Architectural Board of Review

Architectural Board of Review Minutes Monday, March 17, 2025 8 A.M. Via Conference - Zoom Members Present: James Neville, Chair Hans Walter, Vice Chair David Berlekamp, 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 March 3, 2025 meeting. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000216 – 14500 Shaker Boulevard – Resubmission: Dormer. Mr. Feinstein reviewed the actions from the December 2024 meeting. Jessica Powell, architect, explained there are other dormers within the roofline that will be replicated here. The side walls of the new dormer will be slate and the roof will have a low slope to match. They met with a structural engineer and the placement is now aligned to be centered on the roofline. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000029 – 3150 Attleboro Road – Exterior Alterations. Jessica Powell, architect, explained they are combining a kitchen and nook to convert to a kitchen and mud room. There is a change in the dining room from a bay of windows to French doors and a change to the kitchen/dining room windows to a set of double hung windows over the new sink location. Mr. Walter said he would like the grid pattern to more closely match those already on the house. The double hung windows are small relative to the others on the house. Mr. Neville said casement windows would work better. Approved with the following conditions: 1) utilize casement windows for the new kitchen windows to allow a more generous grid pattern; and 2) carefully match the stone infill where windows are removed. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000030 – 14300 South Park Boulevard – Window Color. David Roberts, Window Nation, said the owner proposes to have white replacement windows instead of the existing beige windows. The window coil will match the color of the trim on the house. There was discussion of the colors in the pictures and how that relates to the existing house and proposed window color. Continued for the applicant to provide photos of their white and beige window material samples against the existing and previously replaced windows. Submit photos for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000033 – 3403 Tuttle Road – Sign: Tony’s Burger Shop. Mr. Feinstein showed a photo of the area which used to be the Rice Shop. This proposal is a new face in the existing blade sign. Dan Glavin, Glavin ID, said this is an existing sign with a new face. It is the only signage proposed for this business. Mr. Walter said he enjoys the running hamburger graphic, but the small sign size of this blade sign makes it hard to read as part of this sign. There was discussion regarding the design of the sign face and how its legibility relates to pedestrians and vehicles passing the storefront. Mr. Glavin said the “B” in Burger is less than 6 inches tall. It is hard to make bigger if the size is limited by the dimension of the sign. He said this sign represents the business owner logo and he wants to keep it all in the sign. Mr. Berlekamp said the top line of the sign with “Tony’s” and the running burger is too busy. It is not very legible at this size. Architectural Board of Review 03/17/2025 Page 2 of 6 Mr. Neville said if the running burger is removed from this sign and the “Tony’s” lettering is larger the sign would be easier to read for potential customers. He suggested the running burger could be larger and more impactful as a window graphic on the front entry. He asked for the applicant to confer with the business owner about the sign design. Continued for the applicant to discuss making the “Tony’s” lettering larger and removing the “running hamburger” portion to increase the legibility of the sign. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000028 – 3673 Gridley Road – Resubmission: Porch Alteration. Mr. Feinstein explained the renovation of this porch was previously reviewed. He reviewed the notes from the previous meeting. Dan Herzog, DBH Builders, explained there is now a support stud between the new sets of double hung windows on the rear elevation. The right side will be walled over, and the left side is the entry door. Mr. Neville noted the windows by the entry door are slimmer. Can they have a 4/4 grid pattern? Mr. Herzog said they can change the grid pattern for these two narrower windows. Approved with the condition that the new windows adjacent the entry door have a 4/4 grid pattern. Submit revised plans and window quote for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000034 3308 Chadbourne – Additions. Sally Levine, architect, explained there are two additions proposed at this house. One addition is at the side of the house, above the existing porch and one is at the rear of the house and includes both a first and second floor addition. The exterior materials and new windows match what are currently on the house. Mr. Walter said he likes how the new additions retain the roof character of the house. Mr. Berlekamp said the rear elevation gambrel profile seems a little compressed. Tanya Tate, Levine Architects, explained they did match the pitch of the house roof. They also looked at a standard gable, but it was not in keeping with the house and did not work well. Even narrow, this seemed to be the best solution. Mr. Neville said the double hung window at the kitchen has awkward horizontal grid proportions. Architectural Board of Review 03/17/2025 Page 3 of 6 Ms. Tate said double casement windows or a paired double hung set may work better. Mr. Neville said he would consider choosing trim between the set of three windows on the driveway instead of having siding between them. This solution would also be better at the corners of the bay windows. Approved with the following conditions: 1) kitchen window either be paired double hung windows or a double casement window; and 2) slivers of siding be replaced with trim between the three new windows on the first floor and from the corners of windows in the bay. