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Palatka HPB approves exterior work at 417 Kirby Street, allows two sheds if painted to match garage
Summary
The Historic Preservation Board granted a certificate of appropriateness for work at 417 Kirby Street including two small metal storage sheds (approved conditionally to match garage paint), removable ADA ramps, tile risers and walkway resurfacing; staff will require the COA to state ramps be removable per Secretary of the Interior guidance.
The Palatka Historic Preservation Board on April 2 approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work at 417 Kirby Street, including two small storage sheds, ADA ramps, painted exterior trim, tile on front stair risers and resurfacing of front walkways.
Homeowner James Decker said he and his wife Morning Decker have owned the two-story house since 2013 and are "putting a lot of work into the house" to steward it for future generations. City staff presented photographs and a site narrative and noted the sheds are freestanding and built to hurricane-resistant specifications. Staff said there is nothing in the code that expressly prohibits metal sheds in a historic district.
Several board members said metal storage buildings are not historically accurate and urged design details to make them blend with the property. "They're not historically accurate," said a board member, arguing for details on doors and windows. The homeowners responded the sheds have windows and that their intent is to paint them to match the garage and to add landscaping to screen them.
A motion to allow the two sheds was made and seconded with the condition that the sheds be painted to match the garage and otherwise be detailed to reduce visual impact; the board approved the motion and a dissent or alternative vote was recorded by a board member in the minutes. The HPB also approved ADA ramps with the stipulation the ramps be designed so they can be removed in the future without destroying original materials, as recommended under the Secretary of the Interior guidelines. The board approved tile for the front steps and resurfacing of the walkways as presented.
What the COA will require: staff instructed applicants to include in the final COA language reflecting the Secretary of the Interior guideline that new additions be removable in the future, and to match shed paint to the garage; applicants also agreed to follow city code for ramp installation.
Next steps: staff will issue the final COA with the removable-ramp caveat and paint condition; the homeowners said they will coordinate landscaping and paint to blend the sheds with the existing garage.
