Historic Zoning Commission

Fourth and Gill H: Level II

10-J-22-HZ

Applicant Request

New in-ground swimming pool, measuring 30' wide by 14' deep, new paver pool deck, and new front horizontal privacy fence in the front yard. Pool is proposed to be placed adjacent to the house's façade in the corner side yard, with the long side of the pool running along the front property line. The fence is a 4' tall, wood privacy fence with 4" horizontal bands with small gaps. The fence will extend along the front property line, projecting approximately 4' outward from the frontmost line of the front porch.

CONDITION OF APPROVAL IDENTIFIED IN 10/19/2022 HZC MEETING: 1) front yard fence placement and design to be revised to meet design guidelines, with approval by staff. Fence revisions approved per site plan revision dated 11.10.22.

Site Info

Two-story, frame residene with a hipped roof clad in asphalt shingle, an exterior of wood lap siding, and a stuccoed foundation. Façade features a full-length, hipped-roof foundation supported by round wood columns.

1. 630 Eleanor Street is a contributing resource to the Fourth & Gill National Register district and local overlay.

2. The Fourth & Gill Design Guidelines do not include recommendations for pools. Comparable districts with guidelines on swimming pools (Old North Knoxville), which state "swimming pools were not part of the original fabric of the neighborhood, and should be designed to be as unobtrusive as possible" and "...swimming pools must be carefully designed to be compatible with the historic appearance of the neighborhood." Mechanicsville's guidelines also state the same and note that "it must be an in-ground pool." The pool will be in-ground, on a side of the property set away from the public right-of-way, and recessed behind a fence. In-ground pools are typically approved on a staff level if not associated with other improvements to the property.

3. The proposed fence is taller than the 42" permitted in front yards per the City Zoning Code (10.3.L) due to a superceding building code requirement for a minimum of 48" surrounding a pool. The applicant has revised the proposed fence to be the minimum height permitted without a variance (4' tall).

4. The fence projects outward in front of the house and will be significantly visible from the public right-of-way. Typical front yard fences in the Fourth and Gill overlay have been picket fences with some transparency between boards, instead of a relatively solid massing of horizontal bands. The fence should be recessed slightly behind the front façade of the house (or at least, the frontmost line of the porch) and designed to be more compatible with front yard fences in the neighborhood.