Historic Preservation Commission approves multiple certificates of appropriateness; Trinity School parking and neighborhood garage disputes draw public comment

Oklahoma City — The Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday approved several certificates of appropriateness (CAs) for work across Midtown and the Paseo, including a two‑lot parking expansion at Trinity School (the former Edgemere Elementary), a new garage and addition at properties in Mesta Park and Heritage Hills, and a covered side balcony at a Shepherd neighborhood house.

The commission front‑loaded action on projects with the most public interest: a proposed parking expansion and two curb cuts onto a 15‑foot alley for Trinity School at 3200 N. Walker Avenue, and a proposed replacement/relocation of a historic garage at 425 NW 16th Street that prompted a neighbor dispute over surveys and property lines.

Why it matters: the commission balances preservation of historic materials and neighborhood character with property owners’ requests to adapt older buildings for modern uses. Several applicants said the work is required for safety, habitability or to make a property functional for a growing household or school program; neighbors warned that some changes could increase traffic, alley congestion and impact small businesses that rely on alley deliveries.

Trinity School parking expansion wins CA after public concerns about alley use and deliveries

The commission approved a multi‑part CA for Trinity School (3200 N. Walker Ave.) to add two parking areas and related site work, with staff conditions on landscape screening and verification of required parking‑lot trees. Mark Zitza of Johnson & Associates, the applicant’s designer, said the school — which serves students with learning differences and is expanding into additional grades — needs more staff and student parking.

“We tried to design a parking lot in what we believe to be the most minimally invasive way into the site,” Zitza said, describing one new lot wrapping an existing drive and a second lot on the northeast corner. He told commissioners the project adds about 54 parking spaces and that engineers will provide a cross‑section of the terrace grading shown in the materials.

Neighbors and nearby business owners urged care in how the project affects the alley that runs behind the commercial buildings on Walker. Scott Spreidling, speaking for Citycorp LLC (property owner immediately south of the school), urged the commission to limit curb cuts onto the alley so school drop‑off queuing would not spill into the narrow passage used for deliveries and business access.

“We have to block out almost an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon,” said Joy Reidbelt, building owner and business operator in the alley. “We do have food‑service trucks. We have trucks that come and pick up grease. It is a busy alley.”

Mike Clark of Public Works told commissioners the alley is a public platted 15‑foot alley; the city engineer asked only that the project preserve contiguous ADA access and work with staff on permitting details. The commission’s approval noted those permitting reviews will occur at plan review.

Garage and property‑line dispute: 425 NW 16th approved with conditions, neighbors sought clearer survey alignment

At 425 NW 16th Street, Holly Hunt of HJH Design and owner representatives returned with structural reports and a revised proposal to demolish and reconstruct a historic garage that the applicant said was structurally compromised. Hunt said engineers confirmed the building had exceeded the threshold for demolition and that the proposed replacement would be moved so it sits entirely on the applicant’s property.

Neighbor Matt Bell, 421 NW 16th Street, told the commission he had a separate survey showing the existing garage encroached on his lot by about 3½ inches; he said the project drawings show a 4‑foot shift and that the drawings omitted existing sheds and other details that affect access and massing. “My objection is that you have inaccurate plans, and you can’t actually assess the scale, the mass and the sizing based on these plans,” Bell said.

Commissioners approved the CA for demolition and reconstruction with conditions that (1) allow the applicant to shift the garage up to 5 feet west if survey results require it, and (2) permit removal of east‑facing windows if required by fire or building code. The commission also required the applicant to provide the survey documentation to staff and encouraged the parties to resolve factual discrepancies before building permits are issued.

Historic‑district siding and railing cases: continuance and conditional approvals

The commission continued a siding application at 119 NW 18th Street after staff and neighbors raised concerns about replacing historic wood with fiber‑cement panels. Gary Taft, the applicant, explained the work is already complete in places and said the railing on a small portico was rebuilt for safety; commissioners agreed to continue siding questions to the November hearing and approved the new portico railing with conditions that the applicant work with staff on proportions and finishing to better approximate the historic look.

At 119 NW 18th, staff recommended a continuance on siding because the guidelines generally favor returning to historic wood if it remains available; the commission agreed and continued items 5 and 6 to November, approving item 8 (railing) with conditions.

Additions and window changes in Mesta Park and Mesta Park neighborhood approvals

At 628 NW 16th Street the commission approved a rear/side addition and enlargement of one bedroom egress window and approved other revisions after the applicants demonstrated limited visibility of the west‑side window changes from the public right‑of‑way. David Fox and Britney (Britney Portree) described efforts to match brick infill and to use aluminum‑clad wood windows and detailed specifications.

