Commission provides feedback on conceptual proposal for a new two-story house and three-car garage at 74 West Star Avenue

The Victorian Village Commission reviewed a conceptual application for a new two-story house with the appearance of a duplex and a two-story three-car garage at 74 West Star Avenue. The commission did not take a final vote on construction but provided design and procedural guidance to the applicant.

Kimberly Bernardchi (HBO staff) summarized staff comments: commissioners had asked for additional information on setbacks, lot coverage, rear-yard size, colors and materials, and precedent images for paired windows and garage articulation. HBO staff recommended the applicant coordinate with the Department of Building and Zoning early to determine required variances because the zoning classification (ARLD with R4 standards for some configurations) may trigger variances for side and front setbacks and a possible rear-yard garage footprint variance.

Applicant Kerrick Sher said he had revised the front elevation to separate previously paired windows on the front elevation and noted that several neighborhood buildings do have paired windows though not directly adjacent. He also said he reduced the backyard hardscape and increased separation between the main house and the carriage house to about 15 feet in updated materials and that lot coverage calculations were within R4 limits though the garage footprint may marginally exceed the rear-yard percentage allowance (50% proposed vs. 45% allowed). Sher said he would work with building and zoning staff (Dave Perry was named as assisting) and could adjust footprint dimensions to meet zoning if required.

Commissioners gave detailed feedback: they generally found the revised front elevation (uncoupled windows) more appropriate; they recommended developing clearer porch and railing sections, evaluating whether K-style or half-round gutters are more appropriate for a new build in the district, and providing additional paired-window precedents for context. Commissioners also raised concerns about program density (three dwelling units on a single parcel plus a carriage house), requested clarity that the carriage house is intended for storage and not an independent dwelling unit, and asked the applicant to submit zoning staff comments and variance reports before final review.

No final motions were made; the commission requested a revised packet for the next hearing including detailed porch sections, gutter decisions, garage-door articulation options (three singles vs. a wide double), clearer site dimensions and lot-coverage math, and photos of nearby examples to show contextual fit.