Architectural Board of Review

Architectural Board of Review Minutes Monday, July 15, 2024 8 A.M. Via Conference - Zoom Members Present: Sandra Madison, Chair James Neville, Member Vince Leskosky, Alternate Member Others Present: Daniel Feinstein, Senior Planner Kelly Beck, Planning Specialist The meeting was called to order by Daniel Feinstein, Senior Planner at 8:00 a.m. * * * * ABR24-000052 – 14201 Southington Road – Preliminary Review: Ludlow School Renovation. Mr. Feinstein reviewed the comments from the June 5, 2024 meeting. He noted this was reviewed at the Board of Zoning Appeals on July 2, 2024 regarding required variances. The review was continued to their August meeting with several comments including the location and effect of the playgrounds, concern for existing street trees and more information needed to address the drop off and pick up procedure. Aaron Rodebaugh, GPD Group, said they have focused their revisions for this meeting on the front entry design. They are also working on the Board of Zoning Appeals requests. The ramp railing has been lowered to ADA requirements. Whether it is colored or not, there is no preference. A roof top mechanical unit has actually moved further away from the roof edge. They are now showing screening around the unit. They cleaned up the grids on the entry windows making the proportions better. The door head was raised with the sign. It is not exactly the height of the building belt band, but it is close. Tamisha Lawson, GPD Group, said the height of the window facing Ludlow Road has been retained in order to allow light inside, where the interior walls will be colorful. Mr. Feinstein asked about the window to the principal’s office. It is not on these plans, but was proposed on the previous plan. Ms. Lawson said this has been removed. The reception desk has visibility through the enhanced into and through the glazing of the entry. Mr. Leskosky said the plan has improved with the simplified entrance design, moving the plan in the right direction. The railing instead of the wall is better. Mr. Neville said he generally agrees about the entry design. He would like to see the large window and the entry elevations side by side. He would like to understand how they line up. The entry design originally had a canopy which provided weather protection. Could the doors be pulled back to make an alcove, or a cover provided as protection for the entry? He asked the materials for the new addition, specifically the glazing. Mr. Rodebaugh said the entry windows and door wall are a storefront system. Mr. Neville asked why the materials on this addition are not proposed to match the wood window frame materials of the original building. The other district schools, and this school, have wood clad windows throughout. Mr. Rodebaugh said due to the size of the proposed windows, they are constrained. The gymnasium windows are also planned to be a storefront window system to replace the original windows as they do not have to operate and are sizeable. Mr. Neville said he would like to see research on component wood clad windows to go with the rest of the building for both the entry addition and the gymnasium windows. He thinks that would be more appropriate on this historic building with wood windows. Mr. Rodebaugh said they can investigate. Mr. Neville asked if the large entry window facing Ludlow Road has a stone sill. Ms. Lawson said that window will have a stone sill. Mr. Neville said the railing does reduce the massing of the ADA ramp. He asked how the concrete and stone meet at the landing. He asked them to investigate changing the railing be at the same pitch of the ramp to further reduce the mass and height of the ramp walls. Mr. Rodebaugh said they tried to keep the wall uniform with the horizontal stone band on the building, but a guard is required above that. Mr. Neville said he believes the wall height can be reduced and still comply with code. Mr. Leskosky said he likes the simplicity of the sloped railing at the rear door near the service entry. Could that be replicated at the main entry? Mr. Neville said that design would involve cut bricks with a sloped ramping wall, which is not optimal for the longevity of the brick. The introduction of planters on either side of the stairs could improve the design. The success of the plant materials increases if there is more volume in the planter. He still finds the wide stairs imposing. He asked if the stairs are on an axis with the main doors. They could decrease the width of the stairs to around 14 feet, which gives the opportunity for substantial planters to the right and left. They could have more masonry with 2 large planters flanking a 14 foot wide stair. He likes the rise for the revised step unit, but recommends that a deeper tread be used. The stairs, landing, ramp, and walls need additional study. Continued for the applicant to consider the following: 1) study and resolve the ramp wall and railing Architectural Board of Review 07/15/2024 Page 2 of 7 to be lower and less imposing including the height of the walls, how they return and relate to the existing building and the entry platform and transparency; 2) consider integrated planters on either side of the stairs to reduce the width, lessen the visual impact of the stairs and help accommodate grade change; 4) the materials and visual details for the entry and gymnasium windows should match the historic wood clad classroom window design and details; 5) recommendation of a deeper step tread; 6) provide a finish detail drawing of the stone at the front entry; 6) study the relationship of the entry door and windows to the large window facing Ludlow and submit a side by side view to better understand that relationship. Provide revised drawings for formal Board review. * * * * Ms. Madison joined the meeting. * * * * ABR24-000082 – 22599 Byron Road – Window Alteration. Laura Mott, Renewal by Andersen, said the window they propose to change is in an addition. It has a curved head and they would like now to square the window off and have matching grids for the casement window. Mr. Neville asked what is on the other elevation of the addition. Ms. Mott said it is a patio door. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000083 – 24050 South Woodland Road – Window Alteration. Marcus Huth, Renewal by Andersen, said they are adding grids to the gable end windows. They are replacing the sliding windows on the rear elevation. Ms. Beck noted no permit was pulled for any of the replacement windows on the house. The Board agreed the sliding windows are acceptable due to their small size, configuration, location and specific design of this house. Approved. * * * * Architectural Board of Review 07/15/2024 Page 3 of 7 ABR24-000077 – 4180 Hadleigh Road – Window Alteration. William Dimenna, homeowner, said they are proposing to change the oriel windows to double hung windows. The exterior will have a panel below the new raised sill. Mr. Leskosky asked if the proposed window is similar to the size of the second floor window. Mr. Dimenna said the first floor windows would be shorter. The majority of the house windows are quite large. Mr. Neville asked if the replacement window is custom to this opening. Mr. Dimenna confirmed the new window is custom. Approved. ABR24-000086 – 3620 Lee Road – Signage: Desired Designs. Elicia Keebler-Gibbon, architect, said this proposal is for an internally illuminated sign inside the door transom. This is a temporary location for this business, so the owner wants the sign to be mobile. There are also simple vinyl graphics on the entry doors facing Hampstead Road. Mr. Feinstein indicated these signs meet zoning code regulations on this corner lot. