LPC declines front‑elevation changes for Rodney House, approves rear-window and siding work

The Baltimore County Landmarks Preservation Commission voted not to issue a certificate of appropriateness for the Rodney House front-elevation hyphen addition while approving proposed rear-window replacements and siding work.

Staff said the application concerned ex post facto construction and prior commission reviews, and recommended either issuing a notice to proceed or denying the front-work and approving the rear work. Property owner Daniel Gregorian told commissioners he had revised the plans to step the hyphen wall back one foot and to replace vinyl siding with wood shiplap to match historic materials.

Commissioners raised detailed concerns about the drawings’ consistency: several members said the floor plan and elevations did not clearly show the proposed one-foot setback and that the large four-panel folding patio door alongside an oversized garage door left minimal original wall and unbalanced fenestration. One commissioner said the elevation as drawn read like a "tunnel" and urged smaller openings and a more punched-window approach consistent with the main house.

Chris (commissioner) moved that the commission not issue a certificate of appropriateness for work item 1 (front/hyphen) and that the commission issue a certificate for work item 2 (rear windows and siding) provided the applicant returns with coordinated plans showing the one‑foot setback and revised door/window proportions. Ed Hoard seconded; the motion carried by roll call.

The commission asked the applicant to return with revised plans that align elevations and floor plans, reduce the extent of glazing or introduce lower panels on large doors, and better articulate how the hyphen will read as a stepped-back addition rather than a flush plane.

Work item 2 — replacement of vinyl siding with wood shiplap and new wood double‑hung windows on the rear elevation — was approved as proposed.