The Leesburg Board of Architectural Review on Oct. 22 approved Certificates of Appropriateness for two new houses in the Millstone subdivision — TLHPBR2025-0058 (334 Runnerstone Court, Lot 7) and TLHPBR2025-0059 (318 Runnerstone Court, Lot 11) — after discussion about shutters, siding widths and rear-deck detailing.

Board members voted 5-0-2 to approve each application; the motions included conditions in the staff reports and additional clarifications the board required. The approvals require applicants to submit final material selections and to comply with administrative review if changes arise during site-plan or building-permit review.

The case drew most debate around two visual details: the introduction of panel shutters on the primary facades and whether to vary siding reveal widths across houses in the cul-de-sac. Heather (staff) summarized the applications and highlighted windows, massing and material choices; Andrew Rosenberger, representing Madison Homes, and Rodney Williams, the project architect, described the two house types and the proposed colors and materials.

Neighbor Dave Donald, who owns an adjoining property, urged consistency in siding widths. "I think consistency is, is much more important than trying to vary things," Donald said. He advocated keeping siding widths uniform so the street reads cohesively.

Board members broadly agreed with the neighbor that color and massing could provide variation without mixing siding reveals. Several commissioners specifically objected to the shutters as drawn: Helen Aikman and Julie Pastor said the shutters made the primary bay look "busy" and that, on balance, the cul-de-sac's rhythm favored simpler facades. Julie Pastor moved approval for Lot 11 with conditions; Helen Aikman seconded. The board then approved Lot 7 with similar conditions.

Conditions recorded in the motions and staff reports include: any changes to building footprint, height, attachment, scale or materials require a revised COA; exterior vents must be painted to match siding; the rear decks must include a picture-frame trim or skirt board to disguise cut ends of decking boards; areas under decks must be screened with wood lattice if the deck is less than 3 feet above final grade, or the applicant must pursue an administrative COA for porch-like treatments if the final grading makes the deck higher than 3 feet. Both motions also specified that the application, as approved, does not include the shutters shown in the drawings; the board left open the possibility of later administrative approval if a future homeowner provides an appropriate color image or detail.

Staff and the applicant also discussed window sizing and placement. Staff advised that second-story windows should generally be smaller than first-story windows; the applicant noted some stairwell or closet windows were fixed picture windows meant to read like double-hung windows.

The board and staff encouraged the applicant to consider full-house siding choices for later lots in the cul-de-sac to avoid a patchwork appearance; Rosenberger said Madison Homes would consider different siding widths or materials on upcoming submissions and that some future lots had not yet been submitted.

The approvals were framed against the Millstone approvals already granted for adjacent lots; staff emphasized that each application must meet the district guidelines and that small refinements could be handled administratively when appropriate.

Ending: The two COAs will proceed toward site-plan and permit review under the conditions set by the BAR; the applicant said it plans more submissions for remaining lots in the cul-de-sac in coming weeks.