ON TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2008, THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW HELD A MEETING IN THE 2ND FLOOR COURTROOM OF THE WOODFORD COUNTY COURTHOUSE TO HEAR THE FOLLOWING APPEALS:

 

BOAR#04-003-2008-Spectrum Properties, Inc.- 163-167 Simmons Street - OHR-2 Zoning District - Applicant is seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to construct a duplex.

 

BOAR#04-004-2008-A Mile and a Quarter, LLC, 107 West Main Street, Midway - OHB-2 Zoning District - Applicant is seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to : (a) Construct a brick skirt around building base; (b) construct front porch and entry; (c) use 30 year dimensional shingles on front porch roof (instead of copper) because of lack of visibility from street level; (d) do not want to construct previously approved cupola.

 

 

The meeting opened at 5:00 P.M. with those being in attendance as follows:

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Larry Leach, Erin Shoot, Jean Lawson, Deborah Shockley

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:   Kevin Locke

 

CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Paul W. Noel, Jr., Building & Zoning Inspector and Petra T. Dotson, Recording Clerk.

 

MINUTES:         Previous meeting minutes not reviewed.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

PUBLIC MEETING:                      BOAR#04-003-2008-Spectrum Properties, Inc.- 163-167 Simmons Street - OHR-2 Zoning District - Applicant is seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to construct a duplex.

 

Deborah Shockley called the meeting to order.  Since applicant was not present members reviewed the second case (as follows). 

 

 

PUBLIC MEETING:                      BOAR#04-004-2008-A Mile and a Quarter, LLC, 107 West Main Street, Midway - OHB-2 Zoning District - Applicant is seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to : (a) Construct a brick skirt around building base; (b) construct front porch and entry; (c) use 30 year dimensional shingles on front porch roof (instead of copper) because of lack of visibility from street level; (d) do not want to construct previously approved cupola.

 

The applicant gave overview of the case.  The applicant indicated he has four requests.  They are as follows:

 

                                                1-Change skirt to brick- initially it was decided to use faux stone however   

                                                the decision has changed to using brick. 

 

                                                2-Construct front porch and entry as shown on front and side elevations (submitted at hearing).  Initially, applicant stated he was going to put on a slab but moved to a crawl space which he talked about with Paul Noel previously.  The elevation of front changed where applicant noted he wanted to take the steps entering the porch from both sides because he wanted to strike a balance.  The initial front elevation didn’t allow for the railing on front to match the one on the rear.  That is the reason for the change on the skirt to brick and move steps to side. 

 

                                                3-Change of copper roof of front porch to 30 year dimensional in order to match the rest of the roof.

 

                                                4-Opted not to construct the cupola.

 

Paul Noel addressed the cupola issue.  He stated the structure has gotten so tall, almost as tall as the city hall however it has a 5 foot grade difference.  He noted the lack of cupola would not be an issue.  Jean Lawson stated it would be good not to have it.

 

Erin Shoot stated she liked the idea of changing the roof to copper as it gives more consistency.  She stated she would be worried mixing the different materials together and its appearance.  Paul Noel noted the sidewalk is 5 feet above the street.  Applicant stated that was not initially factored in until it was actually there.

 

Deborah Shockley indicated that doing the approach from both sides is similar to a couple of houses on that block that do go up to the porch with railings from the side.  She also noted the brick is a better choice then the faux stone.  The brick would be a nicer tie in to city hall. 

 

Larry Leach indicated he had driven by the location last week and he thought it looks good. He noted he does not have an issue with any of changes being requested; however he did ask about the landscaping. Larry wanted to know if Dave Leonard has been involved and was the system installed to help keep the tree healthy?  Applicant replied that issue would come in to play when he gets in to the retention wall and the landscaping plan.  He noted he has not done the landscape plan because he wanted to finish the building first since he won’t know what to do landscaping wise until the building is actually done.  As far as saving the tree, Mr. Leonard made some suggestions that they have complied with and until they do something with the retention wall further changes will not need to be made. The applicant supplied a letter from Mr. Leonard which had some suggestions as to some types of trees to be used.  Applicant confirmed he has been communicating with the landscaper.

 

Erin Shoot asked a question on the front elevation.  On the old drawing there is an arched top on the side elevation it is curved.  Erin wanted to know if that was an intentional change?  The applicant stated it was an intentional change and apologized for not being listed on the application.  Deborah Shockley  stated the fascia board will be straight in lieu of arched top. 

