Architectural Board of Review

Architectural Board of Review Minutes Monday, April 21, 2025 8 A.M. Via Conference - Zoom Members Present: James Neville, Chair Hans Walter, Vice Chair David Berlekamp, Member Vincent 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. * * * * Approval of Minutes from the April 7, 2025 meeting. Approved * * * * ABR25-000035 – 23425 Bryden Road – Resubmission: New House. Mr. Feinstein reviewed the comments from the previous meetings. The applicant has submitted revised plans. Bob Myers, ProBuilt Homes, said they revised the plan per the Board suggestions. He showed the option for white garage doors and the higher pitched roof. He also showed an option for brown garage doors as suggested with a lower pitch on the roof. They have moved the bedroom bump out back by two feet and moved the front entry wall out by two feet. They plan a curved front entry walk with a full landscape plan. Windows have been added in the gable ends. Mr. Leskosky asked what material is proposed for the foundation. Mr. Myers said it is the same stone applied to the front elevation is proposed to be applied to the poured foundation. Mr. Berlekamp noted lowering the pitch of the roof helps the building appearance. Mr. Feinstein asked for a material sample board for the house, including the stone material, is shown with the other colors proposed. Mr. Neville said he also likes the lower roof pitch. There was discussion regarding the window muntin patterns around the house. Mr. Neville noted the window grid relationships are important throughout the home as the grid patterns change based on the window sizes. Mr. Feinstein asked about the rear step material. The plans are noted as Trex. This is unusual when the steps are directly off the masonry foundation. Mr. Myers said the rear steps can be like the front steps with stone risers and concrete treads. Mr. Leskosky asked why the front dormer size is reduced in the lower pitch roof. The dormer is better and more useful with the higher dormer option. He noted the white garage doors seem to emphasize the white massing of the garage space. He likes the darker garage door option. Mr. Neville said he appreciates the extra design work to emphasize the front entry area. Continued for the applicant to: 1) provide material and color sample board; 2) review window locations, sizes, and grid patterns throughout the house, considering alternate styles in order for the head heights, grid lite proportions, and sizes to be consistent throughout the house; 3) implement the lower pitched roof design, with the larger dormer above the entry as shown in the rendering; 4) prefer the brown garage door option; and 5) front garage and bedroom small roof forms should both have a straight return. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000062 – 2946 Manchester Road – New Composite Siding. Brandon Kline, Home Genius Exteriors, said they are proposing Hardi cedar mill 5 inch lap siding. The existing wood shake material will be removed. Mr. Walter asked the drop of the existing cedar siding. Mr. Kline said he believes it is 7 or 8 inches to weather. Mr. Berlekamp said he would like to see a sample of the proposed color against the current house wall color. Mr. Feinstein asked about the window and trim details. Mr. Kline said it will probably have Z-flashing. The Board noted it is important for the existing sill and head details to remain, and to remain consistent throughout the house. Architectural Board of Review 04/21/2025 Page 2 of 8 Mr. Kline said they use 4 inch Hardi trim, which is ¾ inch thick. It will be consistent, but not have the head detail. Mr. Walter said he does not want to lose those header details. This house has subtle details that must be maintained. Mr. Feinstein asked the color of the trim and corner boards. Mr. Kline said the trim and corners are proposed to be white. The Board agreed the corners must be the grey body color. Tabled with the following comments: 1) confirmation and detail of window trim details to retain the head detail found on all windows on this house; 2) photo confirmation of proposed color against the existing house color; 3) confirmed drop height of the proposed material, the wider the better; and 4) revised plans to show grey corner boards to match the walls and white trim. