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Commission defers retroactive approval for exterior changes at 730 North 20 Third Street after owner seeks more time
Summary
Owners seeking retroactive approval for exterior alterations at 730 North 20 Third Street were granted a deferral so they can confer with staff after a notice of violation and staff recommended changes to porch columns, railings, shutters and paint color.
The Commission of Architectural Review deferred consideration of retroactive approvals for exterior work at 730 North 20 Third Street after the property owners asked for additional time to meet with staff and address recommended changes.
Staff reported the application followed a May notice of violation for exterior work completed without a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). Alterations at the two‑story masonry building included a replacement front door, new porch railings, synthetic square porch columns secured to brick piers with metal brackets, installation of shutters and painting the house white with black trim.
Staff recommended partial approval (allowing a replacement door of appropriate configuration) but recommended denial of the new columns and aluminum railings as incompatible with the historic building and neighborhood. Staff also advised that the commission’s paint guidelines discourage solid black paint for the building body and recommended the owners select a darker neutral instead. Staff noted COAs are valid for one year and must be renewed after expiration.
Owners Dawn Hollander and Ron Blummer apologized to the commission for proceeding without permits and said they were unaware of the COA requirement when they bought the house; Hollander asked for time to work with staff, noting she chose colors and details based on surrounding properties and believed the paint shade chosen was within acceptable guidance.
Commissioners discussed the design challenges posed by existing brick piers and the difficulty of matching historic turned porch posts to the current piers. Several commissioners expressed a willingness to allow some flexibility but requested that the applicant work with staff to find a compatible approach. Commissioner Easterling moved to defer the item to allow the applicant to meet with staff; the motion carried unanimously.
