OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Alexandria Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing - April 29, 2026

Public Meetings — Wednesday, April 29, 2026
BodyAlexandria, Virginia
SessionPublic Meetings
DateWednesday, April 29, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:34:23
Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

All right.

0:04

This meeting is called to order.

0:08

We will proceed tonight with applications and other agenda items.

0:12

The order indicated on the docket.

0:14

Limited copies of tonight's agenda are available in the back right there.

0:19

If you're an applicant, please be sure to read uh the staff report for your application.

0:24

For each application, we'll we'll proceed in the following order of business.

0:28

The applicant or his order representatives will have an opportunity to either give a presentation in or just answer questions from the board.

0:35

Then the public will have an opportunity to comment.

0:38

Once public comments are closed, the board will deliberate.

0:42

The board can ask questions, further questions, and have a discussion with the applicants, no more public comment at that time.

0:48

Then the board will do one of a number of things.

0:51

They can vote on a motion to issue a certificate of appropriateness to conditional issue with commissions added by the board to deny that certificate of appropriateness.

1:02

Or if the applicant requests and wants to make some modifications based on the discussion, the applicant can ask for a deferral and the board board can vote on that.

1:12

The board can also take no action.

1:14

If the board takes no action, um after a period of 45 days, all applications are deemed approved.

1:21

So it's on the board to approve the application.

1:24

It can't hold up the process.

1:26

The board can also vote to continue an application until the next meeting.

1:30

Next meeting is two weeks away, and uh it would be just a continuation of the discussion.

1:35

Uh a couple of comments on voting motions passed by a simple majority vote.

1:41

If there's a tie vote, that is a no.

1:44

And if the board does vote to deny an application, a similar application cannot be considered for a period of one year, and that's in the municipality.

1:53

Um the board occasionally takes up matters other than applications for a certificate of appropriateness.

2:00

Uh that is the case tonight.

2:02

We're going to be looking at different types of fiber cement, and uh we'll give the public an opportunity to comment on it.

2:10

There's no action that's going to be taking place, it's really informational.

2:13

Um, and finally, any decision of the board can be appealed to the city council.

2:19

Um applications have to be made within 14 days of the board's decision.

2:24

So with that, we're gonna get started.

2:25

Mr.

2:26

Aki Uh minutes.

2:28

All right.

2:29

Um does anyone on the board wish to suggest modifications from the minutes of the April 8th meeting.

2:39

Do any members of the public have changes to the April 8th meeting minutes?

2:46

Hearing none, uh, can I have a motion on the minutes?

2:48

So moved.

2:50

Thank you.

2:52

All those in favor of adopting the minutes say aye.

2:55

Aye.

2:56

Any opposed?

2:57

Any opposed?

2:58

The minutes are adopted.

3:00

On to new business, I think.

3:02

Yes, all right.

3:03

Thank you.

3:03

And um, and I will ask the board members, please speak up so that everyone in the room can hear you.

3:07

Um, I think sounds like already already we have a better two six than we did in the last room, so hopefully this will help.

3:12

Uh okay.

3:13

First item under new business tonight is item number three, uh, BAR 2026-00064, old and historic district.

3:21

Request for operations at 608 South Fairfax Street.

3:24

Applicant is Ramesh Panuru and represented by Donald Foster agent.

3:31

Right.

3:32

Where's our application?

3:33

Here, uh, where would we like our applicants?

3:35

Just in front.

3:36

Have it right here in the middle.

3:37

Uh, just like seated or standing.

3:39

Standing right here in the middle.

3:40

Okay, you can stand, or if you want to sit, you can take a seat.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation███████████████████████████████████████39%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████25%
Planning And Zoning████████████████16%
Miscellaneous███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Alexandria Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing - April 29, 2026

Note: The agenda and minutes indicate this meeting occurred on April 22, 2026, but the provided date is April 29, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.

The Board of Architectural Review held a public hearing on April 29, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers at Del Pepper Community Resource Center. The board considered several applications for certificates of appropriateness, a design guidelines committee update, and an informational presentation on fiber cement siding. The meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • The board approved the minutes of the April 8, 2026 meeting by a vote of 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Colin Glee (27 South Albert Street) spoke in support of the demolition of a garage at 707 Oronoco Street, noting that the property is already livable and the garage is not needed.
  • A resident (Colin Glee) also provided general comments on historic district regulations, advocating for allowing double-pane windows and fiber cement siding to improve livability and energy efficiency. The board clarified that double-pane windows are permitted in certain configurations and that the design guidelines are being updated.

