Planning Board approves aesthetic plans for new house at 12th North Florida Blanca Street in Aragon

The Planning Board voted unanimously to approve final aesthetic plans for a new two-story single-family residence with a detached garage and an accessory dwelling unit at 12th North Florida Blanca Street in the Aragon subdivision.

The applicant, Charles Coonsie, owner of Artisan's Architecture, told the board he had submitted the design to the Aragon Architectural Review Board (ARB) and received both preliminary and final approval. Staff noted the project is in the GRD-1 district and conforms to the Aragon design code; proposed materials include lap siding, shingle siding, front porches and balconies, and a standing-seam metal roof.

Board members asked whether any part of the project required a variance. Coonsie said an originally proposed second-floor Juliet balcony/window was removed to meet the required setbacks, explaining, “we just decided it was easier to remove it.” Staff reiterated that variances to the Aragon design code are handled by the Aragon ARB while variances to the general code would come before the planning board.

With no outstanding objections from board members, a motion was made and the board approved the aesthetic plans unanimously. Applicant Charles Coonsie thanked the board after the vote. The approval was limited to design/aesthetic aspects; no land-use variance or other permit approvals were recorded in the meeting minutes.