German Village Commission approves multiple COAs; members press applicants on design, tree replacement and parking

German Village Commission members met May 7 at 111 North Front Street and approved a slate of certificate-of-appropriateness (COA) applications and variance recommendations while asking applicants for design clarifications and follow-up materials.

The commission approved designs for new and altered garages, a rooftop dormer replacement and multiple landscaping proposals, and recommended zoning variances where required. Commissioners spent the most time on a conceptual kitchen addition and demolition proposal that triggers lot-coverage and parking questions, the proposed two-story carriage-house addition on Jaeger Street (where removal of a rear-yard tree will be handled separately), and a detached-garage project on South Sixth Street that the commission split into design approval and a separate variance recommendation.

Those items drew substantive debate because they affect lot coverage, parking capacity, block appearance and tree replacement. Commissioners repeatedly asked applicants to submit final, scaled streetscape drawings, material samples, and clear plans for replacement trees or off-site salvaging of historic materials. For several COAs the commission approved design elements with conditions that staff receive final details (for example, final roof material/color or stair material) before the certificate is issued.

Votes at a glance

- COA 2500353898 (900 South Third Avenue): Commission recommended the applicant's request to allow a reduced drive aisle (20' to 13') and permit backing out into Third Street; motion passed by voice vote.

- COA 2500065277 (770 City Park Avenue): Commission approved replacement railing design with condition that final railing details be submitted to staff; motion passed.

- COA 2500193764 (South Sixth Street): The application was split. Part A (architectural design approving a studio with a studio sink, guardrail of tension cable, and either roof option) was approved with conditions (final roof color for EPDM to be supplied to staff). Part B (zoning variance recommendations for lot width, height, side yards and permission for habitable space over detached garage) was recommended to the city. Both votes passed.

- COA 2500204982 (Jaeger Street): Commission approved demolition of an existing garage addition and construction of a new two-story carriage-house addition, with the connector eave height to match the existing garage and the removal of an existing tree excluded from this COA (tree removal will be submitted as a separate application and handled by a commissioner subcommittee). Motion passed.

- COA 2500110554 (554 South Grant Street): Application was split. Part A (garage demolition/new garage) was approved with condition that final roof selection and color be submitted to staff. Part B (landscaping/site improvements) was approved as submitted. Part C (variance recommendations including lot-width and garage height/second-floor habitable space) was recommended. All motions passed.

- COA 2500235768 (South Chris Street): Commission approved asphalt-to-asphalt shingle replacement (GAF Slateline) with a middle-gray ridge roll and metal valley flashings per guidelines; motion passed.

- COA 2500360253 (Lansing Street): Commission approved demolition of a rear shed and construction of a new one-story two-car garage with revised trim per German Village guidelines; applicant may use smooth lap siding in either certain composite product (True/exterior-branded product previously known as Boral) or wood; motion passed.

- COA 2500307180 (Lansing Street, window-boxes): Staff recommended continuation for missing applicant materials and details on materials and sizes; commission voted to continue the item to a future hearing.

Other actions included routine staff approvals and the approval of the April 2, 2025 minutes.

Substantive discussion and directions

- Reinhardt (conceptual kitchen addition / demolition): Commissioners and staff flagged lot-coverage and parking impacts from a proposed rear kitchen addition that would remove an existing garage. The applicant was asked to document ownership/rights in the narrow private alley, confirm whether the project can accommodate a second on-site parking space (which would reduce some variance requests), and submit scaled streetscape drawings and material samples. Commissioners also asked that salvageable historic materials be preserved on-site or repurposed. No final vote was taken; the commission offered design feedback and asked for clarifying follow-up materials before formal review.

- Jaeger Street carriage house (COA 2500204982): Commissioners approved the two-story new carriage-house design but required the connector eave height to match the existing garage and excluded tree removal from the COA; they established a subcommittee (Commissioner Ian and Commissioner Schultz) to work with the applicant on a replacement-tree plan and to return recommendations to staff for a separate submission.

- South Sixth Street (COA 2500193764): The applicant clarified that a proposed second-floor space above a new garage would be a studio with a studio sink (not a kitchenette). Commissioners required that the design packet label the space “studio,” that final stair materials be selected to minimize visual impact, and that tension-cable guardrail details be used for the rear guardrail. Design approval (Part A) and a recommendation on variances (Part B) were voted separately and both passed.

Follow-up directions to staff and applicants

- For multiple approved designs staff is to receive final color and material samples before issuing COAs (examples: EPDM roof color for South Sixth Street; final roof selection for 554 South Grant).

- Tree removal at Jaeger Street must be filed and reviewed separately; a two-commissioner subcommittee will work with the applicant on replacement tree size and placement and report back to staff.

- For the Reinhardt conceptual addition, applicants were asked to provide scaled streetscape drawings, parking easement documentation, and options to preserve or salvage historic materials; commissioners urged that any new trim and window casing on additions match existing guidelines (page 78 of the German Village guidelines was repeatedly cited).

What happened next / procedural notes

Commissioners split several complex COAs into architectural-design votes (staff can approve final details once materials are submitted) and separate variance recommendations that go to the appropriate city zoning body. Where applicants lacked required materials or notifications (for example, property-notification mailings or final color samples), the commission either continued the item or approved with explicit conditions that staff receive the missing materials prior to certificate issuance.

Ending

The meeting closed after final votes and standard staff reminders about submitting clarifying materials; several applicants were told staff would issue COAs in the portal within a few business days once the outstanding clarifications were received.