Members of the Winchester City Board of Architectural Review discussed whether to revise the city’s design guidelines to reflect newer window materials and asked staff to pursue manufacturer presentations.

Board members said recent products—fiberglass and wood‑composite historic lines—may offer longer‑lasting, lower‑maintenance alternatives to vinyl and older aluminum‑clad units. One member argued that some modern composites “are superior to an aluminum clad” and that allowing them in limited‑visibility elevations could reduce long‑term maintenance burdens. Another member said the board has traditionally revised guidelines over time rather than maintaining a product list but supported the idea of meeting with manufacturers to compare profiles and finishes.

Staff said they could draft guideline revisions for the board’s review; larger changes sometimes are presented to City Council for awareness, while minor tweaks typically remain at the board/staff level. Members suggested inviting the major historic‑line manufacturers—Andersen, Marvin, Pella, and others—to present specifications and sample profiles at a future meeting. The board noted that Anderson (Andersen Renewal) had previously engaged with applicants and that a demonstration or sample could help the board consider administrative approval for recurring, well‑documented products.

In other business, staff reported a completed flyer (described in the meeting as a Braddock‑area distribution) that would be circulated to the board for comment, and staff noted that one member, Mr. Winters, is up for reappointment and that interviews for potential new members were being scheduled.