BAR clears 2,100‑sq‑ft addition at 307 S. King with reduced roofline and approval for fiberglass windows

The Leesburg Board of Architectural Review approved a proposal on May 21 to add roughly 2,100 square feet to the rear of the historic cottage at 307 South King Street, subject to conditions that included simplifying the roofline and approving the applicant’s presented Andersen Fibrex fiberglass window product.

Staff summarized that the historic portion of the house is an early‑19th‑century Federal‑style brick cottage set well back and uphill from King Street and that the proposed addition attaches to later non‑historic additions at the rear. Staff said the overall massing, materials and fenestration were generally consistent with the BAR guidelines and that visibility from the public right‑of‑way is limited by the building’s setback and grade. The primary staff concerns raised for board discussion were (1) simplifying or reducing some intersecting gables in the roofline and (2) reviewing a sample of the proposed Andersen Fibrex fiberglass windows to confirm they visually approximate wood.

Architect Tom Gilbride described the design moves and presented a physical sample of the Fibrex window product for the board to inspect; owner Mike Weitzel and the project team were present and agreed to a lowered ridge and a single gable option to reduce the apparent mass of the addition. Gilbride said the applicant would accept the single gable and reduced ridge shown in the updated drawings and that fibre‑based windows they proposed are intended to look painted and not like metal‑clad products.

Board members discussed the visibility from the street and the tradeoffs of fenestration and roof complexity; several members said the lowered ridge improved the addition’s subordinate appearance. Staff noted that Marvin fully fiberglass windows had been approved for a different new house in town and could be an alternative if the BAR preferred another manufacturer. Julie Pastor moved to approve the application as revised this evening, including the south elevation with a single gable and the reduced roof line, and to use the Andersen Fibrex product as shown; the motion was seconded and passed 7–0.

What this means: approval is conditioned on the standard BAR requirement that any future alterations to footprint, height, attachments, scale or materials will require a revised application. Staff asked for final construction drawings that reflect the single gable and adjusted ridge height as presented at the meeting; the applicant will provide those drawings and proceed toward permitting.