[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480305,"mediaKeyId","5683931-d2480baae75232f22e2ac96a751ad68f","parentId",5683931,"title","HDC approves TimberTech porch flooring for 12 Russell Ave.; commission notes material tradeoffs but not requiring change","audioSeconds",617,"startMs",1122000,"endMs",1739000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5683931-d2480baae75232f22e2ac96a751ad68f&start=1122&end=1739","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5683931-d2480baae75232f22e2ac96a751ad68f/thumbnail_1122000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480305/Gaithersburg-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/HDC-approves-TimberTech-porch-flooring-for-12-Russell-Ave-commission-notes-material-tradeoffs-but-not-requiring-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480305-384d28d17174b1a732de462eca059075/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184491&Signature=kL3Yd~tXMv48J1d6Gnd-lmtkHXXGxaXPTktdcHSRmvisOmqpZZ5E7GWQcv4SsFEU84ywfA3nu21xtsRTvg~RiehIcuHgDsYrX7kzD0YywP0kpah6humBIleJx1MnDfJQN8EwXu8AMrlVKmUuBwjRkJpvjeD-wnZw0IjdaNGjmBJZDUPgXXrEpd6MgfrrSpOk5sNMW-~SNwWQ-8eanjBlZUswG1c8TnvLETNclPSJgO2hhIRDBY5sxSKaIlxvarWLKKmlH7rpCOhKq~lHK7NpGyuJeETKmF4EcaXNiATx~xNnqQ5fRi2zQoW4wTJvHf1hfjLxRcc02lYQ1QPdD~IFUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gaithersburg City","date","2025-08-28T00:17:13Z","article","The Gaithersburg Historic District Commission on Aug. 27 approved an application to replace non-original porch flooring at 12 Russell Avenue with TimberTech composite planks, concluding the existing porch boards are not a historic or significant element and that a composite product meeting the appearance standards is acceptable.

Preservation staff said the concrete porch slab and the porch boards installed in February 2003 are not original elements of the house, which made replacement more acceptable under the materials section of the Brooks, Russell and Walker Historic District design guidelines. \"The existing porch boards were first installed in 02/2003. So they are not a historic or significant element to the house, making their replacement more acceptable,\" the staff report said.

Applicant Matthew Glinsman, owner of 12 Russell Avenue, told the commission the current wood has been difficult to maintain: \"It just wants to deteriorate. ... Our proposal is simply to make it look like pristine new tongue and groove board. It's just a PVC application of that. And from the road, it should not have any different appearance than what it does.\" He said the proposed installation will use an understructure (sleepers) over the concrete and that the product will be fastened with angled screws so it does not read visually as deck boards.

Commissioners discussed practical implications of composite flooring. Commissioner Mark Feinstein said composite surfaces can get hot in sun and advised the applicant to be aware of that; commissioners also discussed allowing extra gaps to accommodate TimberTech's higher thermal expansion compared with wood. The commission suggested (but did not require) that the new boards follow the orientation of the existing tongue-and-groove boards to preserve the historic appearance. The suggestion was framed as a recommendation, not a condition of approval.

A motion to approve HIST10161-2025 for change in porch flooring material to TimberTech at 12 Russell Avenue passed 3-0. The record includes staff's recommendation and notes on installation technique, but does not impose an orientation requirement.

Votes at a glance
HIST10161-2025 — Change porch flooring material (non-original porch) to TimberTech at 12 Russell Ave. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Morgan: Aye; Feinstein: Aye; Dean Bentoza (Chair): Aye. Tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

