MEMBERS PRESENT
Helen Ross, Chair
William Jacobs, Vice Chair
Jonathan Ishii
Paul O'Neill
Paula Raudenbush
John Sperlazza

MEMBERS ABSENT
Barry Waldman

CITY STAFF
Erik Nelson, Senior Planner
Susan Blackwood, Recording Secretary

Mr. David McKinney, Chair, called the Architectural Review Board to order at 7:30 p.m. He reviewed the standard practices of the meeting. Mr. Nelson presented the applications

OPENING REMARKS
Ms. Ross called the Architectural Review Board to order at 7:30 p.m. She reviewed the standard practices of the meeting. Mr. Nelson presented the applications.
Ms. Ross determined that a quorum was present and that public notice requirements had been met.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. O'Neill added consideration of a change in the meeting time of the ARB from 7:30 to 7:00. He also added consideration of a requirement that fences be painted.
Mr. Sperlazza added discussion of work at 130 Caroline Street.
Ms. Raudenbush made a motion to accept the agenda, as amended. Mr. Ishii seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

REVIEW OF MINUTES
Ms. Raudenbush made a motion to accept the minutes of February 10, 2003. Mr. Sperlazza seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

APPLICATIONS

1. Hope Lyon - Addition at 201 Caroline Street
The applicant was present. There was no public comment.
Mr. O'Neill complimented Mr. Nelson on the research he undertook on zoning matters related to this house. He also complimented the applicant on providing the documents they had requested. He suggested, however, that she use historic materials on her roof.
Ms. Raudenbush made a motion to approve the site planning. Mr. O'Neill seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. O'Neil made a motion to approve the roof. Mr. Jacobs seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. O'Neill made a motion to approve the windows. Ms. Raudenbush seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Sperlazza made a motion to approve the doors. Ms. Raudenbush seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Jacobs made a motion to approve the exterior architectural elements. Ms. Raudenbush seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Ms. Raudenbush noted that fiberglass columns for this new construction would be acceptable and made a motion to approve the materials. Mr. Jacobs seconded. Motion carried 5 to 1, with Mr. Sperlazza voting against.

2. Bobbi Baker - New construction at 109 Lafayette Boulevard
The applicant was present. There was no public comment.
Mr. Ishii noted there was no information on the door inset.
Mr. O'Neill was concerned that this application and drawings were provided to the Board at the last minute, giving them insufficient time to seriously review this case.
Mr. O'Neill made a motion to defer this case until the April meeting. Mr. Sperlazza seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

3. Douglas and Claudia Vandermade - Fence at 1311 Washington Avenue
The applicants were present. Mr. Vandermade stated that they own three lots where this property is located. Two of the lots are undeveloped and are not part of the historic district. He wanted the Board to be aware of their limited purview.
Jim Beavers, of 1309 Washington Avenue, stated that the fence would be within 8 inches of his property. He said he has discussed this with the Vandermades and offered to let them use the side of his house and garage as part of their fence. He is concerned that he will not be able to maintain the side of the building if the fence is too close. He said he had mailed in a letter opposing the fence, but since the Vandermades had modified their application, he formally withdrew his opposition.
Mr. O'Neill asked Mr. Nelson whether the fence will be four feet high for its entire length. Mr. Nelson stated it would.
The applicant volunteered that the short fence extension will be at least 20 feet back from the sidewalk.
Mr. Sperlazza asked if there was any ordinance against putting the fence right on the property line? Mr. Nelson said there is no restriction, but most property owners are cautious and typically install a new fence a few inches back from the property line.
Mr. Jacobs made a motion to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the fence. Mr. Sperlazza seconded, with the condition that the finished side of the fence face out. Mr. Jacobs accepted this amendment. Motion carried unanimously.

4. Tina Oliver - Fence at 501 Wolfe Street
The applicant was present. There was no public comment.
Ms. Oliver provided a photo of her proposed fence design.
Mr. O'Neill asked about the height of the fence and the zoning of the property. He noted that the neighbor's fence next door is only 4 feet and very attractive. He thought that Ms. Oliver's fence should also be only four feet.
Mr. Nelson explained that fence requirements in the Commercial-Downtown zoning district were not clear enough to disallow a six foot fence.
Mr. Jacobs asked if the fence will be painted white. Ms. Oliver answered yes. He said if it is white then it will blend in very nicely with the neighbor's fence even at 6 feet. He said it certainly would be more attractive than the pressure treated wood that is there now.
Mr. Sperlazza made a motion to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the fence, as modified by the applicant, and with the condition that the finished side face out and that the fences be painted white. Mr. Ishii seconded. Motion carried 5 to 1, with Mr. O'Neill voting against.

