Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation Approvals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Winchester architectural board approves porch railings and replacement front doors
Summary
The Board of Architectural Review unanimously approved a homeowner's request to install porch handrails at 311 S. Washington St. and granted a certificate of appropriateness to replace front doors at 201 N. Loudoun St.; both items passed by voice vote on Feb. 20, 2025.
The Board of Architectural Review for Winchester City approved two certificate-of-appropriateness requests on Feb. 20, 2025: a porch handrail at 311 South Washington Street and replacement front doors at 201 North Loudoun Street.
The approvals came during the board's new and old business items after no members of the public spoke during citizen comments. Board members made and seconded motions; both motions passed by voice vote.
The porch railing application, filed as BAR 2,541 by homeowner Stan Whittinger, seeks to add wrought-iron handrails that match an existing iron railing visible on the property. At the podium, Whittinger said the house at 311 South Washington Street is his family's home and described an incident that prompted the request: “my mother-in-law was carrying that apple pie up ... we tripped and fell because there's no handrails ... she cut her hand and my wife said, we need some handrails on this.” He said the proposed railings will be welded iron, powder-coated, with pickets matching the existing railing and will follow the stairwell curvature.
Board member Ms. Ryle moved to approve BAR 2,541 "as presented"; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The second item, listed as BAR 24-899, was a certificate-of-appropriateness request by Clark McGee to replace front doors at 201 North Loudoun Street. The board reviewed 3-D models and discussed the proposed door frame, which would extend above the existing transom. Board members asked about material and finish; the applicant said the doors are a hardwood with a clear finish ("sealed") and that the hardware would be similar to the existing hardware. Ms. Ryle moved to approve BAR 24-899 as presented; Mr. Packard seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.
Votes at a glance
- BAR 2,541 — Request of Stan Whittinger to install new porch step railings at 311 South Washington Street. Motion to approve made by Ms. Ryle; second recorded. Approved by voice vote (individual member tallies not specified in the record).
- BAR 24-899 — Request of Clark McGee for a certificate of appropriateness to replace front doors at 201 North Loudoun Street. Motion to approve made by Ms. Ryle; second recorded. Approved by voice vote (individual member tallies not specified in the record).
Board members who participated in the meeting included Chairman Chancellor and Vice Chair Mr. Packard; minutes for prior meetings were approved earlier in the session. The meeting record shows the board handled the two property applications without further conditions or amendments.
A separate item later in the meeting included a discussion about a PHW pamphlet and its potential distribution to historic-district homeowners; that discussion did not require a vote.
