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Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report HDC2021-029 DATE: November 4, 2021 APPLICANT: Doug Melkovitz, 1410 Rock Street ADDRESS: 1410 & 1412 Rock Street FILE NUMBER: HDC2021-029 COA REQUEST: Install solar panels on the south Garage Roof, West Porch and West Carriage House roof PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 1410 & 1412 Rock Street. The property’s legal description is “Lot 10 & 11, Block 49, Original City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." This single-family building was built circa 1904 with the accessory building built circa 1990. The 2007 survey form states: “This one-story hipped with cross gable Queen Anne house was cutaway bay windows, tall narrow windows with large panes and detailed brickwork on the chimney, A Palladian window has been rebuilt in the front gable and the porch has colonial influences.” It is considered a "Contributing Structure" to the MacArthur Park Historic District. This application is a result to install solar panels on the south garage roof, west porch and west Carriage House roof. RECENT ACTIONS ON THIS SITE: On September 13, 2021, a COC was approved and issued to Doug Melkovitz to repair four windows on the house and replace windows replaced in 1999 with similar size double hung, double pane wood windows. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. One. Location of Project On November 13, 2019, a COC was approved and issued to Tim Hankins for a six-foot wood privacy fence to be installed in the rear yard with a raised walk from the house to garage in the northwest corner of the site. On August 7, 2019, a COC was approved and issued to Tim Hankins to construct a 26x28 foot accessory building with a height of 12-feet in the northwest corner of the site. On July 13, 2018, a COC was approved and issued to Tim Hankins to allow repairs to the foundation, roof, porch, fencing, siding, and heating and air system. On March 4, 1999, a COA was approved and issued to Jamie and Mark Blakely to allow renovations to foundation, siding, chimney, doors and windows, repair roof and foundation. PROPOSAL AND WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION BASED OFF OF INTENT AND GUIDELINES: Installation of solar panels on the south garage roof, west porch roof and west Carriage House roof. The proposal is to make 3 solar panel installations. The installation will have a 6-inch clearance between the roof and panels. Each panel is less that 2-inches thick. The garage was added to the site in 1999. It has a hip-roof. The installation will be on the south facing hip (into the backyard). The panels will cover approximately 637 square feet of the south facing roof. The rear porch is west facing (into the rear yard) toward the alley. The installation will cover approximately 318 square feet of the porch roof area. The carriage house has a shed roof facing into the alley (west). The installation will cover approximately 269 square feet of the roof area. Installation on Accessory Structure Installation on garage and back porch roof Existing view along alley from 15th Street Existing view of garage from front-Rock View of accessory structure from front Contributing and Non-contributing map The Design Guidelines state in: “Section VI. Design Guidelines for Site Design, Section D. Mechanical Systems and Service Areas” that “Mechanical systems and service areas should be as unobstructive to the historic neighborhood as possible”. Under sub-section “5. Solar Collectors” it states – “Solar energy panels should be located on rear sections of the roof, behind dormers or gables or other areas not visible from the street.” The Structure at 1410 Rock is a contributing structure to the McArthur District (PU3023). The installation on the garage of solar panels could be seen from Rock Street since the panels will be 6-inches above the roof. But this structure is Non-Contributing and rear of the site, and the visual impact should be minimal. The installation on the accessory structure and back porch will not be visible to Rock Street. The porch is behind the house and the shed roof of the accessory structure slants away from the street (toward the alley). As the picture above illustrates someone walking down 15th Street looking down the alley (to the north) likely would be able to see the panels on the roof of both the accessory structure and the garage. This structure is in the southern most block of the Historic District and no buildings to the south or east (across Rock Street) are or will be contributing structures to the District. The proposed installations attempt to follow the recommendation of the design guidelines – being in the rear of the site and on surfaces generally away from the street view. In one case, the installation is in the rear but perpendicular to the street. Future owners of the property can easily remove the panels resulting in no impact. In order, to assure no to minimal visual impact, the panels and their supports should be non-reflective materials and preferable dark in color. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application. Photos of buildings along Sherman Street: 521 East Eight 801 Sherman Administration Building Across Sherman Street Connection to Classrooms Fire Station across street St. Edwards Church STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with the following conditions: 1. Panels and supports should be of non-reflective materials and dark in color. 2. Obtaining a building permit. 3. Project to be completed within XXX days of obtaining permit. Application Cover Letter View south down Sherman Street October 28, 2021 Doug Melkovitz 1410 Rock Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 Dear Mr. Doug Melkovitz, Enclosed is a copy of your item that is a part of the agenda for the November 4, 2021 Little Rock Historic District Commission meeting. The Staff recommendation is approval/denial with conditions. Please take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the staff report before the hearing. Your application HDC2021-029 for Install solar panels on the south garage roof, west porch and west Carriage House roof, at 1410 & 1412 Rock Street will be heard before the Historic District Commission on November 4, 2021. The hearing will be held in the Board Room at City Hall at 500 West Markham on the second floor. The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. Your amendment will be item One on the agenda. You or your agent must be present in order for the item to be heard. We encourage all that want to attend the meeting to do so. We have limited space in the ballroom with social distancing. If others want to attend virtually, send an email to LRZoning@littlerock.gov and state they want to watch the hearing. If they want to attend virtually and speak at the meeting virtually, send an email to LRZoning@littlerock.gov and state they want to speak virtually at the meeting. We will need a phone number for them to make sure they are available when they are asked to speak. Please register with LRZoning@littlerock.gov at least 24 hours before the meeting. They will receive an email with a link to the WebEx meeting. If there are any questions, please call me. Sincerely, Walter Malone, AICP Planning Manager DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov ____________, 2021 Dear Sir or Madam: The item HDC2021-029 for Install solar panels on the south garage roof, west porch and west Carriage House roof at 1410 & 1412 Rock Street, that was heard before the Historic District Commission on November 4, 2021 was deferred at that meeting to the September 12, 2018 hearing. The hearing will be held in the Board Room at City Hall at 500 West Markham on the second floor. The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. You were previously notified via certified mail of this application. The staff report should be online at the following link one week in advance of the hearing: https://www.littlerock.gov/for-businesses/planning-and-development/planning- agendas?tab=3 Thank you, Walter Malone, AICP Planning Manager DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov xxx, 2021 Doug Melkovitz 1410 Rock Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 Dear Mr. Doug Melkovitz, The Little Rock Historic District Commission has reviewed HDC2021-029 at the November 4, 2021 meeting. The Little Rock Historic District Commission has approved/denied your Certificate of Appropriateness of the Install solar panels south Garage Roof, West Porch and West Carriage House roof. The final vote was _ ayes, _ noes and _ recusals. Enclosed is your Certificate of Appropriateness. The original (printed on blue paper) should be kept with your important papers. I have also enclosed a copy for your use. Thank you, Walter Malone, AICP Planning Manager DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov HDC2021-029 Property Owner: Doug Melkovitz, 1410 Rock Street Address of Property: 1410 & 1412 Rock Street Install solar panels south Garage Roof, West Porch and West Carriage House roof is to be completed as amended and as approved by Historic District Commission in the November 4, 2021 hearing. ___________________________________________ ______________ Staff Signature Date of COA The original is printed on pale blue paper. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS