Architect presents Bell Road renovation to add master suite over garage; ARB approves

George Clemens of Clemens Architecture told the South Russell Village Architecture Review Board on May 19 that the renovation at Bell Road (ARB case 26-0893) will develop the space over an existing garage into a master suite, add a front gable and increase window area to bring more light into the new space. "We're just developing that space over the garage as a master suite," Clemens said, describing modest changes intended to keep the main house largely intact.

The board heard that the project is intended to be minimal in footprint but to add height where the space is low; Clemens noted a roughly 4-foot-2-inch knee wall in the existing attic area that the proposal addresses. The applicant acknowledged missing detail on one elevation sheet and said some window representations were placeholders: the drawings showed double-hung windows in one location that the team will confirm. The board discussed window muntin ("mutton") patterns and urged consistency across the house; applicants said the sunroom currently has removable interior muntins.

Board members also confirmed that the change would leave the main house exterior largely unchanged except for the added garage gable. After questions and a brief exchange about the drawings, a member moved to approve the application; another seconded. The board approved the proposal by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

The board did not record specific conditions in the meeting minutes beyond the usual expectation that final working drawings resolve the missing details. The applicant will return with corrected elevations and finished details as needed for the file. The meeting later moved on to a separate application for a sunroom and garage expansion on White Tale Drive.