Minutes

October 19, 2006

North End - Huntington Heights Architectural Review Board.

The meeting was called to order at 6:03 pm.

Board members in attendance:

Carolyn Hughes, Phil Shook, Deirdre Wells, Fred Whittaker

Absent:  Bea Dahlen, Steve Hudak, Katie Stodghill,

Staff in attendance:

David Watson

Patricia Diggs

Chairman Shook began the meeting by reviewing the agenda and ground rules.

In an attempt to maintain an orderly hearing the following guidelines will be followed:

a.    Those wishing to speak shall raise their hand to be acknowledged by the board.  All those wishing to modifications to the guidelines will be given an opportunity to speak.

b.    The speaker must come to the podium and state their name and address for the record

c.    The speaker shall limit their comments to three minutes.

d.    The speaker may be granted extra time to answer questions from the board.

e.    The only topics for discussion are proposed modifications to the guidelines.  If it appears that the discussion is not germane to proposed modifications to the guidelines, the chair may cut off the speaker.

Proposed modifications:

1. Driveways and sidewalks:  Allow the administrative for the replacement of front sidewalks and driveways if the materials used are those listed in Section IV.D.2 and maintain the original footprint.  The text “Administrative Review: None” was struck.  There was no comment on the proposed changes from the audience.  All Board members voted for the recommended change.

2. Fencing:  The text stating “use of vinyl or PVC fencing is limited to rear yard only” and “corner lots are limited to forty eight (48) inches maximum along street frontage” was struck.  Ms. Hughes stated her concern about the shiny appearance of vinyl.  Ms. Wells, Mr. Whittaker, and Mr. Shook voted to approve this change.  Ms. Hughes voted against the change.

3. Fencing: Corner lots.  Text stating “from front of the house to the back of the house.  In addition for a corner lot, if the distance from the back of the house to the rear of the property line is less than 16 feet, the street frontage from the rear of the house to the rear of the property line is also limited to forty-eight (48) inches” was added.  All Board members voted for the recommended additional text.

4. Painted Masonry.  The text “do not paint masonry that is unpainted” and the word “major” (in the sentence ‘no more than three major colors’) was struck.  The option for an administrative review was removed.  The text “The painting of previously unpainted masonry (brick, stone, cement) requires board review, with the intent that unpainted masonry should not normally be painted due to the difficulty/damage that results from removing the paint later” was added.  The sentence stating that “No certificate of appropriateness is required for painting” was modified to include the text “,except for unpainted masonry as stated above.”  Ms. Wells reiterated that the board will not be regulating paint color, the rest of the board concurred.  All board members voted for the proposed changes in this section.

5. Wrapping of window trim.  Text stating “an exception will be made to allow wrapping of window trim with aluminum or vinyl provided the following conditions are met:
1. Only flat board window trim can be wrapped.  Trim that has any contoured shape shall not be wrapped.
2. The drip cap on top of the window shall not be wrapped.
3. A photographic exhibit of original (unwrapped) window trim shall be presented to the board for review prior to approval.”

The board unanimously approved the addition of this text.

6. Porch Flooring.  The following text was added to section M. regarding porch flooring.  “The replacement material used as a replacement for flooring on front porches shall be of a tongue and groove design.”  The board unanimously approved the addition of this text.

7. Mr. Shook invited public comment from the audience.  David Galinski of 5500 Huntington Avenue asked for clarification regarding the wrapping of window trim.  The board stated that trim that is flat, with no detail can be wrapped at any time.

The public comment was closed prior to voting, and the meeting adjourned.