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Historic board to consider windows amendment after members warn of loss of original windows
Summary
Board member Happy Smith introduced an amendment to return some window approvals to the board from staff review; the board agreed to put the amendment on the next meeting agenda and discussed focusing review on primary/front facades to protect character-defining windows.
At the July 2025 meeting of the Maryland Madison Historic District Board of Review, board member Happy Smith introduced an amendment to bring more window replacement decisions back to the board from staff-level review, and members agreed that the amendment will appear on the board's next meeting agenda for a vote.
Smith said she and others have seen historic wood windows replaced in ways that reduce the character of buildings and proposed that the board reconsider which window replacements staff may approve without a Certificate of Appropriateness. “If we don't have a community conversation here, we can't really grapple with these issues,” Smith said, explaining why she proposed the amendment.
The discussion traced the amendment's background: staff and board members said the rules of procedure were adopted in 2011 and amended several times, and a 2020 change delegated more review to staff as an efficiency measure during the COVID period. Several board members and staff proposed focusing any new board review on front or primary facades — including more than one primary facade for corner lots — rather than All window replacements across all elevations.
“Maybe it's really an increased focus on facade windows as opposed to back windows and alleyway windows,” said a city staff member, urging a narrower focus to avoid burdening applicants and staff with reviews of rear- or non-public-facing windows. The board also heard references to guidance and training from the National Park Service and preservation groups; one board member said the window issue is a national one and noted economic and market constraints (cost and contractor availability) that affect owners' choices.
Board members discussed practical next steps: forming an ordinance or amendment subcommittee (members named to participate included Chris, Ken and Ryan by staff reference), improving application standards and submittal requirements (for example, measured drawings and explicit guideline sections for applicants), and scheduling a vote on the proposed windows amendment at the board's upcoming Monday meeting. Staff confirmed the Findley demolition/rebuild application for 111 East Fourth Street would be tabled and not heard at Monday's meeting.
No vote on the windows amendment occurred at the July meeting; staff said the item is on the agenda for the next meeting and that board members may present the amendment and vote in the mover's absence if necessary.
