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Design Review Board approves one infill house, denies another and postpones several applications
Summary
At its Feb. 19 meeting the board approved one infill housing proposal (2815 Johnston Street), denied one design (342 Chickamauga Avenue) and postponed multiple other infill cases for revisions or additional staff/engineering input.
The Downtown Design Review Board took action on a busy infill‑housing docket on Feb. 19, approving one proposal, denying a second and postponing several others for further information or revision.
The board approved a detached house at 2815 Johnston Street (case 2A25IH) after staff recommended revisions to parking and porch depth; the board’s motion approved the project subject to staff conditions. The board denied a separate application for 342 Chickamauga Avenue (case 2C25IH) because members found the proposed building too large in width and height for the immediate street context. Several other infill proposals were postponed to allow applicants to respond to design and engineering concerns or to be present to answer questions.
Mike Reynolds presented staff recommendations for each case and highlighted recurring design issues across the docket: driveway and parking placement (the board prefers alley access when an alley exists and recommends parking pads be located at least 20 feet behind the front habitable façade); front porch depth (guidelines typically recommend porches of about 8 feet depth rather than shallow stoops); and building width and massing that should be compatible with adjacent houses on the block.
Votes at a glance
- 2A25IH — 2815 Johnston Street: Approved, with staff conditions to adjust parking placement behind the front habitable façade, increase porch depth and add a side window; final site plan must meet city engineering standards.
- 2C25IH — 342 Chickamauga Avenue: Denied. Board members said the proposed two‑story design was significantly wider and taller than surrounding single‑story houses and could not be made compatible without substantial redesign.
- 2F25IH — 2136 Apricot Avenue: Postponed for 30 days to allow engineering review (the road is a narrow remnant lane, possible need to extend pavement and provide fire‑department turnaround).
- 2I25IH — 1233 Connecticut Avenue: Postponed for 30 days; staff recommended clarification of siding materials (uniform siding) and a rear elevation window, and the board requested additional detail on access and systems placement.
- 2D25IH / 2G25IH / 2H25IH — 3343, 3335 and 3339 Divide Street: Postponed 30 days per staff recommendation.
- 2J25IH — 816 East Churchwell Avenue: Postponed 30 days. Applicant Spencer Stanley appeared and offered a wider alternative plan; the board requested a formal resubmittal showing the alternate 28‑foot‑wide plan and site details (foundation/floor elevations, large rear tree retention) for the next hearing.
Board members repeatedly emphasized that applicants should attend meetings when multiple design clarifications are anticipated. Several cases were continued because applicants were not present to explain driveway choices, elevations, or engineering constraints.
The board noted that in cases where alleys exist, parking should be oriented to the alley and not the street; staff asked applicants to revise plans where parking pads encroached in front of the habitable face of the structure. Porch depth and façade rhythm were important factors in several denials and postponements.
