Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Design Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves COA and grants setback variance for 4005 Santa Maria Street, 8–1 votes
Summary
After extended review, the Historic Preservation Board approved a special certificate of appropriateness and granted a variance for 4005 Santa Maria Street to allow rear additions and a reduced interior side setback; both motions passed 8–1, with one member dissenting.
The Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board approved a special certificate of appropriateness and granted a variance for a proposed addition and alterations at 4005 Santa Maria Street, voting 8–1 on both items March 13.
Staff identified the residence as a contributing resource within the Santa Maria Street Historic District, originally designed in 1948 by Vernon D. Lamp. The application sought design approval for a two‑story rear addition and site work and requested variances from the zoning code’s interior side‑setback rules (Article 2, Section 2‑101 D4 and 2‑100 as cited in the staff report).
Architect Luis (East Shore Architects) presented revised elevations in response to staff comments, explained constraints from the lot shape and existing service‑yard wall, and described design changes made after staff feedback — including revised window configurations, revised porch/trellis details and samples of crab‑orchard stone and Madera roof tile options. The applicant sought to enclose an existing carport to create an enclosed garage; staff had opposed front‑facing alterations to the open carport but accepted many of the proposed rear design changes provided staff further integrated original elements into the additions.
Public comment included a written objection from a neighboring property owner (Jeanette Pena Hall of 4001 Santa Maria Street) urging denial of the setback variance to preserve open space and visual relationship to the golf course; a neighbor representative’s letter was read into the record. The architect and applicant responded to questions about lot irregularity, the existing service yard wall and the fact that the requested setback would align with an existing 8‑foot service‑yard wall and, in planners’ description, in some ways improve the combined side‑setback condition compared with earlier configurations.
After discussion the board moved to approve the design proposal for the additions and alterations and to issue a special certificate of appropriateness subject to the staff conditions as modified in the hearing (the motion directed staff and the applicant to continue coordination on window configurations and materials; the board additionally approved a revised approach for the garage opening and louvers/glazing). That motion passed 8–1.
Separately the board approved the variance request to allow the proposed addition to have a side setback of approximately 8 feet (versus the published required 9 feet 8 inches interior setback measurement) by an 8–1 vote; one member voted no on both the COA and the variance. Minutes record the lone ‘‘no’’ vote as Mr. Maxwell.
A board member summarized the board’s approach as balancing preservation of key historic features (including the home’s signature clerestory roof system and interior volumes) while allowing a sensitive addition on the rear of the house. Staff and the architect left the meeting with direction to finalize material samples and final window/door details with staff prior to permit.
