Architectural Board of Review

Architectural Board of Review Minutes Monday, June 2, 2025 8 A.M. Via Conference - Zoom Members Present: Hans Walter, Vice Chair David Berlekamp, Member Leslie DiNovi, Alternate Member Kevin Kennedy, 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 19, 2025 meeting. Approved. * * * * ABR24-000228 – 15400 South Woodland Road – Resubmission: Woodbury School Renovations. Mr. Feinstein reviewed the meeting notes from the last Architectural Board of Review and City Planning Commission Working Group meetings. Aaron Rodebaugh, GPD Group, explained the slight changes to the outline of the buildings. Mr. Feinstein said the City Planning Commission has approved the site plan and variances for the layout and parking. Abby Rainieri, GPD Group, reviewed the building interior layout and where the brick and glass transitions are visible. Mr. Rodebaugh reviewed the window modules. They added breaks to the windows facing Woodbury Road and vertical elements added to glass. The auditorium reduction has allowed that part of the building to be pushed back from the parking lot by 12 feet. Emphasis has been given to the corner elements facing Woodbury Road. Leann Andrysco, GPD Group, described the design studies that were considered during the design process. Mr. Rodebaugh described the changes to the third floor windows facing Woodbury Road. The changes are rhythmic but different than the other floors. He described the Woodbury Road entry with its trellis and a new overhang design with a curved entry canopy. Ms. Rainieri described the wall panels and detailed their texture referring to the metal wall paneling. Mr. Berlekamp asked if the wall panels have concealed fasteners. He would like to see some development and stone integration. He is concerned about the variation in the brick tones and brick coursing. He likes the coursing, but the dark brick tones seem overly busy. Mr. Walter said he agrees. He likes the brick detail and the patterning created. Consider using the existing brick color without the added dark tones. Ms. Andrysco said in the sun the lighter brick color seems less visually different. Mr. Walter said the original building has the same color brick throughout but the changes in pattern and shadow line give it character. Ms. Andrysco said these colors were chosen not just to have another brick color but to give detail like on the original building where they can’t implement as much variation or shadow lines. Mr. Rodebaugh said the reveal on the new building brick is only about ½ inch. Mr. Berlekamp said the dark brick may look forced. This is not a 1920’s building. He likes the clean modern detailing. The variation in window inset helps reinforce the detailing. Mr. Walter said the area of dark brick on the music wing needs study. Mr. Kennedy said some of the windows look flush to the brick and some pulled back. He likes the pulled back windows much better. He likes the new entry better than the previous design. He is not sure the canopy form is final, but he likes the variation. Ms. Andrysco showed the materials and explained the finish and color. Mr. Kennedy said the layout and dark brick color seems excessive. Mr. Walter said he likes the introduction of stone on the Onaway/Doan Brook elevation including the large base stone on the gym windows. He would suggest a stone header on the gym windows for additional verticality. There was discussion regarding the recessed brick areas. Mr. Walter said using a consistent color range of brick will help. He would suggest further study of extending these recesses to the top of the adjacent windows. He noted that at the Onaway field entry the detailing could be slimmer like the Doan Brook entry. The canopy at this doorway seems Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 2 of 9 too high. He would like to see the proportions here similar to the element adjacent the left connection of the original building. At the music wing he likes the seven window alternative, but it needs something else. Maybe they could be slimmer with a brick detail. The mechanicals screen should be the champagne color, or similar, in order to disappear. Mr. Berlekamp asked the material of the mechanical screen. Mr. Rodebaugh said it is flat metal. Mr. Walter said the overhang and shadow line at the mansard/education wing is too much. He would like to see that reduced. He asked about operable windows. Mr. Rodebaugh said they are still in discussion about operable windows. It is possible they will have one operable hopper window per classroom. This would only be located in the classrooms. Mr. Walter said he likes the fun shape of the front entry canopy. Can they tie the doors together somehow on loading dock elevation? Maybe with a horizontal detail that begins at the head of the higher door. The overall design seems to have progressed nicely. * * * * Mr. Kennedy left the meeting. * * * * Ms. Andrysco explained the rhythm of the windows. Mr. Berlekamp asked about the details of the window heads. Mr. Rodebaugh said all of the window heads have trim. Mr. Berlekamp asked the masonry bond pattern. Mr. Rodebaugh said it is a running bond with some stacked areas. The existing original building has a Flemish bond. Continued with the following comments: 1) review brick color choices and determine if simplified detailing of the brick courses is sufficient without darker brick; 2) review all window openings to confirm set back from the exterior wall; 3) suggest stone header band above the gym windows and to study raising the adjacent brick coursing details to match the window height; 4) lower canopy at the Onaway field entry; 5) review third floor windows; 6)study the Onaway field entry and perhaps make slimmer and add brick detail; 7) suggest the mechanical screen wall be champagne color in lieu of darker option; 8) resolve whether the classrooms will have operable windows; 9) reduce the edge of the coping at the mansard roof to create less shadow line; 10) study connecting the design of the loading dock wall doors with brick coursing; 11) work on window trim details in the metal panels; 12) work to add inset and protrusion of brick details; and 13) consider a base building detail; and 14) study stone banding and show spandrel glass options. Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 3 of 9 Submit revised plans for Board review. * * * * Ms. DiNovi joined the meeting. * * * * ABR25-000104 – 18575 Parkland Drive – Solar Panels. Stuart Lipp, Better Together Solar, explained their newest solar panel installation on this house will be 10 modules on the front roof of the house. They already have 9 existing solar panels on other roofs. Mr. Feinstein showed photos that the street view is obscured by trees. Mr. Walter asked if there are so many trees wouldn’t it make sense to have the panels on the rear roof. Mr. Lipp said 4.5 kw of production are added with the front roof installation over the rear roof even with the shade. Ms. DiNovi asked the length of the module. Mr. Lipp said each module is 42 by 70 inches. It was generally agreed the panels create a regular shape and line up well on the roof. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000105 – 2964 Courtland Road – Window Alteration. Marcus Huth, Infinity from Marvin, explained there was damage from a tree to a kitchen window. The window had leaded glass. The new window will have a dark brown exterior. Ms. Dinovi asked what color the proposed grids are. Mr. Huth said they are proposing rustic bronze color. Mr. Feinstein said there was a recent discussion with the Board regarding the color of grids for leaded glass window replacements centered around if dark grids disappear in the window. Mr. Huth said they did have a discussion with the owner as to whether bronze or black would be best. They thought black would be too dark. Mr. Walter said he has a sense that the bronze will look ok. The windows now have different colors Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 4 of 9 depending on where the sun is. Approved. * * * * ABR25-000107 – 14620 Shaker Boulevard – Window Alteration. Andrew Hajdin, Window Nation, explained they are proposing to replace two double hung windows on the third floor. The existing windows have leaded glass. They are proposing black grids. Mr. Feinstein asked what the options are for grid colors. Mr. Hajdin said they could do bronze. They also have black or coastal dune, like the frame color. There was discussion that this third floor window would be best in black grids. Approved with black grids. Submit revised plans for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000058 – 17715 Shaker Boulevard – Window Alteration. Ernest Demastus, Renewal by Andersen, explained there are 4 windows on the rear of the house they are proposing to install. They will order brown windows, but the windows will be painted the same as the remaining windows on the house. Mr. Feinstein asked if they will be using a special paint for the fibrex material. Mr. Demastus said they have done other windows like this in Shaker Heights. The window color will age just like the other painted details on the house. Approved with the condition that the new windows are painted the same color as the dormers. * * * * ABR25-000112 – 3133 Chadbourne Road – Solar Panels. Justin Scharfeld, YellowLite, said they are proposing 16 panels on the southwest facing front façade roof. The conduit will run off the rear of the house. Mr. Feinstein asked if all of the portions of the installation will be black in color. Mr. Scharfeld confirmed all of the panels and parts will be black. The Board discussed the proposed panel location and layout. They asked that the measurements of Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 5 of 9 the roof be confirmed. They agreed a solid rectangular form is preferred, with all of the panels in the same orientation. Approved with the condition that the panels are installed with the same orientation and as one rectangular form. Submit revised plans for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000110 – 3708 Warrensville Center Road – Window Alteration. Rostislav Arnaut, Argo Inc., said they are proposing to replace all of the windows on this apartment building. He described the new window layout as having one operable window per opening. The operable window location changes depending on where the opening is on the building. There was general discussion of how the different window opening sizes and configurations will lay out on the building. The Board expressed a need to see that layout in context on a drawing in order to review further. Continued for the applicant to provide elevation drawings of each side of the building showing the different window types in the existing window openings. Submit elevation drawings for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000111 – 23759 Wimbledon Road – Window Alteration. Victor Klimchuk, Keselman