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BAR lets seasonal vestibule remain through April 1, 2026, and asks staff to draft city guidance
Summary
The Board approved a temporary Certificate of Appropriateness for a seasonal vestibule installed at 707–709 West Main Street, requiring full removal by April 1, 2026, and directed staff to develop policy guidance on temporary weatherproofing devices by Sept. 1, 2026.
The Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review voted March 17 to approve a temporary seasonal vestibule installed at 707–709 West Main Street, but required the structure — including all framing and attachments — be removed in its entirety by April 1, 2026.
Staff told the board that the vinyl/framed vestibule had been installed without a COA and that an air/heat curtain attached at the storefront was an unpermitted, more permanent exterior alteration that staff would not recommend. The installation had been present for roughly 15 months, staff said, and was currently addressed as a zoning violation pending the board's decision.
Cliff Fox, the property manager who spoke for the property owner, described the filing as a remedial step to address tenant hardship and lost indoor seating in winter. He said the property team was open to either a seasonal installation or a carefully designed permanent solution developed with a glazing company. “The goal is to come up with a curative solution that as much as feasible honors the historic character of the property,” Fox said.
Board questions focused on life‑safety, accessibility and precedent: members asked whether the prior installed door opening onto the sidewalk created code problems, whether the vestibule is ADA compliant, and whether attachment methods were sufficiently reversible to avoid damage to the historic storefront. Several members suggested solutions such as a removable track system, recessed placement a few inches behind the storefront plane, heavier weatherproof fabric rather than vinyl sheeting, and considering a uniform storefront treatment across multiple tenant entrances.
The board approved the COA on the condition that the vestibule and all components be removed by April 1, 2026; that the applicant repair any impacts from the installation when removed; and that any future vestibule proposal be brought back to BAR as a new COA application. The board also instructed staff (including building‑code review coordination) to prepare a recommendation by Sept. 1, 2026, on how temporary weather‑proofing components should be evaluated, including suggested time periods, colors, sizes, placement and installation methods. The motion passed with a unanimous affirmative vote.
