Board grants footprint waiver and approves conditioned addition to landmark Eliade Sells House

The Architectural Review Board approved a building‑footprint waiver and a conditioned approval for an addition to the Eliade Sells House, a landmark stone house built in 1824, after focused review of design details intended to keep the addition subordinate to the historic fabric.

Staff recommended the footprint waiver (requesting 28.4% lot coverage) and listed a set of recommended conditions addressing roof pitch, classical column details, window proportions and simulated divided lights, mortar color and a stone cap detail. The applicant, Jeff Hom, said he had worked with historic architect Karen Bocor and incorporated many of her suggestions; he urged the board not to treat staff’s advisory recommendations as mandatory changes and asked that some items remain advisory rather than conditions.

The board reviewed each condition line‑by‑line, sought clarification on window specifications and roof profile, and asked the applicant to provide clearer plan notes and material samples where documents conflicted. The waiver for increased footprint was approved, and the board then approved the addition with the set of conditions as modified during deliberations; staff will require the applicant to submit scaled details, paint chips and coordinated plan notes before permit issuance.

Applicant Jeff Hom said he and his team will provide the requested scaled details and clarified that the windows proposed are wood-clad units with simulated divided lights and that some plan sheets needed correction to resolve inconsistencies.