: • Susan Hill

Absent: • Chair

Late: • None

The meeting proceeded with Susan Hill in attendance, while the Chair was absent from the October 18, 2023 session.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting resulted in nine motions, all of which passed by voice vote. All votes were unanimous with no recorded opposition or abstentions.

Certificate of Appropriateness Approvals:

• 11660353-AA - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 353 North Limestone with the condition to provide final door and window details and specifications prior to certificate issuance 0:00

• 17310426-L - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 426 West Sixth Street with standard two conditions 0:00

• 17310467-D - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 467 West Sixth Street with standard two conditions 0:00

• 18800427-F - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 427 West Third Street with four conditions, including requirements to provide final window and door details, revise stucco and brick pattern, and meet standard two conditions 0:00

• 16370121 - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 121 Rosemont Garden with standard two conditions 0:00

• 13020320-J - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 141 Wabash Drive with standard two conditions 0:00

• 13150353-V - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 353 South Mill Street with standard two conditions 0:00

• 13150380-BB - Approved certificate of appropriateness for 380 South Mill Street with conditions to eliminate roof balustrade, submit final roof details, and other specified conditions 0:00

Staff Authorization:

• Approved mandate to staff for approval of certain construction and site elements, including construction of sheds no greater than 200 square feet, construction of handicap ramps, and refreshing of gravel 0:00

All motions were conducted by voice vote with no individual vote tallies recorded. The names of members making motions and seconds were not documented in the available records.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one primary contested item that generated significant discussion among board members.

380 South Mill Street: Construct Addition and Deck

The proposal to construct an addition and deck at 380 South Mill Street sparked a heated discussion among the review board. The disagreement centered on specific design elements that raised concerns about historical compatibility and adherence to preservation guidelines.

The primary points of contention focused on two architectural features: the roof balustrade design and the window muntin configuration. Board members engaged in detailed deliberations about whether these elements would be appropriate for the historic character of the property and surrounding area.

Rather than rejecting the proposal outright, the board worked through the concerns by imposing specific conditions on the approval. These conditions were designed to ensure that the final construction would meet historic preservation standards and maintain compatibility with existing historic guidelines for the area.

The discussion demonstrates the board's commitment to balancing property owners' development needs with historic preservation requirements. By establishing clear conditions rather than denying the application, the board provided a path forward that addressed their concerns while allowing the project to proceed with appropriate modifications.

The outcome represents a compromise approach typical of historic preservation review processes, where projects are often approved with conditions that address specific design concerns rather than being rejected entirely.

353 North Limestone: Construct garage

0:00

The board reviewed an application for a certificate of appropriateness to construct a garage at 353 North Limestone. Tom Wilms served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item.

Staff presented their analysis of the proposed garage construction and recommended approval of the application, subject to specific conditions. The discussion focused on the appropriateness of the proposed structure within the context of the surrounding area and applicable design guidelines.

The board ultimately approved the application for the garage construction at 353 North Limestone, accepting the staff's recommendation along with the proposed conditions.

426 West Sixth Street: Change opening and enlarge the rear deck

0:00

The board reviewed an application for a certificate of appropriateness to change an opening and enlarge the rear deck at 426 West Sixth Street.

The applicant was not present at the meeting but had previously agreed to the recommendations outlined in the staff report. No speakers addressed the board regarding this application during the public discussion period.

The board proceeded to consider the proposal based on the staff analysis and recommendations provided in advance of the meeting. The application involved modifications to an existing rear deck structure, including changes to openings and an enlargement of the deck area.

The board approved the certificate of appropriateness for the proposed changes to the rear deck at 426 West Sixth Street.

467 West Sixth Street: Demolish garage

0:00

The board reviewed agenda item 3, an application for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish a garage located at 467 West Sixth Street.

The applicant was not present at the meeting, though the board's representative confirmed receipt of the application materials. No detailed presentation was made regarding the proposed demolition, and no specific concerns or objections were raised during the discussion.

The board approved the certificate of appropriateness for the garage demolition at 467 West Sixth Street.

