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ARB approves site elements for 301–303 Hanover Street with conditions after preservation concerns
Summary
The Fredericksburg Architectural Review Board approved lighting, mechanical screening and a trash enclosure for the rehabilitation of 301–303 Hanover Street, adding two conditions on enclosure height and fence height within the driveway sight triangle after public comment raised concerns about vents and fixture choices.
The Fredericksburg Architectural Review Board approved site elements for the rehabilitation of 301–303 Hanover Street, including exterior lighting, below‑grade HVAC screening and a painted wood trash enclosure, after a staff presentation and public comment.
Board staff told the ARB the property is a contributing, c.1825 brick rowhouse and that the current submission covers lighting, a trash enclosure, screening for mechanical equipment and a number of wall vents. Proposed lighting includes six black, powder‑coated bollards (52 inches tall) adjacent to the driveway and parking area, two black wedge‑style wall sconces over basement entrances, five black lantern‑style fixtures adjacent to entries and patio doors, a porch pendant and step lights. Staff said fixtures will have a warm white color temperature (about 3,000K) and be dimmed to meet city lighting standards. The applicant also proposes multiple wall caps and small vents painted to match the brick, two HVAC units forward of the 303 side porch screened by a brick knee wall and wood fencing, two additional units beneath the 301 porch screened by lattice, and a painted wood trash enclosure with swinging gates to fully obscure totes (height not specified in the submission).
Danae Peckler, speaking on behalf of HFI, said the project team’s overall work is “generally in keeping with local district guidelines” but urged the board to reconsider a wedge wall sconce on a highly visible facade and to reduce the number of small metal vents that would penetrate the historic masonry. Peckler cited the design guidelines, noting that “new elements, such as vents or skylights, should not be added to the facade or other highly visible areas” and asked whether vents could be consolidated or replaced by a single louvered vent or more sympathetic units.
Board members asked for clarifications on vent size and materials; the applicant said vents would be metal, roughly 6 by 6 inches, and that the vents respond to code and ventilation needs. Members also confirmed that the trash enclosure must fully screen totes and that fencing adjacent to the driveway is limited by site‑triangle rules.
Motion and conditions: The ARB voted to approve COA 2500‑061126 (301–303 Hanover Street) as submitted with two conditions: (1) the trash enclosure must be tall enough to fully screen the trash totes, with a maximum height of 6 feet; and (2) fencing and walls within the site triangle adjacent to the driveway are limited to a maximum of 40 inches in height. The motion passed with the required quorum; board members recorded one abstention.
Why it matters: The decision permits work that will modernize service and building systems while preserving visible historic fabric, but public comment and several board members emphasized minimizing penetrations and modern fixtures on the most visible elevations to protect the building’s Federal‑style facade.
Next steps: Staff will implement the ARB conditions when issuing the certificate of appropriateness and will confirm final materials and dimensions to ensure the vents, fencing and enclosure meet the conditions before permits are issued.
