Elkhart preservation commission records staff approvals for four exterior projects; homeowners cite security concerns for Prairie Street request

Elkhart Historic and Cultural Preservation Commission members on Sept. 18 recorded staff approvals for several exterior projects across the East Beardsley and Prairie Street historic districts and approved one certificate of appropriateness after homeowners described security concerns.

The commission read into the record staff approvals for roof replacements at 214 State Street and 215 State Street, a concrete driveway slab and replacement storage shed at 600 Prairie Street, and a fence and storage-shed project at the Havilah Beardsley house at 102 West Beardsley. Commissioners formally moved to accept the staff recommendation for the certificate of appropriateness (COA) for a vinyl privacy fence at 600 Prairie Street and approved it by voice vote.

Commission staff member Deb Harsall, representing Indiana Landmarks in the meeting record, told the commission that the house at 600 Prairie Street is noncontributing to the historic district because it was constructed in 1971 and that staff recommended approval of a six-foot vinyl fence at the rear and side of the property, set so it would not extend beyond the front facade. Homeowners Robin Gogler and Terry Gogler told the commission the replacement fence and reoriented storage shed are intended to deter repeated thefts from the shed and to reduce their dogs’ barking.

"We have been broken into our shed three times now. Things have been stolen, lawnmowers and so forth," Robin Gogler said, explaining the security rationale for a taller, private fence. The applicants also said they will orient the new shed to face away from the alley.

For 214 State Street, Harsall said the owner proposed tearing off an existing three-tab asphalt shingle roof and replacing it with Atlas StormMaster architectural shingles in the color Grand Teton; staff concluded that the replacement is similar to the existing material and meets the historic-district guidelines for material and profile and therefore could be approved administratively. Harsall said the property had previously sought a metal roof but switched to a more economical replacement after a change in the owner's circumstances.

At 215 State Street, Harsall reported staff approved tearing off a three-tab asphalt shingle roof and replacing it with StormMaster architectural shingles in Grand Teton, installing a membrane on the flat portion of the front porch (not visible from the public way), and eliminating built-in gutters on the porch. Staff found the proposed work consistent with district guidelines and approved it administratively.

Harsall said the Havilah Beardsley House proposals at 102 West Beardsley — a fence on the property’s west side and a matching storage shed — have been under review for several months and meet district guidelines. She told the commission the fencing will be similar in style to existing new fences in nearby properties and that the shed will be painted to match the house.

Commission members asked a small number of clarifying questions about placement, color and visibility and accepted staff’s determinations. The meeting concluded with routine announcements and a brief calendar discussion about scheduling a special meeting to review proposed changes to district boundaries and standards.

Votes at a glance

- 25 COA-06 (600 Prairie Street) — Motion to accept staff recommendation to approve a six-foot vinyl privacy fence at rear and side; outcome: approved by voice vote. (mover/second: not specified in the record; vote method: voice) - Staff approvals (administrative; read into the record): 214 State Street — roof replacement (Atlas StormMaster, Grand Teton); 215 State Street — roof replacement, porch membrane, elimination of built-in gutters; 600 Prairie Street — concrete slab at south side of property and replacement storage shed; 25 COA-08 (102 West Beardsley) — fence and storage shed for Havilah Beardsley House. (These were recorded as staff approvals; no commission roll-call vote recorded.)

The commission’s packets identified each property as either "noncontributing" or conforming where noted; for noncontributing properties staff applied the standard of compatibility with neighborhood materials and profiles when recommending approval. Commissioners thanked staff for handling the administrative approvals and moved to adjourn at 7:19 p.m.