June 2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: June 8, 2006 Application Number: 2006-0608-A Property Location: 14297 State Road 23 Property Owner: Carla and Theron Roberts Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark John B. Metzger House Rating: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT: Henriette and John B. Metzger purchased this property in the 1870s and built their home in 1875. The home is a fine example of an Italianate country villa. The house and property were landmarked in 1976.. Carla and Theron Roberts are th6 current owners. APPLICATION ITEMS: (Please refer to the sketch and photographs). Basically the homeowners wish to clear out the dead and volunteer trees along with the dense undergrowth in the wooded area surrounding their home in order to create a healthier environment for the mature trees and to create a green space and garden between the wooded areas surrounding the house and the house. To remove/trim old growth trees that threaten windmill that the Roberts wish to restore. LOCAL LANDMARK STANDARDS: Building Site and Landscaping Required: Major landscaping items, trees, fencing.... which reflect the property's history and development shall be retained.... Recommended: New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building that are causing deterioration to the building's historic fabric should be removed... Prohibited: No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing major landscaping items, trees, fencing ... and other elements before evaluating their importance to the property's history and development. RECOMMENDATION: Staff met with Carla and David at their home on May 25, 2006 to review their concept for the landscaping. The wooded lot is over grown and dead limbs are falling off of trees and onto the cars, deck and windmill at the rear of the house and also pose a threat to the main part of the house. The landscaping features will follow the grass and tree landscaping features typical of rural Italianate homes pictured in the St. Joseph County 1875 Atlas. The proposed work will improve the health of the remaining trees around the house and retain the tree buffer between the house and US 23 and the subdivision. Staff recommends approval.