Historic Zoning Commission

Fourth and Gill H-1: Level II

12-A-12-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Replacement/repair

Install wood front porch balustrade with 2x2 square balusters with molded handrail and 4" top and bottom rails. (The existing balustrade was installed as a temporary measure to comply with KUB requirements for the occupancy of the house.) The description of work is modified (1-17-13) to include the request for wooden step rails.

Site Info

One-story frame with hip roof with lower cross gables and hipped front dormer. One-story two-thirds porch with round wood columns with Ionic capitals and dentil molding at porch eave. Cut-away bay with sawn wood brackets on front elevation. Brick foundation. Irregular plan.

This item was denied without prejudice at the December 20, 2012 HZC meeting. Staff's Findings of Fact and recommendation have been revised to support approval of wooden step rails with HZC conditions and that meet the building code (provided at the end of this report). If the HZC-approved modifications are not implemented, the current balustrade and railing would constitute a violation given they are not approved by the HZC.

Staff confirmed with Building Inspections that when replacing an existing railing, the height of the existing may be retained. When a new railing must be installed where none is existing, the height of the railing must meet current code at 36 inches.

STAFF'S FINDINGS OF FACT
1) There is no documentation or physical evidence that a balustrade ever existed on the porch.

2) The building code requires residential standing walking surfaces that are 30 inches above the ground to have railings that are at least 36 inches high and step rails to be 34 inches high.

3) Academic architecture manuals indicate that square balusters are appropriate for the Queen Ann style of house. The simple design of the square balusters are less conjectural than a more elaborate design for a turned baluster.

4) The construction method of the existing porch balustrade utilizing overlapping balusters is not appropriate. Balusters on historic porches in the district begin on the bottom edge of top rails and rest on the top edge of the bottom rail, fitting between the top and bottom rails.

5) Since the top step is 30 inches above the ground, a 34-inch high step handrailing with balusters no more than 4 -3/8 inches apart must be installed. The existing newly installed handrails do not meet Building Code given that there are no balusters on the handrail to reduce the opening to 4-3/8 inches.

6) The detailing of the existing newly installed wooden step handrails is not appropriate. The majority of wooden step railings in the district have balusters to match the porch and a square newel post at the foot of the steps for the handrail to die into.

7) The radius of the handrail grip must also meet the building code. (The applicant asserts that the handrail radius is compliant.)

8) Many handrails adjacent to steps on houses within the district are of simple black wrought iron with a small profile or of wood to match the porch balustrade.

9) The porch foundation has settled causing the porch to slope toward the door and south end of the house. The existing balustrade does not follow this slope and is not parallel to the porch floor. The slant of the balustrade would not be as apparent if it were installed parallel with the slope of the porch floor.


FOURTH AND GILL DESIGN GUIDELINES p. 12:
Porch Guideline Recommendations:
1. Repair porches on historic houses using wood floors, balustrades, posts and columns . . ..

4. In new construction, the proportion of the porches to the front facades should be consistent with the historic porches in the neighborhood. Details such as columns, posts, piers, balustrades and porch flooring must use materials that present a visually and physically appropriate appearance historically.