CITY COUNCIL: Appeal of Design Review Board Decision Denying Aluminum Clad Wood Windows Installation

Meeting Date: 7 October 2008
Prepared by: Marc Wiener, Assistant Planner

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of an appeal of a decision of the Design Review Board denying an
application for the installation of aluminum clad wood windows at ICR Systems, Inc., on the SW corner of 7th Avenue and Casanova Street. The appellant is ICR Systems (Robert Lee, owner).

Description: The appellant is requesting that the Council overturn the Design Review Board’s decision to deny the installation of aluminum clad windows. The decision of the Design Review Board was based on its conclusion that the aluminum clad windows are inappropriate for the architectural style of the building.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: N/A
Grant Funds: N/A

Staff Recommendation: Grant the appeal and reverse the decision of the Design Review
Board.

Important Considerations: The original windows were made of aluminum, and the proposed windows are a substantial improvement over these windows.

Decision Record: The Design Review Board denied this application on 11 June 2008. The
property owner filed an appeal with the City Clerk on 2 September 2008.

Reviewed by:


__________________________ _____________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date


CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: MARC WIENER, ASSISTANT PLANNER
DATE: 7 OCTOBER 2008
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF AN APPEAL OF A DECISION OF THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD TO DENY AN APPLICATION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ALUMINUM CLAD WINDOWS AT ICR SYSTEMS, INC., ON THE SW CORNER OF 7TH AVENUE AND CASANOVA STREET. THE APPELLANT IS ICR SYSTEMS (OWNER: ROBERT LEE)

SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION
Grant the appeal and reverse the Design Review Board’s decision.

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The site is located at the southwest corner of Casanova Street and Seventh Avenue and is developed with a two-story structure clad with stucco siding. On 27 September 2006, the Design Review Board approved an application to permit the construction of a 40-square-foot addition on the southwest corner of the residence. The project included installing new windows on the addition and replacing several existing windows throughout the home. It was indicated that all of the new windows would be made of unclad wood.

At the final building permit inspection, it was discovered that the applicant had installed aluminum clad windows. Staff scheduled a hearing with the Board to review the changes.

The applicant has stated that the original windows were made of aluminum, one of which is still located on the west side of the second-story (see attached). However, there are two original unclad wood windows along the north elevation. The applicant has stated that these were the only wood windows on the home, which is why they were retained.

The Design Review Board denied this project on 27 August 2008.

EVALUATION
Standard R-1 Conditions: Standard condition #12 of the original project approval stated that “the applicant shall install unclad wood windows.”

Windows: Regarding window materials, Design Guideline 9.11 states “materials other than authentic, unclad wood are appropriate only when it can be demonstrated that the proposed material is more appropriate to the architecture. Window styles and materials should be uniform throughout a building.”

Unclad wood windows appear to be the most appropriate for the style of the building.
However, the aluminum clad windows are a substantial improvement over the original
aluminum sliders. Had the applicant replaced original unclad wood windows with clad
windows, staff would not support the project.

The Design Review Board denied the project for the following reasons:
• The original approval was for unclad wood windows. Allowing the replacement
would set a negative precedent.
• If allowed, the house would include a variety of window styles, which is discouraged by the Design Guidelines.
• The aluminum clad windows are not the most appropriate for the style of the building.

Summary: In summary, staff supports the use of aluminum clad windows because several
of the original windows were made of aluminum, and the proposed windows are a substantial improvement over these windows. If the Council overturns the Board’s decision, it may want to require that all windows be aluminum clad wood windows to maintain consistency throughout the residence.

RECOMMENDATION
Grant the appeal and reverse the Design Review Board’s decision.