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000087 – 16222 Chagrin Boulevard – Signage: I Play Activity Center. Elicia Keebler-Gibbon, architect, said this location is across from the soccer field and main library exit driveway. It is a children’s center where they do yoga and dance among other activities. It is difficult to find the business entrance. They propose a black awning at the entry doors to better identify the entrance off of the parking lot. It has the name on the canopy and the website on the valance. This is the only active entry door. The front elevation has a circular wall sign with internal illumination. They will reinstall sconces with LED lights. Mr. Neville asked why the colorful dots along the bottom of the storefront are so low on the glazing. Ms. Gibbon said they could move them up to be 1 foot above the sill. Approved with the suggestion that the vinyl dots be raised 1 foot from the current location. ABR24-000088 – 3713 Lee Road – Storefront: Urban Salon Suites. Architectural Board of Review 07/15/2024 Page 4 of 7 Elicia Keebler-Gibbon, architect, said the owner of the building is replacing all of the double hung windows and will add shutters. There will be wall sconces at the front door, like those on the adjacent building. There is a short picket fence proposed in front of the planter bed. There was discussion of the fence location and design. Approved with the condition of adding another fence post on the south side of the entry to match the north side spacing. * * * * ABR24-000089 – 2742 Inverness Road – Window Alteration. Tammi Graf, Hurst Remodel, said they are finishing the third floor space. There are three added skylights with one of them being operable. They will add a half-round casement window in the gable end, which will have shutters. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000078 – 3658 Avalon Road – Resubmission: Roof Alteration. Mr. Feinstein summarized the comments from the previous meeting. Jeff Sotka, S. Bradley Roofing, said the plans now note the brick is toothed in below the new window. The new brick and mortar will match the existing house color. The new window will have a stone sill and be capped with PVC coil. The window is detailed in the work estimate that was provided. The sill height of the new window will match the adjacent window sill height. The gutter will drain to the left side of the room and join in to the existing house roof downspout. The new roof shingles are proposed as weathered wood because the slate on the house is a tan/multi color. Mr. Neville asked the height of the existing gutter board. Will the new roof system meet that gutter board? Mr. Sotka said the existing wall height is not changing and there will be flashing down to the existing wall. Mr. Neville asked if there could be a molding at the gable end above the gutter. Then flashing would be added at the gutter board. Approved with the condition of a gable roof edge trim board and flashing being added above the existing awning. Submit revised drawings for administrative review. * * * * Architectural Board of Review 07/15/2024 Page 5 of 7 Mr. Leskosky recused himself and left the meeting. * * * * ABR24-000091 – 18751 North Park Boulevard – Exterior Alterations. Rebecca Pantuso, Pantuso Architecture, presented design changes for the exterior of the house. Several window openings and sizes are changed. Those new windows simplify the façade design. A shallow balcony is proposed to be infilled. There was general agreement that they proposed changes simplified the architecture of this 50’s house design. Approved. * * * * Mr. Leskosky re-joined the meeting. * * * * Ms. Madison left the meeting. * * * * ABR24-000093 – 18850 South Woodland Road – Window to Door Alteration. Michael Ranallo, Gunton, said there are two door opening alterations in this proposal. Windows throughout the house have already been replaced with their window product. The ground level single door will have an inswing French door with stationary side windows and the roof patio level will have a new sliding door system with the side lites stationary and the center openings sliding to each side. The brick alterations will be completed by other contractors. Their door systems will be slid into the new openings. There was discussion regarding the detailing of the trim around the doors. The head height of the doors should be consistent. Approved with the condition that the top of the doors is even with the exterior header so the window and door heads are the same height. Submit revised plans for administrative review. * * * * ABR24-000092 – 3632 Tolland Road – Preliminary Review: Addition. Jack Ko, homeowner, said they wish to replace a three-season room with a new, larger, footprint two-story addition. They propose Hardi shingle siding and roofing to match the house. The wall Architectural Board of Review 07/15/2024 Page 6 of 7 color is to be determined. The new shingle siding has a staggered appearance to match the house. Joshua Tooker, designer, said the smaller windows on the side elevation are a bathroom and an office. There was discussion regarding the type and location of windows and grids in the windows. Discussion held. The Board suggested the following: 1) casement windows for the two smaller bathroom windows; 2) alternative window design for the office window opening, either matching the upstairs double hung window or 4 casement windows; and 3) finalize color choices. Submit revised plans for formal review. * * * * ABR24-000085 – 14306 South Park – Window Alteration. Home Depot Representative, representing Michael and Gale Flament, homeowners. Applicant not present. No action taken. * * * * Business 17701 Shaker Boulevard – Removal of Shutters Denied permanent removal of all of the side elevation shutters. Required replacement of the shutters on the two front most windows on the right elevation. Approved removal of shutters from the two windows above the bay window on the right side with the condition that the brick is cleaned to remove all evidence of any past shutters. * * * * There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m. The next meeting will be August 5, 2024. _________________________________ _________________________________ Sandra Madison, Chair Hans Walter, Vice Chair Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review 07/15/2024 Page 7 of 7