Clarkston Historic District Commission approves window replacements and lowers approved garage height at 38 North Holcomb Road

CLARKSTON, Mich. — The City of the Village of Clarkston Historic District Commission on April 14 unanimously approved a Certificate of Appropriateness allowing the replacement of non-original windows at 38 North Holcomb Road and amended an earlier approval to reduce the permitted height of a detached garage.

The homeowner, Robert Sowles, presented documentation including photographs, plans and a sample Pella aluminum-clad wooden window. Commissioners said the proposed double-hung windows would restore a 50/50 sash configuration documented in 1980s photos and would not change existing window opening sizes. The motion to approve the CoA was made by L. Patercsak and seconded by K. Trumbore and passed by roll-call vote (Aye: M. Moon, L. Patercsak, K. Trumbore).

The Commission noted that the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (Standards #2, #5, #9 and #10) appear to apply to the window work. The approved scope lists four west-elevation windows, five on the north elevation and four on the south elevation; one large north-elevation double-hung (described in the application as 20-over-20 divided lites) may be replaced with a unit that has fewer divided lites if necessary, provided the configuration is consistent with the other new windows.

During public comment, Nancy Moon said City Manager J. Smith recently met with the owner of 130 North Main Street and relayed that “future applications for work must be accompanied by appropriate plans/drawings.” Patrick Patercsak, who said he recently purchased 17 North Holcomb Road, reported that “some facades have rotten clapboard, mostly near sill,” and said he was informed he may replace occasional rotted clapboards with appropriately sized cedar without Commission approval but not an entire elevation.

Separately, Commissioners amended a previously granted CoA for the same property after the homeowner reported that the Building Department would not approve an originally proposed detached garage height of 24 feet under the city’s Detached Building Ordinance. The amendment, moved by K. Trumbore and seconded by L. Patercsak, limits the new garage construction to a maximum height of 19 feet 6 inches, with 14 feet 11 inches measured to the middle of the roof; all other parts of the CoA remain unchanged. The motion passed on a roll-call vote (Aye: M. Moon, L. Patercsak, K. Trumbore).

The Commission had opened the meeting at 7:02 p.m. and adjourned at 7:51 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Historic District Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.