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Kennesaw HPC gives conditional approval to proposed event barn at 2926 Lewis Street
Summary
The Kennesaw Historic Preservation Commission recommended conditional approval of a proposed 6,108.5-square-foot event barn at 2926 Lewis Street, requiring additional documentation on height, massing, parking and landscape screening and prohibiting exposed concrete block on the site.
The Kennesaw Historic Preservation Commission on Aug. 15 recommended conditional approval of a proposed event barn at 2926 Lewis Street, contingent on additional design and documentation requirements.
Louise Aldridge, representing Vasco Properties and the owners, described the project as a 6,108.5-square-foot structure that would include an event area, a dance floor, a bride-and-groom suite, restrooms and an unfinished mezzanine. "We have designed this project with careful consideration of the historic character of the area, and we are committed to ensuring it compliments the surrounding environment," Aldridge said.
Commissioners and staff raised concerns about the building’s size, height and parking. Staff cited design guidelines for infill that suggest a typical limit of about 2,500 square feet per floor and noted that the project’s base footprint and mezzanine areas pushed the total area above those guideline figures. Staff also flagged a discrepancy in the elevation drawings showing peak heights in the mid-40s (44–48 feet) against a 45-foot guideline and asked the applicant to document how the measured height compares to adjacent properties.
The commission’s conditional recommendation lists specific follow-ups: provide photographs of adjacent contributing structures, architect-supplied calculations showing the average height and mass of nearby buildings (including Park At Maine and the Brain Station), an updated landscape plan showing screening and plantings, details and screening for ground-mounted HVAC equipment, and any written parking agreements for off-site stalls. The motion also reiterated that "no plain concrete block shall be exposed from view to the public way," covering areas such as dumpster enclosures.
Commissioner Whipple, who moved the conditional recommendation, said the additional material should allow the commission to evaluate context and scale before final sign-off. The applicant will consult with staff and the fire marshal as necessary and return with the requested documentation; staff will determine whether chair-level approval or a full commission hearing is required for any subsequent adjustments.
The commission approved the conditional recommendation; the applicant will return with the requested clarifications and materials before final action.
