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Council upholds Historic Preservation Commission conditions in mini-split appeal
Summary
City council denied an appeal by a homeowner in the Old Town Historic District who sought to avoid an HPC condition requiring exposed mini-split supply lines be encased and painted to match the house; the homeowner has four months to comply.
Parker Walsh described an appeal to council after the Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a mini-split installation with conditions. Walsh and staff said the owner installed the system without prior HPC approval and then applied retroactively; the HPC required that exposed supply lines be encased and painted to minimize visual impact.
The homeowner argued that one portion under a soffit could not be encased as the HPC required. Council considered whether the HPC's application of Chapter 31 standards was arbitrary. City attorney Mark Lambert explained that remanding to HPC is an option if council believes new information is significant; otherwise council's review is limited to whether HPC acted arbitrarily. Several council members noted prior cases and said applicants should seek approval rather than retroactive forgiveness. Council voted to deny the appeal, finding the HPC reasonably applied standards, and notified the owner they have four months to comply with conditions.