427 West Third Street: Construct two story elevator addition

0:00

The board reviewed an application for a certificate of appropriateness to construct a two-story elevator addition at 427 West Third Street. Darren Taylor served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the board.

Staff recommended approval of the proposed elevator addition, subject to four specific conditions that were outlined during the presentation. The discussion focused on the appropriateness of the proposed construction within the context of the existing structure and surrounding area.

The board ultimately approved the application for the two-story elevator addition at 427 West Third Street, accepting the staff's recommendation along with the four conditions that were part of the approval.

121 Rosemont Garden: Demolish garage, construct shed

0:00

The board reviewed an application for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish an existing garage and construct a new shed at 121 Rosemont Garden. Roger Duffy served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

Staff presented their recommendation for approval of the proposed project. The application involved removing the current garage structure on the property and replacing it with a new shed.

The board approved the certificate of appropriateness for 121 Rosemont Garden, allowing the property owner to proceed with demolishing the garage and constructing the proposed shed as outlined in the application materials.

141 Wabash Drive: Change openings and extend driving aisle/parking

0:00

The board reviewed agenda item 6, an application for a certificate of appropriateness to change openings and extend the driving aisle and parking at 141 Wabash Drive.

Lindsey Music presented the application to the board. Staff had reviewed the proposed modifications and recommended approval of the certificate of appropriateness.

The application involved alterations to the existing openings at the property as well as extending the driving aisle and parking areas. The specific details of the proposed changes and their impact on the property's appearance and functionality were discussed during the presentation.

Following the staff presentation and board discussion, the application was approved. The certificate of appropriateness will allow the property owner to proceed with the proposed changes to the openings and the extension of the driving aisle and parking facilities at 141 Wabash Drive.

353 South Mill Street: Construct garage

0:00

The board reviewed agenda item 7, an application for a certificate of appropriateness to construct a garage at 353 South Mill Street. Kelly Bartley served as the key speaker for this discussion.

Staff presented their recommendation to approve the garage construction project with conditions. The application sought permission to build a new garage structure on the property, which required review for compliance with historic district guidelines and appropriateness standards.

During the discussion, the board examined the proposed garage design and its compatibility with the existing property and surrounding historic district character. The staff analysis determined that the construction plans met the necessary criteria for approval, though specific conditions were recommended to ensure the project's appropriateness.

The board ultimately approved the certificate of appropriateness for the garage construction at 353 South Mill Street, accepting the staff's recommendation to move forward with the project subject to the outlined conditions. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with building the garage according to the reviewed plans and any stipulated requirements.

380 South Mill Street: Construct addition and deck

0:00

The board reviewed agenda item 8, an application for a certificate of appropriateness to construct an addition and deck at 380 South Mill Street.

Barron Gibson served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the proposal to the board. The staff had reviewed the application and provided a recommendation for approval, contingent upon certain conditions being met.

The board discussed the merits of the proposed construction project, examining how the addition and deck would impact the property and surrounding area. While the specific details of the discussion are not available in the provided materials, the staff's preliminary review resulted in a favorable recommendation with attached conditions.

Following their deliberation, the board approved the certificate of appropriateness for the construction of the addition and deck at 380 South Mill Street. The approval was granted subject to the conditions outlined in the staff recommendation.

Mandate to staff for approval of certain construction and site elements

0:00

The board approved a resolution mandating staff to approve certain construction and site elements without requiring full board review. This streamlined approval process covers specific types of minor construction projects and site improvements.

Under the new mandate, staff will have the authority to approve:

• Sheds no greater than 200 square feet
• Handicap ramps
• Refreshing of gravel surfaces

The resolution was designed to expedite the approval process for routine construction and maintenance items that do not require extensive board oversight. By delegating approval authority for these specific elements to staff, the board aims to reduce administrative delays while maintaining appropriate oversight for larger or more complex projects.

The measure passed without recorded opposition, indicating board consensus on the need for this administrative efficiency measure. The resolution establishes clear parameters for staff approval authority while ensuring that larger construction projects will continue to require full board review and approval.

This delegation of authority is expected to speed up routine maintenance and small construction projects, particularly those related to accessibility improvements such as handicap ramps and basic storage structures like small sheds.