Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - March 2, 2026
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - March 2, 2026
The Historic Preservation Commission met on March 2, 2026, to address a single application from a property owner who installed vinyl windows without prior approval. The meeting involved public testimony, commissioner deliberation, and a vote to deny the application, along with notation of additional unapproved work.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jim (neighbor): Provided historical context about the house (built ca. 1950, originally with true divided-light wood windows) and noted the owner started work without permits.
- Lars Finderup (architectural professional, neighbor): Raised three technical objections: (1) The vinyl windows lack proper muntins and shadow lines, failing historic appearance standards; (2) The rebuilt sleeping porch enclosure was not approved and the new roof is tucked under the main roof incorrectly, creating a potential leak; (3) The overall work does not comply with historic guidelines.
- Dawn Day (neighbor): Argued the owner operates on a "better to ask for forgiveness than permission" mentality and that allowing the vinyl windows would set a dangerous precedent for the historic district.
- Jim Berklee (neighbor): Asked the commission to uphold guidelines, noting his own renovation used proper wood windows. He observed several windows remain unfinished or broken.
- Carol (neighbor): Thanked the public for their vigilance and emphasized the commission's responsibility to enforce guidelines.
Discussion Items
- The applicant was not present. The commission reviewed a letter from the owner apologizing for the misunderstanding and stating all windows are now installed in vinyl.
- Commissioners expressed frustration with the owner's lack of compliance, noting the stop work order was issued after painted brick and improper windows.
- Commissioner Jim Trimble criticized the low-quality vinyl as a cost-saving investment decision and noted the enclosure of the sleeping porch was never approved.
- The city attorney advised the commission to focus only on the application (windows) and not to order removal of unapproved work, but to note it for city enforcement.
- A motion was made to disapprove the application and to notify city staff about the unapproved sleeping porch, screen enclosure, and roof line.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to disapprove the application: Passed unanimously (voice vote). The commission denied the request to keep the vinyl windows.
- Notification to city staff: The commission directed that city council, permits and inspections, and staff be informed of the unapproved work on the sleeping porch enclosure and roof line for potential enforcement action.
Meeting Transcript
Alright, I'm gonna call the meeting of the historic preservation commission to order the first item or the minutes from last week. It isn't here yet. We only have that one application. I have a couple of guys from Kennestown State University tonight some students. I mean um this um Miss Christ. I knew her when she was next lost or something. And um we're gonna have a new member at our next meeting to replace Becky um Judy Renthroom, who's been appointed by councilman since she's on the agenda for the next meeting. And she'll be here if any of you know her. She's active in the ramble, you probably know her. So that'll be good. And then I guess if you need it to figure out to do something to recognize Becky for other years of service, I think it'd probably be appropriate to do that at a council meeting. As opposed to here, unless somebody'd rather have it here, I don't know. Would you take care of that? Yeah, yeah. Uh let's see what else. Anybody else have to take a program. Yeah. What's that? Yeah, I think it looks like three um. Yeah, you do in your own. Oh, yeah. So I need to catch the sunlight. Sounds like it's a little bit. What's the name? So you do it. Yeah, go to our stuff. I think it's one of those copy. Yeah, okay, that's not necessarily functional. Oh, yeah. Joe, did you find that I think you can hear it? Okay, let's go ahead and start in the application. The applicant's not here, but um Joe said we could hear it. I I think everybody knows the details, but I hit the last meeting. I can't even remember, but in originally remember there was a stop work order on the project because they were doing work without a permanent without approval, they came in. That was where they painted the brick. It came in here and um we authorized them to continue working with the new application, and what's happened is that the windows that they installed were not appropriate, and they said they would replace things in light kind, and I believe the windows I put in or fine on the windows that existed would. So the city issued another stop work order, so that's where we're at now, and they've submitted an application requesting that they be allowed to keep the vinyl windows they installed. Well, yes, the press is a good thing. Well, we've got that looking to look at it. They are looking to be around the state. They're not here, they're there's several representatives in the community. Do you want to hear from them before we have one question? One question, did we say light cleaner? Do we say wood? Because that raises for me. I mean, vinyl is if it looks like it. I know we don't have vinyls. It looks like wood, but it's not light. So it becomes a semantic thing. Well, I think it says like material.
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