Historic landmark commission approves addition at 945 Mount Carmel with landscape plan condition

The El Paso City Historic Landmark Commission voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for a rear addition at 945 Mount Carmel, provided the applicant submits a landscape plan that staff must approve before a building permit is issued.

Staff told commissioners the house is non‑contributing and that the applicant revised the proposal after earlier feedback, lowering the roof profile and adding windows on the facade facing Mount Carmel Avenue. The preservation staff recommended reducing the scale of the addition and adjusting the fenestration so new windows align with existing openings or match their height.

Commissioners questioned whether the addition would overpower the existing structure and discussed alternatives, including reorienting the addition to run parallel to the existing house, using setbacks, and adding landscaping to soften the addition’s visual impact. As one commissioner put it, “It does look still a bit overpowering,” and staff warned that achieving the proposed square footage without dominating the original structure would be a challenge.

The applicant’s representative confirmed the owner is willing to modify the roofline and had already lowered the new roof and added windows in response to earlier comments. The commission moved to approve the plans “as presented, with the exception that a landscape plan must be provided to staff” before permitting; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The decision leaves the commission’s condition in place: staff will review the landscape plan administratively to confirm it meets guidelines and draws attention away from the new addition. The permit will not be issued until the landscape plan is submitted and accepted.