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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS —Date: 5 July 2012 Application Number: 2012-0705 Property Location: 515 S. St. Joseph Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: 1894/Queen Anne Property Owner: Michael Baxter Landmark or District Designation: Taylor's Field Rating: Notable DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: This two storey plus attic Queen Anne has an irregular plan and is situated on a rough stone foundation. The exterior walls are clad in asphalt shingle siding while the attic storey is wood shingle siding. There is a rounded front comer on the first level that is rough stone. The roof is a side gable with front cross gable cover with asphalt shingles. There is a flat roofed front porch over the entry that is supported by spindle wood columns with a wood deck supported by concrete block. The windows are 1/1 double hung sashes in aluminum in the second level and wood 1/1 on the first. There is an arched window on the north side of the attic storey and also 12/1 Double hung wood sashes in the projection bay. ALTERATIONS: The asphalt shingle siding is a replacement. The roof is not original to the house. The aluminum windows are later additions. The glass blocks in the front basement foundation are not original to the house. APPLICATION ITEMS: The addition of a 6 foot tall spruce fence around the perimeter of the backyard, including along the north side of the house. 4"x4" treated posts every 8 feet, concrete base. Two gates, located on the east and west sides. Clear wood sealant. Please see diagram and product descriptions. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The owner proposes to enclose the back yard with a spruce stockade wood fence. It will be installed around the perimeter of the yard at the set back of the house on the south side and attach to the current fence on the north side per diagram submitted. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Taylor's Field Local Historic District Guidebook B. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING AND ACCESSORIES Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located near the front of each lot with a small to medium lawn in front and little to no lawn at the rear of the property. Often the back yard is used as a parking lot for tenants. About half of the properties include a garage which is either located at the rear of the property and accessed from unpaved alleys running behind the property or located directly next to the structure and accessed by small drives. Nearly all of the garage structures are out of date, single -stall frame buildings. One large carriage house still stands in the district. Most properties have trees, shrubbery and/or hedges. Most houses conform to the uniform set -back 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. Accessory structures such as decks, gazebos, fountains and/or small outbuildings should be appropriate to surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building and causing deterioration to the building's historic fabric should be removed and replaced by suitable flora as approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. Prohibited No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings or other site 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 or fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of the house. The installation of unsightly devices such as television satellite dishes, solar panels and skylights shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval as the project conforms to the guidelines for Taylor's Field.