The commission found the west‑side window group had likely been altered in the past and that the proposed changes presented minimal visual impact, and it approved items 1–4 with staff conditions (including final window documentation) and an added condition that the currently existing pool be filled in prior to project implementation so impervious coverage does not exceed the approved total.

Other approvals

- 428 NW 28th (listed as HPCADash24‑00094 in the packet): CA revision for siding was approved; staff explained the work had already been completed and the commission reviewed it as a revision. - 729 NW 20th (HPCA‑25‑00100): A two‑story addition, front‑door reconfiguration (restoring the probable original location), driveway and 1½‑story garage were approved with unique‑circumstance findings and staff conditions. The owner said the new garage and turnaround improve security and off‑street circulation for a family of five. - A proposal for a canvas canopy cover at 2215 NW 25th (side balcony canopy) was approved by the commission with staff‑recommended conditions after the applicant presented three design options; staff recommended the fabric/canvas option as most compatible with guidelines. - The commission recommended approval to the Board of Adjustment (BOA) for a special exception (BOA‑16046) to allow a home‑sharing operation in a High‑Landmark overlay; staff had no objection and recommended forwarding the item with a favorable recommendation.

Votes at a glance

- HPCADash24‑00094 (428 NW 28th) — Approved (revision to previously approved CA; work already completed). - HPCADash25‑00070 (425 NW 16th) — Approved (demolition and reconstruction of garage). Conditions: may shift garage up to 5 ft west if surveys require; east windows removable if required by code; fencing documentation to staff. - HPCADash25‑00092 (119 NW 18th) — Items 5 & 6 (siding) continued to November; Item 8 (railing) approved with conditions (refine proportions, paint, coordinate with staff). - HPCADash25‑00093 (628 NW 16th) — Approved (addition, window adjustments). Conditions: final window specs; pool to be filled prior to implementation. - HPCADash25‑00094 (2215 NW 25th side balcony/canopy) — Approved (canvas awning recommended by staff) with conditions. - HPCA‑25‑00100 (729 NW 20th) — Approved (two‑story addition, new garage, front door reconfiguration) with unique‑circumstance findings and standard staff conditions. - HPCA‑25‑00101 (3200 N. Walker / Trinity School) — Approved (two parking areas, grading and site work). Conditions: verify landscape/parking‑lot screening and street‑tree requirements at plan review; provide grading sections for the terrace. - BOA‑16046 — Commission recommended approval to Board of Adjustment for a home‑sharing special exception in the HL overlay.

What commissioners emphasized

Commissioners repeatedly urged applicants to supply full survey and permit‑stage documentation so that building‑permit reviews and plan reviewers can resolve property‑line discrepancies and code conflicts. Several commissioners also recommended robust signage and circulation plans for the Trinity parking project to limit queuing impacts on Walker and the narrow alley behind adjacent businesses.

Notable quotes

- Shelby Weston (applicant, JHS Construction): “I’ll own any mistake I do. But I will tell you that this siding is the same siding that’s on the next two houses… it looks brand new.” - Holly Hunt (HJH Design, 425 NW 16th): “We’re moving [the garage] as far as possible… we’re gonna be removing the brick portion mostly because it’s in really bad shape and just putting up a fence there.” - Matt Bell (neighbor, 421 NW 16th): “My objection is that you have inaccurate plans, and you can’t actually assess the scale, the mass and the sizing based on these plans.” - Mark Zitza (Johnson & Associates, Trinity School engineer): “We tried to design a parking lot in what we believe to be the most minimally invasive way into the site.” - Joy Reidbelt (building owner, Walker alley businesses): “We do have food‑service trucks. We have trucks that come and pick up grease. It is a busy alley.”

Next steps and permitting

Most approvals carry standard conditions requiring applicants to return final window and material specifications to staff or to implement conditions at plan review. Several items will proceed to building‑permit review, where plan reviewers and public‑works staff will verify ADA access, curb‑cut details and alley impacts. The commission noted that disputes about property lines are ultimately civil matters between neighbors and will be addressed during plan review or at permit inspection stages if necessary.

Ending note

Commissioners said they appreciate applicants working with staff to refine designs and urged neighbors and applicants to exchange survey and permit documents before construction begins so permit review can resolve remaining factual discrepancies.