Construction, said they are proposing to alter a window on the west elevation. This will allow them to reconfigure the inside of the restroom to accommodate the shower on this wall. He said this is the only window in the room. They do wish to retain natural light. Mr. Berlekamp asked about the siding material. Mr. Klimchuk said it is a standard white vinyl siding. They will match the existing siding. The Board discussed options for the new window. They discussed having a window sized the same as the upper sash of the existing window. Approved a new window with the condition that the size and grids are the same as the top sash of the existing window. Submit revised quote and drawing for administrative review. * * * * Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 6 of 9 ABR25-000045 – 2887 Kingsley Road – Vinyl Siding. Corey Mendes, The Third Estimate, explained they are re-siding the entire house. They also will replace some windows and install a new roof. The existing siding is wood. They are also removing the shutters on the front of the house. The new siding will be installed on top of the existing wood siding. Mr. Feinstein asked if the shutters will be reinstalled. Scott Stratman, homeowner, said they will be putting the shutters back up. Mr. Berlekamp asked how the window and entry details will be treated. Mr. Mendes said the contract indicates only the sills will be capped. Mr. Berlekamp said he doubts there is enough depth in the existing window trim to accommodate the new siding. Mr. Feinstein said all the window trim needs to be built out so it is proud of the new siding. He asked how the arch above a side gable end window is being replicated. Mr. Mendes said he will need to talk to the project manager. The Board discussed the trim under the soffit at the gable end. It is not clear how this trim connection will be resolved. Continued for the applicant to provide the following: 1) confirmation that all of the window trim will be built out to be proud of the new siding material; 2) detailed explanation of how the fascia board is retained; 3) show how the existing arch window detail in the gambrel end is replicated/built out; 4) resolve how the siding and existing trim at the rear entry porch are being treated. Submit updated plans for Board review. * * * * ABR25-000114 – 2958 Fontenay Road – Porch Alteration. Heather Davies, Davies Architecture, explained there is a screen porch at the rear corner of the house that is proposed to be turned into a 4 season room. The screens will be replaced with windows, as close as possible to the existing pattern. The existing brackets at the posts will be kept with the windows installed on the interior. There is also a new double French door. Mr. Walter asked the door size. Ms. Davies said it is 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide and hung as inswing. Jay Costantini, homeowner, said they may add a lower solid section on the doors to match the area Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 7 of 9 below the adjacent windows. It has not yet been decided. Ms. DiNovi asked the color/finish. Ms. Davies said they will match the existing paint color. They are using Pella Reserve custom line windows with grids to match the leaded look. Mr. Walter said continuing the horizontal at the window break is a good idea. Approved with the condition that the French doors have a kick plate to match the height of the trim at the bottom of the windows. Submit revised plans for administrative review. * * * * ABR25-000115 – 20040 Van Aken Boulevard – Signage: Five Iron Golf. Mr. Feinstein noted this space was previously 1899 Golf. The proposed blade sign is not code conforming for Shaker Plaza. He did have a discussion of signage type and size with the designer. Mark Branovic, Advanced Signs, said the main sign is channel letters lit by LED and flush to the fascia. The existing canopy can be altered to remove the word “Bowling” in order to meet code. Mr. Feinstein said the awning sign is limited to 9 inch high letters by code for a secondary awning sign. The “Bowling” letters under the other copy exceeds that letter height. Nora Dunnan, Five Iron Golf, said the letters for the word ‘Bowling’ are only 4 inches high. Could this somehow be allowed as it is part of their identity? Mr. Berlekamp asked if the blade signage layout could be replicated on the building wall sign. Ms. Dunnan said the former 1899 Golf wall sign on the Farnsleigh elevation was virtually invisible. Ms. Braverman noted that the Shaker Plaza Local Sign District could be changed to accommodate blade signs. Mr. Walter said a blade sign seems like a type of sign found near an entry. There is not an entry near the location of this sign. Ms. Braverman noted an artistic mural sign is also possible. Approved the Five Iron Golf wall sign at the entry. Continued the other signage. 1) Detroit Duckpin Bowling sign for details of the alignment of the sign and how the “Bowling” box works on the canopy face and 2) investigate wall or mural type signage on the Farnsleigh Road side of the building. Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 8 of 9  * * * * There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m. The next meeting will be June 16, 2025. _________________________________ _________________________________ James Neville, Chair Hans Walter, Vice Chair Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review Architectural Board of Review 06/02/2025 Page 9 of 9