Historic District Review Board approves rear addition at Mile 20 with conditions on glazing and masonry

The Herndon Historic District Review Board voted unanimously to approve a certificate of appropriateness for a rear addition at 781 and 783 Station Street, the commercial property housing Mile 20, at its April meeting.

Planner Angelina Jones told the board the proposal includes a standing-seam metal shed roof over existing patios, wrapped wooden posts, fiber-cement panels that simulate board-and-batten, transom windows and three fiberglass doors. Jones noted the properties are contributing resources within the town’s historic district and said staff found the design generally conforms to the historic district overlay design guidelines and the zoning ordinance. The application follows an October 2025 enforcement action for an unpermitted patio; staff included remediation and inspection conditions in the draft resolution.

Jones read the staff modification to condition 4 that the board adopted: "The glass of the door system, transoms, and upper-story window shall be transparent and not tinted to the extent that it appears black from the right of way." Jones said the omission of the upper-story window from the original draft was an oversight and offered to review glass samples with the applicant.

Applicant Michael Ydoughen, a registered architect, said the team’s only remaining technical concern was verifying whether low-e glazing could be used for energy-efficiency purposes and that the manufacturer’s specifications would be confirmed: "We're hoping to be able to utilize low-e for the energy efficiency." Board members and staff said low-e glazing that does not read as dark from the public right of way would likely be acceptable.

Board members also asked about downspouts and lighting; the applicant said gutters were shown on the roof plan but downspout locations had not been finalized and that proposed lighting would be mounted on interior faces rather than as external gooseneck fixtures. Jones said administrative review can address downspout placement and lighting associated with signage.

A board member moved to approve HCRB-26-001 according to the draft resolution as modified to include the upper-story window in condition 4; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote of 4–0. The resolution includes requirements to repair and clean masonry where existing features are removed, use transparent (non-tinted) glazing as described, notify staff on completion for inspection, and other standard findings and conditions.

The board asked staff to notify members when the work is complete so they can view the finished project at Mile 20. The decision resolves the outstanding violation tied to the unpermitted rear patio and authorizes the updated rear additions under the town’s review process.