The Historic District Commission will require the removal of a section of porch at 22 Pine St., after the repaired porch exceeded the approved dimensions.
After a complaint, Building Inspector Bobby Ray cited the project for adding an additional two feet to the front of the porch. Owner Bill Ott and contractor Elizabeth Wicker asked the HDC to allow the additional porch area. Ott explained that a city truck had damaged his property earlier this year, but the insurance gave him the opportunity to spend some money on the exterior. He said the extra porch area did not infringe on the sidewalk. “I hope you will see it as a bigger asset to the neighborhood,” he said.
Those living nearby agreed. Jay Wilks, who lives next door, said he was in his front yard when the city truck lost control. Since then, he said, he and other neighbors have watched the repairs and found nothing wrong. Kevin Ruehle, another neighbor, described himself as a retired architect with experience in historical preservation. He said the changes to the porch make the property safer, without sacrificing scale and proportion.
City Historic Preservation Officer Kylee Hevrdejs said the item had originally been placed on a consent agenda, because the repairs were relatively straightforward. Wicker apologized for the change in dimensions, and said she was approximating and working from pictures. She explained methods chosen in the repairs, including relocating the porch steps from the front to the side. The complaint also singled out a limestone wall under-skirting the porch, and Wicker said a similar rock wall had been in place but had toppled.
Commissioner Marty Cogan returned several times to the subject of the original steps, although the July 7 HDC approval had covered that part of the project. The approved porch dimensions extended over the original steps, which had deteriorated.
Ott explained that installation of sidewalks and gutters had funneled water against the steps, which rotted repeatedly. The relocated steps are closer to the existing front door, and safer, he said. As Cogan persisted with objections to moving the steps, Chair Dee Bright intervened to remind her that issue had been decided. Cogan did not attend that July 7 meeting.
Only one commissioner, Kyle Palmer, voted in Ott’s favor. In response to a question about the next steps to follow, Hevrdejs said Ott can appeal the decision to circuit court or work with Ray to decide how to correct it.
In other business
- Commissioners voted to stop reading aloud the list of administrative approvals. They noted that items on the consent agenda would still be available for review, but applicants receiving administrative approval can proceed with their projects immediately. The list of administrative approvals will still appear on the agenda, and on the HDC website.
- After a question from the table about six-month extensions, Hevrdejs suggested placing that item on the agenda for the next meeting. A review of guidelines should also address that topic specifically. She reminded commissioners that a COA expires after a year, automatically limiting the number of extensions available.
- The HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20. Level III applications were due Oct. 7, and the deadline for other levels was Oct. 13.