Historic Zoning Commission

Old North Knoxville H: Level II

3-A-24-HZ

Applicant Request

After-the-fact review of material and design changes from the initial approval.

Siding: the installed siding is a faux grain-finished fiber cement lap product with a wide exposure pattern; the approved siding was a smooth-finished fiber cement lap siding with a 4"-5" exposure pattern.

Front door: the installed door is a two-panel wood door with no transparency, flanked by sidelights; the approved front door featured a quarter-light above two vertical panels.

Front porch: the applicant is requesting the installation of square 8 by 8 wood posts with 1 by 4 frame trimming around top and bottom above the brick piers; the approved porch columns were tapered wood posts above brick piers. The applicant also requests the porch foundation to be clad in "pressure-treated wood trimming" instead of the brick foundation as depicted.

Windows: applicant installed vinyl windows and will replace them with aluminum-clad wood windows to reflect initial approval. On the rear dormer, the windows were initially proposed as three small adjoining casement windows; the applicant is requesting to install three full-length adjoining operable windows in the same location.

HZC DECISION PER 3/21/2024 MEETING: DENY installed faux-grain fiber cement lap siding, the installed door, the vinyl windows, the proposed 8 by 8 square posts instead of tapered wood posts, and the wood-clad porch foundation; MODIFY WITH installation of smooth-finish fiber cement lap siding with a 4" to 5" exposure pattern, a door to reflect the approval under COA 6-D-23-HZ, tapered wood posts to match the previous approval, and a brick-clad porch foundation to reflect the house's brick foundation. APPROVE the rear dormer window modifications.

Site Info

New construction house approved in June 2023 (6-D-23-HZ).

1. The new house at 213 Leonard Place was reviewed and approved by the Historic Zoning Commission in June 2023 (6-D-23-HZ) subject to five conditions. The COA and approved elevation drawings are included in the application packet.

2. Most of the proposed work is after-the-fact and has already been completed on site.

3. While the design guidelines for new construction in ONK discourage "artificial siding […] for use on new buildings" and recommend that "materials for new buildings be consistent with those already found on the street," fiber cement lap siding has been approved for new construction in ONK over the last ten years. Fiber cement siding has been approved, provided it is installed with a smooth finish instead of faux grain, and in exposure patterns comparable to original wood siding. Smooth-finish fiber cement lap siding is preferred to faux grain as it does not imitate the texture of different material (ie, it is not wood), and because the faux wood grain does not sufficiently replicate the texture of wood. Smooth-finished fiber cement lap siding should be installed with an exposure pattern of 4"-5", based on the previous condition of approval.

4. The installed front door lacks the transparency of the proposed quarter-light door. Guidelines recommend that new entrances be compatible in size, scale, material, and historic character of adjacent buildings. Craftsman-style houses typically feature some transparency in the front doors; the previously-approved door or a comparable design should be selected, with approval by staff.

5. One condition of approval on COA 6-D-23-HZ was "all elevations of foundation to be clad in brick." The porch foundation, along with the entire exterior foundation, should be clad in brick veneer as depicted on the plans.

6. The tapered wood columns on brick piers meet the design guidelines, which recommend that new porches "contain design features such as columns and balustrades that introduce architectural diversity." The proposed square posts shown in the reference photo look disproportionate to the brick piers below. The tapered wood columns on brick piers, as previously approved, should be installed.

7. The proposed full-length windows on the rear elevation dormer are proportionate to the house and will not be visible from the right-of-way.