Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on August 21, 2024, in Room 220 with the Chair presiding. The meeting focused exclusively on reviewing Certificate of Appropriateness applications for various properties throughout the city. The board considered 10 agenda items, all of which were Certificate of Appropriateness requests for different residential addresses. All 10 applications were approved by the board, with a total of 10 votes taken during the session. No public comments were recorded during this meeting, indicating a streamlined review process for the architectural proposals under consideration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on August 21, 2024:

• Paul Lee
• Maynard Leon
• Robin Campbell
• John Todd Sweitzer
• William Olney

No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included votes on ten Certificate of Appropriateness applications, with nine approvals and one failure.

Approved Applications:

The Chair motioned to approve the following applications, all of which passed by voice vote:

• 00980371-f - Certificate of Appropriateness for 371 Aylesford Place passed with the condition that rear deck skirting details be submitted to staff for review and approval prior to Certificate of Land Use Authorization issuance.

• 00980375-c - Certificate of Appropriateness for 375 Aylesford Place passed with standard two conditions.

• 14600319 - Certificate of Appropriateness for 319 Park Avenue passed with standard two conditions.

• 15410008-e - Certificate of Appropriateness for 8 Preston Court passed with standard two conditions.

• 16780624-g - Certificate of Appropriateness for 524 Sayre Avenue passed with standard two conditions.

• 18790128-h - Certificate of Appropriateness for 128 East Third Street passed with standard two conditions.

• 00510518-d - Certificate of Appropriateness for 518 Arcadia Park passed with standard two conditions plus an additional condition regarding tree and post placement.

• 17020133-j - Certificate of Appropriateness for 133 Shawnee Place passed with standard two conditions.

• 13150380-bb - Certificate of Appropriateness for 380 South Mill Street passed with standard two conditions.

Failed Application:

• 00710210-l - Certificate of Appropriateness for 210 South Ashland Avenue failed by voice vote, with one abstention recorded.

All votes were conducted by voice vote rather than roll call, so individual member voting records were not documented. The specific vote counts and individual member positions were not recorded in the available data, and transcript timestamps were not available for these voting segments.

Contested Items

The board faced one contested item during the August 21, 2024 meeting that resulted in a split vote among members.

Removal of chimney at 210 South Ashland Avenue

The primary point of contention centered on a proposal to remove a chimney at 210 South Ashland Avenue. Board members were divided between two competing considerations: preserving the architectural significance of the chimney versus addressing practical construction challenges that made its retention difficult.

Some board members argued for maintaining the chimney due to its historical and architectural value to the property. Others supported the removal request, citing construction-related obstacles that would make preservation impractical or cost-prohibitive.

The disagreement resulted in a split vote, though the specific vote tally and individual board member positions were not detailed in the available meeting materials. The final outcome of this contested item was not clearly indicated in the extracted data.

This chimney removal request represents a common challenge faced by historic preservation boards, where the desire to maintain architectural integrity must be balanced against practical considerations such as structural safety, construction feasibility, and economic factors.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 371 Aylesford Place

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 371 Aylesford Place involving the rebuilding of the front porch and construction of a 1 1/2 story addition to the property.

Paul Lee served as the key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The application centered on two main components: reconstructing the existing front porch and adding a new 1 1/2 story addition to the structure.

The board examined the proposed modifications to determine their appropriateness for the historic character and architectural integrity of the property and surrounding area. The discussion focused on how the planned porch reconstruction and addition would impact the visual appearance and historical significance of the building.

Following their review and deliberation, the board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for 371 Aylesford Place. This approval allows the property owner to proceed with both the front porch rebuilding project and the construction of the 1 1/2 story addition as presented in the application.

The approval indicates that the board found the proposed changes to be compatible with the historic character of the property and consistent with preservation standards for the area.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 375 Aylesford Place

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 375 Aylesford Place, focusing on a proposed rear addition to the property. Paul Lee served as the key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item.

The application centered on plans to construct a rear addition to the existing structure at 375 Aylesford Place. The board examined the proposed construction details and assessed whether the addition would comply with applicable design standards and preservation guidelines.

During the review process, the board evaluated the architectural compatibility of the proposed rear addition with the existing building and surrounding neighborhood character. The discussion included consideration of the addition's design elements, materials, and overall impact on the property's historic or aesthetic significance.

Following their deliberation, the board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for the rear addition project at 375 Aylesford Place. This approval allows the property owner to proceed with the construction of the rear addition as presented in their application.

The approval indicates that the board found the proposed rear addition to be in compliance with relevant design guidelines and determined that the construction would not negatively impact the character of the property or surrounding area.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 319 Park Avenue

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness at 319 Park Avenue involving the demolition of an existing shed and construction of a new wood privacy fence.

Maynard Leon served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the board for consideration. The application requested permission to remove the current shed structure on the property and replace it with a wood privacy fence installation.

Following the presentation and board discussion of the proposed changes to the property, the Certificate of Appropriateness for 319 Park Avenue was approved. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with demolishing the shed and constructing the wood privacy fence as outlined in their application.

The specific details of the fence design, materials, height, or placement were not detailed in the available meeting records. Similarly, the condition or reasons for demolishing the existing shed were not specified in the documentation.

This approval represents the board's determination that the proposed modifications are appropriate for the property and consistent with applicable guidelines and standards for the area.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 8 Preston Court

The board reviewed agenda item 4, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 8 Preston Court. The proposal involved demolishing existing deck and stairs and constructing new stairs and porch at the property.

