The Fredericksburg Architectural Review Board on Tuesday conducted its organizational elections, approved several certificates of appropriateness and heard staff updates on enforcement and preservation projects.

Kelly Penick was nominated and approved as chair; Helen was nominated in absentia and approved as vice chair. The board also approved two consent-agenda sign installations (805 Princess Anne St. and 100 Hanover St.).

Staff recommended approval of revisions to a previously approved COA for 922 Caroline St. to align with Virginia Department of Historic Resources guidance; the board approved the application after staff and the applicant described three revisions, including brick infill of two rear openings and a lowered storefront height after an on-site lintel was found. Michael Hammond of WACC, the applicant representative, said the three changes reflect field conditions and DHR consultation. "These three changes comprise the total of the changes to this application, and we request their approval," Hammond said.

The board approved a safety proposal for the City Center Building at 601 Caroline St. to install powder-coated black aluminum guardrails. Ray Reagan, the city's Special Projects Coordinator for Public Works, described regular contractor access and said the roof hatch is "approximately 2 feet from the edge of the roof," arguing that new rails are needed for safety. Staff said the central roof rails will be ballasted with roughly 100-pound bases and that the contractor will pull required building permits; board members noted the work will be inspected under code and must meet OSHA standards.

At 919 Sophia St., the board approved removal of two minimally visible, nonfunctional chimneys while recommending retention and repair of the earliest south-side chimney. Applicant Joshua Grady of Gerald Properties argued the chimneys are not character-defining and cited National Park Service guidance. Danae Peckler of the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation said the building's overall industrial form remains important but acknowledged the chimneys' limited visibility in some views. The board approved the application as submitted with one abstention recorded for the vote.

For 407 William St. (COA 2512-0164), the board approved removal of the existing awning, replacement of the metal double doors with a single 4-foot wood door, and a projecting (non‑illuminated) sign as presented, while continuing the question of a large accordion/bi-fold window system to the next meeting for revised drawings. Joshua Grady said the goal is to "activate the building front" and build "a little bit more connectivity between the business and the passerby and pedestrians." Board members debated illuminated (internally backlit) lettering versus front-lit or externally lit options and asked for a revised diagram showing the exact placement and lighting approach for the signage.

Staff reports and updates closed the meeting: the city confirmed an enforcement action at 212 Caroline St., where a contractor removed a synthetic slate product; staff stopped work, secured a permit for replacement in kind with true slate, and said the issue is being resolved. Staff also reported documentation work ahead of potential removal of Fickland Dam and an Old Mill Historic District resurvey funded by Dominion Energy resources.

Votes at a glance
- Consent: COA2512-0162 (805 Princess Anne St.) and COA2512-0167 (100 Hanover St.) — approved (voice vote, 5-0).
- COA2512-0160 (922 Caroline St.) — approved (motion carried; board vote recorded in meeting minutes).
- COA2512-0161 (601 Caroline St., City Center guardrails) — approved (voice vote, 5-0).
- COA2512-0163 (919 Sophia St., chimney removal) — approved (motion passed; recorded as 4-0 with one abstention).
- COA2512-0164 (407 William St.) — approved for awning removal, door replacement and projecting sign; window configuration continued to the Feb. 9, 2026 meeting (motion carried; recorded as 4-0 with one abstention).

What happens next
The board continued detailed window drawings for 407 William St. to the ARB meeting scheduled for Feb. 9, 2026. Several approvals are contingent on required building permits and inspections; staff will follow up on the 212 Caroline enforcement matter and move forward with documentation work for the dam and Old Mill resurvey.

Reporting notes: Quotes and attributions come from the meeting record. The article reflects motions and voice votes as recorded during the ARB meeting; where the meeting record did not provide a roll-call tally for each individual member, outcomes are reported from the official meeting statements.