COA APPLICATION #2020-0302: NORTHERN INDIANA HISTORIC SOCIETY INC. V. SOUTH BEND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

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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 smaller vehicles in the district shall be prohibited. Not Recommended High-intensity overhead streetlights should not be used. 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; he waver, the preponderance of the homes has been erected on a single lot. Most of the properties include a double garage, usually located at the rear oft he property. The majority of garages are accessed from the alley. There are also a few homes with a co vered carport layout 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 Major landscaping items, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the property's history and development shall be retained. Dominant land contours shall be retained. Structures such as gazebos patio decks, fixed barbecue pits, swimming pools, tennis courts, greenhouses, new walls, fountains, fixed garden furniture, trellises and other similar structures shall be compatible to the historic character of the site and the neighborhood and inconspicuous when viewed from a public walkway. 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 surroundings 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 b y 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 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 thomughfare. N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The Standards and Guidelines are explicit that "fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of the house." Staff recommends denial. Prepared by Adam Toering, Historic Preservation Specialist Approved by Elicia Feasel, Historic Preservation Administrator PETITIONER COMMENTS: Mr. Shaffer stated that they bought the house — which is directly behind their house — as a yard for their grandkids because their property doesn't have a big back yard. Their property on Jefferson is not part of the historic district and that they weren't familiar with the rules; he candidly admitted that this was their responsibility. The people who sold the property to them did not tell them. They added the chain link fence thinking it would be the least visible, and that they intended to add greenery. They checked with the neighbors and they were ok with it. Then they received the notification that they were in violation. They candidly accepted that they were ignorant and that it wasn't an excuse. Commissioner Gelfman thanked the homeowners for their candidness.