The Bexley Architectural Review Board met Jan. 8, 2026, and heard presentations on a range of residential and Main Street façade projects. The board approved the meeting minutes, adopted the consent agenda for five applications and took votes to forward several applications to the Board of Zoning and Planning (BZAP) with conditions, while tabling others to the Feb. 12 ARB meeting for revised drawings.

Why it matters: The board’s recommendations shape what property owners must present to BZAP and guide the design details that must be reconciled before final building permits. For projects visible from public streets, the ARB’s guidance on materials, eave and window proportions, and roof treatments affects neighborhood character.

Key actions and outcomes

- Consent agenda: The board unanimously approved five consent-agenda applications (ARB25-72, ARB25-73, ARB25-75, ARB25-66, ARB25-74) as presented.

- Tabling for more detail: The board tabled a group of applications so applicants could update drawings and avoid re-noticing: ARB25-36 (811 S. Roosevelt), ARB25-61 (217 N. Passingham) and BZAP25-45 (2680 E. Main) were moved to the Feb. 12 ARB meeting. Separately, ARB25-68 (2540 Maryland) and ARB25-70 (221 N. Ardmore) were tabled to Feb. 12 for revised elevations and construction details.

- Referrals to BZAP with design conditions: The board recommended several applications be considered by BZAP while retaining final design review authority at ARB: VISA25-42 (2690 E. Main) was forwarded to BZAP with the expectation that the project be remanded to ARB for final design review; BZAP25-47 (2291 Clifton) was recommended to BZAP with conditions to add first-floor windows on the south and west elevations, restrict standing-seam metal to the new addition, and avoid wholesale slate removal except where required for joins; BZAP25-48 (152 N. Remington) and BZAP25-49 (2678 Bexley Park Road) were also forwarded with conditions that they return for ARB design review on roof and massing or final design details.

- Approvals with staff/design conditions: ARB25-26 (973 Montrose), a replacement garage following a code-enforcement demolition, was approved with a condition that the applicant work with ARB staff/design consultant Karen on final design. ARB25-59 (141 N. Ardmore), a rear pavilion/covered porch, was approved with the condition that the applicant finalize details with the design consultant.

What board members emphasized

Board members repeatedly prioritized matching new work to existing primary structures: members pressed applicants to match eave details, window sizes and trim, and recommended full-stucco facades in several cases where the main house is stucco. On several projects the board asked applicants to provide larger-scale and working drawings — especially roof intersection, truss and connection details — before returning for final approval.

Notable exchanges and quotes

- On garage design at 2540 Maryland, staff member Karen recommended conditional approval only if the new garage “match the existing house,” and suggested full stucco to match the primary structure.

- On 2690 East Main (VISA25-42), board members noted the packet was not on the public website before the meeting; the board still voted to recommend the project to BZAP with remand back to ARB for final design approval.

- At the end of the meeting a board member referenced an external concern: “we got a scam letter sent to us from the city of Bexley… with a $7,000 bill,” an item noted during closing remarks (no formal action from the board on that topic).

What happens next

Most tabled applications will return to the ARB on Feb. 12 with updated drawings; items forwarded to BZAP will be scheduled at that board with the ARB’s conditions noted. Applicants given conditional approvals must work with the ARB design consultant or staff before final building permits are issued.

Meeting adjourned with next procedural steps assigned to staff and applicants.