ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG
APRIL 12, 2003
7:30 P.M.

Opening Remarks.

Determination of a quorum.
Members

Determination that public notice requirements have been met.

Approval of Agenda

Review of Minutes

Applications

1. Fredericksburg Baptist Church - Demolition of structure and reconfiguration/ construction of walls at 1016 Princess Anne Street.
2. Linda Laarman - Fence at 123 Caroline Street.
3. AMTRAK - Signs at Fredericksburg rail platform.
4. R. B. Pyles - Addition at 1214 Caroline Street
5. Building 100 Enterprises LLC - Exterior alterations at 510 Princess Anne Street.
6. Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site) - Renewal of Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition of 212 Wolfe Street and exterior alterations at 525 Princess Anne Street.
7. City of Fredericksburg - Exterior alterations at Fire House #2 (Altoona).

Other Business
1. Informal review - James McGhee -1015 Charles Street.
2. Reconsideration of application for replacement slate at 405 Amelia Street.
3. Transmittal of Planning Commission agenda
4. Brief on ADA issues at 303 William Street
5. Update on a/c vents at Fredericksburg Baptist Church
6. Transmittal of citizen petition
7. Transmittal of information on legal aspects of preservation
8. Transmittal of memo regarding review criteria for new construction
9. Review of letter (from Mr. O'Neill) regarding 525 Caroline Street

Agenda Item #1
TO: Architectural Review Board
FROM: Erik F. Nelson, Senior Planner
DATE: April 2, 2004
RE: 1016 Princess Anne Street - Demolition of structure/ reconfiguration and construction of brick walls
arb slide line of sight from Princess Anne Street
arb slide line of sight from Amelia Street

The Fredericksburg Baptist Church returns to request a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition of a small bank building and for reconfiguration/construction of brick walls. This case was first heard on March 8, 2004 and was the subject of a work session on March 22, 2004.

This application should be considered in three parts, as follows:

Removal of the bank building
Tax records note that two buildings on this site were demolished in 1953. The same records show that in 1960 a 14-foot wide strip of land was divided from one of the lots fronting on Princess Anne Street and sold to the owner of 304 Amelia Street. This small piece of ground is currently enclosed by the tall brick wall. These records also reference a 1976 addition to the bank building, which had been constructed in 1961.
The 1972 preservation plan notes that "this type of vehicle-oriented structure should not have been allowed in what should be a pedestrian oriented area." The small structure, although constructed of brick, has been something of an anomaly in the Historic District. A review of the demolition criteria in the City Code (Section 14-596) reinforces the 1972 assessment.

Brick Walls
This corner is an open area in an otherwise dense urban landscape. The 1972 preservation plan states: "A uniform planting of trees along the curb of Princess Anne and Amelia Streets could help screen the gap. Shade trees along the rear and side edges of the bank lot would help soften the gap also."
The proposed plan addresses the open quality of this lot through brick walls as well as landscaping. A series of brick walls will provide a hard edge to the streetscape, while also providing some visual variety. Staff has color coded the attached planting plan to show where the following walls will be located:
There has been a suggestion that the eight foot brick wall dates to c. 1900. All available records, however, indicate a construction period of 1960-61. The wall is also built on the former bank's property, rather than on the 304 Amelia Street lot.
The proposed design reflects a response to issues raised at the public hearing and in the work session. The higher walls and their associated plantings will provide effective screening of parked cards. In addition, the enhanced corner feature will provide a strong element opposite the prominent church along the Princess Anne Street entryway into the downtown area. Additional street trees will also be important components along this corridor. The Board should consider recommending that two additional street tree wells be established on the sidewalks at the southeast corner of the lot (on Princess Anne Street) as well as at the northwest corner of the lot (on Amelia Street).
There are no current plans to alter anything in the entry drive off Charles Street. The church and the Federal Square residents appear to have reached an agreement regarding maintenance of the existing wood fence.
Staff finds that the applicants have effectively addressed concerns about parking lot screening, through the design of the walls and landscaping, and have enhanced the streetscape through the enlarged corner feature. Staff recommends approval of the proposed brick walls and landscaping. Staff further recommends that the Board ask the City to increase the number of proposed street trees and coordinate their installation with the overall project.

Street furniture and lighting
As part of the overall lot design, the applicants will install parking lot lighting that closely resembles the existing traditional street lights. A bench will also be placed in the corner feature, and will match the existing metal benches the City already has in place in various locations.

Staff finds the lighting and furniture to be consistent with similar public features of this type in the downtown area and recommends approval.

Attachments

  • Landscaping plan, with wall and lighting details
  • Parking lot layout and lighting plan
  • Line of sight study drawings

  • Computer model study package

  • Plantings information

    Agenda Item #2
    TO: Architectural Review Board
    FROM: Erik F. Nelson, Senior Planner
    DATE: April 1, 2004
    RE: 123 Caroline Street - Fence
    arb slide of south oblique
    arb slide of north oblique

    Linda Laarman requests a Certificate of Appropriateness for a fence at 123 Caroline Street. According to a 1984 architectural survey, the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation has dated this frame dwelling to c. 1900.
    The applicant proposes to enclose her rear yard with a wooden fence. This fence will be of solid wood construction and include a lattice top section, the overall height to be six feet. The fence along the rear lot line, however, will be three feet high, without lattice, but with dog eared pickets, spaced 2 1/2 inches apart. The existing wire fencing will be removed before this new fence is installed.
    The proposed fence is architecturally compatible with the historic aspects of the Historic District, as it relates to materials and design, and consistent with the City Code, as it relates to height. Staff recommends approval.

