Architectural Board of Review

Architectural Board of Review Minutes Monday, September 16, 2024 8 A.M. Via Conference - Zoom Members Present: Hans Walter, Chair James Neville, Vice Chair Greydon Petznik, 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. * * * * Approval of minutes from the September 3, 2024 meeting. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000140 – 20300 Van Aken Boulevard – Resubmission: Signage: RTA Blue Line – VAD Station. Mr. Feinstein explained this is for the GCRTA Rapid Transit station at the end of the Blue Line, at the Van Aken District. This is for signage only. The building was approved two years ago and has not changed. Matthew Marotta, GCRTA, said they have discovered during the design development that modifications are required to the signage at the end of the line above the catenary lines. Previously the station name was hung under the metal catenary and for safety reasons this will need to be moved to above the metal cross beam. There is concealed conduit within the signage, which is double sided to be viewed from both the platform and from the east. There is also a map sign on a stanchion in two areas. Both signs also contain security cameras. They have coordinated with the public realm project and propose a public art opportunity on a bollard adjacent to the sign. This bollard will keep equipment from hitting the sign. The art mimics the colors of the public art in the public realm area, consisting of colored “flags” that can rotate around the post in the bollard. Mr. Feinstein reviewed staff comments that the art piece in the Public Realm should stand alone as envisioned by that artist. The RTA sign should remain just a sign. Mr. Neville said he has no problem with the catenary sign redesign. He understands that if the bollard is not present, damage that could happen to the signage. Mr. Marotta said the previous signs had a short bollard under the hanging edge of the sign. Mr. Neville asked how low the bollard can be to achieve the protection objective. Mr. Marotta said the bollard is shown at 1 foot 8 inches high. It is the illusion that it is not connected, but still articulated. Mr. Walter asked if there is a way to alter the base so that it is all connected. Perhaps the concrete could envelop the base of the bollard. He asked the color of the metal on the sign. Mr. Marotta said it is black like the connections under the roof of the comfort station. There was discussion regarding colors throughout the project. Mr. Walter said he feels the charcoal color is the better option. It blends with the catenary structures and the storefront system on the comfort station. He asked about the reddish colored sign behind the on-demand schedule sign. Mr. Marotta said it is the blue line sign. This could be discussed with RTA to change to charcoal. Ms. Beck asked the color of the wall sign lettering facing the busway. Mr. Marotta said that line announcing the stop name is black in color. Approved the new signage with the following conditions: 1) the frame and post for the signage is the charcoal color used for the metal storefront system; and 2) the map sign bollard and color element are eliminated and replaced with a curb. Submit the revised sign foundation for administrative review. * * * * ABR24-000126 –31 Lyman Circle – Vinyl Siding. Matt Perkins, Mentor Window, explained they will be removing the wood shake siding and applying a new straight edge vinyl shake siding. The new siding is 7 inches deep and is white in color. They are also replacing the aluminum frieze and rake board. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000090 – 3117 Huntington Road – Resubmission: Entry Alterations. Mr. Feinstein reviewed the past meeting notes as the owner seeks resolution of the front façade Architectural Board of Review 09/16/2024 Page 2 of 8 overhang that deteriorated and was removed. Brendan Grady, designer, said the original overhang is part of the floor joists for the second floor. This is why the brick behind the original overhang is not as organized as the rest of the front façade. The owners want to allow as much sunlight as possible into the front windows. They are now proposing a similar frame to what was there but using a trellis application instead of a solid roof. The wood will be painted to match the trim color on the house. The trellis portions are cedar with pressure treated structure. Mr. Neville said it is not typical that treated lumber is exposed for detailing like this. David Megenhardt, homeowner, said they could use cedar, then it could all be stained. Mr. Petznik asked what happens over the entry roof. Mr. Grady said they will repair the slate and the new detailing does not touch it. Mr. Neville said he would like to see an additional slat at the leading edge. Mr. Petznik said this would also reinforce the leading edge visual line of the overhang. Approved with the following conditions: 1) the entire structure is made of cedar wood; and 2) one additional slat is added to the leading edge. Submit revised drawing for administrative review. * * * * ABR24-000132 – 3002 Manchester Road – Garage and Addition. Mr. Feinstein said this proposal renovates the existing garage into living space as an extended kitchen. This addition also brings the home closer to the rear property line than zoning allows, so they have applied to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance. Jeff