5. 518 South St. Joseph Street_COA 2021-0427A

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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: May 6, 2021 Application Number: 2021-427A Property Location: 518 South St. Joseph Street Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Free Classic / 1899 Property Owner: Margie Pfeil / St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker Landmark or District Designation: Taylor’s Field, #8952-98 Rating: Contributing DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: Two story (plus attic) Free Classic with an irregular plan situated on a brick foundation. Exterior is covered in vinyl siding with a second floor bell projection. A hip roof with gable intersection is covered in asphalt shingles, with a front gable dormer; soffits are covered in vinyl. Full width front porch with wood balustrade, tapered wood posts, wood steps and lattice work at base. There is a fixed aluminum picture window at the porch and a single leaf aluminum storm door with 1/1 aluminum sash at the second story. ALTERATIONS: Shed roof addition on the back of the house. Aluminum frame windows and vinyl siding are not original. COA #2012-0806B allowed for the erection of a 6’ spruce stockade fence. RME #2018-1001F allowed for the removal and replacement of the sidewalk in front of the structure. APPLICATION ITEMS: “We plan to build a pavilion in the backyard to provide shade and to support solar panels mounted to a single-seam metal roof.” DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: a. The construction of a wooden pavilion with: i. Standing seam metal roof, sloped to fall to the south, ii. Dimensions: 1. 40’ long (east-west), 2. 20’ wide (north-south), 3. 10’ tall (the north end), iii. Solar Panels, affixed to the roof of the structure. The proposed structure is not proposed to be attached to the existing house and would be reversible/removable. The structure would cover most of an existing paved patio surface used by the residence as an outdoor community space. Staff have some concern that the size and location of the structure may cause some Zoning (setback / lot coverage) issues. The structure would be visible from the street through the space between 518 South St. Joseph and 522 South St. Joseph Street. Staff have suggested that landscaping could help with shielding the structure from that perspective. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: TAYLOR’S FIELD I. THE ENVIRNOMENT A. THE DISTRICT ENVIRONMENT The district is characterized by its proximity to downtown South Bend and the former Birdsell Plant. It is located between Michigan Street to the west, a residential area to the east, Bronson Street to the south and Monroe Street to the north. The district contains 51 structures and their accessory buildings. Required Distinctive existing features such as parks, gardens, streetlights, fences, signs, benches, walkways, streets, alleys, and building setbacks shall be retained. New plant materials, fencing, walkways, streetlights, signs and benches shall be compatible with the character of the neighborhood in size, scale, material, and color. Street lighting should be maintained at levels recommended by the scale, material, and color. Street lighting should be maintained at levels recommended by the Illumination Engineering Society. Light sources must have spectral distribution in all color ranges. Sources and light posts should be uniform throughout the district. Lamp fixtures and supporting