Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation New Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic zoning commission approves new Winslow Road house after chimney removed
Summary
The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a new 1½-story house at 115 Winslow Road on May 12, 2025, after voting to remove a front-corner chimney and require final window approval by staff.
The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission on May 12 approved a certificate of appropriateness for new construction at 115 Winslow Road after commissioners voted to remove a front-corner chimney from the submitted design and require final window details be returned to staff for approval.
During the staff presentation, Emily, a city planning staff member, said the proposal for a 1½-story principal structure on a vacant lot in the Franklin Road historic district had incorporated prior Design Review Committee feedback and that most elements — placement, orientation, form, size, height, foundation, roof, gutters, site setting and fencing — were unchanged and appropriate. The application proposed a partial-width front porch and dormers, and staff recommended approval with conditions.
Architect Michael Katzidis of MK Studio spoke for the applicant and urged design clarifications, describing intended column and casing details. One resident, Stacy Ligon, told the commission she favored the revised design and the project’s video presentation.
Commission debate focused on the stone chimney the applicant had added on the front corner. Commissioner Mary said the chimney’s placement and proportion drew the eye and appeared out of scale with the house; Commissioner Holly and others expressed similar concerns about the chimney’s proximity to the front elevation and its material. Commissioners also discussed whether a brick chimney or a relocated chimney would be more compatible and noted code constraints affecting chimney height.
After discussion, a motion to amend the approval to remove the front-corner chimney passed. Commissioners also approved a follow-up amendment requiring that the final window details return to staff for approval. The commission then approved the main motion — approval with staff conditions, removal of the front-corner chimney, and windows to come back to staff for final approval.
The commission said the applicant may later return with a separate application for a chimney if they find a placement that better fits the house plan and historic context.
