Commission Splits on Porte Cochere Design, Tables 21 Mitchell Place Over Slate Roof Loss

At its February 5, 2020 meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission approved a porte cochere (a covered carport structure) at 78 Ridgewood Avenue for owners Michael Sanzone and Mark Robertson, but Commissioner Switzer was the only member to vote no on the design as submitted, which included a roof balustrade along the structure's roofline. The commission then passed a second, unanimous motion giving the owners the option to build the porte cochere without the balustrade, which several members felt made the side structure too visually prominent.

The commission declined to act on 21 Mitchell Place, where AD Properties Corp. proposed a one-and-a-half-story rear addition that would require replacing the home's existing slate roof with an asphalt product designed to resemble slate. Members said they were especially protective of the town's remaining slate roofs and felt the assessment of the existing slate wasn't thorough enough to justify full replacement; they asked to see a physical sample of the proposed substitute material before considering it further, and continued the application rather than voting.

Two other renovation applications passed without objection. At 164 Carteret Street, a continuation from January, W. Bros. Construction's dormer, window, and garage redesign for owner Milton Murocho was approved unanimously with conditions on siding, railings, and fireplace venting. At 34 Forest Avenue, Tyrone and Alexandria Barnes won unanimous approval for a rear addition and window relocation, conditioned on a mock-up to confirm the new brick matches existing brick reused from elsewhere on the house.

What to watch

• 21 Mitchell Place's addition, which would require replacing a historic slate roof, was continued rather than decided and will return to the commission at a future meeting with a more complete slate assessment and a sample of the proposed substitute roofing material.