Historic and Design Review Commission Meeting - September 16, 2026

The Historic and Design Review Commission met on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at an unspecified time, with Chair Jay Maurice Gibbs presiding. The commission reviewed several applications for certificates of appropriateness in historic districts, addressing routine approvals, public testimony, and detailed discussion on four contested items.

Consent Calendar

• The commission approved 11 of 13 consent agenda items (items 1 through 10 and item 13) with staff stipulations via a unanimous roll-call vote. Items 11 and 12 were pulled by Commissioner Savino for discussion. Approved addresses included 808 North Pine, 125 West Ashby, 1115 Broadway, 1411 Auling, 509 North Olive, 105 South St. Mary’s (signage request), 607 East Nueva, 1505 East Houston, 105 South St. Mary’s (lighting request), 119 East Craig, and 1075 Pleasanton.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Christine Choppa, a neighbor on Adams Street, spoke in opposition to the proposed addition at 523 Adams Street (Item 14). She expressed concerns that the 912‑square-foot addition would be 70% of the existing house size, alter the historic character and visibility from the street, and exacerbate drainage issues given the already high impervious coverage on the property.

Discussion Items

• Item 11 – Garage Door at an Unspecified Address (Applicant: Jerry Wolf): The applicant requested approval for a 16-foot-wide garage door. Commissioner Savino expressed concern that a single wide door was inconsistent with historic proportions and suggested two single-bay doors. After discussion, the commission approved the project with an added stipulation requiring two single-bay garage doors and a detailed site plan showing the driveway approach.
• Item 12 – Address Mix‑Up (125 West Ashby Place): The screen displayed item numbers that were flipped (item 2 vs. item 12). The commission clarified that item 2 (875 East Ashby) had already been approved through consent and formally recorded its approval. For item 12 (125 West Ashby), the applicant was not present due to the confusion; the commission continued the case to the next hearing to allow the applicant to address window-related concerns.
• Item 14 – 523 Adams Street (Applicant: Nate Manfred): The applicant sought approval for a single-story addition and a standing seam metal roof. Following public testimony and commissioner questions about lot coverage (40% total), drainage, and window proportions, the commission approved the project with staff stipulations, including a directive to work with staff on window configurations.
• Item 15 – King William Property (Cottage Addition and Natatorium Modification): The applicant proposed a 400‑square-foot addition to an existing cottage and heavy modification of the east facade of a historic natatorium (installing operable steel doors and removing brick walls). Staff recommended approval for the cottage but not the natatorium changes. Commissioners debated preserving the unique historic structure while allowing modern use. A substitute motion passed: approval of the cottage addition with staff stipulations, and referral of the natatorium facade modification to a Design Review Committee (DRC) for further study and potential compromise.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 1–10, 13): Approved unanimously.
• Item 11: Approved unanimously with added stipulations for two single-bay doors and a detailed site plan.
• Item 12 (125 West Ashby): Continued to the next hearing via unanimous vote.
• Item 14 (523 Adams Street): Approved unanimously with staff stipulations and additional window-related stipulation.
• Item 15 (King William): The substitute motion (approve cottage addition with staff stipulations; refer natatorium to DRC) passed unanimously.
• All votes were conducted by roll call and recorded as unanimous. No dissents or abstentions were noted.