Commission chair casts lone dissenting vote on 150 Ridgewood Avenue addition

The commission approved a reapplication from Sebastian Voltarelli to add a second story over roughly 85% of his ranch-style home at 150 Ridgewood Avenue by a 6-1 vote, with Chair Herrigel casting the only no vote. The revised design lowered the roofline, increased the frieze, and removed a dovecote from an earlier version the commission had reviewed, but members still had concerns about the porch column design and a Palladian window that didn't follow typical proportions; the owner was told to return with additional column options at a later date without that holding up permit issuance for the rest of the project.

A separate reapplication for a new addition to a split-level home at 340 Ridgewood Avenue, from Andrea and Joaquin Fernandez, was approved unanimously after the architect adjusted a roofline that had been sitting too close to a window and agreed to move two windows on the Baldwin Street elevation a few inches away from the corner boards.

The commission also unanimously approved a new rear deck for commission member Lynne Vande Stouwe and her husband, Jim Kincade, at 364 Ridgewood Avenue; Vande Stouwe recused herself from voting on her own family's application.

In subcommittee and old business, the commission's consultant reported the "Clarus Project" apartment development's revised garage door treatment had won subcommittee approval, and the commission held part one of a planned two-part continuing-education session reviewing updated federal historic preservation standards.

What to watch

• The owner of 150 Ridgewood Avenue is expected to present additional porch-column design options at a future meeting.
• The second half of the commission's continuing-education review of federal preservation standards was planned to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the November meeting.