Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - August 12, 2026
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Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - August 12, 2026
The Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission met on August 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM at city hall, chaired by Kathy Pagani. The commission reviewed seven applications: two continuations, two items of unfinished business, and three new cases. Decisions included approval of a rear deck replacement, denial of a second-story addition, and approval of several other exterior alterations. The meeting also included approval of previous minutes and a report on ten expedited reviews.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes: The commission unanimously approved the synopses of the June 2026 and July 2026 hearings, dispensing with the reading of the minutes.
Continuations
- HPC 4226 – Joe Chastine: Replacement of a rear deck at 27 The Downs (Downs Historic District, Council District 2) was continued by unanimous vote.
- HPC 4326 – Thomas Cheshire: Construction of a driveway and removal of trees at 1003 Queen City Avenue (Druid City Historic District, Council District 4) was continued by unanimous vote.
Unfinished Business
- HPC 3326 – Theodore Trost (1014 Myrtlewood Drive, Myrtlewood Drive Historic District): Approved unanimously for removal and replacement of a rear deck with changed materials and installation of a Juliet balcony. The proposal matched previously approved work and maintained compatibility with the structure.
- HPC 3426 – Heath McCullough (1311 Shady Lane, 13th Street Historic District): Continued by unanimous vote due to discrepancies between elevation drawings and window specification sheets. The applicant was asked to provide updated, precise drawings showing light patterns and window locations for each elevation. The commission indicated a preference for six-over-six light patterns.
- HPC 3626 – Nathan Gardot (representing petitioner) (17 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Drive Historic District): The application for a second-story addition above an existing principal suite was denied. Three commissioners voted yes, three voted no, failing to reach the required five affirmative votes. Commissioners expressed concerns that the addition would visually overpower the existing structure, obscure the original chimney, and create a large blank wall visible from the public right of way. The chair noted that adding windows to the north facade, as offered by the applicant, was not sufficient to address massing concerns under Design Guideline 8.
New Cases
- HPC 3926 – Zachary Christman (325 Queen City Avenue, Druid City Historic District): Approved unanimously for construction of an uncovered outdoor kitchen and alterations to an existing patio. Work that had started without a certificate was ordered to stop; the applicant acknowledged the violation.
- HPC 4026 – Leah Alexander (representing Waver Reynolds) (1609, 1701, 1703 University Boulevard, Audubon Place Historic District): Approved unanimously for replacement of windows and doors with aluminum-clad wood units. The applicant committed to matching the narrow muntin profiles of the existing metal windows. The motel-style structure (1703.5) was excluded from the application.
- HPC 4126 – Scott Russell (36 Audubon Place, Audubon Place Historic District): Approved unanimously for exterior alterations including siding repair, window sash kit, front entrance expansion, shutters, gas lanterns, and iron railing. One commissioner expressed reservation about the shutters but voted yes as they could be removed.
- HPC 4426 – Chandler Overcash (2008 Paul W. Bryant Drive, Druid City Historic District): Approved unanimously for modifications to a previously approved duplex, including a style change from Tudor Revival to English Cotswold, revised parking arrangement (reducing spaces from seven to two parallel spots plus one new space), and access changes. The commission noted that the parking space on an adjacent property would require a separate expedited review application.
Other Business
- Staff reported that ten historic expedited review approvals had been granted since the commission's last meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Approvals: HPC 3326, HPC 3926, HPC 4026, HPC 4126, HPC 4426 – all passed unanimously.
- Denial: HPC 3626 failed to meet the required five affirmative votes (3-3) due to non-compliance with design guidelines on scale and visual impact.
- Continuations: HPC 4226, HPC 4326, and HPC 3426 were continued to the next meeting.
- Next steps: Applicants for approved projects must obtain final inspections; those with conditions (e.g., HPC 4426's adjacent parking) must submit separate applications. The continued cases will be heard at the next commission meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this month's hearing of the Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Commission. Here a lot of chatter as we settle into our hearing. My name is Kathy Pagani. I'm the chair of the commission. Today's date is August 12, 2026, and the time is 5 o'clock PM. I would like to invite my fellow commission members to introduce themselves to you, beginning on my right, please. Trisha Stone. Sorry, Deason. Carl Ellabash. Jordan Morris. David Diab. Wayne Yarbrough. Thank you very much. And joining us from city staff this evening, we have Mr. Hudson Cheshire, the Associate City Attorney, Mr. Zach Pons, Director of Planning, and Ms. Cynthia DeSantiago Planner. Before we hear our cases tonight, I'd like to go over the purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission and go over the procedure for tonight's hearing. The general purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission is that we serve to preserve and protect the buildings, sites, and structures of historic significance in Tuscaloosa's historic neighborhoods. We are governed by Chapter 20, Article 2 of the Code of Tuscaloosa, which includes design guidelines that are posted on the city's website. Our decisions are based on these design guidelines and do not consider such items as use or occupancy. We do consider such factors as architectural style, appropriateness of materials, and how the structure relates to other structures in the immediate neighborhood in determining the appropriateness of the application. Any approval of an application requires five affirmative votes. If the certificate is approved, please be aware that there will be a final inspection by city staff of these approved applications to ensure compliance with what the commission has approved this evening. This is a public hearing. Prior to this meeting, notice was sent to adjacent property owners, and the public has been notified of the applications to be presented tonight. This hearing is a chance for the applicant to present their case, for the public to make their views known about the project, and for the commission members to gather relevant facts about the application before making its decision. We will begin with city staff introducing the application. The applicant will then have a chance to make any comments. The commissioners will then have the opportunity to ask the applicant questions about the case. Then I will open the hearing to public comment. At the close of public comment, the commission will discuss the matter and vote on the application. A notarized designation of agent form should have been provided to city staff or any representatives of an application that are not the property owner or immediate family member of the owner prior to tonight's hearing. Immediate family members, and we define that as a spouse, a parent, or a child, do not have to provide such written authorization when speaking on behalf of another immediate family member. And we'd like to just let you know that you may remove and dispose of the signs that are on your yard as staff will not be around to pick those up. All right, commission members. As the Historic Preservation Commission has received synopses of the June 2026 and July 2026 hearings, I move that we dispense with the reading of the minutes of the same unless there are any deletions, additions, or corrections. Do I have a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes? So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you. And we will vote on this, please. Begin on my left, Dr. Yarbrough. Uh yes. And Mr. Daiab. Yes. Mr.
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