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Sykesville historic commission approves multiple downtown façade and streetscape projects; patio plan deferred
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Summary
The Sykesville Historic District Commission approved exterior repairs at 7604 Main St., a 12x18 pergola at 7615 Main St. with conditions (no winterized panels; lighting excluded), an awning and decorative fence at 7565 Main St. (matte finish required), and bistro string lights at 7611 Main St. (hours and pole design conditioned). A proposed patio at 7618 Main St. was deferred for redesign and a landscape plan.
The Sykesville Historic District Commission on (date not specified) approved several façade- and streetscape-related applications funded through the Maryland façade improvement grant program, while deferring a larger patio proposal that commissioners said lacked sufficient design and landscaping detail.
Kevin (staff) told the commission the projects under review are part of an approved façade improvement program and summarized each application. The commission approved exterior repairs and alterations at 7604 Main Street (the Gypsy Sisters location), including replacing failing wood trim with matching materials, swapping rear vinyl siding for Hardie plank, installing wood‑clad 2‑over‑2 windows like‑for‑like, and repairing flashing and repainting the building.
The commission approved a proposed 12‑by‑18 commercial‑grade aluminum pergola for the patio at 7615 Main Street, subject to a condition that the structure not be winterized with enclosed panels or windows while it remains in place and that any lighting shown in the rendering be treated as a separate application. The applicant said the pergola has adjustable louvers, a lifetime warranty and is intended to maximize outdoor seating after the town’s recent streetscape work reduced usable patio depth; the applicant told the commission they had "lost between 12 and 14 feet" of patio area after changes to curb and crosswalk alignment.
Commissioners debated the pergola’s scale and proximity to the building — one commissioner described the pergola as taking up roughly a third of the building’s façade — and discussed smaller footprint alternatives (12x12, 12x14 or 15x15). The commission’s approval included a proviso barring winterized panels and excluded overhead lighting from the pergola application so lighting can be reviewed in a separate submission.
An application to replace an awning and add decorative wood screening to hide electrical boxes at 7565 Main Street was approved with a stipulation the awning material have a matte finish. Staff noted awning frames can be aluminum or steel and that a large span may require vinyl rather than canvas for longevity.
The commission also approved a proposal for bistro‑style string lights at 7611 Main Street and adjacent properties, with conditions: hours of illumination should align with the businesses’ operating hours (commissioners discussed turning lights off by roughly 10 p.m.), the prominent support pole should match the town’s existing decorative poles (black/low‑profile), and fixture color temperature should be on the warmer side to be compatible with the historic district.
A larger application to convert green planting areas into additional hardscaped patio seating at 7618 Main Street drew sustained concern from commissioners and nearby residents. Commissioners cited loss of greenscape, stormwater and visual impacts, and asked the applicant for a detailed landscape plan and renderings before the commission can approve. The item was shelved for revision and return at a future meeting.
Votes at a glance: - Approval — Application 202604, 7604 Main St., exterior repairs and alterations — approved (motion carried). - Approval with conditions — Application 202605, 7615 Main St., 12x18 pergola (no winterized panels; lighting excluded) — approved (motion carried). - Approval with condition — Application 202606, 7565 Main St., awning and decorative wood fencing (matte finish required) — approved (motion carried). - Approval with conditions — Application 202607, 7611 Main St., string lights (hours and pole design conditioned) — approved (motion carried). - Deferred — Application 202608, 7618 Main St., new patio and columns — applicant asked to return with landscape plan and renderings.
Staff noted several façade improvement projects did not require HDC approval because they are maintenance items, including localized mortar repairs at the distillery and minor repairs/painting at Firehouse Creamery. The commission adjourned after completing the agenda.
(Reporting based on Sykesville Historic District Commission transcript.)
