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New Albany ARB approves police station addition but orders cupolas removed
Summary
The Architectural Review Board approved the police station addition and Civic Block improvements (ARB66-2025) on a 5–0 vote, conditioning approval on removal of two decorative cupolas and reworking rooflines to match the existing building; final roof treatment is subject to staff sign-off.
The New Albany Architectural Review Board voted to approve ARB66-2025, the proposed two-wing addition to the police station and related Civic Block improvements, subject to a condition that the two cupolas on the new addition be removed and that rooflines be reworked to match the existing building. Staff will review and approve final roof treatment.
Staff introduced the Civic Block master plan and described coordinated improvements linking Village Hall, the police station and a planned Veterans Memorial. Presenter Jay Henderson described the proposed additions as two modest wings and said the design "preserve[s] the character and architecture of the existing building," noting the city architect had commended the massing, scale and materials. Sharon of Horn and King explained last-minute refinements to pilasters, window trim and cupola glazing requested by reviewers.
Board members pressed on several operational and design points. Members asked whether overhead doors and cruiser parking would be screened and how public parking would be separated from staff and cruiser bays; the police representative said there would be new signage, different paving treatments, and fencing on the east side of the parking area but no gates. On materiality and visual prominence, multiple members criticized the proposed cupolas as visually loud on an otherwise understated civic building. "I think the roof lines look terrible with those cupolas," one board member said during deliberations.
After discussion the board moved to approve the application with the condition that the two cupolas be removed and that the rooflines be revised to better match the original building. The motion was made by a board member and seconded; the vote carried 5–0. The approval is subject to staff review of the revised roof treatment and the engineering/plan-check conditions already listed in the staff report.
Next steps: staff will finalize the roof details under the condition set by the ARB, and the applicant will proceed to building permit submittals consistent with the approved elevations and the ARB condition.
