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Board approves revised gate and higher yard wall at Upper Canyon Road with fenestration condition
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Summary
The board approved a revised metal-frame gate with wood inserts and allowed the as-built yard wall height at 1489 Upper Canyon Road, conditioned on adding fenestration to the wooden slats to reduce visual heaviness. The vote was unanimous.
The Historic Districts Review Board approved an application for a yard wall and vehicle gate at 1489 Upper Canyon Road, agreeing with staff to deny the existing solid metal gate and instead approve Option 2 — a metal frame with wood inserts — provided the wood slats are fenestrated to relieve visual solidity.
Planner Lanny summarized the background: the applicant sought an exception to design standards for gate material and to raise the previously approved yard wall to the as-built height. Staff recommended denial of the existing metal gate and recommended Option 2 to better fit the streetscape. The applicant presented three alternate designs and said the yard wall would remain stucco and the gate would be revised.
Board members asked the applicant to commit to fenestration — small cutouts or details to make the wooden panels read as wood rather than a dark, solid plane. An early speaker from the board flagged a nearby precedent in which a too-solid insert failed appeal, and the board required an explicit fenestration condition and delegated final review of the fenestration detail to staff.
The motion to approve the application with those conditions passed unanimously on roll call. The board directed staff to confirm final gate details and the fenestration treatment before issuing the permit.
