Architectural Review Board

8 April 2024 To: Kate S. Schwartz ksschwartz@fredericksburgva.gov cc: Planning@fredericksburgva.gov The Historic Fredericksburg Foundation has reviewed the upcoming agenda and related COA documents for the April 8, 2024 meeting of the Architectural Review Board and submits the following comments on select projects. Public Hearing: 10.A.i COA 2401-0035 (previously COA 2401-0024)—823 Caroline Street HFFI made public comments on this application at the regular February 2024 ARB meeting that will likely be repeated as the architectural details of the design are further discussed in the future, and continue to find the proposed infill at 823 Caroline out of keeping with several important district guidelines. The current COA does not include the square footage of the proposed building, making it difficult to discuss its size. Specifically focusing on the height, scale, and massing, the building continues to rise far above neighboring historic resources, particularly at the east or rear elevation. Its form seems increasingly complex in effort to lessen the visual impact of its overall size. Guideline 9.B. states that the form of the new building “should relate to the existing streetscape. If most building forms are simple, then the form of a new building should respect that characteristic.” It is hoped that the form of this resource is simplified as it develops further. As previously stated, a clear pattern at the rear of historic buildings along the east side of Caroline shows a gradual reduction of height and physical mass. Thus, HFFI concurs with staff’s recommendation that a further reduction in height at the east elevation is preferable. The use of large rectangular voids and recessed porches at the façade also ignores clear fenestration patterns at the upper stories of neighboring buildings—patterns that persisted for 200-plus years before design guidelines and the ARB. The proposed porches enable unsightly porch furniture, dangling beach towels, and new and varied types of lighting that could disrupt the historic commercial streetscape along Caroline. These features should be removed and could perhaps be replaced with a ribbon of metal- framed casement windows. HFFI continues to applaud Mr. McGhee’s creativity in minimizing the impacts of the infill’s height and larger scale, and look forward to seeing elevations of the proposed design from several viewpoints-- particularly along George Stret between Caroline and Princess Anne Street, and from Sophia Street looking west in conjunction with surrounding resources. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 10.A. ii COA 2401-0022—1316 Caroline Street HFFI previously commented on this COA in February 2024, and continues to support the use of wood while discouraging synthetic materials in the historic district. A clarification is needed for the text in this COA under the Discussion section ends with staff’s recommendation for continuance pending additional information, which is at odds with the Recommendation for conditional approval on the first page of staff’s report. This application does not illustrate a level of deterioration that necessitates replacement, particularly at the cornice and soffit, which appear original. Thus, HFFI believes that ARB should limit any approval of replacement to the fascia and end caps at 1316 Caroline Street. An inspection of the rafter tails may be conducted when removing the fascia; it does not require more destructive investigation. 10.B.ii. COA 2403-0043 – 1501 Caroline Street HFFI appreciates the visual clarity provided by the models in this application and its sensitive approach to adding onto the historic resource at 1501 Caroline Street. Overall, the proposed design of the two- story addition seems to be generally in keeping with district guidelines. We hope that the historic outbuilding depicted in Frances Benjamin Johnson’s 1927 photograph can be preserved as is and look forward to seeing further details at an upcoming ARB meeting. General Public Comment: HFFI would like to comment publicly on the upcoming item for discussion: 12.B. Commercial- Downtown Transitional Overlay District. The visual and physical impacts the built environment, both new and old, has on the human experience of a place has been much studied in the last century since architectural controls and zoning regulations were created in order to protect or prevent one thing or another. Within FXBG’s Old & Historic District, and other such districts across the country, restrictions on the height, scale, and massing of new construction are based in the tangible historical precedent established by surrounding, pre-existing development. These limitations are not set by a specific number. The national standard limits new construction to roughly 10% higher than neighboring built resources. This goal height maintains the general scale of existing development as well as a “pedestrian scaled” streetscape. Thirty-five feet permits the construction of three-story buildings and also marks the limit at which the human eye, when walking at the pace of roughly 3 miles an hour, can absorb and perceive vertical distance. To be clear, the 35-foot height restriction is measured at the midpoint of a roofline. Thus, a roof may rise 5 to 10 feet above any “limit,” exclusive of necessary mechanical equipment, screening, access stairways, and accessory structures at the rooftop according to newly proposed revisions to code 72-82.6 (Figure 1). While local leaders are in favor of increasing the density and size of new construction downtown, the “transitional areas” identified during this analysis are located outside the traditional downtown core, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 some in low-lying areas between the business district and the surrounding hills or “heights.” Although these areas presently adjoin Commercial and Creative Maker Districts, they contain traditional, one- to two-story residential and small-scale commercial buildings that emerged organically, catering to the surrounding neighborhood before zoning regulations were in place. They visually convey the historical growth and development in our community and are contributing resources to Fredericksburg’s Extended Historic District—an area that has been determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for that same reason. It is concerning in a City that self-identifies as a leader in preservation, that quite a number of National Register-listed and National Register-eligible historic resources are situated within these transitional areas. Professionally evaluated within the national framework of historic preservation against the same standards as countless other communities across America, we have failed to acknowledge their presence in local zoning. I have augmented the transitional area maps provided at the March supplemental ARB meeting to visually illustrate the depth of research and quantity of historic resources around the Commercial and Creative Maker zoning districts that could be impacted by any redevelopment (Figure 2 & 3). At this time, the reconsideration of height limits in these buffer areas raises more questions than answers from HFFI’s perspective and calls further attention to the community’s interest in preserving the traditional character and historic setting along traditional pathways into town. Maintaining our distinct neighborhoods and historic character has consistently been a planning goal for decades and also a point for the campaign platforms of many elected officials (Figure 4). It is HFFI’s express hope that any ordinances governing the redevelopment of these areas does not wipe away the decades of hard work that citizens and City staff created to retain the character of these corridors without consideration of the public’s input and extensive neighborhood engagement. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401  Figure 1: Proposed changes to “height limit” coverage and language in UDO. Figure 2: Map of Area 7, showing individual National Register-listed historic properties. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Figure 3: Map of Area 7, showing the location an boundaries of individual National Register-listed properties and historic resources determined eligible for listing in the National Register by preservation professionals and staff at the state historic preservation office. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Figure 4: Excerpt from page 8-10 of Fredericksburg’s Preservation Plan, also known as Chapter 8 of the Comprehensive Plan, adopted by City Council in June 2021. Map of “Civil War Battlefield Lines of Sight” at right showing historically significant battlefield views in the City. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. | 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401