PRESENTER
Katie Totman, HPO
SUBJECT:
HLC Case HST26-126: Discuss and consider a Certificate of Alteration for the construction of a small garage building in the back yard of property addressed at 554 South Academy.
DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood and Community Planning
HISTORIC DISTRICT/LANDMARK NAME: Sophienburg Hill Historic District
APPLICABLE CITATIONS:
Sec. 66-57. Alteration certificates for alteration or new construction affecting landmarks or historic districts.
No person shall carry out any exterior alteration, restoration, reconstruction, new construction, removal or relocation of any city designated historic landmark or on any property within a city designated historic district which may affect the appearance and cohesiveness of any historic landmark or any property within a historic district without first obtaining an alteration certification authorizing the change.
Sec. 66-58. Criteria for approval of an alteration certificate.
In considering an application for an alteration certificate, the commission shall be guided by any adopted design guidelines, and where applicable, the following from the secretary of the interior's standards for the rehabilitation of historic buildings. Any adopted design guidelines and secretary of the interior's standards shall be made available to the property owners of historic landmarks or within historic districts.
(1) Every reasonable effort shall be made to adapt the property in a manner which requires minimal alteration of the building, structure, object, or site and its environment.
(2) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure, object, or site and its environment shall not be destroyed when possible. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible.
(3) All buildings, structures, objects, and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged.
(4) Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure, object, or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected.
(5) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure, object, or site shall be kept where possible.
(6) Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, wherever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material shall reflect the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historical, physical, or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures.
(7) The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken.
(8) Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archeological resources affected by, or adjacent to, any project.
(9) Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical, architectural, or cultural material, and such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material, and character of the property, neighborhood, or environment.
(10) Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to buildings, structures, objects, or sites shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the building, structure, object, or site would be unimpaired.
Sec. 66-59. Alteration certificate application procedure.
(a) Prior to the commencement of any work requiring an alteration certificate, the owner shall file an application for such a certificate with the historic preservation office. The application shall contain:
(1) Name, address, telephone number of applicant, detailed description of proposed work.
(2) Location and photograph of the property and adjacent properties.
(3) Elevation drawings of the proposed changes, if available.
(4) Samples of materials to be used.
(5) If the proposal includes signs or lettering, a scale drawing showing the type of lettering to be used, all dimensions and colors, a description of materials to be used, method of illumination (if any), and a plan showing the sign's location on the property.
(6) Any other information which the commission may deem necessary to visualize the proposed work.
(b) No building permit shall be issued for such proposed work until an alteration certificate has first been issued by the commission. The alteration certificate required by this act shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any building permit that may be required by any other ordinance of the city.
(c) The commission shall review the application at a regularly scheduled meeting within 30 days from the date the application is received, at which time an opportunity will be provided for the applicant to be heard. The commission shall approve, deny, or approve with modifications the application within 30 days after the review meeting. In the event the commission does not move to consider the application within 60 days of its receipt, the application shall be granted.
(d) All decisions of the commission shall be in writing. The commission's decision shall state its findings pertaining to the approval, denial, or modification of the application. A copy shall be sent to the applicant. Additional copies shall be filed as part of the public record on that property and dispersed to appropriate city departments, e.g., building inspection.
(e) An applicant for an alteration certificate dissatisfied with the action of the commission relating to the issuance or denial of an alteration certificate shall have the right to appeal to the city council within 30 days after receipt of notification of such action. The city council shall give notice, follow publication procedure, hold hearings, and make its decision in the same manner as provided in the general zoning ordinance of the city.
FINDINGS:
a. The property is within the Sophienburg Hill Historic District and the proposed garage will be located in the rear yard.
b. GARAGE/SHED STRUCTURE: The applicant is requesting to build a garage/shed structure in the rear yard. The building will be approximately 180 square feet and 10’-6” tall from grade to roof ridge. The building will feature wood siding and a metal roof to match those elements found on the main house.
Criteria for Evaluation
(1) Every reasonable effort shall be made to adapt the property in a manner which requires minimal alteration of the building, structure, object, or site and its environment. N/A
(2) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure, object, or site and its environment shall not be destroyed when possible. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible. N/A
(3) All buildings, structures, objects, and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged. N/A
(4) Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure, object, or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected. N/A
(5) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure, object, or site shall be kept where possible. N/A
(6) Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, wherever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material shall reflect the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historical, physical, or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures. N/A
(7) The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken. N/A
(8) Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archeological resources affected by, or adjacent to, any project. N/A
(9) Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical, architectural, or cultural material, and such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material, and character of the property, neighborhood, or environment. The proposed garage structure is subordinate to the main house and will not be easily visible from South Academy. Additionally, it follows the development pattern generally established in the district with accessory structures located in the rear yard and in this case fronting Braddock Avenue which functions as a tertiary street or alley.
(10) Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to buildings, structures, objects, or sites shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the building, structure, object, or site would be unimpaired. N/A
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Staff finds that, based on finding b, the proposed structure is consistent with the criteria for approval.