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DRC supports carriage‑style garage door at 720 West Main; asks owner to document code options for overhang reduction
Summary
Applicant Brett Gardner sought DRC guidance to replace a roll‑up garage door with a carriage‑style door and to shorten a garage overhang at 720 West Main to meet fire‑safety code.
Brett Gardner presented revisions to an accessory structure at 720 West Main, proposing replacement of a large roll‑up garage door with a carriage‑style double door and shortening the building overhang to meet building/fire code requirements.
City staff identified the accessory garage as a circa‑1940 contributing structure. Staff said it is unknown whether the existing overhead door is original; the guidelines prefer preserving original entrance elements, but the proposed carriage door visually aligns with other carriage doors in the district and therefore appears appropriate for an accessory building.
The owner reported that Building & Neighborhood Services informed them the garage overhang creates a fire‑safety issue because the accessory structure sits close to an adjacent property's garage. The building official advised that the overhang may need to be retracted flush with the side wall on the side adjacent to the neighboring garage. Staff advised the DRC that final code determinations rest with BNS and that the applicant should document the precise property line distances and proposed overhang reduction.
DRC members generally supported the carriage‑style door, encouraged the applicant to show existing hinge evidence if present, and asked for more precise measurements and code references so the committee can weigh the preservation value of the overhang against code requirements. Specific requests included: - Provide property line and setback measurements and the exact overhang reduction dimension required by BNS. - Explore alternatives that would preserve historic overhang elements where possible (for example, fire‑rated sheathing or limiting the reduction to the required side only). - If decorative hinges are used, show the full‑functional hinge arrangement (three hinges per leaf was discussed) so the door reads as authentic rather than applied ornament.
No formal action was taken. Staff said the applicant should return with documented code guidance and exact measurements; the DRC will evaluate whether a partial reduction or other code‑compliant solutions can preserve historic character.
