Landmarks Commission approves a slate of exterior projects, places one application on hold

The Canal Winchester Landmarks Commission on April 28 approved a series of exterior-change applications for properties in the city’s Old Town and Preservation Districts while adding conditions on several projects and tabling one application to the May agenda.

The commission voted unanimously on a set of Certificates of Appropriateness for fences, a patio, garage and house siding, a roof replacement and a privacy fence. Commissioners also approved a screening and landscaping plan for a downtown commercial property and voted to allow removal of an exterior fire stair on a multiunit building, subject to a follow-up filing with the city building official.

Why it matters: The commission’s decisions permit property owners to proceed with visible changes in historic and preservation areas while preserving design standards the commission enforces. Several approvals included conditions intended to prevent future maintenance problems or visual mismatches, and one application was deferred to give the applicant time to appear in person.

Most important outcomes - The commission approved multiple fence applications including a new six-foot wood privacy fence at 17 North Trine Street (CA25013) and a revised aluminum fence at 10 West Oak Street (CA25014) that staff recommended be shortened to terminate at the depot and use a single-top rail to match nearby rail‑side fencing. - A concrete patio behind 94 West Waterloo Street (CA25015) was approved as submitted. - The commission approved a replacement picket/shadow‑box cedar fence at 100 West Columbus Street (CA25016). - For 20 North Trine Street (CA25017) the commission approved garage alterations with conditions: asphalt dimensional shingles or standing‑seam metal (with no exposed fasteners), a 4‑ or 5‑inch vinyl siding profile (white trim), and addition of a rake/soffit/fascia at the garage elevations. The commission also required that any metal roof use hidden fasteners. - The related application to install wider vinyl siding on the main house (CA25018) was approved with a matching 4‑ to 5‑inch siding profile and white trim; existing decorative soffit and transom were to remain. - At 114 North Trine Street (CA25019) the commission approved replacing a corrugated metal garage roof with asphalt shingles to match the house and installing a six‑foot cedar privacy fence around the rear yard. - The application for 24 East Mound Street (CA25020) was tabled to the May meeting at the applicant’s request. - The commercial property at 80 West Waterloo Street (CA25021) received approval for new HVAC screening, updated ramp railings and a landscape package, conditioned on trimming or adding vertical end trim to horizontal cedar screening panels and painting those finishes to match the building. - The commission approved removing an exterior metal stair on the west side of 102 East Waterloo Street (CA25022) and installing an octagonal attic window; the owner must submit a simple plan to the city building official demonstrating the remaining egress for the residential units.

Key discussion points and staff directions - Metal roofs: commissioners and staff expressed concern about exposed‑fastener metal roofing. The commission declined to approve exposed‑fastener “G‑rib” panels for the garage at 20 North Trine Street and required either asphalt dimensional shingles or standing‑seam metal with concealed fasteners. - Siding profile and texture: applicants proposing wider siding were steered toward a 4‑ or 5‑inch profile (rather than 6–8 inch), consistent with preservation guidelines and to reduce visible expansion/warping and dirt accumulation. - Drainage at 20 North Trine Street: commissioners pressed the applicant on a driveway drain proposal (French drain or trench drain). Staff and the contractor said the proposed solution would “daylight” to curb or tie into storm system if permitted; the commission approved the project with a requirement that the applicant show a final drainage/outlet plan to staff before construction. - Screening and trim at 80 West Waterloo: the commission asked that horizontal cedar screening be finished with end trim or posts to avoid a contemporary, “unfinished” look; members also recommended painting or staining the enclosure to harmonize with the building. - Stair removal at 102 East Waterloo: commissioners approved removal of the unsightly exterior stair but asked the owner to file a sketch with the building official showing alternate egress from units so code compliance can be verified.

Votes at a glance - CA25013 (17 North Trine St., new rear yard wood fence): approved, unanimous roll call (commission vote recorded as unanimous). Referenced in transcript blocks beginning at the first application presentation. - CA25014 (10 West Oak St., aluminum fence along depot): approved with staff recommendation to terminate at depot and single top rail, unanimous. - CA25015 (94 West Waterloo St., rear patio): approved as applied, unanimous. - CA25016 (100 West Columbus St., replacement picket fence): approved as presented, unanimous. - CA25017 (20 North Trine St., garage alterations): approved with conditions (asphalt dimensional shingles or standing seam with no exposed fasteners; 4–5" siding profile; white trim; add rake/soffit/fascia); unanimous. - CA25018 (main house siding to match garage): approved with matching 4–5" siding profile and white trim; scallop details and transom to remain; unanimous. - CA25019 (114 North Trine St., garage roof and new 6' cedar privacy fence): approved as stated, unanimous. - CA25020 (24 East Mound St., applicant requested postponement): tabled to May meeting at applicant request, unanimous procedural motion. - CA25021 (80 West Waterloo St., HVAC screening, railing, landscape): approved with condition that horizontal panels have vertical end trim or posts and be painted to match structure; unanimous. - CA25022 (102 East Waterloo St., remove exterior stair and add octagonal window): approved; owner to submit floor/egress sketch to building official for code review; unanimous.

What applicants must do next - Submit required follow‑up materials where noted: drainage/outlet plan for CA25017; a sketch for the building official showing egress after stair removal at CA25022; finalize the screening trim and paint choices for CA25021 before fabrication.

Meeting context and next steps The commission also noted an upcoming zoning code steering‑committee meeting and warned that the Landmarks packet for coming months will remain substantial. One application was placed on the May agenda at the applicant’s request; staff said it already has two additional items for next month.

The commission adjourned after the final vote.