The Reston Design Review Board on April 15 granted an appeal that challenges a Newport Shores Cluster decision allowing a higher paint sheen on siding — a change appellants say is incompatible with the community’s existing palette and finishes.

Appellant Darcelle Allen told the board she believed the original cluster vote did not separately and clearly approve the change in sheen (a finish-level change rather than a color change) and that community members lacked professional guidance before voting. She said the proposed semi-gloss finish on horizontal siding is atypical and that paint-industry guidance generally recommends against a high-gloss finish on horizontal siding.

Panelists who heard the original application said the cluster packet stated a vote had occurred and that they were reluctant to override a community vote unless the proposal clearly violated DRB guidelines. The contested guideline is the DRB’s “Colors, paint and stains” section, which requires the proposed color and medium be compatible with the existing and approved cluster palette; the board debated whether “medium” reasonably includes finish/sheens.

The board twice considered motions on acceptance of the appeal. An initial motion failed to achieve the required affirmative votes from the full quorum of eligible voters; after further discussion, a renewed motion to accept the appeal carried with recorded ayes and abstentions, and the chair instructed that the application must be heard de novo (a full re-presentation as if new). When staff opened the de novo review, the applicant could not be identified as present, and counsel advised the board that precedent supports deferring a de novo presentation if an applicant has requested to be present. The board unanimously (7–0) moved to defer the de novo review to the next meeting to allow the applicant to appear.

The debate focused on whether finish/sheens fall inside the guideline’s definition of “medium” and whether approving a semi-gloss finish for full siding would be compatible with the cluster’s existing finishes; no final decision on the paint finish was reached at this meeting.

The board directed staff to inform the applicant that the appeal was accepted and that a de novo hearing will be scheduled at the applicant’s requested next meeting date.