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Board debates murals on front facades and tables siding application pending applicant revisions
Summary
Board members discussed draft mural guidelines and generally favored prohibiting murals on primary historic façades while allowing panels or rear‑facing murals on non‑contributing structures; the board also tabled a siding application at 830 Amherst to allow the applicant to revise plans toward restoring original materials on main elevations.
The Winchester City Board of Architectural Review used part of its Dec. 18 meeting to discuss policy direction on murals and to revisit an old business siding application.
On murals, several board members said murals generally belong on rear or secondary elevations and recommended a policy that discourages murals on the primary façades of contributing historic buildings. Staff suggested giving the board discretion to review non‑contributing structures case‑by‑case or to permit panelized murals on side elevations. The board discussed whether policy language should treat contributing and non‑contributing structures differently and whether the city should prohibit front‑facing murals outright on contributing buildings.
On old business, the board heard an update for BAR25‑330 (830 Amherst Street). The applicant confirmed plans to replace all siding and staff said historic wood siding remains beneath existing aluminum cladding. Several members urged restoring original wood on main elevations and limiting composite siding such as hardiplank to additions or rear elevations. To allow the applicant time to revise plans that reflect the board’s preference, members voted to table the application rather than deny it.
Board members also reviewed plaque samples from a new foundry and discussed next steps for mural guidelines and scheduling a public hearing on proposed language at a future meeting.