Foster, Payto Architects, said the existing garage is 17 by 17 feet. The garage will be converted to a kitchen. The new garage also includes a mud room. They will be reducing the paving by this change. This is an understated design with a flat roof and hardi board siding, slightly lighter in color than the half timbering on the house. They wish to let this new structure stand as its own element. Mr. Neville asked about the brick infill foundation at the converted garage door. Mr. Foster said it should actually be like the garage and go to grade. Mr. Neville said it seems like a large plain box stuck on the rear of a finely detailed house. Mr. Walter said they should use the bridging elements like the mud room to modulate the mass of the new garage compared to the house. Architectural Board of Review 09/16/2024 Page 3 of 8 Mr. Petznik suggested a covered entry or lowering the mud room roof or moving the walls in from the front of the new garage in order to differentiate the new addition from the house. There was discussion regarding the detail elements of the projects. Mr. Petznik asked if the trim on the garage could be made wider in order to relate more closely to the house trim. The half-timber details are very heavy on the house. Mr. Foster said the trim now is shown as a nominal 1 by 4. He could certainly widen that trim and make some changes to the mudroom design as requested. The Board asked for a larger skirt board to terminate the siding. Massing changes would help the design. Continued in order for the applicant to consider the following: 1) study differentiating the mudroom design and scale from the garage; 2) design an overhang at the mud room entry; 3) line up a wider skirt trim board with the house trim; 4) reduce the parapet height to articulate the massing to the house; and 5) consider using the smooth side of the hardi board siding instead of the wood grain side. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR24-000133 – 15914 Chadbourne Road – Asphalt Roof Color. Mr. Feinstein said the current asphalt shingle roof is dark green. He showed pictures a sample of the new green shingle against the existing green shingle on the hood on the garage. Jessie Brunner, S&K Construction, explained an addition was done to the house many years ago and the roof was made green at that time with approval from the Architectural Board of Review. Mr. Neville noted that he lives close to this house. The homeowner’s color scheme incorporates green accents and a soft cream wall color which go well with the proposed roof color. For him the color is not a problem. The Board agreed that the history and color scheme, along with the design of this specific house relates wall to the dark green color. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000135 – 3698 Normandy Road – Leaded Glass Window Removal. Steve Jain, Real Estate 610 LLC, said they are proposing to replace the first floor front windows with a dark brown window and pencil grids, which are slimmer than colonial grids. Architectural Board of Review 09/16/2024 Page 4 of 8 Mr. Petznik noted the existing grid pattern is 3 lites wide by 7 lites high. That is not what is shown on quote. Mr. Neville said he would like to see a to-scale drawing of the front windows. He is concerned the 2 lites wide may lead to a horizontal proportion, which is not desired. Tabled for the applicant to provide a to-scale drawing of the revised grid patterns of both first and second floor front sets of windows. The Board said the upper and lower windows should match. Submit drawing for Board review. * * * * ABR24-000137 – 22100 McCauley Road – Resubmission: Addition. Cynthia Murphy, homeowner, said she is in a wheelchair unexpectedly which is driving the changes to the addition. Brian Murphy, homeowner, said all of the front windows will be replaced to be the same manufacturer as the rest of the house. Mr. Ellison explained the changes to the addition and some cosmetic work on the front elevation. Mr. Neville asked why the new bay window has double hung windows instead of cottage windows. The side windows in the same room appear to remain a cottage window. David Ellison, architect, said lengthening the window makes that hard. It turned into a double hung proportion. The bay window is its own element. The front door and canopy element are also changing. The current columns are deteriorated and they will replace those 6 narrow columns with two larger columns. They could do a special order cottage window for the bay with two lites high in the top sash and 4 lites high in the bottom sash. This would keep the check rail at the same height within the room. There was discussion regarding the front window locations and sizes. Tabled in order for the applicant to address the following: 1) revise the window to the left side of the entry and the bay to cottage style windows; 2) study the location and proportions of the second story windows above the bay. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR24-000138 – 3287 Ingleside Road – Patio Addition. Elicia Gibbon, Gibbon Architecture, explained this is a covered patio proposal on this Tudor style Architectural Board of Review 09/16/2024 Page 5 of 8 home. There is half timber detail in the gable end of the new cover. They will use rain chains leading to rain gardens instead of gutters. The back door will also be replaced and the opening raised to a typical 7 foot height. Mr. Feinstein asked what the house setback is from the side property line. Ms. Gibbon said she believes it is 11 feet 4 inches. She will confirm and revise the plans. