Design Review Board

Oakwood/Lincoln Park Infill Housing Overlay District

3-B-20-IH

Applicant Request

1. The alley behind this house is developed and should provide access. However, the alley sits 2-3 ft higher than the rear lot line and would require infill to function properly. The Commission may wish to consider the option to allow driveway access off of Watauga Avenue. However, to make this allowance, staff would recommend the parking pad should still be at the rear of the lot, so the driveway would need to extend past the house from the front to the back.
2. Front and side setbacks proposed are consistent with other houses on the street. The nearest developed property to the west is set back 40 ft, while the front porch is set back 30 ft from the property line.
3. Neighboring houses on Watauga Avenue feature walkways connecting the front porch or stoop to the street.
4. Lap siding more closely resembles the exterior materials historically utilized in the neighborhood.
5. All other aspects of the proposed project are in compliance with Infill Housing Design Guidelines.
6. Historically, board and batten siding has not been used in these neighborhoods.
7. The site plan shows the correct orientation of the house; it is inverted from the floor plans and elevations, which show the front porch on the other side of the house. The description of the house leaves the elevations inverted as labelled in the elevations to make it easier to follow.

Staff recommends approval of the project with the following conditions:
1. Access should be from the alley since it is in working condition (p. 7).
2. Driveway and parking pad shall meet City of Knoxville Engineering Department requirements.
a. Parking pad shall be 18 ft x 20 ft.
b. If using a gravel surface, a minimum of 10-15 ft of asphalt or concrete is required to be installed from the street to keep gravel off of the alley, and landscape timbers must be installed along both sides of the driveway and around the parking pad to contain the gravel.
3. Parking pad should be screened with landscaping and/or fencing (p. 7).
4. A walkway should be installed from the front porch to the street to be consistent with other houses on the block (p. 5).
5. Utilize lap siding versus Dutch lap or horizontal panels to more closely resemble the exterior materials historically utilized in the neighborhood (p.13).
6. At least one tree should be retained (or planted) in the front and rear yards since the house is set back more than 25 ft from the street (p. 16).

Site Info

The applicant is proposing a new house and driveway for 826 Watauga Avenue.

Proposed Site:
1. The front setback of the primary structure is 38.6 ft. and the setback for the front porch is 30 ft.
2. The applicant has stated he will keep as many trees as he is able.
3. The site plan shows driveway access off of Watauga Avenue.
4. The applicant has stated he will provide a walkway to the street.

Proposed House:
1. The proposed new house is a 3-bedroom, 1-story structure measuring 30' W x 44' D. It has an asymmetrical front façade with a 16'W x 8'D front porch on the left side of the front façade.
2. The house is reminiscent of the Craftsman style.
3. The gable roof utilizes seal-tab shingles and has a 7:12 slope ratio. A smaller gable with the same materials and slope extends over the front porch.
4. The walls beneath the gables on the front façade are clad in vinyl shake siding. The large gable wall has a small rectangular vent at the top.
5. The porch roof is supported by three tapered wood columns on top of brick piers. The columns feature a plain base and capital. Wood rails and balusters run between the brick piers on both sides of the stairs.
6. The front door is appropriate for a Craftsman-style house.
7. There are two sets of 3-over-1 double-hung, double windows on the front façade. All other windows are 1-over-1. Notes on the floor plans state that all bedroom windows meet egress requirements.
8. The left side elevation shows three windows; the right shows two.
9. There is a rear deck with stairs on the left side elevation leading down to the yard. A rear door provides a second access point.
10. Exposed foundation will be stucco on the sides of the house, brick on the front to match the piers.
11. The drawings show horizontal siding on all other exterior walls. The applicant has stated it would be lap siding. However, he is also considering board-and-batten siding to differentiate it from the neighboring structure, which is also before this board this month for review (8-C-20-IH).