The board continued a contentious application for 115 Penmoken Park after staff found the owners constructed rear addition and enclosed porch do not meet the Historic Preservation Design Guidelines.

Staff reported that the addition and enclosed porch were built without permits between Christmas and New Year's and that the long, unbroken 64-foot rear wall and flush roofline conflict with guideline language which recommends that additions "step in a minimum of 12 inches" and avoid a continuous roof line so the original roof remains evident. Staff recommended denial as constructed but said the enclosed porch finish materials (hardiplank proposed) could meet materials guidelines if details were adjusted.

Applicant representatives said the owner, Diane Lowe, recently purchased the home and the contractor who built the addition had left the project. The owner's representative asked the board for options and said the owner had already taken some steps: a structural engineer inspection, a survey, and contact with building inspection to begin the permitting process.

Board members and staff said the primary problem is the scale and uninterrupted length of the new wall and that modest surface changes would not be sufficient to bring the structure into compliance. Several board members suggested the owner obtain professional design assistance and return with significant revisions that break up the massing and roofline, such as projecting bays, dormers or reconfigured roof steps. Staff recommended the applicant produce revised drawings and meet with staff quickly if they wished to pursue compliance.

A motion to continue the application to the boards April 16 meeting was made and passed by voice vote. Staff advised that any revised submission should be provided to staff with a short turnaround to meet legal-notice timelines for subsequent hearings. Board members cautioned that enforcement and code departments may still pursue citations while an appeal or revised application is pending, and that bringing the project into compliance could require substantial change or removal of built elements.