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Council denies post‑installation certificate of appropriateness for 100 West Market Street, gives property owner two years to reapply
Summary
Council denied a Historic Architectural Review Board recommendation and refused to approve a retroactive certificate for a recently installed aluminum‑clad door at 100 West Market Street, offering a two‑year period before enforcement and an opportunity to submit a compliant application.
Borough Council on Feb. 19 denied a certificate of appropriateness (COA) for a replacement storefront door installed at 100 West Market Street and said it will not pursue enforcement action for two years while the owner seeks a compliant replacement.
Council considered a post‑installation COA after the building inspector noted a new door had been installed following interior permit work. The Historic Architectural Review Board (HAARB) had recommended denying the design because the new aluminum‑clad door and its embedded divided lights did not match the building’s prior wooden divided‑light door or HAARB design guidelines.
During discussion, council members expressed sympathy for the property owner’s circumstances but sided with HAARB’s recommendation on materials and compatibility with the historic district. Council member Flynn moved to deny the COA; a second was recorded. Council then voted and recorded affirmative votes from members present.
Council directed the code enforcement department not to take immediate enforcement action and granted the applicant two years to file a new COA application and install materials consistent with HAARB guidance. The motion as stated in council minutes was to deny the current COA application, refrain from enforcement action for two years, and notify the applicant of the deadline to reapply.
Council members and other speakers noted the value of HAARB’s design‑guideline conversations with applicants and said the board’s role is often to work iteratively with property owners to reach an acceptable design.
