Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – August 31, 2026
The Historic Preservation Commission met on August 31, 2026 at 9:30 AM to consider an application for property at 226 North Forest. The applicant, Caleb, sought approval for modifications to a previously approved project, including changes to siding, windows, porch, foundation, and walkway. After extensive discussion and a public comment, the commission approved the application with amended conditions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A neighbor who lives up the street from the property expressed confusion about work that had been done after the last meeting, specifically regarding the removal of windows and the status of the stop work order. The neighbor asked for clarity on what was allowed and what the applicant intended to do.
Discussion Items
- Minutes Approval: The commission approved the minutes from the previous meeting by motion and second, with a quorum confirmed (4 members present).
- 226 North Forest (Caleb, applicant): Caleb explained he wanted to change from previously approved lap siding to shingles (hardy shingles) on all three visible sides. He also proposed:
- Removing stucco from the front foundation to expose original brick and applying a lime wash.
- Removing an existing wall beside the front steps and extending the porch outward with new steps and a walkway.
- Removing old ceramic tile from the walkway and installing tile that resembles brick (natural stone or brick-pattern tile) on the porch, steps, and walkway to the driveway.
- Replacing windows: removing damaged windows, matching an existing arch window on the left with a new arch window on the far right, installing a picture window in the middle, and ensuring all windows have true divided lights (external grids, not grids between panes).
- Replacing the garage door with a DoorVision model 2550 (color to be white, black, beige, or gray).
- Installing black gutters and downspouts.
- Commissioners expressed a desire for clarity and specificity, noting that the applicant's evolving plans made it a “moving target.” They asked detailed questions about materials (brick vs. tile vs. stone), window grid patterns (prairie or colonial recommended), and the extent of the porch and walkway extension.
- The applicant stated he was open to input, wanted to make the house look nice, and would adhere to the approved plan.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Approve with Amendments (made by Commissioner David Cobb, seconded): Approved the application as follows:
- Windows: Remove and replace windows in the front middle bedroom with windows matching the two to the left; install a new picture window and an arch window on the far right side. All windows to have true divided lights (external grids) consistent with neighborhood appearance.
- Garage door: Replace as submitted.
- Gutters and downspouts: Black as submitted.
- Siding: Install hardy shingles as submitted.
- Foundation: Remove stucco, expose brick, and lime wash the brick.
- Porch and walkway: Extend porch out by removing existing wall and adding steps to grade; extend the walkway the full width of the steps to the driveway. Install tile on porch, steps, and walkway that resembles brick per the provided picture.
- The motion passed with no opposition (commission vote tally not specified but no dissenting comments).
Meeting Transcript
Windows. Time to you're ready. Yeah. Okay, I'm gonna call the historic preservation commission meeting to order the first item of business of the minutes from last meeting. I make a motion approve. Second. Any other discussion? All those in favor? Okay. We do have a quorum. Wait a minute. Yes, right. Wait, hold on. One, two, three, four, five. No. She doesn't. The the HD rep does not count for the form, but I think with this, I think you only need four. See, let me make sure. I already changed. We only need four. I believe we need four. One, two, three, four. All right, we got four. You're right. Or for bridge. I don't care. Yeah, David Cobb. Not for the minutes. Not for the minutes. Yeah, four. Okay, all right. We got okay, perfect. Alright, so we're good. Okay, the next item 226 North Forest, our friend Caleb. Okay, come on up, Kayla. Explain what you're doing. Um well initially I know y'all approved lap siding. Um I would like to actually redo the shingle that was uh what was originally on the house. Um and do the three sides, the same thing y'all asked me to do for the for the lap siding and just use the shingle that's there and just replace that. Um I would like to remove the I'm not really sure really what what the purpose of it was, but they have a wall right there. Um when you're walking up the steps, it probably comes up to about your knees. Um I would like to rip it down and and and like re-brick it basically, but open it up to where it goes from left to right. Um if that makes any sense. Uh get rid of because like right now what's on it is like uh kind of like the what you see in a Mexican restaurant, like this little square red clay tiles. I like to pull that up and and and and do a a brick like that pattern. Um kind of whitewash or uh lime wash rather, um right there on the front. I would like to take the stucco. Um Raymond had stucco, about half inch stucco put across, if you see uh beneath that arch window. Um the bricks underneath that. Um I would like to bring back the original brick um that's on the uh uh around the crawl space of the house.
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