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Committee recommends denial of certificate of appropriateness for 1111 West Turner roof; case set for March 5 council vote
Summary
The Community and Economic Development (CED) committee recommended denying a certificate of appropriateness for a roof installed at 1111 West Turner after the owner pulled a permit post-construction. The committee’s recommendation will go to the full Allentown City Council on March 5.
The Allentown City Council’s Community and Economic Development (CED) committee voted to recommend denial of a certificate of appropriateness for a roof installed without prior Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) approval at 1111 West Turner.
Committee staff member Miss Kistler told the committee that the roof was installed before permits or HARB review were obtained and that a complaint prompted a subsequent inspection. “The roof is installed professionally and appropriately. However, it is not HARB approved materials,” Kistler said. She confirmed the permit was pulled only after the installation and complaint.
Property owner Joan Ferreras told the committee she had not known she needed HARB approval before replacing the roof and said the roofer she hired advised the materials and completed the work. Ferreras said she spent roughly $1,500 on the roof and is in the process of selling the house; she asked the committee for leniency given her plans and stated intentions to follow permitting requirements in the future.
Kistler said the committee had two options: approve the materials used or deny the certificate and require removal and replacement with materials that conform to HARB standards. She described the remedy as removing the existing roof and installing 3-tab (non‑HARB) shingles with the compliant alternative being architectural-style shingles, which she said would be materially more expensive. Kistler also noted a neighboring house has the same shingle material visible from the street.
During public comment, resident Ed Murfin urged the committee to consider the cost and called the current material “perfectly adequate,” while recognizing the committee’s duty to follow local guidelines.
A committee member moved to forward the denial recommendation to the full council; Vice President Mota seconded the motion. The committee voiced its approval and the recommendation will appear on the Allentown City Council agenda for a final vote on March 5 at 6:30 p.m.
The committee and staff offered Ferreras resources for follow-up questions and suggested she pursue compensation from the roofer if he failed to meet permit obligations. Staff also noted that Hartney and Kistler could provide additional background to council members ahead of the March 5 hearing.
The committee’s recommendation is advisory; a final, formal decision will be made by the full council on March 5.
