9-C-25-IH

Level II: Revisions To 11-H-24-IH

Recommendation

The Board should discuss whether shrubs should be planted along the side elevations near the façade corners to screen the foundation (in addition to the proposed planter boxes) and whether additional design interventions are necessary to reduce the visual scale of the front porches.Along with any necessary revisions or conditions, staff recommends approval of Certificate 9-C-25-IH, subject to the following conditions: 1) final landscaping selection to not include invasive species and to be approved by staff; and 2) final site plan to meet City Engineering standards.

Map Case File

Property Notes / Work to be Completed

- After-the-fact revisions to COA 11-H-24-IH. Revisions include:
- Increased foundation height to approximately 7' measured at the façade (left side) that exceeds the 3.5' administratively approved during permitting. Modifications to approved front porches that include the addition of handrailings, raising the porch to approximately 8' tall (left side, top of floor) instead of on grade, and the addition of separate staircases. Revised concrete patio on rear elevation to a raised wooden deck with a wood dividing wall. Proposed addition of 36' wide by 32'-6" deep gravel parking pad at the rear of the lot accessed via the alley.
- The applicant has proposed the following revisions to the design of the as-built front porches and staircases:
- Proposal includes centralizing the height in a singular staircase that projects from a landing between the separate porches. Wood decking screening will be replaced with lattice to screen the underside of the staircase and porches. Addition of newel caps to the end of the porch handrailing. They are proposing to add two approximately 3' tall planter boxes in front of the front porches and two shorter planter boxes on either side of the porches. Proposed material options include brick, stuccoed and painted block, or landscaping/gravity block, and the proposed landscaping options are boxwoods for the front porch and either sky pencil hollies or green giant arborvitae for the sides.

Applicable Guidelines

Heart of Knoxville Infill Housing Design Guidelines

- 3. Alleys, Parking, and Services
  - Parking should not be in front yards.
  - Alley access should be used for garage or parking pad locations. On level ground, pea gravel or similar material may be used as a parking pad off alleys.
  - On streets without alleys, garages or parking pads should be at least 20 feet behind the front façade of the infill house with access limited to one lane between the street and the front façade.
  - Garages which are perpendicular to the alley should be about 18 feet from the center line of the alley pavement, allowing a comfortable turning radius for a driver to enter a garage.
  - Alley-oriented parking pads, garbage collection points, and utility boxes should be screened with a combination of landscaping and fencing.
  - On those streets which have alleys, driveways should not be permitted from the front of the house.
  - On corner lots, a driveway to the garage may be provided off the side street.
- 4. Scale, Mass, and Foundation Height
  - The front elevation should be designed to be similar in scale to other houses along the street.
  - The front façade of new houses should be about the same width as original houses on the block.
  - New foundations should be about the same height as the original houses in the neighborhood.
  - If greater height is to be created (with new construction or an addition), that portion of the house should be located toward the side or rear of the property.
- 5. Porches and Stoops
  - Porches should be part of the housing design in those neighborhoods where porches were commonplace.
  - Porches should be proportional to original porches on the block, extending about 8-12 feet toward the street from the habitable portion of the house.
  - Porches should extend into the front yard setback, if necessary, to maintain consistency with similarly sited porches along the street.
  - Porch posts and railings should be like those used in the historic era of the neighborhood's development. Wrought iron columns and other materials that were not used in the early 1900's should not be used.
  - Small stoops centered on entry and no more than 5 feet deep are appropriate on blocks where porches were not traditional.
- 10. Multi-Unit Housing
  - Multi-unit housing (where permitted by zoning) should have similar front yard space to that of the traditional single-family houses along the street.
  - In zoning districts where multi-unit housing is permitted, the height of the new housing should be similar to the original houses along the street.
  - Multi-unit housing should be designed to continue the architectural rhythm of the block. In addition to the same build-to line, porches, bays and breaks in the front façade should be created to mimic the look of older homes when looking down the block. This should be done by dividing
    the building into separate sections that are proportionally similar to original houses on the block.
  - Parking should be provided behind apartments with access from the alley