Next steps: Applicant to proceed with installation; staff will review installed details as part of normal permit/inspection processes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Historic District Commission Meeting: Aug 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Gaithersburg Historic District Commission voted 3-0 to approve replacement of non-original porch flooring at 12 Russell Avenue with TimberTech composite planks, finding the porch boards are non-historic and the proposed material acceptable under the design guidelines.","taxTitle","Gaithersburg City, Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",4997,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480309,"Gaithersburg HDC approves window and door changes for 16 Russell Ave.; limited to those elements",881,236000,1117000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5683931-d2480baae75232f22e2ac96a751ad68f&start=236&end=1117","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5683931-d2480baae75232f22e2ac96a751ad68f/thumbnail_236000.jpg","/articles/6480309/Gaithersburg-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Gaithersburg-HDC-approves-window-and-door-changes-for-16-Russell-Ave-limited-to-those-elements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480309-1e8e0c03aece52a64f77684fb2b1d7a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184491&Signature=YDy-loPbxhZslNqjdrtxdpQFAgCdCDO99qzFHKBtR8yK50IQDxVG6-vXwS8beO1GEv2YJLCVL610Ece8RK9iFa8gD~i1~XOaH7a7zFpBU7ijRYt-ufvOy~zyylh-FVlEXq0yO~NYJBRZNuuGS5GdyeDCdoksGO0sYwdwxPQVNfoENy9~o6NaMQwm3XnqHHmbxJWPLjFczCn8PbcT3ZHVFnzXpqgCw0a9qysg~xO8F3nfm2iFNpNZ2gT12ZZfV8nA7PlFvkddlyeqt-5T1DliXT4iVOVF~J8POshrbBGjZvTkP21JFfvv3F3ud4pdvEoBhMsigoxIj~6L3-Dkmwroxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gaithersburg Historic District Commission on Aug. 27 approved changes to the windows and doors for a rear addition at 16 Russell Avenue, finding the proposed alterations comply with the Brooks, Russell and Walker Historic District design guidelines and section 24-9.4 of the city code.

Preservation planner Kate San Gregorio, presenting the staff report, said the commission was being asked to review only the proposed window and door locations because work had already been done on other parts of the addition and staff was investigating those discrepancies. \"Staff recommends that the historic district commission, based on the exhibit submitted, the applicant's testimony, staff report findings and recommendation, and the additions section of the Brooks, Russell And Walker historic district design guidelines, approve HIST10158-2025,\" San Gregorio said.

An immediate neighbor, Matthew Glinsman of 12 Russell Avenue, told the commission he supported the proposed change: \"We support the change in windows and doors as it's proposed.\" Commissioners asked whether the new openings would match the existing house's window sash and confirmed with the applicant that the proposed windows are the same 6-over-1 sash previously approved and that the applicant had checked the existing sash model.

Commissioners raised construction-related questions that are outside the HDC's purview, including footing depth relative to the Maryland frost-line (discussed as about 30 inches). Commissioner Rudy Morgan emphasized that frost-line and footing issues are building-permit matters and not HDC decisions. Commissioner Mark Feinstein and others also noted concerns that other aspects of the addition as built may not match earlier approved drawings, but the commission limited its decision to the windows and doors on this application.

A motion to approve HIST10158-2025 for the doors and windows only passed 3-0, with Commissioners Rudy Morgan and Mark Feinstein and Chairman Dean Bentoza voting aye. The approval record states the commission's action applies only to the door and window alterations; any other discrepancies between the constructed addition and previously approved plans were not part of this decision and remain subject to staff/code follow-up.

Votes at a glance
HIST10158-2025 — Alteration of approved plans (windows/doors only) for new rear addition at 16 Russell Ave. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Morgan: Aye; Feinstein: Aye; Dean Bentoza (Chair): Aye. Tally: Yes 3, No 0, Abstain 0.

Next steps: The approval covers only the door and window changes shown in the application; staff indicated it will follow up separately on any work that appears inconsistent with the approved permit documents.","The Gaithersburg Historic District Commission voted 3-0 to approve changes to the location and arrangement of windows and doors for a rear addition at 16 Russell Avenue, limiting approval to only the door and window alterations and not to other aspects of the addition.","actionData","errors"]

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HDC approves TimberTech porch flooring for 12 Russell Ave.; commission notes material tradeoffs but not requiring change

Gaithersburg HDC approves window and door changes for 16 Russell Ave.; limited to those elements