The Sierra Madre Planning Commission on July 17 approved a certificate of appropriateness for the Richardson House (c.1864) and Lizzie’s Trail Inn (c.1900), authorizing repairs and limited exterior alterations while directing staff to finalize roofing materials with the project architect.

Staff described work on the Richardson House as repair and in-kind replacement of deteriorated siding, single-pane wood windows, and the enclosed patio roof; the architect said the enclosed patio’s very low slope requires a single-ply membrane rather than asphalt shingles. For Lizzie’s Trail Inn, staff described a partial reduction of the front porch (approximately three feet, to accommodate a mature oak) and reroofing of the porch with asphalt shingles and the main structure with a white Sarnafil single-ply membrane.

Jonathan Recker of TSK Architects explained the roofing choice: "Looking towards the long term benefit of the city on this property, we are trying to replace it with a material that is more appropriate for that type of slope," he said, citing warranty and water-intrusion concerns for near-flat roof surfaces. The Planning Commission expressed concern about the visual compatibility of a single-ply roof on century-old buildings and asked the architect and staff to research alternatives that might better mimic historic shingles or tile without sacrificing slope suitability or warranty.

Leslie Ziff, vice president of the Sierra Madre Historical Society, spoke in favor of the project: "We totally support this project," she said, adding that local preservationists have sought these repairs for years.

After discussion, the commission approved the certificate with the condition that staff review and sign off on final materials in coordination with the architect. The approval permits the proposed in-kind siding replacement (to a cementitious Hardy Artisan product to be painted Dunn-Edwards "Cool December"), single-pane wood windows for the enclosed patio, and the roofing plan as submitted, pending staff confirmation of any alternative surfacing that meets warranty requirements.

Staff and the architect agreed to produce a short matrix of possible roofing options, their pros and cons, and vendor warranty conditions; staff will return to the commission if no acceptable alternative can be identified.