Historic board approves steel carport, orders redesign of parapet at Mackenzie Street house

The Historic District Review Board heard a complex, multi‑part application on June 25 for alterations at 206 Mackenzie Street, a contributing property undergoing an extensive rehabilitation. The application included six distinct exterior elements: replacement of windows and doors, construction of a detached steel carport with rooftop solar, raising a parapet (as‑built) by 3 feet 3 inches, roof‑mounted HVAC units, a new pedestrian gate and full restucco.

Board members approved the detached steel carport and required that it be screened from public view on Mackenzie Street by a yard wall whose height complies with zoning. Member Besheide moved approval “as submitted… conditioned on the carport be screened by a yard wall that is of a height compliant with the underlying zoning, such that the carport and solar panels are not visible from Mackenzie Street.” The motion passed by roll call vote. Applicant Braden Furry told the board the property is in the BCD Mackenzie Street district and that the owners’ intent is to raise the yard wall to screen the carport and the rooftop solar panels.

The board approved roof‑mounted HVAC units, a new pedestrian gate on the Mackenzie Street façade and re‑stuccoing to match existing, by motion and roll call vote. Staff had indicated a prior administrative submission had already addressed parapet work required to screen some rooftop equipment, but these three items were treated as separate and were approved.

On the contested raised parapet, staff recommended denial, saying the as‑built parapet both exceeded a previously approved height and changed the architectural character of the north facade. Staff said the new detail was built higher to screen skylights and for structural work discovered during construction. Board members toured the property and questioned whether the parapet could be redesigned to achieve required screening while preserving the original façade hierarchy. Member Beachside moved to postpone the item for redesign and asked the applicant to return with alternate options (for example, a simplified flat parapet or a modern glass/skylight expression with a lower profile). The board voted to postpone the exception to a date‑certain hearing (July 22); the applicant consented to the postponement.

The last part of the hearing covered replacement and repair of many doors and windows; the discussion was technical and lengthy. The applicant had submitted a window assessment recommending widespread replacement; board members emphasized the code standard that historic windows on primary facades should be repaired when possible and replaced only when not repairable. After detailed, window‑by‑window motions the board approved a set of replacements and restorations consistent with the assessor’s recommendations and with the board’s guidance to retain and repair specific prominent windows (notably the large multi‑light opening in the Hazel Hyde studio). The board asked staff and applicant to produce final, line‑by‑line findings and a consolidated set of conditions for the approval.

Public commenters, including neighbors and preservation experts, urged caution about removing historic sash and recommended alternatives to wholesale replacement where possible. Several speakers also urged careful screening of rooftop equipment and minimizing wall increases visible from the street.

Summary of formal actions: the board approved the detached steel carport (motion by Member Besheide; seconded by Member Degnan; passed by roll call), approved roof‑mounted HVAC, pedestrian gate and restucco (motion by Member Degnan; seconded by Member Cherry; passed), postponed the parapet/height exception for redesign (motion by Member Beachside; seconded; passed; applicant consented), and then adopted several grouped votes approving and restoring specific windows and doors per the assessor’s report (multiple motions and roll‑call votes). Staff will prepare consolidated findings and conditions for the approvals and the postponed parapet will return to the board on July 22.