HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2022-005 Staff ReportApril 7, 2022
ITEM NO.: ONE FILE NO.: HDC2022-005
NAME: Front Yard Fence
LOCATION: 1410 Rock Street, The Allen-Hegarty House
OWNER/AUTHORIZED AGENT:
Doug Melkovitz
1410 Rock Street
Little Rock, AR
72206
Figure 1 1410 Rock Street
April 7, 2022
ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2022-005
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AREA: 0.32 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 2, Lot 10 and 11 WARD: 1
HISTORIC DISTRICT: MacArthur Park Historic District
HISTORIC STATUS: Lot 10 Contributing (PU3023), Lot 11 Non-Contributing
CURRENT ZONING: MacArthur Park Local Ordinance District and R4-A
BACKGROUND:
Location
The subject property is located at 1410
Rock Street. The property’s legal
description is “Lots 10 and 11, Block 49
of the Original City of Little Rock, Pulaski
County, AR.” This application deals
primarily with Lot 10.
Context
The dwelling on Lot 10 was constructed
in c. 1904 as a one and one-half story
single-family dwelling. The 2007 survey
form states: “This one story hipped with
cross gable Queen Anne house has
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
Revival influences.”
Taking the Queen Anne subtypes into
examination, this home presents more specifically as a Free Classic Queen Anne. This
subtype was more common after 1890 and has similarities to earlier, asymmetrical
Colonial Revival styles. The home displays delicate decorative detailing in some features
and classical detailing in others. The structure is clad with weatherboard siding and the
dormer is clad with square wood shingles. Distinctive Victorian features are found in the
gables that are adorned with hexagonal wood shingles, as well as the gable projection
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ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2022-005
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beyond the cutaway bay on the north
elevation. Classical features are
expressed in the dentil molding across
the front porch fascia, the Palladian
windows on the upper story gable, the
classic Doric columns and pilasters on
the porch, and the shallow rectangular
window over the main window on the
cross-gable elevation.
This structure is considered
Contributing to the MacArthur Park
Historic District. Since its construction,
the footprint of the structure and site is
relatively unchanged with exceptions
of the addition of an open porch on the
southern elevation between 1939 and
1950, as well as the expansion of the
detached rear ancillary structure
between 1913 and 1939.
Recent Action
On November 4, 2021 a COA was approved and issued to Doug Melkovitz for the
installation of solar panels.
On September 13, 2021 a COC was approved and issu ed to Doug Melkovitz for window
repairs and replacement.
On November 13, 2019 a COC was approved and issued to Tim Hankins for the
construction of a 6’ tall fence in the rear yard, following setbacks specific to Lot 11.
On August 7, 2019 a COC was approved and issued to Tim Hankins for the construction
of a new accessory building in the rear yard.
On July 12, 2018 a COC was approved and issued to Tim Hankins for exterior renovations
including repairs to: the foundation, existing fence, porch, roof, soffit and fascia, siding
and heating and air system. A handicap ramp had been constructed in the 2000s at the
front and was here removed.
Other actions were found but are more than 10 years ago and no longer relevant.
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ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2022-005
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A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT’S STATEMENT:
The applicant requests to construct a front yard wood picket fence on Lot 10.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
The property currently has a rear yard 6’ tall fence on Lots 10 & 11 at the
appropriate setbacks.
There are no other front yard fences on this block face or street. However, there
are three (3) vacant lots across the street and three (3) infill construction dwellings
to the south that are contemporary in style. The only other historic structure on this
block with a front façade facing Rock Street is to the north. This being said, district-
wide, wood picket fences are commonly seen in front yards of Victorian era homes.
C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
All owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site and all neighborhood
associations registered with The City of Little Rock that surround the site were
notified of the public hearing.
D. ANALYSIS:
The fence proposed is a wood picket fence with straight, 36” tall pickets, that are
1” wide with a regular point at the top. The pickets are set ¾” apart. The proposed
fence has a walking gate at the top step of the front sidewalk, 36” tall measured
from the grade plane, and a gate on the south boundary of the front yard for access
to the parking pad. The gates are proposed as 36” W and 36” H. The fence is set
back 24” from the sidewalk and will be painted to match the house trim. The
proposed fence will follow the property line of Lot 10, meeting the 6’ fence on the
north property line, following parallel to the sidewalk on the east and meeting the
southeast corner of the house, parallel to the parking pad.
Section VII. A. 3. Fences and Retaining Walls of the Guidelines state:
“Fencing material should be appropriate to the style and period of the building .”
“Fences with street frontage should be no taller than three feet (36”) tall. On wood
fences, pickets should be no wider than four inches (4”) and set no farther apart
than three inches (3”). The design should be compatible with and proportionate to
the building.”
The proposed fence meets the expectations of the Guidelines in dimension, scale,
material, and style. Both wrought iron and wood picket fences were common site
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ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2022-005
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the Free Classic Queen Anne style. The proposed picket design is compatible with
the style of the home and the surrounding district.
E. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the application with the following conditions:
1. Obtaining a building permit.
2. Project to be completed within 365 days of obtaining permit.
F. COMMISSION ACTION: March 3, 2022
Commissioner Robert Hodge made a motion to defer the application to the next
public hearing on April 7th, 2022. Commissioner Amber Jones seconded. The
motion passed with a voice vote of 7 ayes, 0 noes, and 0 absent.
COMMISSION ACTION: April 7, 2022
Staff, Hannah Ratzlaff, made presentation to the Commission. Doug Melkovitz,
applicant, welcomed questions from the Commission concern ing the proposed
fencing. Chair Holder opened Commission discussion. Commissioner Nunn
made a motion to approve the application with staff’s recommendations.
Commissioner Jones seconded. The motion passed with a vote of 5 ayes, 0
noes, and 2 absent (Aleman and Hinson).