Architectural Review Board

Architectural Review Board City of Petersburg, Virginia Minutes of the Regular Meeting October 12, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Multipurpose Room, Petersburg Public Library Members Present: Vice-Chair, Joe Battiston Celeste Wynn Bill Hartsock Dino Lunsford Members Absent: Chair, Larry Murphy Terry Ammons Louis Malon Staff: Secretary to the ARB, Kate Sangregorio 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair Joe Battiston called to order a regular meeting of the City of Petersburg Architectural Review Board on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Petersburg Public Library. 2. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The pledge of allegiance was dispensed of as there was no flag present. 3. REVIEW OF MINUTES Minutes from the September 2022 regular ARB meeting were presented. Mr. Hartsock motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Ms. Wynn seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Lunsford motioned to approve the agenda as presented, with a second by Mr. Hartsock. The motion passed unanimously. 5. PUBLIC INFORMATION PERIOD Mr. Battiston opened the Public Information Period to anyone who wished to speak on any subject not on the agenda. With there being no public comments, Mr. Battiston closed the Public Information Period. 6. REQUEST(S) FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS 6a. 402 N. West Street Applicant present, Brian Vertucci. Staff recommended deferral. Mr. Vertucci presented a railing picture and explained that it would be 24” from the top of the deck. Mr. Lunsford asked if the material would be composite, Mr. Vertucci said wood with vinyl sleeves. Staff said that would be an inappropriate material. Mr. Vertucci said he could use wood, but noted that vynil protects lumber. Mr. Hartsock suggested using Richmond Rails. There was no public comment. Mr. Lunsford motioned to approve the application with the exception that wood is used and not vinyl, and that the construction conforms to any relevant building codes; based on the Design Guidelines Chapter 7. The motion was seconded by Ms. Wynn and passed unanimously. 6b. 5 Centre Hill Avenue Applicant present, Emily Russell. Staff recommended approval. Ms. Russell noted that the ownership listed on the agenda was out of date, and asked that paint colors also be approved in the application. Mr. Hartsock asled the material of the new railings, Ms. Russell said wood and that they would basically be matching the first floor railings. Mr. Lunsford cautioned against water infiltration, Mr. Battiston suggested combatting water by using good quality wood. There was no public comment. Ms. Wynn motioned to approve the application as submitted based on the Design Guidelines Chapter 4 Section B, with a second from Mr. Hartsock. The motion passed unanimously. 6c. 226 S. Jones Street Applicant present, Sigfredo Martinez and Fernando Perez. Staff recommended approval of siding but denial of windows. Mr. Perez said that recently, the first floor decorative wood façade window was lost and that Mr. Martinez wanted to replace that one to match the vinyl windows on the rest of the house. Mr. Battiston said that window was a character defining feature. Mr. Martinez did not know where to get a new one, he tried to save it but all the glass was broken and the wood was rotten. Mr. Lunsford asked if all the windows were vinyl, all of them were except the façade window in question and one small wood diamond window on the north elevation. Members of the ARB offered window makers and repair persons that the applicant could contact. Mr. Martinez said that the windows had already been ordered, and that they would match the rough opening sizes. Mr. Battiston suggested that the façade window should be remade in wood but the rest could be replaced in-kind with vinyl. Mr. Martinez said that everything had already been reframed and they had removed a small cheaply made addition on the rear. Staff noted that this had not been approved. Mr. Martinez asked if the siding should run against the window frames, the ARB said no, the trim should be visible. Mr. Martinez also asked about the broken glass in the small diamond window, Mr. Battiston said the glass could be replaced. One of the porch columns was missing, the applicant would try to get a match but might need to replace all three, Mr. Battiston noted the preference for getting a matching column rather than replacing all of them. The process for closing built in gutters and installing half round was also discussed, noting that more brackets should be used. If porch columns were needed, they should be wood and Richmond rail style. There was no public comment. A motion was made by Mr. Lunsford to approve the application for the use of hardiplank siding, in-kind vinyl window replacement, recreation of the first floor façade window, removal of the small rear addition, enclosure of built in gutters and installation of half round gutters and round downspouts, and for the installation of Richmond rail on the front porch if needed. The motion was seconded by Ms. Wynn and passed unanimously. 6d. 426 N. Sycamore Street Applicant not present. The applicant attempted to attend via Zoom, but there were technical difficulties. Staff recommended approval. Staff recommended deferral in the absence of the applicant. The board agreed that the mural detracted from the district, noting that it was very visible from as far away as Washington Street. The ARB thought it had nothing to do with Petersburg. Mr. Lunsford mentioned an option for a cityscape, Mr. Battiston mentioned painting it to look like the building that used to be in the parking lot. Mr. Lunsford said that there was a nice mural in Main Street Gloucester. The ARB praised the postcard project the applicant had installed already. There was no public comment.  Ms. Wynn motioned to deny the application as submitted. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hartsock and passed unanimously. 7. OLD BUSINESS 8. NEW BUSINESS 9. WORK SESSION a) Review of the Local Historic district Design Guidelines Chapter 7, New Construction With there being only four ARB members present, it was suggested that the discussion be postponed or a special work session be scheduled. Mr. Battiston wanted to discuss substitute materials since the quality of wood has become very poor. Ms. Wynn noted that if a vinyl column is painted, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell that it wasn’t wood. She also noted that the board should be specific on where substitute materials should be used. Mr. Hartsock asked if the entire Guidelines could be updated. 10. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Ms. Wynn to adjourn the meeting, with a second from Mr. Hartsock. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned.