Commissioners at the June 6 Historic District Commission meeting labored long over two particular applications on their agenda – one involving polite opposition to an application by several neighbors, the other involving an applicant who had already disobeyed guidelines.
Bart Bauer applied to construct a single-family residence at 1 German Alley on the spot where his shed once stood. He had previously been approved to turn the shed into a studio, but said as he got into the project he found the piers were rotten and there were termites, so he conceived of an 18×44-ft. two-story residence instead, and demolished the shed but saved a couple trees.
Chair Steve Holifield informed Bauer the demolition had not been approved, and guidelines state in a case like this, the commission could decide that no Certificate of Appropriateness would be considered for that property for five years unless the original structure were faithfully reconstructed. Commissioner Dee Bright was particularly upset Bauer had known to come before them for the studio but failed to do so for the demolition.
Bauer explained several problems he had found with his shed but acknowledged he had not thought of applying to the commission for the demolition. “It’s my fault,” he said. “It got away from me.”
Bright told Bauer she was having a hard time with his application because he had not applied for the demolition and had been a no-show at the site visit.
Holifield called for a vote, and Bright and commissioner Greg Moon voted No for a 2-2 vote, so the application was denied.
Then City Economic Development Coordinator Glenna Booth asked commissioners if there were a way Bauer could fix this. Bright held her position at first, but commissioner Mark Ingram pointed out the shed had not been a contributing structure, and it was gone. After further discussion, Bright agreed to change her vote making the new total 3-1, Moon voting No. Holifield voted Yes for the fourth deciding vote, so the application was approved.
Architectural plan OK’d, tree cutting moves to Planning
Joel Walker appeared at the May 22 Planning Commission with his application to construct a duplex and single-family residence on family property on Fuller Street. His plan identified 61 trees for possible removal, and the Planning Commission had referred him back to HDC for approval of his design before they would approve a permit for cutting up to 61 trees.
Four nearby neighbors spoke in opposition to Walker’s plan at the HDC meeting. One speaker said the design was not consistent with the neighborhood, another did not want to see so many trees cut, and Chris Fischer called attention to the lack of a plan for controlling rainwater runoff.
Regarding design, Walker pointed out it is similar to several houses on nearby Linwood, and his architect kept rooflines low in consideration of the view of others. Bright acknowledged the structures would not tower over the older homes in front of them.
Fischer pointed out, however, there had been no support voiced by nearby neighbors, and Walker had no provisions in place for erosion control.
Holifield reminded commissioners their task at hand was to consider the design only, and Planning would consider factors related to the tree cut.
Vote to approve the concept was 4-0.
In other business, the application to remove a deteriorated chimney at 104 Wall was modified to allow the applicant to remove the chimney so the roof could be repaired but the chimney must be reconstructed in its original configuration because it is a prominent feature of a contributing structure.
These other applications were approved:
- 38 Prospect/Ellis Grade – repair wall
- 32 Vaughn – new fence
- 10 Angus – new construction: single family residence
- 25 Cliff – replace foundation siding.
Commissioners approved the only item on the Consent Agenda:
- 119 N. Main – new sign.
The Consent Agenda items are Level I applications that the City Preservation Officer believes
to be in accordance with the design guidelines.
Holifield presented these Administrative Approvals, which are applications for repair
or work involving no changes in materials but which include changes in roofing and paint colors:
- 7 Center – re-roof
- 11 Eureka – new paint colors
- 49 Mountain – repair porch floor & railing
- 8 Summit – new paint colors
- 104 Wall – replace rotten siding
- 85 S. Main – re-roof, new color
- 153 W. Van Buren – re-roof
- 155 W. Van Buren – re-roof
- 38 Emporia – re-roof
- 3 Douglas – re-roof
- 180 Spring – general maintenance and repair, repaint as needed
- 85 S. Main – new paint colors
- 348 Dairy Hollow Rd –re-roof
- 51 Steele – re-roof
- 1 Prospect – re-roof
- 4 Douglas – replace rear balcony and supports, exterior window trim, upper rail on back deck
- 263 Spring – re-paint
- 130 Spring – repair rotten wood on front, new custom drain spout
- 19 Pine – replace front porch
Commissioners voted to cancel the July 18 meeting because most of them will be at an out-of-town training.
Holifield announced he would be speaking at the Board of Realtors meeting on June 19 to find ways they can work together better.
Next meeting will be Wednesday, June 20, at 6 p.m.