Landmarks Board conditionally approves accessory building at 409 Mountain View Road

The Boulder Landmarks Board on April 8 conditionally approved a landmark alteration certificate for a new accessory building at 409 Mountain View Road in the Mapleton Hill Historic District, voting 5–0 after staff and board discussion of materials, tree removal and pedestrian-scale details.

Staff principal planner Marcy Gerwing recommended approval with conditions, telling the board that the project “will meet the standards for issuance of an LAC” if the board’s stated revisions are met. Staff flagged removal of a mature tree and the use of metal siding as the primary concerns and recommended conditions to revise siding material, reduce the scale of a proposed eight-foot person door and provide final details for lighting, fencing, railing and hardscaping.

The applicant’s representative, Matt, said the lower level is largely below grade and clarified the footprint and visible area: “Technically, I guess it’s only about 710 square feet…only about 300 or so is visible from the alley.” Neighbors and public commenters raised visual concerns about the accessory building’s industrial appearance during the public-comment period.

Board members debated the material palette and scale. Several board members said they were comfortable with standing-seam metal as a contemporary interpretation of traditional siding—citing both precedent on the site and wildfire-safety considerations—while also supporting staff’s request to explore alternative materials for the flat-roof portion and to reduce the person-door height. John Decker, who made the motion to approve, said the conditions would allow the design-review committee to work out final details.

Motion language adopted by the board requires the applicant to: explore revisions to the horizontal metal siding material on the flat-roof portion to better reflect the house and addition; revise the west-elevation person door to a traditionally sized door with a transom; and provide detailed plans for lighting, guttering, railing, pathways, permeable hardscaping and a fencing plan (including noncombustible fencing within 8 feet of structures). The motion was made by John Decker, seconded by Michael Ray, and passed by roll call vote with all five members present voting aye.

Next steps: the decision is subject to a council call-up period that runs until the May 7 council meeting. If city council does not call up the decision, the conditions will be reviewed by the Landmarks Design Review Committee (LDRC) and, once satisfied, the LAC will be issued and will be valid for one year.