Historic Preservation Board approves revisions for new houses at 40940 Fifth Street with 11 conditions

The Historic Preservation Board on Feb. 25 approved application 24‑111 for new construction at 40940 Fifth Street (Lots 5 and 6) after the applicant revised the design to remove a front‑loaded garage and adopt details staff recommended.

The applicant presented a redesigned façade that eliminated the front-loaded garage and added two rooms facing the street. Staff said the revisions better reflected elements of the frame vernacular style and noted two remaining recommended refinements: a small bathroom window on the north elevation and a fourth porch column to improve porch rhythm. Board members emphasized that column detailing — traditional cap, base and wood cladding — was more important than adding a fourth column when the porch is shallow.

The board voted to approve the application, conditioning the COA on 11 requirements listed in the staff report. Conditions include: white window and door frames (except door no. 1); sash windows with a vertical 3-over-1 pattern; street-facing glass to be clear; a fixed bath window approximately 29–38 inches wide and 16–18 inches high with matching trim; specific window inset depths; door no. 2 to be a pair of French doors; sized shutters; lap stucco siding with a smooth bevel profile and ~5-inch reveal; verification of an architecturally appropriate gable face roof vent by staff; front yard paving limited to 25% maximum; and new columns to have traditional cap and base and be made of wood.

The motion to approve cited the application, staff report and testimony as competent substantial evidence and tied approval to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and section 94‑49 of the ZLDR. The motion carried by voice vote.