Heritage Commission Approves Four Requests

By MARK EVANS

mevans@stegenherald.com

Only one of four requests for certificates of appropriateness drew much debate during the April 19 Ste. Genevieve Heritage Commission meeting.

Three of the four passed by unanimous 5-0 votes.

The one that generated some disagreement was Larry Wilson’s request to install vinyl siding and metal soffit and fascia on the residence at 242 Washington. Wilson presented some sample materials and answered some questions regarding the proposed installation.

Wilson said he has seen a house with the proposed vinyl siding with wood appearance. He said, “It will look sharp.”

“The house now has an old slate or asbestos siding,” Wilson said. “We’re going to go right over that and retain it there.”

He said he wants to retain the historic look.

He said he would go with upper-end vinyl that has a real wood look to it, saying, “This was really the way to go.”

He added that, “The house sorely needs updated and needs a face-lift.”

Noard member LeeAnn Waldvogel said she liked the color he  favored. Fellow member Martha Patterson asked whether he had considered paint instead of siding.

“I’ve stuck enough into the inside that I didn’t want to go cheap on the outside,” Wilson said. “I really want to uplift the whole property. This, I think, will give ne a better look and more value on my property.”

Frank Myers, the committee’s senior member and a long-time foe of vinyl siding, said he could live with the choice.

“I’m normally not in favor of vinyl, but that would be a major improvement over what is on it now,” Myers said.

Wilson said, being only two blocks off of Main Street, he didn’t want to go with a cheaper vinyl. He agreed that what he wanted to buy would be much thicker than cheaper vinyl siding.

Chair Casey Benner asked about it wrapping around the windows. Wilson said it would be white trimmed aluminum.

Myers wondered whether it would be feasible to inspect the house for deterioration under the current siding, with the vinyl being added over it.

Wilson said a crawl space would allow things to be checked out.

“I don’t feel totally comfortable with that staying on and just nailing something over, hiding it,” Myers said.

Wilson said it would cost an extra $12,000 or so to legally remove the asbestos siding.

Myers admitted the vinyl would be an improvement.

Waldvogel agreed that dealing with asbestos “can be tricky.”

“The standard procedure, from what I’m understanding is that most of them do go right over it, because it basically encases it,” Wilson said. “It’s not going anywhere.”

He also noted that he had seen a house in Jefferson County with the style vinyl he had in mind and that even 15-20 feet back, it’s hard to tell it’s vinyl, with the shade and the grain. It’s got a very realistic look.”

When the vote came, only Benner voted against it.

“I swore I would never vote for vinyl,” Patterson said, “but that looks pretty good.”

FENCE GETS APPROVAL

Brad Korn was on the docket to request a permit to build a wooden fence around the side and rear of his property at 230 Roberts. However, Korn asked that the request be changed to a vinyl fence instead of wood.

“I would like to just do the vinyl, since it’s a nicer material,” Korn said. “With the cost of materials right now, we might as well just go with the nicer materials.”

Myers asked whether it is a corner lot. Korn said it is. 

Myers expressed concern about blocking visibility for drivers, adding that if the police department was all right with it, he would be, too.

Korn said a large lilac bush is there now, which will be moved. He said visibility should actually improve with the fence replacing the bush.

Waldvogel asked how high the fence would be. Korn said it would be a six-foot privacy fence.

Waldvogel asked how far the fence would extend. Korn went over the exact path of the fence with Waldvogel and fellow members Patterson and Nicole Boyer.

Myers also asked for clarification, particularly on how close the fence would be to the sidewalk. Korn said there is no sidewalk on the Memorial Street side.

Benner asked whether the commission wanted to accept the vinyl version of the request.

“I‘m personally fine with vinyl,” Boyer said, noting that it would not be on the structure, itself.

The motion was made to approve either a vinyl or wood fencing. It passed 5-0.

ROOFS APPROVED ON JEFFERSON

Whitney Aleto then presented requests to replace a roof, which is part standing seam, part architectural shingles with all architectural shingles and to replace the gutters on the circa 1900 home at 591 Jefferson, as well as replacing the tin roof with architectural shingles and replace the gutters on the outbuilding on that property.

“We had that really bad storm last year … and had extensive wind damage and hail damage to the roof and the gutters,” Aleto said. “The gutters, on one side area almost off the roof; they’re not doing nothing now.”

She said an insurance adjuster found “a significant amount” of damage. She said the standing seam replacement would be out-of-pocket and would be more than they can afford.

Myers asked if it was leaking. Aleto said it is not leaking yet, but said she has children and does not want to let it get to that point.

“I don’t want it to get to the point where it’s leaking,” she said.

Myers asked whether the bad wood under the roof would be removed. She said “the whole roof would come off” and would be resheeted. 

“Any rotten boards, anything like that, we have wiggle room to make sure it is replaced and like it should be done,” she said.

“It sounds like you’re planning to do it right,” Myers replied.

Waldvogel questioned why the house and outbuilding were in separate requests and whether the single roofs would be the same. David Bova, community development administrator, said it was done that was since they deal with two separate buildings.

The gutter will be the same style as is there now, on both buildings, Aleto said.

Both passed 5-0.