Architectural Board of Review

Architectural Board of Review Minutes Monday, May 19, 2025 8 A.M. Via Conference - Zoom Members Present: James Neville, Chair Leslie DiNovi, Alternate Member Vincent Leskosky, Alternate Member 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 May 5, 2025 meeting. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000085– 2885 Litchfield Road – Window Alteration. David Hodous, Hodous Construction, explained they are replacing windows on the rear elevation. The existing windows adjacent the rear entry are cottage windows. The rest of the windows on the house are double hung windows. They propose to replace these two cottage windows with standard double hung windows to match the rest of the house. Mr. Neville asked if the window on the side wall in another photo is in the same room. Mr. Hodous said yes, that is another kitchen window. The owners are committed to doing one side at a time. Mr. Neville said the proposed double hung window changes the grid orientation. Was there any discussion with the owner for casement or awning windows? There was discussion regarding the options for these replacement windows. There was agreement to match the exterior grid pattern in the new window with a casement window. Approved a 15 lite casement window.  * * * * ABR25-000087 – 16850 South Woodland Road – Wall. Bill Hance, New Vista Enterprises, explained they are proposing a low, curved wall in front of the circular driveway. This is a 2 foot 4 inch tall wall with 3-foot tall piers. It will be landscaped on both sides. The finish is a sandstone veneer finish and sandstone caps. Mr. Feinstein noted a variance is required for the current free-standing wall location as it is too close to the street. A compliant location is 2/3 of the setback from the street. The Board agreed the wall finish is fine. They suggested inverting the curve to move it to a code- compliant location. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000088 – 2968 Glengary Road – Window Alteration. Jeff Vasicek, Gunton Corporation, explained there are large leaded glass windows on the front and rear of the house, directly opposite each other in the home. They are proposing a picture window in the center and cottage windows flanking it. The new windows are proposed to be satin steel in color and have black grids between the glass to emulate the leading. Mr. Feinstein said the change is just removing the horizontal mull between the two windows in the center. Mr. Neville said the architecture on the right side of the house is different than on the left side of the front entry. The existing horizontal rail is awkward. There was discussion regarding the color options available for the new window grids and what would look more like traditional leading. Continued in order for the applicant to provide a photo of the satin steel color sample next to the existing leading and a better photo of the front elevation window which is proposed to be replaced. Submit photos for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000049 – 3671 Lytle Road – Resubmission: Window Alteration. Chris Milowicki, contractor, said he met with the owners and they would prefer a full picture window on the rear elevation in order to have the most appropriate look. Approved. Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 2 of 9  * * * * ABR25-000090 – 3219 Somerset Road – New Siding. Entry Alteration. Herb Schoen, The Home Corporation, explained there is an addition on the house that has 7 inch Hardi shake siding, which is already different from the wood lap siding on the house. They are proposing double 7 inch vinyl shake siding on the rest of the house in Desert Tan color. The new vinyl matches the color and profile of the addition. They are also proposing a change to the front entry in order to create a portico. Ms. DiNovi asked if they will be removing the existing house siding. Mr. Schoen said no, they will be installing the new siding over the existing and building out the window frames. Ms. DiNovi noted the new portico should not have dentil trim on the portico as there is no trim like that on the house. It should be more like the house trim. There was discussion regarding the front entry design and materials. Approved the siding installation with the condition that revised drawings are provided to reflect the shake siding throughout the house. Continued the entry portico for the applicant to provide the following: 1) a less intricate crown molding in place of the proposed dentil molding; 2) column design to match the existing pilasters; 3) material descriptions/colors for all portions of the stoop and stairs; and 4) clear photos of the existing entry conditions of the house. Submit revised documents for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000074 – 3604 Gridley Road – New Siding. Chuck Conway, WeatherSeal Home Services, said they are proposing to cover the house including all of the half-timbering and stucco areas with new double 4 inch vinyl siding. The color will be Savannah Wicker. Only the first floor of the front façade will not be sided. Ms. DiNovi asked if there are issues with the stucco or wood portions of the Tudor details that require replacement. Mr. Conway said the owner does not like the appearance of the Tudor style. These materials are not in bad shape. Mr. Neville said Tudor style homes are found throughout Shaker Heights. The style of home is consistent with typical Tudor details. He believes the proposed siding change would have an adverse effect on the architecture of the house. This is not an improvement. The existing shake sided areas around the sides and rear of the house could have vinyl siding, but it must be a double 5 inch width. Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 3 of 9 Denied covering the Tudor details including all stucco, half-timbering and chimney in vinyl siding. Approved vinyl siding only over the existing wood siding sections with the condition that a double 5 inch profile is used. Submit revised plans for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000071 – 3722 Sudbury Road – Resubmission: Window Alteration. Mr. Feinstein explained this item was reviewed at the last meeting. The existing slider windows are proposed to be replaced with slider windows. There are no records of a permit for the existing slider windows and there are no original plans showing what the windows looked like when the house was built. Travis Brown, Renewal by Andersen, explained what was requested at the last meeting and that the homeowners want to keep slider windows. Larry Ferrell, homeowner, said they want new slider windows to match what they have. The metal slider windows could be the original windows in the house. There is no evidence they are not original. He said there are many other homes on his street that have slider windows. Mr. Brown said the second floor front bedroom windows are not large enough for egress in an awning or casement style. A glider window will allow easy removal of the sash and is the better option. Mr. Ferrell said if he cannot have what he wants, he will not make the investment in his house. Mr. Neville said the windows on the front second floor are horizontal. They have to be sensitive to the egress in a bedroom. He accepts the slider windows with grids in these windows. The windows would then more accurately reflect the colonial style of the home. Approved slider windows on the front façade second floor windows with the condition that grids are proposed. Approved slider windows on the larger side elevation windows. The smaller existing slider windows must be replaced with fixed or awning windows. Submit revised plans for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000091 – 3299 Lee Road - Gazebo. Victor Hernandez, homeowner, said there is an existing concrete pad at the rear of the house. The gazebo will be on the far side. It is a pre-fabricated gazebo with cedar wood and a dark grey color Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 4 of 9 galvanized steel roof. Ms. DiNovi asked how it will be anchored. Mr. Hernandez said it will be anchored directly to the slab. He specifically chose a model that had secure anchors. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000094 – 20438 Almar Road – Roof Material. Brett Jacques, Pally Roofing, said they are proposing 26 gauge standing seam metal roofing for the house and the garage. The color is matte black. Mr. Feinstein said there is no precedent for metal roof on an historic house of this design. Standing seam metal roofing has been allowed on a couple of new modern design houses, and only for bay windows and portico roofs on historic style houses. Mr. Leskosky said the black standing seam metal seems to be a trend for modern farmhouse style homes. This house is not that style and roofing that is more like the original roofing materials would be most appropriate. Denied a standing seam metal roof. * * * * ABR25-000062 – 2946 Manchester Road – Resubmission: New Siding. Mr. Feinstein reviewed the notes from the previous meeting. Greg Klicpera, Home Genius Exteriors, said the new Hardi siding has a 6 ¼ inch drop. The existing is 8 inch. They can use panels and crown molding to recreate the existing window header details. The owner would like the outside corner boards to be white in color. Mr. Leskosky asked the dimensions of the corner boards. Mr. Klicpera said it is 3 ½ inch smooth corners. Ms. DiNovi said white corners would be more for a colonial style home. It is not appropriate for this house. Mr. Neville said white corners will take away from the other white trim elements on the house. The Board agreed the corners should match the body color of the house. Approved with the following conditions: 1) the window heads are rebuilt to match the existing Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 5 of 9 original condition; and 2) that the corner boards are the same color as the horizontal wall siding color. * * * * ABR25-000096 – 21169 Claythorne Road – Window Alteration. James Guggenheim, contractor, said they are proposing to alter two windows on the driveway side of the house from the existing double hung to casement windows with infill panels below. The panels will be painted the same color as the trim on the house. Ms. Dinovi said she would like to see more detailing on the panel. There was agreement that another trim piece should be added and the flower box removed. Approved with the following conditions: 1) that the flower box is removed from below one window; and 2) that the new panels have additional trim detail. Submit revised panel trim detail for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000097 – 3401 Tuttle Road – Sign: Orabi Orthodontics. Mark Branovic, Advanced Installation and Sign, explained the sign has illuminated channel letters spaced 1 ½ inch off the wall. Abrahim Orabi, Orabi Orthodontics, tenant, said it will not be lit the entire day. They had to reduce the letter sizes because the arc/smile is included as part of the sign size for zoning. Mr. Feinstein explained the guidelines for signage being a maximum of 50 square feet and 13 inch high letters for office signage in the Van Aken District. Susan Frankel, RMS, explained the existing McGlinchey sign is within the allowed square footage, even though it was allowed to have larger letters. The arc at the left of the lettering restricts