CITY COUNCIL: Windows Committee & Planning Commission Recommendations regarding City's Policy on Residential Window Applications

Meeting Date: 5 October 2010
Prepared by: Marc Wiener, Associate Planner

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of recommendations from the Window Committee and Planning Commission regarding the City’s policy on residential window applications.

Description: Presentation of Window Committee findings and review of Carmel’s Residential
Design Guidelines with regards to window materials.

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

Staff Recommendation: Provide policy direction on whether the City should allow aluminum
clad wood windows.

Important Considerations: Design Guideline 9.11 states that “materials other than authentic,
unclad wood are appropriate only when it can be demonstrated that the proposed material is more appropriate to the architecture.” The Planning Commission appointed a Windows Committee to review the issue of whether the City should allow aluminum clad wood windows. The Committee
recommended that the City not allow aluminum clad wood windows.

Decision Record: The Planning Commission recommended that the Design Guidelines not be
amended to allow the use of aluminum clad wood windows on 14 April 2010.

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, ASSOCIATE PLANNER
DATE: 5 OCTOBER 2010
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE WINDOW COMMITTEE AND PLANNING COMMISSION
REGARDING THE CITY’S POLICY ON RESIDENTIAL WINDOW APPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND
Window styles and materials play a vital role in the residential character of the City.
The Residential Design Guidelines strongly encourage the use of unclad wood windows
for most residential projects. With regards to window materials, Residential 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.” The Guidelines also encourage the use of natural building materials.
ISSUE
In recent years more and more applicants are requesting approval to use aluminum clad
wood windows. The Design Review Board (now dissolved), Planning Commission and
City Council have all approved aluminum clad wood windows on a number of occasions.
The approval of aluminum clad windows has typically been based on the opinion that
clad windows often appear very similar to wood aesthetically.
Recently, the Planning Commission has questioned the wisdom of approving aluminum
clad wood windows. The Commission appointed a four member Window Committee in
January 2010 to review the issue in more depth and to provide recommendations on
whether the City should approve aluminum clad wood windows. The Committee
prepared the attached report (exhibit “A”) that was presented to the Planning Commission
on 14 April 2010. The Green Building Committee reviewed the Window Committee’s
report and submitted the attached memo to the City Council (exhibit “B”).
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Window Committee: Regarding aesthetics, the Committee determined that when
initially installed, some aluminum clad wood windows can be difficult to distinguish
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Window Committee
5 October 2010
Staff Report
Page 2
from unclad wood windows, particularly from a distance. However, the Committee has
significant concerns about the long-term appearance of the aluminum clad wood
windows.
In many instances, aluminum clad windows cannot be painted without voiding the
warranty. While some clad windows can appear very similar to wood windows when
initially installed, it is unclear how they will look in the long run as the exterior finish
may fade or degrade over time. It is questionable as to whether clad windows can easily
be repainted.
In contrast, wood windows can be varnished, oiled and/or painted regularly to maintain a
quality appearance over time. Additionally, a wood window that has been varnished or
oiled presents a natural wood-grain appearance that is not possible with an aluminum
clad window.
The Committee concluded that the Design Guidelines should remain as written and that
unclad wood windows should continue to be the preferred window material for most
projects in the City. The Planning Commission concurred with the findings and
recommendations of the Committee on 14 April 2010.
Green Building Committee (GBC): The GBC supports allowing aluminum clad wood
windows as they 1) provide home owners with options, 2) are aesthetically
indistinguishable from wood windows, and 3) are considered a low maintenance product.
COUNCIL REVIEW
The Council should review the reports from the committees and answer the following
questions:
• Should the City allow the use of aluminum clad wood windows? If yes,
• Should the Design Guidelines be amended accordingly?
The Window Committee’s report addresses a wide range of issues including cost,
maintenance, environmental factors, appearance etc. While these topics help to inform
the City Council, staff recommends that the Council’s primary focus should be on the
aesthetic aspects of wood windows versus clad windows.
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide policy direction on whether the City should allow the use of aluminum clad
wood windows.