Historic Zoning Commission approves exterior repairs, built-in gutter at 346 East Main Street

The Historic Zoning Commission on Wednesday approved a request to replace gutters, soffit, fascia and related trim at 346 East Main Street, a Queen Anne–style house listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Ben Roberts House.

The commission voted to allow the owner and contractor to replace damaged trim and install a six-inch built-in gutter with a custom drip edge, coping cap and embedded polyurethane foam, and to use James Hardie cement-fiber boards and composite moldings painted to match the existing exterior, as presented during the meeting.

The vote matters because the property is within local historic-district overlays and the commission must sign off on exterior work that affects visible historic fabric. Commission approval clears the way for the owner to obtain building permits and proceed with the work, subject to any standard permitting requirements.

Amelia (staff member) told the commission the project is being undertaken by 3 Stone Roofing on the 0.6-acre parcel that operates as a single-family dwelling with a prior board of zone appeals approval for a bed-and-breakfast use. She said the house is zoned RS-15 with a local HC (historic district) overlay and lies inside a CCO District overlay.

Amelia said the October administrative approval had allowed replacement of architectural…