 

A single brick was presented at hearing to show what brick is to be used.  Applicant noted that the brick would be painted.  Jean Lawson stated that she was not aware the brick would be painted.  Deborah Shockley noted it was a textured brick that is going to be painted.  Jean wanted to know why it was going to be painted.  Applicant noted that a hardy board on the building is going to be put on which is Keenland green and he didn’t believe the raw brick against it would look attractive.  Jean noted color is usually not covered at meetings.  She further noted that the review board addresses whether or not bricks should be painted.  Deborah Shockley noted that the board does if the bricks are existing and if it has not been painted before the board would not recommend painting.  Jean Lawson stated it seems like it might be difficult to keep clean. Paul Noel asked what color the bricks would be painted.  Jean Lawson noted that when they were going to use the faux stone they would not need to be painted because they thought the stone would have been more complimentary.  Larry Leach indicated the board is not allowed to talk about color.  Jean Lawson stated that the board needs to address painting of the brick not the color.  Deborah Shockley states there was a white house, two up from city hall that has brick painted.  Paul Noel noted there is another house  where the bricks were painted. 

 

Jean Lawson stated her concern is that the board does not want something that pretends to look old and the board likes new materials to be shown.  Jean Lawson stated the board would prefer you don’t paint the brick but that the board doesn’t care what color the brick is.  Deborah Shockley stated there is a precedent on the street to have painted brick.  She asked the applicant if it could be one of those things where you may change your mind once the bricks are up or are you set on painting the bricks?  The applicant stated he is not set on anything and is set on following the guidelines.  He stated that if the board prefers the bricks are put up and then color is to be considered he believes we are getting in to a subjective issue at that point.

 

Deborah Shockley stated that if it was an existing building and had never been painted the board would likely not agree to that.  As far as it being new, Deborah stated she does not have a problem with it being painted.  The applicant stated it is not his intent to make the building appear to be old. The intention is to make the building aesthetically appealing.  Erin Shoot stated the trend in preservation is to rebuild with natural materials but since this is not the case she would prefer to see the natural materials but it does turn in to a subjective issue.  Her concern is that the paint may look worse, depending on the color.  She further stated anytime you use a natural material against color it is going to have a tendency to be more aesthetically pleasing than applied color.  The applicant stated the shutters and windows are wood and they would use brick red with a crème window. His concern is the difference between the brick red on the shutters and the actual brick.  Paul Noel asked if the brick red was going to come out like a dark burgundy.  The applicant said it will be similar to the old city hall.  Deborah Shockley asked if the applicant was playing off the old city hall.  The applicant noted they picked those colors and it just happened to be like the old city hall. 

 

Erin Shoot, Jean Lawson and Deborah Shockley recommended to evaluate the bricks and the

color after it is up.  The applicant agreed.  Paul stated you can’t judge a brick wall by just one brick and

that on the big jobs that are brick, a sample will be built first to see how it looks.  Noel confirmed that as

he understands it , the choice is the applicants once the bricks up.  There would be no need to have a

hearing on this issue. 

 

Larry Leach complimented Midway and its building.

 

Paul Noel asked if all issues were covered.  Jean Lawson stated yes but we would need to add the porch

fascia. 

 

Jean Lawson motioned to approve all requests with the opening that the bricks may be unpainted after

they are put up.  She noted request #2, to construct front porch and entry, covers the porch fascia they

discussed earlier. 

 

Larry seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0 in favor.

 

The members reviewed BOAR# 04-003-2008 without the presence of the applicant.  Deborah Shockley

explained this was for a second duplex and the first was previously approved.  Since this is a previously

approved application, Deborah wanted to know if anybody had a problem with approving without the

applicant’s presence?  Deborah stated this has been done in the past, years back.  Larry Leach stated

he has already constructed the first duplex.  Paul Noel stated the chimneys are gone as per request.  Paul obtained the construction file for review.  Erin Shoot wanted to know if the plans were old elevations. Paul stated they were the same as the previous and that the house does not face Simmons.  Erin Shoot asked if the duplex and the garage were separate?? Deborah confirmed that it was.  Jean Lawson wanted to know if the arts and crafts windows were used??  Deborah noted that since there are too many questions we should just re-hear the case for next meeting.  Deborah confirmed that those windows are not on these duplexes. 

 

Paul Noel came in with construction file and noted that the previous building was approved in Sept. and noted that were 4 conditions.  The first is that the chimney needs to be of faux stone or antique appearing brick.  Larry asked what was the decision and Paul stated the choice was to eliminate the chimney which was the second condition.  The third condition is the porch steps to be stained with stained railings and the fourth is that the column needs to be same material as the chimney.  Nothing was commented on below the porch.

 

Larry stated applicant needs to be here and that we are setting a bad precedence hearing the case

without the applicant present.  Deborah agreed to table this case next month.

 

It was noted that John and Jane Pryor have withdrawn their case.

 

Erin Shoot motioned to adjourn which was seconded by Larry Leach.  The hearing was adjourned at 5:31 p.m.  Motion carried 4-0 in favor. 

 

 

                                                                      X_____________________________________                                                                                  Deborah Shockley, Chairman