the size of the sign overall, limiting the size of the letters allowed. Mr. Leskosky asked the color the lettering for the sign. Ms. Frankel said they are white faces with black returns. Mr. Neville said the stroke of the letters is so fine it makes the sign harder to read at this sign’s location. He would suggest a bolder letter stroke/font to enhance legibility. Approved. The Board suggested 24/7 illumination or a bolder font for increased visibility. * * * * Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 6 of 9 ABR25-000052 – 3385 Tuttle Road – Resubmission: Storefront Alteration. Ben Gingrich, HSB Architects, said there are now solid panels around the door as requested by the Board. He understands there were concerns regarding wayfinding, but that final sign package will be submitted separately. They have located any proposed signage in the horizontal band above the new panels. Susan Frankel, Susan Frankel & Associates, said the new panel arrangement allows for the entry ADA clearances to be met. The client is working on a sign package. Mr. Feinstein noted film has been proposed to the upper glass panels to hide the new mechanicals for the new tenant. There was general agreement the design was appropriate and the sign location works. The upper window film should be dark in color. Approved the entry alteration with the installation of a nearby blade sign. * * * * ABR25-000098 – 2757 Landon Road - Addition. Josh Shaffer, Builder Pro, explained the parameters of this new one story addition. Mr. Feinstein noted the addition had been held back from the corner of the house. He asked what materials are proposed for the exterior. Mr. Shaffer said the foundation brick will be painted white, and vinyl siding used to match the house. The roof pitch and asphalt shingle also match what is on the house. Mr. Neville asked about the windows. Will the window casings match the house window details? Mr. Shaffer said the three large windows face the rear yard. They will be using azek materials to match the house window trim. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000086 – 22870 Canterbury Road – Landscape Elements. Charles Pearce, contractor, explained this is a small area to have a flat top and standard stove top outside. The frame is covered in stucco and it will have a sandstone countertop. It is located in front of the brick pillars that are already in the yard. Approved with the condition that the applicant provide notes on the plans of the exterior materials. Submit updated plan for administrative review. Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 7 of 9  * * * * ABR25-000099 – 3643 Gridley Road – Window and Door Alterations. Jim Karlovec, Karlovec & Company, explained this is a multi-phase project. First they are looking at the first floor sunroom. They are not looking for final approval, just want to discuss the options they have put together. He described three optional doors, one with the same opening and one wider, like the second floor windows. Mr. Leskosky said he is fine with either option. Mr. Neville agreed. There was discussion regarding the extended roof and how that should be incorporated. Generally approved of a door in the existing window opening or a door to match the upstairs window width. The final revised design option for entry alterations needs to be submitted for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000100 – 3010 Torrington Road – Entry Alteration. Erik Swain, contractor, explained most of the exterior materials on this small addition are having problems with deterioration. They propose to replace the entry door area in its entirety to be a sliding door instead of the single entry door with side lites. Ms. DiNovi asked if the door sill could be raised high enough to prevent further rot. Mr. Swain said that would require the interior floor to be raised as well. They will detail the new door so rot does not occur. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000101 – 3687 Latimore Road – Window Alteration. Rostislav Arnaut, Argo Corp, explained the windows to be replaced. There was general agreement that the first floor windows are taller and should be 5 lites high. Approved with the condition that the first floor front windows are 5 lites high. Submit revised window quote for administrative review. * * * * Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 8 of 9 ABR25-000035 – 23425 Bryden Road – Resubmission: New House. Mr. Feinstein reviewed the notes from the previous meeting. Bob Myers, ProBuilt Homes, explained the revisions based on the Board comments. Mr. Feinstein asked about the front step and stoop material. Mr. Myers said the step and stoop are proposed as part of the foundation when it is poured. Mr. Feinstein noted where the Board has allowed a concrete step and stoop on a new house, the concreted has been dyed. There was discussion regarding the finish color of the concrete step. Approved with the condition that the front porch floor is dark tinted concrete. * * * * ABR25-000078 – 3455 Colton Road – New Garage. Mr. Feinstein explained this is a new garage since the previous garage was destroyed in a fire and showed the material panel. The Board agreed no concrete block is permitted to be visible. The foundation wall must be rubbed smooth while green to remove the form marks. Approved with the condition that a revised site plan is submitted. * * * * There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at12:15 a.m. The next meeting will be June 2, 2025. _________________________________ _________________________________ James Neville, Chair Hans Walter, Vice Chair Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review 05/19/2025 Page 9 of 9