The German Village Commission voted to deny a rehearing request and to uphold the June decision that recommended against replacing 13 historic windows at 49 Stuart Avenue.

Julie Bushal Sharma, the applicant, appealed the June denial and requested a rehearing on the basis of "unusual and compelling circumstances," citing that her daughter has an official lead‑poisoning case and that Public Health staff had told her full window replacement was the safest option. "My daughter having an official lead poisoning case with the Columbus public health department is an unusual case," she said.

Historic Preservation Office (HPO) staff reported they spoke with the Columbus Public Health Department and that Public Health’s earlier risk assessment had been based on a visual inspection and, initially, no XRF testing. HPO staff said the applicant later provided an updated Public Health report showing XRF results indicating lead levels above EPA and HUD criteria on exterior and some interior window components. HPO staff told the commission that Public Health also informed them the difference in risk between off-site chemical stripping of the original windows and wholesale window replacement was "minute, if any." HPO staff concluded that lead paint in historic windows "does not constitute an unusual circumstance" under city code and that the windows could be mitigated and preserved in place following lead‑safety best practices.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the application as submitted (the rehearing request). The motion carried and the commission recorded that the rehearing was denied and the prior denial stood. Staff said they would contact the applicant with guidance on remediation options and appeal avenues available to her, including administrative appeal paths.

What was cited: staff repeatedly referenced City Code Title 31 (historic‑district standards cited in the staff report) and the German Village guidelines on windows and lead‑mitigation best practices (including National Park Service guidance and Public Health advice). The commission’s action was procedural: it denied the rehearing request and did not adopt an exception to standards based on the health claim.