Nolensville Historic Zoning Commission approves exterior changes for 7287 Nolensville Road

The Town of Nolensville Historic Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a certificate of appropriateness for exterior modifications at 7287 Nolensville Road, a historic commercial building formerly constructed as the Bank of Nolensville and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The approval, made during the commission's regular meeting, allows the applicant to repaint and rehabilitate brick, remove metal awnings, replace existing horizontal siding with vertical board-and-batten, add new windows including three small transom windows on the northern facade and two second-floor rear windows, install a barber pole and add gooseneck lighting for the business sign and doors. The commission included staff-recommended conditions, notably that final paint color be submitted for staff approval and that sign lighting be downward-facing rather than upward-facing.

Town of Nolensville planning staff told the commission the building has undergone prior exterior work since its original construction in 1905–06 and that the applicant's proposed updates “do not appear to greatly harm the existing historic structure” and in staff's view “enhance the exterior façade” when combined with previous modifications. The proposed work also calls for reusing and repurposing the building's existing cantilever sign; staff recommended downward-facing illumination rather than the applicant's initially proposed uplight for that sign.

Mr. Molina, the applicant representing the business that plans to occupy the building, said the project is a small, family-owned barbershop operation and described the intent as making the building more inviting: “we just wanna make the building look better, greater, more inviting, for the public.” He said the shop seeks a family-oriented design consistent with its other locations and that the proposed red paint will be a muted tone to match the building's existing character.

Commissioners discussed details including the location of the three transom windows (staff and the applicant confirmed they are proposed for the northern façade, not the southern façade as an earlier paperwork item stated) and whether the final red paint color had been submitted. A commissioner who spoke in support said, “I just thought it was a very nice project.” The commission added an explicit condition that the applicant submit the final paint color to staff for administrative approval before permits are issued.

Motion and vote: A motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness with the staff recommendations and an added condition requiring submission of the final paint color to staff was moved and seconded. The commission approved the motion; the application was recorded as approved without opposition.

Next steps: The applicant must obtain required permits and submit the specified paint color to Town staff for administrative approval and follow the staff conditions on lighting and other code-compliance items before final work may proceed.