as one Board member commented, could make the neighboring houses appear like servant
quarters. It was also noted that several houses in the neighborhood are being considered for
historic recognition, though the subject house is not designated as historic. Melissa explained
that the veranda is being rebuilt due to its deteriorated condition.
The Board discussed the possibility of making the proposed addition a detached structure.
The applicant explained that the scope of the project includes new bedrooms for young
children, making a detached configuration impractical. The applicant asked whether removing
the ten‑foot walkthrough connection might make the addition more acceptable.
The Board, the applicant, and staff discussed the lack of interior access to the second floor
from the front portion of the house and explored potential solutions. The applicant stated that
the existing garage is in poor condition. They also discussed the Chippendale‑style railing and
the potential to replicate that style in a code‑compliant way. The applicant noted that the
existing railing may have been added later in the home’s history.
The discussion then turned to the possibility of adding a consistent‑height watertable around
the house. Given that the existing structure does not have a watertable, the Board considered
how such a feature might be incorporated. It was noted that separating the addition into a
detached structure would remove the requirement for the existing house to include a
watertable.
This matter was discussed
258 N. Main Street (Historic District) (Informal)
Addition (Bedroom, Bathroom, Office, and 2-Car Garage)
Attachments:
Ms. Coffman introduced the application by displaying elevations of the house, reviewing the
history of the project, and summarizing the staff comments.
Mr. Nate Bailey of Hara Architects described the history of the home, noting that multiple
additions have been made over the years. He explained that the scale and massing may pose
challenges within the neighborhood context and discussed the feasibility of the proposed
garage given the grade of the property. Mr. Bailey also highlighted the existing retaining wall,
describing it as an unattractive feature in the neighborhood. He noted that the watertable, as it
appears across the various previous additions and the proposed new addition, is also
problematic. Because the garage sits low on the property, there is a large expanse of parged
foundation‑like material; the applicant presented options to lessen the visual prominence of
this area.
Mr. Bailey then reviewed the revised elevations, which incorporate design changes intended
to give the addition more of a carriage‑house appearance, as well as the breezeway that would
connect the house to the garage.
The Board and the applicant discussed the connector area being set back from the main wall
plane and confirmed that the proposed primary siding material will match the existing siding
as closely as possible. The Board expressed the view that the siding should be of a consistent
size. They also discussed the possibility of continuing a freeze board around the structures,
with different siding materials above and below it. The Board raised questions about whether
an exception to the foundation requirements might be appropriate, and whether granting such
exceptions would set a precedent. Staff suggested that if an exception were granted, it might
be tied to both the visibility of the foundation and the historic nature of the house.
This matter was discussed