Ocala advisory board approves several exterior changes across historic district, tables one garage case

The Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board approved multiple certificates of appropriateness for properties in the Ocala Historic District and tabled one application after staff requested more work. The approvals covered decking and gates at a Winona Avenue property, driveway and sidewalk pavers and a new front railing, pool fencing at a Southeast Fifth Street property, and replacement windows at a contributing 1930 house; the board voted to table a garage application at 124 Southeast Seventh Street.

The approvals affect properties within the city’s designated historic district and apply the board’s Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) standards and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards referenced by staff. Board action allows property owners to move forward with the described exterior work, while the tabled garage case will return to the board after staff addresses outstanding items.

Staff presented five COA cases during the meeting and recommended approval for four. The first approved case, COA25-0016 (listed in staff materials as COA25-0016, property at 815 Southeast Fourth Street / 317 Southeast Winona Avenue), would add a concrete block flower box, a wood deck connecting a new garage to a secondary home, and a decorative black metal gate set on two brick pillars. Planning staff noted the primary residence is a 1918 vernacular/classical carpenter structure and a contributing building within the Ocala Historic District; staff found the proposed changes consistent with COA…