Board approves revised Habitat single‑family house at 470 Hiawassee with porch and accessibility conditions

The Design Review Board approved plans for a new one‑story single‑family house at 470 Hiawassee (case 9A25IH/#9325) on Sept. 14 with conditions intended to improve porch proportion, accessibility, and streetscape compatibility.

Staff reported the block context (modified Queen Anne cottages and minimal traditionals) and recommended conditions: final site plan to meet city engineering standards; parking revisions to be approved by staff; retain or plant trees in front and rear yards (retain existing mature tree if possible); parge‑coat or stucco the slab foundation exterior; siding to be lap style with appropriate overlap; increase porch depth to 8 feet and require supports at least 8‑by‑8 in dimension.

Applicant Chris Staley (Habitat) said he typically uses 6‑by‑6 posts with trim and was open to a 6‑by‑6 with trim rings at top and bottom; the board indicated a preference for the visual weight of 8‑by‑8 posts on longer porches but accepted a condition allowing 6‑by‑6 with trim for visual proportion. Board members also suggested adding handrails and balusters for visual enclosure and to improve the porch’s usability; the applicant agreed to add handrails. The board motion included continuing the porch fascia (freeze board) around gable fields and allowed the applicant the option of shake or board‑and‑batten accents above the 3‑board band; the motion also included an allowance to raise the finished floor 6 inches above grade and slope a walkway to meet accessibility while avoiding a full ramp.

A motion to approve the staff recommendation with added conditions carried on a voice vote. Final details (porch posts, railing, foundation finish, and minor grading to facilitate a modest raised porch) will be resolved during staff-level permit review.