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Grass Valley DRC approves Mill Street awning replacement with high-profile composition shingles
Summary
The Development Review Committee approved replacing aging aluminum-shingle awnings at 124–128 Mill Street with composition shingles, conditioning approval on a higher-profile product and asking the applicant to consider a 'random cut' style to better match historic character; the project was found CEQA-exempt (Class 1).
The Grass Valley Development Review Committee voted on Nov. 25 to approve replacement of an existing aluminum-shingle awning that spans 124–128 Mill Street, conditioning the approval on the use of a higher-profile composition shingle and encouraging the applicant to consider a "random cut" pattern to better emulate historic wood shingles.
Vanessa Franken, associate planner in the city's Community Development Department, described the three one-story brick buildings as part of the city's historic district and said the existing aluminum shingles are a 1980s product no longer manufactured. "When I took this project last week to the historical commission, they did make a recommendation to DRC to approve the project as is, which is with the proposed composition shingles," Franken said.
The applicant's representative, architect Gary Burke, told the committee the existing shingles are damaged and difficult to source. "These are damaged shingles... they do need to be replaced," Burke said, and he described minor structural modifications to the awning to support the new material.
Committee discussion focused on the visual profile of composition shingles. One commissioner urged choosing a higher-profile product and noted manufacturers that offer a "random cut" variation that "looks more like a wood shingle if you squint your eyes a little bit," saying that increased depth would better match the historic streetscape. Staff and the architect said a higher-profile product would be acceptable as a condition and cautioned that some randomized patterns could increase installation labor costs.
Amy Wolfson, city planner, moved approval, instructing that the composition shingles be the high-profile type and that the applicant "consider using the random cut style." The motion also included a determination that the project is categorically exempt under CEQA section 15301 (Class 1) for maintenance and repair and adoption of the findings in the staff report. An unnamed commissioner seconded the motion and the chair called for a voice vote; two 'aye' responses were recorded on the audio. The committee closed the item as approved on the record; a full roll-call tally was not read into the record.
The property addresses subject to the approval are 124, 126 and 128 Mill Street; 128 currently houses Olive Grove, 126 is vacant, and 124 is occupied by Elevate Athleisure, according to staff presentation. The applicants were not present at the meeting and were represented by the architect.
Next steps: staff will finalize conditions of approval and the applicant will proceed with permitting and construction consistent with the condition to use a high-profile composition shingle and to consider the random-cut product if feasible.