Discussion Items

  • BAR2026-00064 – 608 South Fairfax Street (OHAD): Request for alterations including a six-panel door with glass inserts. The applicant argued the door is appropriate for the Federal Revival style. Staff recommended denial. The board voted 5-1 to deny the application, with Chair Scott voting against. The applicant was advised they could use a previously administratively approved design or install a storm door.
  • BAR2026-00074 – 707 Oronoco Street (OHAD): Request for complete demolition and encapsulation of a garage built circa 1958. The applicant plans to convert the property to residential use. No public opposition. The board voted 6-0 to approve as submitted.
  • BAR2026-00076 – 115 Queen Street (OHAD): Request for roof replacement. The applicant sought to replace slate with a synthetic slate alternative due to availability and cost. Staff recommended approval of a synthetic slate product. The board voted 6-0 to approve as amended, authorizing the applicant to work with staff to select a suitable synthetic slate product other than the proposed Brava.
  • BAR2026-00071 – 732 North Washington Street (OHAD): Request for partial demolition and encapsulation. The applicant requested a deferral, which was approved without objection.
  • BAR2026-00078 – 1019 Cameron Street (Parker Gray): Request for partial demolition and encapsulation. The applicant requested a deferral, which was approved without objection.
  • Design Guidelines Committee Update: Staff presented a proposal to complete the remaining 20 chapters of the design guidelines in three batches over the next year, incorporating community meetings. The board voted 6-0 to approve the committee updates and reaffirm the committee membership.
  • Fiber Cement Discussion: Staff presented an informational overview of various fiber cement siding products, including HardyPlank, Artisan, architectural panels, Nichiha, Sericlad, Equitone, and Swiss Pearl, discussing their characteristics, installation methods, and appropriate applications. The board did not take any formal action.

Key Outcomes

  • The board denied BAR2026-00064 (608 S Fairfax St) by a 5-1 vote.
  • The board approved BAR2026-00074 (707 Oronoco St) as submitted (6-0).
  • The board approved BAR2026-00076 (115 Queen St) as amended (6-0).
  • The board approved deferrals for BAR2026-00071 and BAR2026-00078 without objection.
  • The board approved the Design Guidelines Committee Updates (6-0).
  • The board received an informational presentation on fiber cement; no action taken.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right. This meeting is called to order. We will proceed tonight with applications and other agenda items. The order indicated on the docket. Limited copies of tonight's agenda are available in the back right there. If you're an applicant, please be sure to read uh the staff report for your application. For each application, we'll we'll proceed in the following order of business. The applicant or his order representatives will have an opportunity to either give a presentation in or just answer questions from the board. Then the public will have an opportunity to comment. Once public comments are closed, the board will deliberate. The board can ask questions, further questions, and have a discussion with the applicants, no more public comment at that time. Then the board will do one of a number of things. They can vote on a motion to issue a certificate of appropriateness to conditional issue with commissions added by the board to deny that certificate of appropriateness. Or if the applicant requests and wants to make some modifications based on the discussion, the applicant can ask for a deferral and the board board can vote on that. The board can also take no action. If the board takes no action, um after a period of 45 days, all applications are deemed approved. So it's on the board to approve the application. It can't hold up the process. The board can also vote to continue an application until the next meeting. Next meeting is two weeks away, and uh it would be just a continuation of the discussion. Uh a couple of comments on voting motions passed by a simple majority vote. If there's a tie vote, that is a no. And if the board does vote to deny an application, a similar application cannot be considered for a period of one year, and that's in the municipality. Um the board occasionally takes up matters other than applications for a certificate of appropriateness. Uh that is the case tonight. We're going to be looking at different types of fiber cement, and uh we'll give the public an opportunity to comment on it. There's no action that's going to be taking place, it's really informational. Um, and finally, any decision of the board can be appealed to the city council. Um applications have to be made within 14 days of the board's decision. So with that, we're gonna get started. Mr. Aki Uh minutes. All right. Um does anyone on the board wish to suggest modifications from the minutes of the April 8th meeting. Do any members of the public have changes to the April 8th meeting minutes? Hearing none, uh, can I have a motion on the minutes? So moved. Thank you. All those in favor of adopting the minutes say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any opposed? The minutes are adopted. On to new business, I think. Yes, all right. Thank you. And um, and I will ask the board members, please speak up so that everyone in the room can hear you. Um, I think sounds like already already we have a better two six than we did in the last room, so hopefully this will help. Uh okay. First item under new business tonight is item number three, uh, BAR 2026-00064, old and historic district.

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