HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.20.2026 HPC Meeting Minutes
SARAH ANDREWS
PRESIDENT
A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ROSS VAN OVERBERGHE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADMINISTRATOR
EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT
1400S County-City Building | 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p 574.235.9371 | f 574.235.9201 | southbendin.gov
MINUTES
HYBRID MEETING
Monday, April 20, 2026 Council Chambers, 3rd Floor
6:00pm City Hall Building, South Bend, IN
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Sarah Andrews - President
Michael Skaggs
Kathryn Hough- Virtual
Andrew Fowler
Ryan Palczynski
MEMBERS ABSENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Ross Van Overberghe
Kelly Meehan
John Dorbin
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 pm
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC HEARING
a. CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
i. 2026-0316 639 River Avenue Edgewater Place LHD, Ord# 6846-80
(Audio Position:02:29)
The staff report was presented by:
Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Administrator
Staff Recommendation: The new porch would align with many of the porches
in the district. Care should be taken to match materials that are appropriate
for the time period. The stoops on the north and south facades of the house
do not compromise the integrity of the house. They are non-destructive and
can be removed with loss of character defining features. Based on all the
information available prior to this public hearing, staff
make a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION
The applicant was represented by:
Mr Fritz, 639 River Avenue, appeared in person to present
The public was represented by:
There was no one from the public to speak in regards to this application.
After due consideration the following action was taken:
Upon a motion by Michael Skaggs, seconded by Andrew Fowler, and
carried by vote of 5-0, the Historic Preservation Commission APPROVES
Certificate of Appropriateness Application #2026-0316.
CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY | HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Page | 2 Date of Meeting
Roll was called.
Commissioner Palczynski (AYE):
Commissioner Fowler (AYE):
Commissioner Andrews (AYE):
Commissioner Hough (AYE):
Commissioner Skaggs (AYE):
Vote: 5 in favor,0 opposed,
COA#2026-0316 is APPROVED
ii. 2026-0320 552 River Avenue Edgewater Place LHD, Ord# 6846-80
(Audio Position:17:42)
The staff report was presented by:
Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Administrator
Staff Recommendation: The new building as built does not follow the
standards and guidelines for new construction: “A new residential building
should be compatible with its context and reflect design features found
in traditional district residential buildings. This includes building setback, scale
and overall height, the number of stories, massing, foundation height, roof
form, window and door sizes and placement, and porches.” Additionally
the new building does not follow architectural character or materials
guidelines: “Design a new building to reflect its time, while respecting key
features of its context. Use contemporary interpretations of historic
architectural building types when designing a new building. “Use materials
that match the historic building in look and detailing.” Based on all the
information available prior to this public hearing, staff make an
UNFAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION
The applicant was represented by:
Barbara Garland, 552 River Avenue, appeared in person to present
The public was represented by:
There was no one from the public to speak in regards to this application.
After due consideration the following action was taken:
Upon a motion by Michael Skaggs, seconded by Andrew Fowler, and
unanimously carried by vote of 5-0, the Historic Preservation Commission
APPROVES Certificate of Appropriateness Application #2026-0320.
Commissioners are required to state their reasons for denial. Roll was
called.
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (AYE)
Commissioner Hough: (AYE)
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
Vote: 5 in favor,0 opposed,
COA#2026-0320 is APPROVED
CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY | HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Page | 3 Date of Meeting
iii. 2026-0330 1031 East Jefferson Blvd Local Landmark Ord, 9209-2001
(Audio Position:24:06)
The staff report was presented by:
Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Administrator
Staff Recommendation: The cost to replace the roof with true slate is cost
prohibitive at twice the cost of synthetic slate. Synthetic slate is approximately
50% more than architectural shingles. Due to the active leaking
of the current roof and the prohibitive costs of true or synthetic slate,
architectural shingles are an acceptable option. The roof could always be
returned to true or synthetic slate at a future date. Based on all the
information available prior to this public hearing, staff make a FAVORABLE
RECOMMENDATION.
The applicant was represented by:
Donald Dietz, 1031 E Jefferson Blvd, appeared in person to present
The public was represented by:
There was no one from the public to speak in regards to this application.
After due consideration the following action was taken:
Upon a motion by Ryan Palcyznski, seconded by Michael Skaggs, and
unanimously carried by vote of 5-0, the Historic Preservation Commission
APPROVES Certificate of Appropriateness Application #2026-0330.
Commissioners are required to state their reasons for denial. Roll was
called.