Maynard Leon served as the key speaker presenting information about this application to the board. The discussion centered on the planned modifications to the exterior structure of the residence, specifically the removal of current deck and stair features and their replacement with new stair and porch construction.

Following the presentation and board discussion of the proposed changes, the Certificate of Appropriateness application for 8 Preston Court was approved. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with demolishing the existing deck and stairs and constructing the new stairs and porch as outlined in their application.

The board's approval indicates that the proposed exterior modifications were found to be appropriate and in compliance with applicable design standards and regulations for the area.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 524 Sayre Avenue

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 524 Sayre Avenue involving the installation of a new tiered patio with seating walls. Robin Campbell served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the board.

The application centered on proposed exterior modifications to the property that would create a multi-level patio structure incorporating integrated seating walls. As this work would alter the visible exterior appearance of the property, it required board approval through the Certificate of Appropriateness process.

During the discussion, the board evaluated the proposed patio design and seating wall configuration to ensure compliance with local design standards and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood character. The tiered design would create different elevation levels within the patio space, with the seating walls serving both functional and aesthetic purposes.

Following their review and discussion of the application materials and design specifications, the board voted to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for 524 Sayre Avenue. This approval allows the property owner to proceed with the installation of the new tiered patio and seating walls as proposed in their application.

The approved project will enable the creation of an enhanced outdoor living space at the property while maintaining consistency with local architectural and design guidelines that govern exterior modifications in the area.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 128 East Third Street

The board reviewed agenda item 6, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 128 East Third Street. The proposal involved the installation of front yard fencing at the property.

During the discussion, board members examined the details of the proposed fencing project. The application materials and plans were presented for consideration, though specific details about the fence design, materials, or dimensions were not detailed in the available records.

The board conducted their review in accordance with applicable historic preservation guidelines and local ordinances governing exterior modifications to properties within their jurisdiction. As part of the standard process, the proposed changes would have been evaluated for their compatibility with the historic character of the area and compliance with established design standards.

Following their deliberation, the board voted to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the front yard fencing installation at 128 East Third Street. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the proposed fencing project as submitted in their application.

The decision represents the board's determination that the proposed front yard fencing meets the necessary criteria for historic preservation compliance and is appropriate for the property and surrounding neighborhood context.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 518 Arcadia Park

The board reviewed agenda item 7, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 518 Arcadia Park involving the construction of a deck. William Olney served as the key speaker during the discussion of this application.

The board examined the proposed deck construction project, with particular attention paid to specific placement requirements. During their deliberations, the board established conditions related to both tree preservation and post positioning as part of the approval process.

The discussion focused on ensuring that the proposed deck construction would comply with appropriate standards while addressing environmental and structural considerations. The board's conditions regarding tree and post placement indicate their attention to both the preservation of existing landscaping elements and proper structural implementation of the deck project.

Following their review and discussion of the application details, the board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for 518 Arcadia Park. The approval came with the specified conditions concerning tree and post placement that were discussed during the meeting.

This approval allows the property owner to proceed with the deck construction project, provided they adhere to the conditions established by the board regarding the placement of structural elements and the protection of existing trees on the property.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 133 Shawnee Place

The board reviewed agenda item 8, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 133 Shawnee Place. The proposed work involved removing an existing stoop and stairs from the property.

The application was presented to the board for consideration, though specific details about the presentation and the identity of the applicant were not clearly documented in the available materials. The discussion focused on the proposed removal of the stoop and stairs structure.

Following their review and discussion of the application, the board voted to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for 133 Shawnee Place. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the removal of the stoop and stairs as requested in their application.

No specific concerns or objections were noted in the available documentation regarding this application. The approval indicates the board found the proposed work to be appropriate for the property and consistent with applicable guidelines.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 380 South Mill Street

The board reviewed agenda item 9, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 380 South Mill Street. The request involved design changes to remove a planned South Mill deck expansion and install windows instead.

The application represented a modification to previously approved plans for the property. Rather than proceeding with the originally proposed deck expansion on the South Mill Street side of the building, the applicant sought approval to eliminate this feature and install windows in its place.

The board discussed the proposed changes during their review of the application. The modification from a deck expansion to window installation represented a significant alteration to the building's street-facing facade and required board approval under the Certificate of Appropriateness process.

Following their discussion, the board approved the application. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the revised design that removes the South Mill deck expansion and incorporates window installation as proposed.

The Certificate of Appropriateness approval ensures that the modified design meets the community's standards for architectural compatibility and historic preservation requirements for the South Mill Street location.

Certificate of Appropriateness for 210 South Ashland Avenue

The board reviewed an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 210 South Ashland Avenue, specifically addressing the removal of a chimney at the property. The application had previously been denied but was brought back before the board for reconsideration.

Key speakers during the discussion included John Todd Sweitzer and Scott Drier, who presented information regarding the construction challenges that necessitated the chimney removal. The applicants demonstrated that structural or construction issues made preserving the chimney impractical or unsafe.

The board's initial denial was reconsidered in light of the construction difficulties presented by the applicants. After reviewing the new information about the challenges involved in maintaining the existing chimney structure, the board determined that removal was the most appropriate course of action for the property.

Following discussion of the construction constraints and safety considerations, the board voted to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the chimney removal at 210 South Ashland Avenue. This approval allows the property owner to proceed with the removal work as requested in their application.

The decision reflects the board's consideration of both historic preservation goals and practical construction realities when evaluating applications for alterations to properties within their jurisdiction.