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CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF REPORT PROPERTY -- 61191 US 31 South South Bend, Indiana OWNER -- Charles & Deborah Nyers DESIGNATION -- Local Landmark STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT This dwelling is rated S/12 in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory. It was constructed in the Italianate style circa 1866. The main portion of the house visible from the road is a rectangular block with hip roof. There are appendages and additions at the rear. PROPOSED CHANGE The Owner proposes to install an earth berm across the frontage of the property to act as a sound buffer from the highway. The berm is described as seven feet high. The application states that the berm is to be landscaped with grass and shrubs. In discussion with the Owner, further description of the intended condition clarified that the existing driveways including the existing masonry posts were to remain and that the berm would be broken at those passage points. Furthermore, The existing spruce tree shall remain and the berm shall be routed around it. The existing magnolia tree is to be removed. STANDARDS For purposes of the Standards for Local Landmarks,the site development is considered as a feature of the Landmark. The treatment level for this Local Landmark is the "B" standard. Landmark guidelines indicate that: 1) " Renovation is the modification of a structure which does not alter the general massing while an addition is a change in mass." 2) "Additions to Landmarks should not detract from the original form and unity of the Landmark...." RECOMMENDATION The staff believes that the owner has a legitimate interest in attempting to mediate the effect of road and traffic noise on this residence. Landscaping can be an effective strategy for providing such noise mediation. The mediation of noise is accomplished through deflection and/or absorption. Staff does, however, have some reservations with regard to this proposal: 1) Since this landmark structure has been visually accessible to the public in the past, it would be unfortunate to create a situation which obscured public view of the structure totally. Although the character of US 31 has obviously changed since the days of horse drawn transit, the relationship of the road, the lawn and this prosperous farmer's house constitutes a historical context. 2) There are structural limitations to the slope of a berm past which the form cannot maintain itself without reinforcement. It is not clear that there is sufficient yard depth between the edge of the highway right of way and the functioning driveway/parking-court to allow the seven foot height proposed. 3) The lawn presently drains consistently toward the road and into a roadside drainage ditch. The placement of mounding will redirect this surface drainage causing concentration of water which could result in erosion if not properly directed and controlled. page 1