5. Jennifer Ryan - Exterior alterations at 309 Princess Anne Street
The applicant was not present. There was no public comment.
Mr. Sperlazza said the fence and railing will be a nice improvement over what is there now.
Mr. O'Neill said he thought the fence and railing should have the same design.
Mr. Jacobs said that the two designs can complement each other. In addition, the railing would be too dangerous it if had the rounded design of the fence. It needed to have a straight top to allow someone to grab it.
Mr. O'Neill made a motion to defer this application until the applicant could be present. Mr. Sperlazza seconded. Motion was denied by a vote of 4 to 2 with Ms. Raudenbush, Ms. Ross, Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Ishii voting against.
Ms. Raudenbush made a motion to grant a Cetificate of Appropriateness for the proposed fence and railing. Mr. Jacobs seconded. Motion carried by a vote of 4 to 2, with Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Sperlazza voting against.

6. Deborah's Place, Inc. - Sign at 724-726 Caroline Street
The applicant, Frank Splondorio, was present. There was no public comment.
Ms. Raudenbush thought the lettering might be difficult to read. She said the spacing of the letters appeared too tight.
Mr. Jacobs agreed about the letter spacing.
Mr. Splondorio explained the sign would have solid letters with an outline, hand painted on the sign panel.
Ms. Raudenbush made a motion to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the sign. Mr. Ishii seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

7. Fred Heller - Sign at 1005 Princess Anne Street
The applicant was present. There was no public comment.
Mr. Jacobs asked how the edge of the sign would be finished.
The applicant said there would be copper trim around the edge. The sign would be anchored to the front façade of the building and there would be no gap behind the back of the sign and the wood on the front.
Mr. Jacobs made a motion to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed sign. Mr. Sperlazza seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

8. Kevin Phillips - Addition at 204 Fauquier Street
Gina Panciera represented the applicant.
Franz Vossenberg, the owner of 202 Fauquier Street, said he supported the work but was interested in seeing its visual impact.
Mr. Jacobs suggested the applicants try to retain as many architectural features of the house as possible. The cornice on the side and the windows, for example, should be retained.
Mr. O'Neill said the drawings presented do not represent the existing structure. He noted that the board needed drawings of the existing conditions as well as what is being proposed, to be able to evaluate the request.
Mr. Jacobs made a motion to table this application until the board is provided a complete and accurate set of drawings. Mr. Sperlazza seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

9. Thomas J. Wack - Demolition and addition at 101 Pitt Street
The applicant was present. His architect, Bob Steele, was also present. There was no public comment.
Mr. Steele brought the original architectural drawings of the house, from the 1930's, to show the board. He said it was not their intent to have the addition show from the public right of way. He said they have put a tremendous amount of research into this project.
Mr. O'Neill noted that considerable effort had gone into the application and that it could be handled all at once.
Ms. Raudenbush made a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed demolition and addition with additional details to be provided as specified in the staff memo. Mr. Sperlazza seconded. Motion carried unanimously

10. Charles W. McDaniel - Exterior alterations at 101 Caroline Street
James McGhee was present to represent the applicant. There was no public comment.
Mr. Sperlazza noted that this work was, in effect, a continuation of the original application. He made a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed exterior alterations. Ms. Raudenbush seconded. Motion carried unanimously

11. James O. McGhee - Addition at 1501 Caroline Street
The applicant was present. There was no public comment.
Mr. McGhee noted that he was trying to avoid a shotgun look to the addition. Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Sperlazza asked about compaction of the tree roots. Mr. McGhee assured them he did not believe this would be an issue.
Mr. Jacobs said he could see that the applicant had heard the comments made at the informal review in February. He made a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed addition. Mr. Ishii seconded. Motion carried unanimously

OTHER BUSINESS
1. Mr. Nelson transmitted the Planning Commission agenda.
2. Mr. Nelson broached the idea of a banner at 200 Hanover Street. The board thought a banner would set a bad precedent, but encouraged a sign instead.
3. Mr. Nelson briefed the board on progress in seeking Certified Local Government status. He asked for resumes and the board agreed to provide them by the end of March.
4. Mr. O'Neill asked if the board wanted to consider modifying its meeting time. Members noted that 7:30 p.m. was already tight for those who commuted.
5. Mr. O'Neill asked if the board wanted to establish a requirement to paint fences. The board decided it already had this authority and could exercise it case by case.
6. Mr. Sperlazza asked the staff to ensure the shed being built at 130 Caroline Street was consistent with the Certificate of Appropriateness.

Meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m.