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000036 – 2771 Chesterton Road – Window Alteration. Tim Trask, Trask Construction, explained the changes are part of an interior remodel of the master suite. They are proposing to add a second window close to the rear corner. The new window will match the existing window on the second floor closer to the chimney. Mr. Neville asked that the new window be moved a little farther away from the corner. Ms. Beck noted the drawing does not match the existing conditions. The existing second floor window is a standard double hung window and is drawn as a longer cottage window. Approved with the following conditions: 1) the new window is moved an additional 6 inches from the rear corner; 2) the second floor windows are drawn as 6/6 double hung windows; and 3) tooth in the siding. Submit revised drawing for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000035 – 23425 Bryden Road – Preliminary Review: New House. Dan Feinstein explained the proposal is to demolish the existing 1950’s ranch and build a new house in approximately the same location. He noted the current design will be a variance required for a front facing garage at the front of the house with their site plan review. Bob Myers, ProBuilt Homes, said they have decided on a ranch style design. The existing house is already demolished. There are slight location changes for the new house and driveway due to site conditions and elevation changes. The exterior materials are proposed as white Hardi board siding, a stone foundation, dark doors and front windows, with white windows on the side and rear elevations. They are removing two trees and will add three new trees. They will protect the remaining trees with construction fencing at the drip line. Mr. Feinstein asked why window grids are only proposed in the front elevation windows. Architectural Board of Review 03/17/2025 Page 4 of 6 Mr. Myers said they prefer to have windows with no grids, but they could be added. Mr. Neville said the left elevation is nearly devoid of windows or other details. This is extremely uncommon for Shaker Heights homes. Mr. Myers said the bath and laundry rooms have windows. The remaining area on this elevation is a bedroom. They would have no wall to place the bed if there are standard windows here. They could look at upper clerestory windows. Mr. Berlekamp asked if there are vaulted spaces on the interior. There are large spans of wall at the gable ends of both side elevations where there are no windows. Mr. Myers said the great room is vaulted and the bedroom has a high ceiling. Mr. Neville suggested clerestory windows in the bedroom and windows added to the garage wall should be considered to break up those large blank walls. He would like to see two separate windows on the garage wall, but not centered together. All of the windows need to have grids There was discussion regarding adding vents or windows in the second floor gable side elevations. Mr. Myers said they could add a window to the front bedroom on the right elevation. Mr. Feinstein asked the Board’s thoughts on the two window colors of dark in the front and white on the sides and rear elevations. Mr. Berlekamp said it would help with visual interest if the windows were black throughout the home. The front door is recessed too far. The garage doors feel like the prominent element in the front elevation. Mr. Walter said he is also struggling with the massing in the front elevations. The side gables are very high for a one story house, which leaves large blank walls. The roof pitch could be reduced, which would limit the high side walls. A less car-centric front elevation design would also be preferred. Mr. Berlekamp agreed a lowered ridge line could change the feel of the roof and side walls. There was discussion regarding the proposed front elevation compared to nearby homes. The garage doors could be white so they are not as prominent. The front entry could be more prominent and the bedroom next to it could be de-emphasized. The Board suggested the following: 1) consider lowering the roof pitch to determine if that benefits the design overall and especially the large gable end walls; 2) all the windows should be the same dark color and have grids; 3) study emphasizing the front door and entry over the garage bay doors with both design elements and front entry walk and landscaping; 4) add windows to the principal bedroom; 5) add two windows in the garage wall on the left; 6) study just one wider dormer on the front elevation; 7) additional side window on the front bedroom (right); 7) vents or windows in both second story gable ends; and 8) review the garage door color to possibly have white doors to de- emphasize them. Architectural Board of Review 03/17/2025 Page 5 of 6 Submit revised plans for review at a future meeting. * * * * ABR25-000038 – 3606 Lytle Road – Preliminary Review: New House. Mr. Feinstein gave a history of these two lots and two other home designs that have been proposed since the original home was destroyed by fire. Andrew Gotlieb, Keystate Homes, said they propose one house on the two lots. They are proposing a 1 ½ story structure with first floor living spaces and a garage within the required zoning setbacks. He described the layout and design elements of the house. Mr. Walter said he would like to have future submissions include a massing drawing showing how this house sits within the fabric of the neighboring homes. Mr. Gotlieb said this house is proposed to have a brick foundation, Hardi board siding, white windows, dark trim and neutral wall color. The house to the north has a full two stories, but the corner lot’s garage abuts the southern property line. There was a discussion regarding horizontal trim details and how they should align around the house. The front entry should be emphasized and may be widened. The right side room could be de-emphasized by not being masonry. More contrast in the color palette could be achieved with darker/richer masonry color. Patrick Schuerger, owner, said he thinks this design is a good transition from the corner house, which is a fair distance away, to this home and then the 2 ½ story traditional house to the north. The Board suggested the following: 1) provide a street massing view showing the adjacent garage to the south and house to the north; 2) submit a color palette for finishes; 3) study how to emphasize the front entry, this could include side lights or other details and consider two carriage lights on either side, and return the brick material to the door trim within the small alcove; 4) consider a rear deck or higher floor elevation under the rear overhang instead of two sets of steps; 5) study the horizontal trim details and rooflines throughout the house so there is more consistency; 6) study the front fascia details in relation to the head of the windows; 7) consider removing the carriage light in the right side masonry element; and 8) consider a darker brick color than the proposed lighter brick for some warmth and contrast. Submit revised plans for review at a future meeting. * * * * There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m. The next meeting will be April 7, 2025. _________________________________ _________________________________ James Neville, Chair Hans Walter, Vice Chair Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review 03/17/2025 Page 6 of 6