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CTAB denies request to replace five original wood windows with vinyl at 214 Rifugio, urges repair and offers staff assistance
Summary
The board accepted staff's recommendation to deny replacement of five original wood windows with vinyl at 214 Rifugio, directing the owners to repair original sashes where possible and to work with staff for on‑site review if windows are beyond repair.
The Compliance and Technical Advisory Board on May 23 voted to deny an applicant's request to replace five existing wood windows with vinyl at 214 Rifugio, accepting staff's recommendation that the original wood windows be repaired or, if beyond repair, replaced in kind.
Why it matters: The home is in a designated historic area where the design guidelines emphasize repair of original features and replacement in kind only when repair is not feasible. Staff said the five windows proposed for replacement are generally in a condition that supports repair; applicants cited cost and energy‑efficiency concerns.
Homeowner representatives Javier Castillo and Joe Gomez said they prefer modern windows for energy efficiency and cited the expense of full restoration. Staff described the guidelines and said when a window is "beyond repair"—commonly evaluated on a per‑sash basis and sometimes using a 50% rule for missing or damaged sash material—an in‑kind wood replacement may be administratively approved. Staff offered to provide resources and product recommendations and to perform on‑site assessments if the owners begin repairs and find a sash that is truly beyond repair.
Commissioners voted to accept staff's recommendation as written; the roll call recorded the motion as carried with the commissioners voting aye. The board denied the vinyl‑replacement request but noted pathways for compliance: repair in place; administrative approval for in‑kind wood replacement if a window is demonstrably beyond repair; or a staged approach where some windows are repaired and others are evaluated on site.
What happens next: Staff will share resources for pulleys, weights and window repair vendors and will coordinate on‑site follow-up if the owners begin repairs and encounter windows that cannot be repaired; the owners may return with additional documentation or an adjusted request.
