Historic commission approves 7-foot ADU addition at 2906 Wheeling Avenue with doorway-only demolition requirement

The El Paso Historic Landmark Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a 7-foot addition to an accessory structure at 2906 Wheeling Avenue to accommodate a bathroom for a proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU), with a condition that the applicant submit floor and demolition plans showing only a doorway opening through the existing rock wall. The motion passed 3-2.

Staff told the commission the property is in the Manhattan Heights Historic District, zoned R-3-H, built in 1922, and is a contributing resource. The presentation described the existing rear rock accessory structure and said the proposed 7-foot addition would extend that structure to create space for a bathroom. Proposed exterior materials shown to the commission included Hardiplank lap siding; staff emphasized the addition is at the rear elevation and not readily visible from the public right-of-way.

“As far as the exterior structure, that's as far as they're willing to go,” a staff member said, noting the applicant has not finalized floor plans. The staff member cited El Paso's design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation in support of rear additions that do not damage character-defining features.

Commissioners asked about the project's earlier appearance before the commission (initially for a gate for security) and whether parking radii compliance had been confirmed; staff said the applicant had been in compliance with the requested parking study. Commissioner questions also sought assurance that the work would not require removal of a large portion of the rock wall; the applicant's representative, Lisa Dominguez, said there will be no exterior entrance into the bathroom and that the interior would be accessed without demolishing the full wall. “From the inside going to the room, there will be no outside entrance into the bathroom,” Dominguez said.

A motion to approve the ADU addition with the recommended requirement that the plans (including a demolition plan) be returned to the Historic Landmark Commission for approval of the doorway opening passed on a roll call vote. The roll call recorded Commissioner McClellan, Commissioner Renteria and Commissioner Silva voting yes; Commissioner Edwards and Commissioner Harder voted no. The chair recorded the tally as 3 to 2 in favor.

The commission also requested that when the applicant completes the floor plan and demolition plan the documents be submitted to staff and returned to the commission to confirm that only a doorway opening (not a large wall removal) is proposed.