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
Commissioner Hough: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (AYE)
Vote: 5 in favor,0 opposed,
COA#2026-0330 is APPROVED
iv. 2026-0406 1225 East Wayne St N East Wayne St LHD, Ord#7797-87
(Audio Position:36:27)
The staff report was presented by:
Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Administrator
Staff Recommendation: The existing steel casement windows are rotted out.
Replacement with aluminum casement windows that match in style and lite
pattern is appropriate. The replacement of screens in the front
3 season room with operable casement windows is a minor change that
increases use of the room with no negative impact to the integrity of the
home. The entry additions on the front (south) and east facades match the
Tudor revival style without impacting the integrity of the home. The rear
addition Option 1 has a massing that overpowers the original house.
Standards and guidelines state that “Design the mass of the new addition to
remain compatible but not overpower the primary structure.” and “Design any
addition so that it is subordinate to the original building. Generally, additions
should not exceed half of the original building’s total floor area or building
CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY | HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Page | 4 Date of Meeting
footprint.” The large colonnade on this addition that wraps all three sides and
multiple individual dormers detracts from the modest Tudor features of the
original house. As stated in the Standards and Guidelines: “The number and
size of dormers should not visually overwhelm the scale of the primary
structure.” The option 2 reduced addition has a massing that overpowers the
original house as well. The reduction in number of dormers helps reduce the
distraction from the original house, however, the colonnade is still an
overpowering feature. Option 3 addition is the best massing that compliments
and maintains focus on the original structure. A simpler roof structure similar
to the front of the proposed carriage house could be suitable. The Carriage
house design is fitting with the style of the house and neighborhood. Overall,
the proposed additions fit in style and character of the neighborhood without
altering the feel of the street or harming the integrity of the original structure.
Based on the information provided prior to this public hearing, Staff makes a
FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION.
The applicant was represented by:
Scott & Meredith Hurley, 1225 East Wayne St, appeared in person to
present
The public was represented by:
Don Dietz, 1031 E Jefferson, spoke in favor of the applicant.
Teresa Kinney, 1336 E Wayne spoke in favor of the applicant.
Eugene& Virginia Bamber, East Wayne, send in a letter in favor of the
applicant
After due consideration the following action was taken:
Upon a motion by Michael Skaggs, seconded by Andrew Fowler, and
unanimously carried by vote of 5-0, the Historic Preservation Commission
APPROVES Certificate of Appropriateness Application #2026-0406.
Roll was called.
1. South Façade
Upon a motion by Michael Skaggs, seconded by Andrew Fowler, and
unanimously carried by vote of 5-0
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (AYE)
Commissioner Hough: (AYE)
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
2. East Façade
Upon a motion by Andrew Fowler, seconded by Michael Skaggs, and
unanimously carried by vote of 5-0
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (AYE)
Commissioner Hough: (AYE)
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
3. North Façade
CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY | HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Page | 5 Date of Meeting
Upon a motion by Ryan Palczynski, seconded by Andrew Fowler, and
carried by vote of 3-1-1
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (Abstain)
Commissioner Hough: (NAY) Scaling of the massing is out of
compliance with standards and guidelines
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
Vote: 3 in favor,1 opposed, 1 abstained
4. 3 car carriage house on the adjacent lot
Upon a motion by Michael Skaggs, seconded by Ryan Palczynski,
and unanimously carried by vote of 5-0
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (AYE)
Commissioner Hough: (AYE)
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
5. Replace existing steel casement windows with aluminum
Upon a motion by Kathryn Hough, seconded by Michael Skaggs, and
unanimously carried by vote of 5-0
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (AYE)
Commissioner Hough: (AYE)
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
6. Replace screens in the front three-season room with aluminum casement
windows.
Upon a motion by Andrew Fowler, seconded by Ryan Palczynski, and
unanimously carried by vote of 5-0
Commissioner Palczynski: (AYE)
Commissioner Fowler: (AYE)
Commissioner Skaggs: (AYE)
Commissioner Hough: (AYE)
Commissioner Andrews: (AYE)
COA#2026-0406 is APPROVED
IV. REGULAR BUSINESS
a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
i. March16, 2026, minutes (Audio Position: 1:56:00)
CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY | HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Page | 6 Date of Meeting
Upon a motion by Michael Skaggs, seconded by Andrew Fowler, and carried
by vote, the minutes from the March 16, 2026 Historic Preservation
Commission are approved.
b. STAFF REPORTS
i. Administrative Approvals
c. COMMITTEE REPORTS
i. No committees have met since the previous meeting.
V. OLD BUSINESS
VI. NEW BUSINESS
VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Upon a motion by Michael Skaggs, the meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
Michael Skaggs Date
Historic Preservation Commission Secretary