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000026 – 21176 Brantley Road – Resubmission: Addition. Cory Brown, Payne and Tompkins, said they have researched the roof materials as suggested. Re- claimed slate is somewhat better, but copper is still out of reach. They do hope to use the metal roof material. Mr. Neville said he is concerned that the metal roof color will fade and it will not look appropriate in a few years. There was discussion regarding using a darker color metal roofing. Continued for the applicant to provide the following: 1) photos of the metal roof material against the existing roof material; 2) revise the material on the west elevation drawings to show the wood material; and 3) the new roofline needs to be below the existing house roof fascia to allow a proper flashing detail. Submit photos of the roof material colors for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000064 – 14600 Shaker Boulevard - Addition. Eli Mahler, architect, explained these changes are due to a kitchen alteration. There are exterior considerations for window location. This is a small addition. The drawings show a dentil detail, but it will match the adjacent first floor trim, so no dentil detailing will be used. They will use new and reclaimed brick under the windows on the rear. The side elevation will be new brick. Architectural Board of Review 04/21/2025 Page 3 of 8 Mr. Walter said the existing side windows are double hung windows, but the drawings show a single window with a panel. The drawings need to be adjusted to match the existing condition. Mr. Mahler said they can propose to keep the window, but it will not be visible on the interior. Mr. Feinstein said a black laminate panel on the interior of the window will allow them to retain the fenestration on the outside while creating usable wall space on the interior. Approved with the following conditions: 1) remove dentil detail from the addition and match the existing first floor trim; 2) use black laminate inside the existing side elevation window and retain the fenestration; 3) revise addition footprint to be held back from the corner of the house by several inches to allow the trim to return to the brick quoin detail; 4) note that mortar will match existing; and 5) update drawings of window in new addition area to reflect a double hung window type. Submit revised drawings for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000067 – 3471 Milverton Road – Siding—As-Built. William Fugo, architect, explained the expanded deck will be altered to match the approved plans. The built structure is correct, just the bottom enclosure and decking material are different. The siding was approved to be straight lap, but dutch lap siding was used. Ray Mitchell, Immaculate Management, LLC, said this is not their first rehab in Shaker Heights, but this is the first time it has been done incorrectly. The siding is the same color and size, and has the same details as was approved. There was general discussion of how the style of this home was compatible with the dutchlap siding. Approved with the following conditions: 1) the front stoop gutters are straightened; and 2) the rear porch is detailed as was approved originally. * * * * ABR25-000068 – 2683 Green Road - Siding. Mr. Feinstein explained vinyl siding installation on the house began without permit or review. Mr. McMillen, said they are using double 4 inch vinyl siding. The trim and soffit need to be completed. Mr. Feinstein noted he was able to stop by the house and obtain photos. He noted at that time that the window casings have not been built out. This trim will need to be restored. Mr. Neville asked if the frieze board at the bay window will be wrapped. Architectural Board of Review 04/21/2025 Page 4 of 8 Mr. McMillen said they are going to extend the siding to the bottom on the sides and wrap the front frieze. Mr. Neville said it is important that the frieze wrap the bump out to the left, near the door, to retain the existing detail. Ms. Beck asked if the shutters will be reinstalled. Betty Howard, homeowner, said shutters will be reinstalled on the front façade. Approved with the following conditions: 1) the window trim is retained and built out to be proud of the new vinyl siding; and 2) the frieze board at the front bay is wrapped in aluminum and returns to the house wall. Submit plans to detail this work for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000065 – 3711 Townley Road - Siding. Mark Polomsky, Empire Window, said they are proposing to side the rear porch enclosure. Mr. Feinstein asked if there are new windows. Mr. Polomsky said it appears there are, but their company did not do the work. They propose double 4 inch vinyl in Juniper Green color. Mr. Walter said he would prefer a white color siding on the addition. White matches the other trim on the house. Mr. Leskosky said he also prefers white. The nearby bay window should also be painted white. Approved with the condition that the new siding is white in color and that the bay window should be painted white. Submit revised plans for white siding and painting the bay window. * * * * ABR25-000069 – 3420 Lee Road – GCRTA Walls on Van Aken Boulevard from Ashby Road to Avalon Road. Mr. Feinstein explained the work that will be done and the location