Level II: Fourth And Gill H
9-C-20-HZ
Approved With Conditions
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the work as proposed, with the condition that the applicant explore further options to reduce visibility on the existing panel framework (treaments, color-cladding, or covering, etc) and the proposed panels (anti-reflective treatments, etc) with approval by staff.Applicant Request
Skylights/Solar- After-the-fact review of one array of six solar panels and proposed addition of one array of three solar panels. House has a front-gable roof with a small shed-roof bay projecting from the side (south) elevation, towards the rear. Previously-installed panels are located on rear gable roof section, with a portion of the array on the shed roof. Proposed array will be located towards the rear of the primary front-gable roof slope. Proposed panels measure 65" wide by 118" long and will project approximately 2" above the roof slope. No additional equipment accompanies this proposal.
- Conditions identified at 9/17/20 HZC meeting: rear elevation panels approved based on unique situation of roofline intersection. Applicant explored further options to reduce visibility on the existing panel framework (treaments, color-cladding, or covering, etc) and the proposed panels (anti-reflective treatments, etc) with approval by staff. Applicant installed a color-treated panel along visible edge of solar panels which had a negligible effect on the panels' visibility.
Fourth and Gill H
- Style: Bungalow, c.1910
- One-story frame residence with a front-gable roof, an exterior of wood weatherboard siding, and a foundation clad in rusticated concrete block. A 2/3rds width, front-gable roof porch projects from the left side of the façade. The porch is supported by square wood columns (grouped in 3s) on piers clad in rusticated concrete block. Roof features wide eave overhangs and triangular wood brackets.
- Style: Bungalow, c.1910
Applicable Guidelines
Fourth and Gill Design Guidelines, adopted by the Knoxville City Council on April 20, 1999 and June 29, 1999.
See Guidelines- Roofs
- 5. Do not use solar collectors, modern skylights, or inappropriate structures on roof planes that are visible from the street. Do not install them where they interfere with decorative roof elements. If they are installed, they should not comprise more than 3% of the total roof surface.
- Mechanical Systems
- 3. If used, solar collectors should not be visible from public streets.
- PROPOSED SOLAR PANEL GUIDELINES FOR FOURTH & GILL (see Comments):
- Contemporary solar additions to building roofs have no historic counterpart and make a strong impact of the visual character of existing buildings. While both goals of historic preservation and energy conservation are important, care must be taken that one is not achieved at the expense of the other.
- In designing and obtaining permission to install solar technology on a historic home, applicant is to consider the following preferences and requirements for design and placement of solar devices. These provisions are designed to minimize irreversible visual and structural impact of the devices on the historic appearance of the building.
- Historic Zoning Commission is under no obligation to approve projects that do not adhere strictly to these guidelines, and may require that more preferred alternatives be pursued as a condition of project approval.
- Requirements:
- Solar technology should not be visible from public streets or, if visible, should be installed on an accessory building, a rear facing elevation, or a side elevation that does not face onto a public street.
- Exception:
- In the event that street-facing elevations are the only reasonable placement possible, the solar installation should be non-reflective and fully integrated with the building envelope or cladding.
- In all cases, regardless of the location of the solar installation -
- 1. Solar collectors and mounting systems should be compatible in color to the property's roof materials.
- 2. Framing equipment associated with the installation of solar technology, including brackets, edging around solar collectors, and other metal features, should be treated, color clad, or covered to be made as unobtrusive as possible and to minimize contrast between the solar collectors and equipment and any roofing materials.
- 3. Slope, elevation and position relative to existing architectural features should be minimally visible from public streets.
- 4. Historic roofing materials or features, including dormers and chimneys, may not be irrevocably altered or removed for the solar installation.
- 6. For roof-mounted solar installations:
- a. On a sloped roof:
- The solar equipment should be mounted parallel to the roof slope and not more than six inches above the roof, as measured vertically from the top of the equipment to the roof surface. With the provided exception of building-integrated solar technologies, solar equipment should not be located forward of any point of a roof slope facing a public street or closer than 1/3 the depth of the main body of the roof if there is no slope toward the street (see diagrams)
- b. On a flat roof:
- The equipment should be set back from the roof edge, and visibility from ground level should be minimal
Meeting Date
September 17, 2020
COA Expires October 8, 2023
Fourth and Gill H
1219 Luttrell St. 37917
Applicant / Owner
