April 2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

practice will kill much of the low ground cover and leave soil more susceptible to erosion. When replacement of utility poles or power supply lines is necessary, consideration should be given to underground conduits or utility poles erected along rear property lines. Prohibited Existing relationships of buildings and their environments shall not be destroyed through widening existing streets, application of asphalt or other bituminous coverings, or by introducing new streets or parking lots. Signs, streetlights, benches, major landscaping items, fencing, walkways and paving materials which are out of scale or inappropriate to the neighborhood may not be used. The introduction of heavy trucks or similar vehicles in the District shall be prohibited. B. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING AND ACCESSORIES Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located in the center of a flat lawn, often divided by a walk leading to the front entrance. Several of the residences are sited on two or more building lots; however, the preponderance of the homes have been erected on a single lot. Most of the properties include a double garage, usually located at the rear of the property. The majority of garages are accessed from straight driveways leading from the main thoroughfare, while a few are accessed from the alley. There are also a few homes with a covered carport located at the rear of the property, as well as a few with circular driveways. Driveway and sidewalk materials include concrete, asphalt and brick. All of the properties have trees and most have trimmed shrubbery and/or hedges. Most of the houses conform to a uniform setback line within each block. Required Plants, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches 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. New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building that are causing deterioration to the building's historic fabric should be removed. However, trees and plant materials that must be removed should be immediately replaced by suitable flora. All high- intensity security lights should be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. Prohibited No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing major landscaping items, trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings or other elements before evaluating their importance to the property's history and development. Front yard areas shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped. Front yard areas shall not be fenced and fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of the house. The installation of unsightly devices such as television reception dishes and solar collectors shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare. Not Recommended Telephone or utility poles with high- intensity overhead lights should be installed so that they cannot be seen from the thoroughfare. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Pending assessment by Brent Thompson, City Forester, Staff recommends the Park Avenue tree can be removed. Staff recommends approval of additional application items as they conform to the district guidelines; the grass lawn is shown in the 1987 survey picture so the gardens are not original.