Littleton HPC approves conditional COA for Bradford Auto Body after roof collapse repairs

The Littleton Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved a conditional Certificate of Appropriateness for 2659 West Main Street, Bradford Auto Body, allowing exterior repairs and the installation of a prefabricated paint booth after a summer roof collapse.

Staff presented the application and said the project responds to life-safety demolition after the roof and part of an exterior wall collapsed. Staff described proposed work as replacement of exterior siding and garage doors, reinstatement of most rooftop equipment, and installation of a prefabricated automobile paint booth that increases roof height by about 6 feet — to roughly 19 feet 9 inches — and shifts the east exterior wall outward by about 1.25 feet. Staff noted the new siding will be a red metal profile similar to an existing rear addition and that the paint booth and two rooftop pieces of equipment are required to meet current EPA and building-code regulations. The proposed addition and equipment are set back about 43 feet from the building’s front façade and will be visible but not prominent from Main Street, staff said.

Staff recommended approval with two conditions: that final elevations accurately depict the removed garage doors and show the proposed doors as in-kind replacements (six fixed lights, three-over-three), and that mechanical equipment be painted a color that reduces its visual impact. “The existing elevations need to accurately depict the removed garage doors and visually show that the proposed doors are in-kind replacements,” staff said when reading the recommended conditions. Staff also recommended painting the equipment, suggesting red might be appropriate given the backing wall.

The applicant’s contractor, Charlie Jones of Her Saving Solutions, told the commission the team had provided material samples and that the proposed paneling matches what is already on other parts of the building. A representative for Bradford Auto Body said the work should return the building “back to business as usual” quickly.

Two nearby residents spoke during the public-hearing comments. Pam Sheppard, who lives about a block and a half from the site, praised the project team’s drawings, urged the commission to restore in-room public display capabilities for large plans, and said painting rooftop equipment was preferable to building a parapet that would change the building’s massing. Another neighbor described existing siding history and supported returning the building to its prior appearance.

Commission discussion focused on clarity of the plan set (so the in-kind garage-door detail appears on the drawings), the reason for the paint booth’s height increase (to meet the UL rating and code requirements for the unit), and staff’s authority to confirm final colors and glazing during plan-check before the city issues a permit. A commissioner noted the building’s large setback from the street reduces visual impact compared with primary Main Street façades.

A commissioner moved to conditionally approve “HPC Resolution 01-2025 approving the certificate of appropriateness for 2659 West Main Street” with the two staff conditions; another commissioner seconded. The vote was five in favor, none opposed.

The approval allows Bradford Auto Body to complete the repairs and to submit final plan-set revisions showing the in-kind garage doors and the specified equipment color for staff review prior to final sign-off.

Votes at a glance: HPC Resolution 01-2025 — approved 5-0. Conditions: (1) final elevations must show the six fixed-light (three-over-three) garage doors as in-kind replacements; (2) mechanical equipment must be painted a color that reduces visual prominence.

The commission then moved on to the next agenda item.