Board/Committee Agenda Item

MEETING DATE:  2/9/2016

SUBJECT:  Certificate of Appropriateness: A Request by Derek Hickman of Hickman Metal Roofing, as Applicant and Agent, for Rudy Rothseiden, Property Owner, for Alterations to an Existing Structure, located at 14804 NW 140th Street (Tax Parcel No. 03655-000-000) (Quasi-Judicial Hearing)

PREPARED BY:  Justin Tabor, AICP, Principal Planner

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Staff recommends that the Planning & Zoning Board approve the Certificate of Appropriateness upon making the following motion:

Based upon the competent substantial evidence presented at this hearing, the presentation before this Board, and Staff’s recommendation, this Board finds the application to be consistent with the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan and in compliance with the Land Development Regulations and approves the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness.

Summary

This application is a request by Derek Hickman of Hickman Metal Roofing, as applicant and agent, for Rudy Rothseiden, property owner, for the approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the following alterations to an existing structure: (1) replace an existing shingle roof with a metal roof; and (2) change the color of the exterior paint from white to a medium green with white trim.

Section 3.7.2(A) of the City’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs) establishes the standards for the Historic Overlay District. The general purposes of the Historic Overlay District are as follows:

• to protect the beauty of the City and improve the quality of its environment through identification, recognition, conservation, maintenance, and enhancement of the City’s historic and architectural resources;
•  to protect designated land and buildings or structures having historic and architectural significance;
•  to stabilize and improve property values;
•  to foster civic pride; and,
•  to encourage redevelopment in the City’s downtown.

Section 3.7.2(A)(2)(a) of the LDRs establishes the City of Alachua Downtown Historic District, which includes all lots within an area bounded by NW 145^th Avenue, NW 145^th Terrace, NW 148^th Place, and NW 138^th Terrace. 

Section 3.7.2(A)(5) of the LDRs states, “[o]nce land, buildings, or structures are classified within an Historic Overlay District, no demolition, new construction, addition, or alteration of exterior architectural features shall occur within the district without the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness in accordance with Section 2.4.6, Certificate of Appropriateness.”

The subject property is ±0.76 acres in area, and is located at 14804 NW 140^th Street, southwest of the intersection of NW 140^th Street (also known as State Roads 235 and 241) and NW 148^th Place. It is currently developed with the main structure (the structure proposed to be altered) and a partially enclosed accessory structure.

The structure is listed as a contributing structure to the Downtown Historic District as designated by the National Register of Historic Places, and is identified as the “Pearson-Braswell House.” Alachua County Property Appraiser records indicate that the structure was built in 1925 (the National Register of Historic Places indicates the structure was built circa 1900.)

As part of the application package, the applicant has submitted pictures of the existing structure depicting its current condition. The applicant has also specifications of the proposed roofing material, as well as color swatches depicting the proposed paint color scheme. Pictures have also been submitted of the structures on surrounding properties to demonstrate that the proposed improvements are consistent with the character of adjacent properties.