Commission approves Callahan Avenue permit and gives conceptual approval for modified design with fenestration conditions

The Historic and Design Review Commission’s review committee approved a permit and granted conceptual approval for design changes to a proposed residential project at 120 Callahan Avenue in the La Vaca historic district on Thursday, with amendments that require the applicant to refine fenestration patterns and vehicle access in coordination with staff.

The committee first voted to approve the permit under staff stipulations for the application’s first item. Applicant representative Daniel Cruz said the project team had incorporated substantial changes since the prior hearing and that they agreed to staff stipulations. "Estamos de acuerdo con todas las estipulaciones de personal," Cruz told the committee. A roll-call vote recorded the permit as approved with one commissioner recorded as voting no.

The committee then considered a separate request for conceptual approval of an altered design (agenda item 2) that included removal of a front garage door, adjustments to roof lines and parking alignment. Commissioners pressed the applicant on how the vehicle path would align with the property edge and what would replace the removed garage doors on the primary façade.

After extended discussion the committee amended the motion to require that the applicant "explore options of fenestration patterns" for the blank façade area — including windows, patterned openings or tile elements — and that staff have authority to approve the final pattern administratively; if staff cannot approve the details, the item must return to the commission. The amendment also clarified that the curb/vehicle path alignment would be coordinated with staff so the proposed internal parking arrangement could function.

The amended conceptual approval passed on a recorded vote.

Why it matters: the project is in the La Vaca historic district, where façade composition, rooflines and fenestration are central to preserving historic character. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that the commission is concerned with the visual treatment of the primary façade rather than internal layouts, and they sought assurances that the front elevation would not remain a blank wall if the garage doors were removed.

Staff will administratively review the required fenestration patterns, the altered roofline details and parking configuration; if staff determines the final treatment is inconsistent with stipulations, the item will return to the commission. The applicant will receive a certificate or written decisions within 10 days, and no work may begin until required permits are issued.