Planning commission approves roof over Liberty Street patio with conditions after safety and material debate

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-2 on May 6 to approve a proposal to install a permanent roof over an existing patio at 1433 Liberty Street in the Historic Preservation District, with several conditions including required building permits and specifications for the proposed plastic roofing material.

The commission attached four main conditions: that appropriate building and trade permits be issued before work begins; that the product data or thickness (gauge) of the corrugated/plastic roofing be provided to the commission before installation; that no new steps be shown at the front wall (the front steps were to be removed or not added); and that all lighting be mounted under the cover and be limited to seasonal decorative lights on the exterior. “All lighting to be under the deck,” a commission member instructed during the motion discussion.

Commission discussion ranged from material durability and gauge to pedestrian safety and drainage. One commission member asked for the specific gauge and product data for the “clear corrugated” roof, saying the plastic comes in different strengths and that the commission should see the specification prior to installation. Another asked whether the roof would extend beyond the existing fence; the applicant repeatedly answered the proposed cover would stop at the existing patio fence and would not extend the structure’s footprint. Commissioners emphasized they wanted the structure to remain within the current rails and that drainage and water runoff be reviewed by city staff before permits are issued.

Public commenters and some commissioners raised safety concerns about steps and pedestrian flow into the street; one member said eliminating the front steps reduces the safety hazard of people stepping into the street. The applicant confirmed the canopy would replace an existing canopy over the front area and that a licensed contractor would build the new structure.

The motion to approve included explicit contingencies recorded on the floor: building and trade permits and inspections required; specification of the plastic roofing gauge provided to the commission; no extension beyond existing rails; no new front steps shown on revised drawings; and lighting to be mounted under the cover with only seasonal exterior lights allowed. The motion passed 3 to 2.

The commission’s approval is conditioned on the applicant returning product details to staff for review and obtaining all required city permits and inspections before beginning work. The item came under the agenda category for the Historic Preservation District and was recorded as a formal approval with conditions.

Notes on process: the commission recorded the motion, the second and the 3-2 tally on the record. The approval does not itself issue building permits; permits must be applied for and approved through the city’s permitting and inspection process before construction starts.