of the RTA walls where the Blue Line Rapid is below grade. Jonathan Hren, MS Consultants, said most of the wall is deteriorating. Some areas are completely deteriorated. They are removing the entirety of the brick fascia from Ashby to Avalon. Architectural Board of Review 04/21/2025 Page 5 of 8 Derek Meinke, Greater Cleveland RTA, said their goal is to re-do the brick face and change the base from the curved brick to a cast concrete base. He showed pictures of the new Shaker Boulevard wall. The grates will be removed from in front of the tree wells and trees planted in the empty wells. They are proposing Hawthorne trees after working with the City. Changing the base allows the brick to only be in vertical areas. The new concrete base will be stained. The walls are a thin brick surface and the parking lot and end unit areas will have full brick. This choice is based on the depth of the wall caps. The brick color will match the existing. Mr. Neville said in the interest of longevity, the interior supports should be reinforced during renovation of the exterior. There was general discussion of the construction details which are still being designed. Approved with the condition that the detail drawings of the new wall face are provided for review to ensure longevity. Submit revised details for administrative review. * * * * ABR24-000169 – 3380 Milverton Road – Resubmission: Rear Porch. Mr. Feinstein explained the change to the window size and type that is proposed. Mr. Berlekamp said the proportion of the new grids is in keeping with the house windows. There was discussion regarding other first floor windows. Mr. Berlekamp asked if the new window trim will be 4 inches like the rest of the house. Steve McWhorter, contractor, confirmed the trim will match the rest of the house. Mr. Neville said he would prefer trim between the three windows on the rear elevation instead of small portions of siding. Approved with the condition that there is only wider trim between the three windows on the rear elevation and the 4 inch wide siding around all of the new windows and door to match the house trim detail. Submit revised plan to show this detail, for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000070 – 15901 Onaway Road – Preliminary Review: New House. Jason Baylor, Payne and Payne Builders, said the owner has been working with Mike Caito, architect, on this new house. The siding is smooth fiber cement siding and cultured stone. There will also be shutters. There is a rear facing garage and asphalt shingles for the roof. They propose Marvin Architectural Board of Review 04/21/2025 Page 6 of 8 Elevate windows with simulated divided lites, which are fiberglass windows. Mr. Feinstein said he would like to see a comparison of the contours and framing sizes for fiberglass versus wood windows. Wood, or wood clad, windows are required by the Infill Design Guidelines for new homes. Mr. Walter said this house design looks appropriate and fits with the fabric of the neighborhood. He asked about the faux column in the garage volume. He asked they consider removing this. Mr. Baylor said that error has already been removed from the most current plans. Mr. Feinstein asked for the Board’s throughts on a stone foundation as shown versus a brick foundation. Mr. Neville said he would prefer brick for longevity of materials. Discussion held. The Board asked the applicant to consider the following: 1) brick foundation where stone is not the wall material; 2) removal of the inside corner column at the garage/house juncture; 3) resolution of the stone material termination at the left elevation/master suite wall; 4 ) provide a plan showing the massing against the neighbor’s houses; 5) use 2 wide 4 high grids for the two kitchen casement windows; and 6) submit a material and color board to better the materials and the stone appearance. Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000066 – 18530 Lomond Boulevard – Solar Panels. Justin Scharfeld, Yellowlite, representing Betsie Norris, homeowner. Approved administratively. * * * * ABR25-000059 – 3591 Lytle Road – Window Alteration: Removal of Leaded Glass. Anthony Brown, Infinity from Marvin, representing Ellen and Peter Velez, homeowners. Applicant not preset. Item not reviewed. * * * * ABR25-000054 – 3346 Braemar Road – New Vinyl Siding. Clinton Matthews, Biltmore Exteriors, representing Matthew and Negar Melago, homeowners. Applicant not present, item not reviewed. Architectural Board of Review 04/21/2025 Page 7 of 8  * * * * There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next meeting will be May 5, 2025. _________________________________ _________________________________ James Neville, Chair Hans Walter, Vice Chair Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review 04/21/2025 Page 8 of 8