Historic board approves COA for 153 West Bell Court, drops requirement to move stained-glass window
Summary
The Lexington Historic Preservation Board approved a certificate of appropriateness for 153 West Bell Court with conditions requiring matching casing for a second-floor stained-glass opening and standard staff reviews; the board removed staffs recommendation to shift the stained glass.
The Lexington Historic Preservation Board voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for work at 153 West Bell Court, including retaining a second-floor stained-glass window in its current location and requiring the window casing to match the other second-floor windows.
Board members heard staff findings that "the stained glass window needs to be shifted so it is centered above the lower window and casing should be similar to the other windows," but the owner, Nancy Johnson, said moving the window would risk further water intrusion and substantial additional cost. Johnson described extensive prior water damage and structural repairs to the rear elevation and said the stained glass is being stored and would be reinstalled where it originally sat.
SANDRA DAY, Historic Preservation staff, summarized the staff report and recommended approval of the rear addition, screened porch work and replacement siding subject to the standard staff conditions (resubmission to staff after review by other city divisions and resubmission if changed). DAY also recommended the casing around the stained glass match the opposite Second Floor window to increase the "fullness of the stained glass opening."
After discussion the board adopted a motion to issue the COA with the standard two staff conditions and an additional condition that "the casing of the Second Floor windows must match," and specifically deleted the portion of the staff recommendation that required moving the stained-glass window.
The board recorded the vote by voice; members present voted in favor and the motion passed.
The owner and contractor representatives said they will provide final casing and window details to staff for review prior to issuance of the COA and will work with staff to ensure consistency on the rear elevation as siding and trim work proceeds.
The board noted that the rear elevation has been altered over time and that some integrity of the original opening has been lost, but approved the proposed work with the specified conditions.
The COA decision resolves the immediate permit request but leaves the owner responsible for returning final details to staff before work begins.
