Historic district commission tables 931 Faulkner Street multifamily proposal after debate over third story and parking

The Conway Historic District Commission voted to table consideration of a proposal to rehabilitate an existing contributing house and build a new multi‑family structure at 931 Faulkner Street, moving the application to the commission's June 23 meeting after extended public comment and discussion.

The property, a contributing Craftsman/Colonial Revival house built in 1935 within the Robinson Historic District, was rezoned from O‑3 to C‑1 on Jan. 14, 2025. The applicant, developer Brent Salter, said the 0.63‑acre site could support up to 15 dwelling units under C‑1 rules and that his team proposes to rehabilitate the existing building and add a new three‑story structure to the south of it.

Salter told the commission he had engaged preservation experts and an architect who specialize in integrating new construction into historic settings and said the National Park Service review is part of the plan: "When you develop something new, you must not try to make it look like the old. It needs to have a differing identity," he said, describing the design intent and the team's experience with National Park Service processes.

Planning staff presented recommended conditions for a certificate of appropriateness that include: repair of the existing Faulkner Street sidewalk to meet ADA standards; retention of at least five trees along the Faulkner frontage from the approved species list; masonry cleaning by the gentlest means; HVAC and utility screening; prohibition of asphalt for driveway/parking surfacing; and a requirement that the applicant provide planning staff with verification from the National Park Service that window and siding replacements on the existing building meet federal review before the project reaches the milestone specified in staff's condition (this requirement was the subject of a timing debate between staff and the applicant).

Neighbors who spoke at the public comment period expressed concerns about the proposed height, parking, noise, lights from a new parking area and loss of privacy. Resident Dan West (920 Center Street) and others argued that there are no other full three‑story buildings in the Robinson Historic District and said a three‑story mass would not conform to the district's scale. Keith Woosley (4330 Harvard Avenue) raised concerns about light, noise and vehicle traffic for his daughter, who lives north of the site. Several speakers said they appreciated rehabilitation of the existing house but objected to the scale or density of the proposed new building.

Commission discussion was split. Some commissioners expressed that the proposed additional story and an approximately 6‑ to 8‑foot height difference compared with nearby structures would harm the district's rhythm and roofscape; others noted the applicant had retained preservation specialists and that National Park Service review is typically more stringent than local review. Commissioners also observed that the C‑1 zoning and prior planning and city council actions affect what is permissible on the site, and that site development review and other approvals would still be required before construction could proceed.

A key outstanding technical point concerned the staff condition requiring National Park Service approval of replacement windows and siding. The applicant asked that staff tie that verification to issuance of the certificate of occupancy rather than the building permit, citing long lead times for historic windows and the sequence of National Park Service paperwork; staff indicated tying the requirement to the certificate of occupancy would still preserve the review safeguard but preferred verification prior to building permit issuance. The commission asked the applicant to provide additional elevations, southern facade details, courtyard‑entrance details and materials information so the commission—and the public—could better assess how the new construction would relate to Faulkner Street.

After discussion, Commissioner Marilyn (last name on file) moved to table the application to allow the applicant to provide the additional details requested by staff and the commission; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The commission noted the next available meeting with adequate notice would be June 23 and asked staff to work with the applicant to deliver the materials for commission review. The chair also asked planning staff to collect any additional information raised during public comment that is appropriately part of the commission's review.

Votes at a glance • Motion to table consideration of the certificate of appropriateness for 931 Faulkner Street until the June 23 meeting (to allow submission of additional elevations, facade and courtyard details and National Park Service documentation): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous in favor (Aye).

The meeting also approved procedural housekeeping items earlier in the session (the amended minutes were accepted by motion and voice vote), and the commission adjourned at the end of its agenda.

What happens next: The applicant and planning staff will coordinate on the additional materials the commission requested (architectural elevations showing Faulkner Street orientation, southern facade and courtyard entrance details, and documentation on proposed window and siding work). The June 23 Historic District Commission meeting will include the item if the applicant submits materials in time for agenda notice.