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Commission denies porch removal at 138 Bourbon Hill, clears roof material option
Summary
The Nevada City Planning Commission denied proposed removal of a small historic porch at 138 Bourbon Hill Road but approved the applicant’s request to allow either composite shingles or a standing-seam metal roof, contingent on findings under the municipal code. A neighbor urged preserving the polygonal porch window as a character feature.
The Nevada City Planning Commission on a unanimous vote blocked proposed front-entry changes at 138 Bourbon Hill Road but approved the applicant’s request to change roofing materials.
Lisa, the city planner, told the commission that applicant Tobin Dherty returned to show proposed front-entry drawings (informational only) and to request flexibility to install either composition shingles or a standing-seam metal roof in an "old zinc gray" color. Dherty said the roof work is urgent because of active leaks and a pending solar permit; he expects to submit the full entry/addition plans within the next two years.
Neighbor Lori Overholster, who identified herself as living at 310 Madison Street, urged the commission to preserve the house’s small inset porch and its distinctive polygonal window, citing the city’s design guidance. "It is a very simple little cottage and it has the little porch," Overholster said, asking commissioners to require a design that keeps or references the feature.
Commissioners debated whether removal of the small porch would harm the neighborhood’s historic character. Several members recommended that the applicant return with a detailed front-elevation drawing that either retains the triangular window form or shows a replacement that is demonstrably compatible with the Bourbon Hill streetscape. Commissioners also suggested using the Advisory Review Committee (ARC) for a staff-level preview of any proposed replacement elevation.
The motion approved by the commission denied changes to the front of the building "until a future application can be reviewed to relocate the main entrance," while approving the roofing-material option (composite or standing-seam metal) subject to the standard architectural-review findings under section 17.88.040 of the municipal code. The motion passed on roll call with four votes in favor.
Next steps: The commission directed the applicant to provide a front-elevation that shows the proposed replacement detail for review; the applicant may pursue ARC review to expedite feedback before returning for formal action.