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000141 – 20576 Byron Road - Addition. Phil Chupp, Clazak Construction, said this is a new addition on the rear of the house. There will be a second story over the existing addition and a single story in the current notch at the rear elevation. Mr. Walter asked if there is a way to get alignment with the windows. An example could be centering the second story windows over the sliding glass doors and having the kitchen windows line up with the second floor den. This would create harmony on the rear elevation. Mr. Feinstein asked about the exit from the sliding doors. How far from grade is that threshold? Mr. Chupp said the owner plans a new patio in that area at a later date. Mr. Feinstein said the steps shill need to be drawn for this application. He asked the type of siding that will be used for the new addition. Mr. Chupp said it will be hardi board. Robert Adams, homeowner, explained they are using hardi board as they are using the Heritage Home Loan program and they do not allow vinyl. Mr. Feinstein said the new hardi must match the width of the aluminum siding and align with the siding already on the house. He asked if the smooth or rough side will be used for the exterior face. * * * * Mr. Walter left the meeting. * * * * Mr. Petznik said he would like to see the sizes of the windows match the existing house better. This is the opportunity to figure out symmetry and egress. Window trim details must be added to the drawings. There was a general discussion of window locations on the addition and that there should be a divider between the new hardi and the existing house of some sort. Architectural Board of Review 09/16/2024 Page 6 of 8 Continued in order for the applicant to address the following: 1) rework and study the window sizes, heights and locations in relation to each other and the existing house windows; 2) coordinate the window locations on the first and second floors; 3) propose some detail for the overhang; 4) consider how to locate the right elevation second story window to the left so it does not overhang the open area below; 5) show the trim detail on the windows and doors; 6) make sure the vinyl and hardi boards are the same width and do not butt up against each other; and 7) show the material, size, and color on the plans. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * Mr. Walter re-joined the meeting. * * * * ABR24-000107 – 18134 Chagrin Boulevard – Resubmission: Two Story Porch. Mr. Feinstein summarized the comments from the last meeting. Tanya Tate, Levine Architecture, said there is now a brick base on the columns. They have cleaned up and revised the railing detail. Mr. Walter asked if they could move the gutter back to the house façade. Mr. Petznik asked if the roof pitch could be changed and a flat roof material used. The challenges with the overhang are substantial. It is a very low roof edge which will inhibit use to the porch. Ms. Tate explained they are trying to preserve the existing roof. Sally Levine, architect, said the downspout location exists in that location so that is why they have shown it there on the plans. The connection to the drain is located there as well. Continued with the following comments: 1) the downspout is moved to the house wall; and 2) confirm the roof height within the overhang of the second story roof, whether it meets code, and study a flat roof alternative. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR24-000134 – 3068 Warrington Road – Preliminary Review: Front Step Material. Mr. Feinstein said the front stoop is being renovated. It was approved with stone treads and stoop. The stone treads are there but a concrete stoop top is planned. Joe Todaro, Todaro Brothers Construction, said there had been a concrete top on the stoop with brick accents. Architectural Board of Review 09/16/2024 Page 7 of 8 Patricia McGuinness Foster, homeowner, said the pad was always concrete. It was surrounded by brick but the brick failed. The new stoop will allow a slope for drainage as well. Mr. Feinstein asked how the concrete is being finished. Mr. Todaro said it will be hand finished with a rosette swirl and control joints. He showed pictures of another stoop with a slate stamp pattern and rock face edge. The slate stamp and rock face edge example presented is nicely done. The Board discussed this particular instance, where the brick is being removed from the outer edge of the step unit and concrete was the material at the center. Approved a concrete top stoop platform with the following conditions: 1) slate imprint finish; 2) rock face edge finish; 3) concrete tinted to match the new limestone tread color. * * * * ABR24-000139 – 19630 Lomond Boulevard – Window Alteration. Don Plunkett, architect, representing Beth LaRue, homeowner. Approved administratively. * * * * ABR24-000136 – 3655 Avalon Road – Garage Siding. Peter Svigel, Jr., owner. Approved administratively. * * * * There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. The next meeting will be October 7, 2024. _________________________________ _________________________________ Hans Walter, Chair James Neville, Vice Chair Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review 09/16/2024 Page 8 of 8