Newport Historic District Commission Meeting - May 12, 2026
Newport Historic District Commission Meeting - May 12, 2026
The Newport Historic District Commission met on May 12, 2026, at 11:30 AM. Chair Diana Emarillo was absent; Kelly Moran served as acting chair, and Frank Bala as acting vice chair. The commission approved staff findings of fact for all applications and then considered summary approvals, abbreviated summary applications, and several regular applications. Key discussions centered on the enclosure of decks at 719 Bellevue Avenue, the infilling of arches at the Museum of Newport History (365 Fame Street), and a porch addition at 6 Catman Place.
Consent Calendar
- 7 Cottage Street (non-contributing): Approved summary under standards 17.80.060 B1–B2.
- 17 Broadway (contributing): Abbreviated summary approved for installing signage. Commissioner Ray Goddard initially raised a concern about sign scale but withdrew; motion passed unanimously.
- 14 Leroy Avenue (non-contributing): Abbreviated summary approved with a condition that the window cut sheet be reviewed and approved by the preservation planner. Commissioner Frank Bala questioned the use of a composite window material not in the guidance; applicant agreed to work with staff.
- 6 Sunshine Court (contributing): Abbreviated summary approved with a condition that the salvaged or new window be approved by the preservation planner. Applicant expressed intent to use a salvaged wood window; a commissioner offered to donate one.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were offered during the meeting.
Discussion Items
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719 Bellevue Avenue (continued application): Applicant returned with a revised design to enclose a three-story deck and construct a 165-square-foot deck. The new design referenced details from the original 2022 addition and the historic Inchiquin house. Commissioners Bala and Goddard opposed, citing the massing and the precedent of enclosing non-conforming decks, while Commissioners Moran, Madsen, Finley, Richter, and Willett supported the revised design, noting its improved compatibility. The motion to approve carried (5–2), citing standards 17.80.060 A1, A4, and A7.
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365 Fame Street (Museum of Newport History): Proposal to remove existing glass wall and vestibule, infill arches with storefront glass, create a new vestibule and ADA ramp, and replace signage. Commissioners debated the impact on the historic Peter Harrison building. Goddard strongly opposed infilling the arches, stating it would damage the historic character. Other commissioners, including Moran, supported the project for its functional benefits. The commission split the application: approved the temporary banners (with a condition of temporariness) and continued the rest (front elevation, vestibule, and permanent signage) to the June meeting, with a site visit scheduled.
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6 Catman Place (non-contributing): Application to add a front porch, rebuild existing stairs, and add a rear door. Commissioners raised concerns about the offset alignment of the porch, the use of composite materials, and the lack of architectural detail. The applicant argued that the offset was necessary due to interior constraints and that composite materials were used in the neighborhood. The commission continued the application to June, asking for revised details including more traditional wood materials and improved porch design.
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33 Kay Street (contributing): Application to demolish a non-historic sunroom, restore existing windows, add a new window for egress, and make other repairs. The commission praised the restoration approach and approved unanimously, citing standards 17.80.060 A1–A7.
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22nd Street (contributing): Application to replace a wood shingle roof with asphalt shingles. The commission and staff strongly recommended in-kind wood replacement, noting the contributing status of the building and fire safety concerns (asphalt also burns). The applicant’s representative (a contractor) was not formally authorized to present, and the matter was continued to June to allow the owner to consider a wood roof or seek a different outcome.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: 7 Cottage Street, 17 Broadway, 14 Leroy Avenue (with condition), 6 Sunshine Court (with condition), 719 Bellevue Avenue (with conditions), 33 Kay Street.
- Approved in part: 365 Fame Street – temporary banners approved; remainder continued to June 9, 2026, with a site visit.
- Continued to June 9, 2026: 6 Catman Place (for design revisions and material change), 22nd Street (for owner authorization and possible in-kind wood roof), and the unapproved portion of 365 Fame Street.
- Next meeting: Scheduled for June 9, 2026, at 11:30 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'd like to call to order the Newport Historic District Commission meeting for May twelfth, two thousand twenty-six. I would like to ask the secretary, Miss Moran, to read the role, please. Thank you. I have Diana Emarillo as absent, our chair. Kelly Moran is present. Jim Madsen. Here. Frank Bala. Here. Ray Goddard? Here. Bill Finley. Here. Brooke Richter. Here. Ben Willett. And Dan Don Chamont. Thank you. I would like to acknowledge that Deanna is out today. I've been asked to uh step in as the chair, and I've asked Frank Paula to step in as the uh vice chair. Uh we have everyone uh we have a full slate today and uh and one alternate, so we're we're good to go. Um I would like to confirm that Brooke that you've uh wherever you are. There you are. Please affirm for the record that you have reviewed all material for the continued applications, have watched this uh the prior meeting uh and are prepared to be voting with the commission on these applications tonight. That's correct. Thank you. I would also like to acknowledge that Kevin Chavin is our uh is attending tonight. He's with the uh city solicitor's office. Uh we won't have an approval of last month's meetings as uh they weren't prepared in time, so we'll take a look at those uh uh next month at next month's meeting. And we do not have any correspondence, Jill, I believe. I would like to note that all applications approved tonight and receive a certificate of appropriateness uh issued on the evening of May twelfth, twenty twenty six. They will be valid for one year from the date of approval. All applications in this meeting have a public staff report, which includes confirmed location of each property within a Newport Historic District, record as a contributing or non-contributing building, construction date of the property, and character defining features. As we begin the meeting, I request a motion to accept all staff's findings of fact as our findings of fact. So moved. Second. Any opposed? Thank you. John Street and ten, seven cottage street. And I think that's all of them. Do we have any uh objectors to any of those applications here tonight? We do not uh I would like to then make a motion that these summaries that these applicants are approved, uh, in accordance with 17.80.060.1 through a uh seven. So moved. All in favor? I any opposed. Sorry, Jim, for um for an uh I believe there was one that was a non-contributing building, so N 10. That would be standards B1 through 2. Okay. I'll redo that.
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