    Description of work
    Plat of property
    Triple K Fence, Inc. job description

    Agenda Item #3
    TO: Architectural Review Board
    FROM: Erik F. Nelson, Senior Planner
    DATE: April 2, 2004
    RE: Fredericksburg Rail Station - Signs
    arb slide closeup of south entrance looking northwest
    arb slide closeup of south entrance looking northeast
    arb slide tunnel looking north toward station
    arb slide tunnel looking northeast toward station
    arb slide tunnel looking northwest toward station
    arb slide northeast platform ramp looking east
    arb slide northwest platform steps looking west
    arb slide south platform looking southeast from north platform
    arb slide looking east along north platform

    AMTRAK Commuter Services requests a Certificate of Appropriateness for signs at the Fredericksburg rail station. This sign package is part of a larger project to make the downtown station, which is an unmanned station, more readily understandable to rail passengers.
    The new signs will be aluminum (approximately .080 thickness). The background will be white. The platform signs will have green lettering, to match the existing VRE color scheme. The directional signs below the elevated platform will have black lettering and will be mounted at their comers with bolts secured into holes drilled into the concrete. The various signs will be placed as follows:

  • Directions to Track 2 (VRE Platform) Two 18x24 inch panels on the columns just inside the VRE entryway, facing each other.
  • Directions to Track 3 (platform adjacent to station building) - Four 18x24 inch panels, to be placed on both sides of the columns at the tunnel opening, facing toward the station as well as toward the VRE entryway.
  • Direction to both tracks - Two 14x45 inch panels inside the tunnel, with a two-ended arrow pointing to track locations.
  • Platform signs (on both platforms) - Four 30x60 inch panels suspended from the overhead canopy. Two new signs will replace two existing signs on each side.
  • Warning signs (on both platforms) - Four 24x24 inch panels to be placed at the ends of each platform, to supplement the existing signs warning against crossing the tracks.

    The proposed signs are a component of the AMTRAK improvements to make the Fredericksburg station more user friendly.

    Staff recommends approval.

    EFN/rs
    18x24 inch column mounted sign sketches
    14x45 inch tunnel sign ketches
    30x60 inch Platform sign sketches
    Warning Sign sketch

    Agenda Item #4
    TO: Architectural Review Board
    FROM: Erik F. Nelson, Senior Planner
    DATE: April 1, 2004
    RE: 1214 Caroline Street - Addition
    arb slide of southeast corner oblique

    R. B. Pyles requests a Certificate of Appropriateness to construct an addition on this fire-damaged house. A 1984 architectural survey has dated this frame dwelling to 1870.
    A recent fire consumed most of a previous addition, but left the original historic structure relatively intact. This house had previously had vinyl siding installed, but this covering was removed when the damaged site was cleaned up. The applicant proposes to construct a new rear addition, while restoring the wood siding on the historic house (by removing the shims for the vinyl, filling in the holes, and repainting). This case should be reviewed as follows:
    Site Planning - The proposed addition will be to the rear, so the street edge continuity will not be impaired. The side yard setbacks will remain consistent with the historic structure. The rear yard set back will be 30 feet. All the proposed setbacks are consistent with the City Code. Any approval, however, should carry the condition that the side yard fence not have a gate, as was installed previously.
    Scale and Massing - The two-story rear addition will extend 48 feet to the rear. This new construction will be stepped in where it abuts the historic building, for a distance of 12 feet, to respect the corners of the historic structure, as well as provide a visual break between the old and the new. The height of the new addition will be kept consistent with the historic building. The rear porch and utility room will be deleted from the plans, in order to meet the required setbacks.
    Roof - The roof will be gabled, perpendicular to the existing side gable roof.
    Windows and Doors - The windows in the historic building will be retained and repaired. The windows in the hyphen are consistent in design with the historic window pattern. The combination windows on the rear portion of the addition will remain sympathetic to the historic property, but also help to delineate the new from the old. Drawings of the north elevation and the revised rear elevation have been requested and will be forwarded early next week.
    Exterior Architectural Elements - The trim on the addition is proposed to be 5/4 stock, with the width to match the trim of the historic house. The cornice is shown on an attached drawing.
    Materials - The walls of the new addition are proposed to be hardi-plank. The foundation will be brick faced. The roof will be standing seam metal.
    This application should also be considered within the context of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, as follows:

    Staff finds the proposed addition to be architecturally compatible with the historic aspects of the Historic District and recommends approval of the submitted drawings.

    Attachments:

  • Exhibit A - property owner's explanation of site plan, roof plan, and trim details
  • Survey plat
  • Structure location plan
  • Roof plan
  • Three drawings (January 12, 2004)
    A2.1
    A2.2,
    A2.3

    Requested drawings provided at the ARB meeting 12 April 2004
    rear elevation
    north elevation

    Agenda Item #5
    TO: Architectural Review Board
    FROM: Erik F. Nelson, Senior Planner
    DATE: April 2, 2004
    RE: 510 Princess Anne Street - Exterior Alterations
    arb slide of southwest oblique
    arb slide of north side of building
    arb slide of northeast oblique closeup of clipped corner

    The Building 100 Enterprises LLC requests a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior alterations at 510 Princess Anne Street. Public tax records show that this brick building was constructed in 1980-81.

    The applicants propose to cover the wood panels between the window units with a more durable drivit material. This application should be considered within the context of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, as follows: