Historic District Board approves multiple home projects, grants conditional garage OK for 1030 Park Ave; 313 East tabled

The Madison Historic District Board of Review on an April 2025 agenda voted to grant certificates of appropriateness for several property projects across the city, gave a conditional conceptual approval for a proposed garage at 1030 Park Avenue and tabled a replacement garage application for 313 East Street until the next meeting.

The approvals cover a range of common historic-district work: new accessory buildings, additions, covered porches and replacement windows. The board’s action included an explicit condition that elevations for the conceptual garage at 1030 Park Avenue be submitted to staff and the board before final zoning approval.

Why it matters: the board’s decisions determine what building materials, rooflines and visual configurations are allowed in Madison’s historic district. Certificates of appropriateness control changes visible from public spaces and guide reinvestment in older properties while aiming to preserve the district’s character.

Key approvals and outcomes

- 1030 Park Avenue (Robin Mingione): The board approved a two-story enclosed rear deck/porch addition and the proposed front portico. For the detached garage the board granted a conceptual approval (called a “conceptual” or conditional approval in the meeting) but made final approval contingent on the applicant submitting detailed elevations to staff and the board once site elevations and driveway grades are established. The board noted the applicant’s driveway and sewer connection situation and accepted a conceptual route so the homeowner could proceed with time-sensitive work while requiring follow-up documentation.

- 822½ West Third Street (Tom Pritchard): The board granted a certificate of appropriateness for two accessory structures: a 14-by-32-foot hobby/workshop shed and a garage approximately 20-by-22 feet. Members discussed setbacks and rotation of the garage for visual compatibility but concluded site constraints required the proposed placement and approved the application.

- 1014 West First Street (Wise family): The board approved a two-story addition with attached garage and related work on a noncontributing structure, finding the proposed materials and massing compatible with the site.

- 1030 Park Avenue (deck/portico portion): see above — deck and portico approved; garage conceptually approved with condition that elevations be submitted before final zoning sign-off.

- 901 West First Street (Tom McPherson): The board approved new roofed coverings for the rear porch, a covered side walkway and a front porch gable to improve the property’s street appearance.

- 757 Jefferson Street (Floyd Mathis): The board approved replacing a kitchen-side window with an aluminum-clad picture window; members discussed the guideline preference for wood and the prominence of windows on historic buildings but concluded an exception was acceptable in this location given context and other window replacements already approved on the house.

- 213 Jefferson Street (Angela Laub / owners): The board approved replacement of an existing deteriorated rear utility shed with a new 12-by-16 gabled utility building (smart siding), intended to store equipment and a golf cart.

- 308 Vernon Street (Dale Nichols): The board approved a seven-foot deck extension toward the street to accommodate the owner’s trailer and to provide a better river view, also allowing either a future spiral or straight stair option without requiring a separate return to the board.

- 313 East Street (Spencer family): The application to replace a dilapidated rear structure was tabled at the applicant’s request so the owner can provide clearer drawings (elevations, window/door placement and garage-door details) next month.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in the meeting)

- Acceptance of minutes: motion approved by roll call (unanimous of members present).

- Nomination and election of vice chair: Chris Cody was nominated and approved by roll call (1 abstention recorded during the vote on the nomination; subsequent roll call on confirmation showed approval).

- 822½ West Third Street (Tom Pritchard) — certificate of appropriateness approved. Roll-call approvals recorded from the members present.

- 1014 West First Street (Wise) — certificate of appropriateness for the two-story addition and garage approved by roll call.

- 1030 Park Avenue (Robin Mingione) — certificate of appropriateness approved for rear deck and portico; conceptual approval granted for the garage conditional on submittal of elevations to staff and the board prior to final zoning approval. Motion and subsequent amendment specifying the elevation submittal were adopted by roll call.

- 123 Jefferson Street — the earlier item for 123 Jefferson was tabled at staff request pending zoning/variance action (roll call approved the tabling).

- 901 West First Street (Tom McPherson) — certificate of appropriateness for porch/roof coverings approved by roll call.

- 757 Jefferson Street (Floyd Mathis) — certificate of appropriateness granted for a window replacement (one picture window) by roll call; board discussion flagged the house’s contributing status but members voted to allow an exception in context.

- 213 Jefferson Street (Angela Laub / owners) — certificate of appropriateness for replacement utility shed approved by roll call.

- 308 Vernon Street (Dale Nichols) — certificate of appropriateness for a seven-foot deck extension approved; approval included language allowing either a future spiral stair or straight stair without requiring a separate return to the board.

- 313 East Street (Glenn/Nathan Spencer) — application tabled for one month to allow the applicant time to provide basic elevations and garage-door details; roll-call motion to table carried.

Discussion highlights and board directions

- Garage elevations and driveway grades: for several garage proposals the board emphasized that final dimensions and sidewall heights are dependent on driveway grades and, where the site or municipal work (sewer, street cuts) affects elevation, the board preferred to grant conceptual approval but required elevations to be submitted before final zoning sign-off. That requirement was explicit for the 1030 Park Avenue garage.

- Windows and materials: members reiterated that the design guidelines favor retaining and repairing historic wood windows but noted the board can grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis depending on building context, visibility and prior work on the property.

- Staff follow-up: the board asked staff to confirm submittal deadlines and to place required follow-up materials (elevations, final siding details) on the next packet when an approval is conditional or conceptual.

What’s next

The board noted it will consider a proposed amendment to its procedures related to window approvals at the next meeting; staff will publish the required legal notice and include proposed language in the next packet so members and the public can review ahead of the discussion.

Ending: The board concluded the April agenda after staff reported on minor staff approvals completed since the last meeting and adjourned.