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Board approves balcony/railing at 238 Quentin Drive with 3-foot maximum height; applicant to work with staff on design
Summary
After extended discussion, the board approved staff-recommended conditions for a railing above the garage at 238 Quentin Drive, including working with staff on final design and a maximum railing height consistent with the boardstipulation (3 feet). The applicant indicated willingness to modify materials and spacing to meet code.
The Historic and Design Review Commission Compliance and Technical Advisory Board on Sept. 19 approved staff recommendation for a replacement railing above the garage at 238 Quentin Drive with a final design to be developed in coordination with staff and a maximum height as recommended by staff.
Staffinitially recommended approval with stipulations that the railing be a traditional balcony railing featuring both top and bottom rails, vertical orientation, installed approximately 3 to 4 inches above the porch decking, constructed from 2-by-4 members for top and bottom rails, and that the proposed railing "should not feature an overall height of more than 3 feet." Staff also noted that a fully wrought-iron railing would be "completely appropriate." (staff)
Applicant Ron Hubbard described a variety of options he had found, including wrought-iron panels that matched decorative metalwork on the housefront and a four-foot-high flat-bar panel. Hubbard said he wanted a taller railing for safety and ease of use as he ages, saying, "I just want something that is going to be high enough that as I enjoy my deck out there ... I'm not gonna be worrying about, oh, I should could possibly trip and fall over." Hubbard agreed to add additional iron panels or adjust spacing to meet the code requirement that openings not exceed 4 inches.
Commissioners questioned whether the roof area above the garage functions historically as a balcony or as a flat roof, whether the proposed materials would be congruent with the existing front porch metalwork, and how railing heights on that feature should relate to the main balcony. Commissioners noted the existing installation dated back to at least 2007 and that the applicant had removed slats because of wood rot.
A motion to support staff's recommendation and to require the applicant to work with staff on height and materials carried on roll call. The recorded votes were: Davis Nay; Garcia Yes; Brigard Yes; Spiller Yes; Fullerton Nay; Pollock Nay; Vasquez Aye. The chair instructed staff and the applicant to coordinate the final design. Board staff reiterated that approval by the board does not replace building permits and that any work must comply with building code requirements (including the 4-inch maximum opening rule for balcony railing infill and minimum railing height provisions discussed during the hearing).
The board advised the applicant to work with staff on a consistent, cohesive design and to provide final details for staff review before installation.
