Webster Groves ARB approves multiple residential projects with design clarifications

The Webster Groves Architectural Review Board approved a slate of residential projects during its regular meeting, adopting minutes from the prior session and granting approvals for renovations, additions and accessory structures with specific clarifications on materials and details.

The board approved the March 20 meeting minutes before taking up public hearings and permit reviews. The body voted to approve eight applications with conditions or noted clarifications, including column sizing, roof materials, window proportions and foundation finish treatments where shown below.

Why it matters: The board's decisions determine design details that affect the look of houses in established neighborhoods and in the local historic district.

Votes at a glance (motions, key clarifications, outcome)

- Minutes, March 20: Approved as written. Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

- 372 South Gore Avenue (new family room/addition, resubmittal): Approved as submitted with the option to add a window on the north side of the new family room. Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

- 131 South Maple Avenue (deck/pergola/carport resubmittal): Approved with clarified intent that the final permit set will show 6-by-6 columns (applicant had earlier shown 8-by-8). Outcome: approved (yes: 4; no: 1 recorded as opposed during the vote).

- 9325 Big Bend Boulevard (new sunroom, resubmittal): Approved with revisions to make the west roof slope 3/12 to match the east slope; the sunroom roof will be standing-seam metal matching the pattern/spacing of the existing bay roof; siding will be horizontal lap siding matching the exposure of the existing shingle siding. Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

- 1132 Pine Tree Lane (new front porch, resubmittal): Approved as submitted (post sizes and wrapped post material verified during the meeting). Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

- 1432 Bridle Avenue (window replacement): Approved with a requirement that the primary option use a 1:2:1 proportion (larger fixed center pane with smaller flanking operable units) and an alternative option allowing a fixed center pane with casement windows at the flanks for improved egress/operation. The board discussed life-safety (egress) issues and accessibility for the homeowner. Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

- 664 Lilac Avenue (addition): Approved with two explicit clarifications: the existing south-facing window that had been shown for demolition will remain, and an additional window will be added to the mudroom on the north elevation to match the proposed bathroom window on that wall. Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

- 253 Pappan Avenue (new addition): Approved with conditions: front-elevation roof will match the existing house's front roofline (ski-slope detail), front elevation may be constructed with or without a small shed roof overhang, an optional band board may be added and wrapped to terminate at the stair tower, the exposed foundation will be rubbed and painted, and a concrete crawl-space foundation will be provided under the rear addition adjacent to the laundry. Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

- 28 Elm Place (detached garage and optional pavilion/carport): Approved; the board required design clarifications for the carport option because the property sits in the historic district and will be visible from the street. Clarifications: enclose the carport gable ends to better match the house; use shingles (rather than standing-seam metal) to match neighborhood historic character; trim columns to match the house's front-column expression; and treat column proportions and trim to relate to the existing porch. Outcome: approved (yes: 4).

What the board emphasized

- Historic-district fit: For projects visible from the street the board repeatedly recommended materials and roof forms that match or read as traditional (shingles rather than standing seam, wrapped/trimmed columns, gable infill consistent with the house).

- Life-safety and egress: On window replacements the board directed applicants to preserve or provide equivalent egress (casement options and proportions were raised as solutions where a new unit reduced a clear opening).

- Documentation precision: Several approvals were conditioned on corrected permit drawings (for example the column size on 131 South Maple) and clear notes on materials so the permit set matches the board's intent.

What was not approved or changed by the board

- The board did not deny any applications on tonight's agenda. In most cases approval was granted with the clarifications listed above rather than a full redesign.

Next steps

Approved applicants will submit final permit documents that reflect the clarifications the board recorded on the record. For several projects staff and applicants confirmed they will update the permit drawings to show the agreed materials, column sizes and roof slopes before building permit issuance.

Sources: Meeting proceedings of the Webster Groves Architectural Review Board; motions and recorded votes during the public hearing portion of the meeting.