Design Review Board

Lonsdale Infill Housing Overlay District

5-B-22-IH

Applicant Request

1. The new house will be set 15' from the front property line. The adjacent house is set 9' from the front property line, while the other house on the block (new construction at 1218 Katherine Ave) is set approximately 17' from the front property line. The proposed 15' front setback will be relatively centered between the two existing houses on the block and maintain a consistent front yard space. The site plan includes a walkway to the front sidewalk.

2. The 68.11' wide lot has been created by the closure of an unimproved alley. A plat will be recorded for the new property outline.

3. The block itself lacks significant context; a shotgun-type house was on the lot previously, with a new construction house similar to a shotgun house at 1218 Katherine Ave. The surrounding blocks of Lonsdale feature modified Queen Anne cottages, modified Craftsman bungalows, and a significant amount of infill construction. The house is somewhat wider than other houses on the block.

4. The proposed parking meets Infill Housing design guidelines as it's located behind the main house and accessible from the alley. Final modifications may be necessary to meet City Engineering standards and the impervious surface limits of the RN-2 zoning.

5. The three-bay façade is wider than original houses on the block; as the property owner has closed the adjacent (unimproved) alley and acquired additional property to the east, they are no longer confined by the typical 32'-35' wide lots on this block. The design does contain projecting bays and massing details compatible with the context, and the foundation height reflects those on original houses in the neighborhood.

6. The design includes a 5' deep, recessed front porch on the left half of the façade, supported by narrow wood posts resembling 2 by 2s. Guidelines typically recommend a porch 8'-12' deep, with posts comparable to the historic context (larger than 2 by 2s).

7. One-over-one windows are similar to historic houses on the block. The façade, left side elevation, and rear elevation demonstrate a sufficient proportion of solids to voids. The Board may choose to discuss the need for an additional window on the right side elevation.

8. The 6/12 pitch is typically the minimum pitch recommended in the Infill Housing overlay. The house incorporates additional complexity via a hipped porch roof and a projecting front-gable massing.

9. The siding material is not specified but lap siding and shingle detailing on gable fields is indicated, which meet the design guidelines. Final siding selection should use an overlap similar to wood clapboard patterns instead of Dutch lap or flush panel siding. A brick clad foundation meets the guidelines.

10. The final site plan should include one native or naturalized shade tree per front and rear yards.

Site Info

New primary residence fronting Katherine Ave. One-story residence features a front-gable roof (6/12 pitch, clad in asphalt shingles), an exterior of lap siding, and a foundation clad in brick veneer. The house will be set 15' from the front property line. The house is almost square in shape, measuring 41'-6" wide on the front and 42' on the right elevation. The parking is proposed to be accessed from the alley, featuring a 27'-1" long granite driveway accessing an 18' by 14'-1" one-car garage.

The façade (northwest) features a projecting, front gable-roof massing flush on the right side of the façade, flush with a porch on the left side. The porch features a partial hipped roof and square wood posts. The right side elevation features one pair of double-hung windows and the left side elevation features two pairs. On the rear elevation, a second-story deck provides access to the secondary entrance. Another secondary entry on the rear elevation provides access to an internal basement-level ADU.