DRC presses architect to reduce perceived height, rework dormers and porch proportions at Magnolia Hall Lot 7

Franklin — Members of the Design Review Committee on Tuesday told an architect for a proposed new house on Lot 7 at Magnolia Hall to reduce the building’s perceived height and to rework dormers, porch depth and column proportions so the new construction reads subordinate to the adjacent historic Magnolia Hall.

The property is vested under the 2016 design guidelines for the Boyd Mill/Magnolia Hall context. Emily (staff member, City of Franklin) told the committee the proposed house is approximately 31 feet, 10 inches in height (plus site grade differences) and that Magnolia Hall’s recorded height is 34 feet, 9 inches; with the proposed lot grade the DRC noted the two ridgelines will be visually close and asked for adjustments to ensure the historic Magnolia Hall remains the prominent element in that view. Staff also requested clarification about dormer setback (the guidelines recommend dormers be recessed so they are not read as wall dormers), porch depth (guideline porch depths generally recommended at least 6–8 feet) and column dimensions.

Why it matters: The Lot 7 parcel sits near Magnolia Hall and will be highly visible from adjacent lots and nearby routes within the Boyd Mill Avenue Historic District. The DRC’s guiding standard for new construction is that new buildings should be compatible in massing, height, proportion, scale and architectural features and should be subordinate so they do not detract from a historic building’s prominence.

Committee guidance and technical points: DRC members suggested the applicant consider the following revisions before returning with a final voting packet: - Reduce the ridge/roof height modestly (members discussed lowering the ridge by roughly a foot to two feet) and reconsider dormer proportions so dormers read subordinate and do not dominate the roofline. - Revisit porch proportions: members recommended shallower porch depths (6–8 feet rather than the 9+ feet shown) and narrower, more slender column profiles (12 inches or smaller) so the front elevation reads less heavy and more in scale with adjacent historic homes. - Adjust dormer and window muntin patterns so the fenestration maintains vertical proportions compatible with the architectural inspiration images shown; staff recommended minimizing transoms and keeping window patterns consistent across primary facades.

Next steps: The applicant will revise the design to address height, dormer setback and porch/column proportions and return with updated drawings showing the revised ridge height, dormer details, porch sections and column dimensions for a subsequent DRC review. Staff flagged that final details — including column profiles, porch depth, dormer setback, and the relationship of the new building’s ridge to Magnolia Hall — will be evaluated at the voting stage.

Ending: Committee members said the updated direction improves compatibility with Magnolia Hall but asked for refinements to massing and proportion so the new house remains subordinate in the historic streetscape.