Markleyville panel approves rear deck and siding but requires wood railing

The Markleyville Design Review Committee voted 3-0 to approve a building permit for exterior modifications at 14811 Highway 89, including a new rear deck, replacement siding and downward-directed lighting, with the condition that the deck railing be constructed of wood.

Vice Chair Rich Harvey moved to approve the project as proposed, describing the lighting as "downward directed, warm color," and committee member Bruce Sanford successfully proposed a condition requiring a wood railing to meet the historic-district intent. The motion passed by voice vote with three ayes and no recorded no votes.

The project, filed as building permit 260017, would replace existing asbestos siding with 5/16" Hardiebacker cement board and 2" battens to achieve a vertical board-and-batten appearance, and add a rear deck approximately 22 feet by 8 feet accessed by a new sliding door. Contractor Dylan McLaughlin of High Peak Construction described the siding choice as a fire-mitigation and durability measure and said the design was intended to match nearby work at 51 Montgomery.

Committee members pressed the applicant on railing details. "Metal rail does not meet a historic standard," Bruce Sanford said, arguing the visual character of historic mining-town railings is typically wood. The applicant cited maintenance concerns and California code constraints (guardrails must limit openings to no more than 4 inches and meet load requirements), saying owners favored low-maintenance metal pickets and composite decking. Staff advised the committee that conditions could be attached to the approval to resolve those concerns.

On lighting, the applicant proposed downward-facing fixtures on sensors and an example "soft Edison-style" bulb to limit glare and energy use; staff and members discussed specifying a temperature range and wattage limits to ensure compliance with design guidelines and energy codes. Sam Booth, county staff, reviewed applicable guidance for protected, indirect, low-intensity lighting and noted the guidelines generally discourage high-intensity or unshielded light.

Dylan McLaughlin acknowledged the committee's condition and said he would present the wood-railing requirement to the property owners before proceeding. The committee also discussed operational items including scheduling to preserve quorum. The meeting adjourned after the decision.