York City panel approves cementitious siding, half‑round gutters and bricked basement window at 117 South Newberry St.

A York City review panel voted to approve exterior renovation work at 117 South Newberry Street, including replacement of the siding with cementitious board, installation of half‑round gutters and downspouts, bricking in a basement window, and replacement of a front door, during a public meeting (date not specified).

Panel members said the applicant may use fiber‑cement (cementitious) siding in place of wood; a shake‑style siding was explicitly not acceptable for the principal (street‑facing) elevation. The panel required half‑round gutters and matching downspouts for the visible façade, and it specified that any bricked‑in basement window should be made flush and use brick, mortar, joint size and color to match existing masonry where possible.

The applicant’s representative described significant exterior rot to the dwelling’s siding and said the homeowner desired a cedar‑shake look. The representative said James Hardie (a fiber‑cement manufacturer) and a polyash composite similar to Boral were among the materials considered. A panel member responded that shake profiles were not historically typical on the front facades in that neighborhood and therefore would likely be rejected for the primary elevation, though different treatments on secondary elevations can sometimes be acceptable.

On gutters, the applicant’s representative explained the property’s drip edge does not extend far enough to work with standard half‑round gutters without some roof‑line work; the representative said switching to modern K‑style 5K gutters mounted to the fascia would reduce cost because it avoids removing and re‑sheathing roof edges. Panel members reiterated a preference for half‑round gutters for historic compatibility and said properly installed half‑rounds would be required as a condition of approval. The panel suggested options such as locating a longer metal drip edge or making modest sheathing adjustments if necessary.

The panel also approved replacing the entry door with a fiberglass unit matching the existing style but with two lights in the upper panels and instructed that the sill and flashing work be completed to remediate rot and water intrusion. Panel members agreed previously allowed removal and bricking‑in of basement windows when nonfunctional; here they approved bricking the basement window, with the brick and mortar to match existing as closely as possible and the bricked surface to be flush rather than deeply recessed to avoid drainage issues.

A motion to approve the application as amended—to include cementitious siding, half‑round gutters and downspouts, and bricking in the basement window—was moved and seconded, and the panel adopted the motion by voice vote with the ayes prevailing. Panel members stated the applicant should obtain the necessary city permit first; staff (identified in the meeting as Nancy) will process the permit application and the item will proceed to the city council as part of the review workflow.

The panel’s approval included these conditions and clarifications: use of cementitious siding rather than a shake profile on the primary façade; installation of half‑round gutters and matching downspouts visible from the street; bricked‑in basement window finished flush with matching brick and mortar; door replacement to match existing proportions with flashing and sill repair; and final permitting and staff review before work may begin.

The action concludes local review; the applicant was advised to submit permit documentation to staff for review before proceeding.